Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 194
R
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
R
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 194
Is there any advantage to using BIAB first, and then opening up the file in RealBand, as opposed to just working in RealBand from the start? Does one lose anything by working in RealBand only? I haven't used BIAB for a good while, so I was wondering if I am missing anything that can only be done with BIAB. Thanks.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
rstill48,

Gosh! That's a tough question. Will cheat a little bit.
Using a PG Link... http://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.features.htm

This would be cursory review, but nail things down a little bit more.

Some of "Pro" members will chime in with more specifics.

I use BIAB to create the songs, then load into RB and finish it off.

Have fun!


FrankB

Down The Street vs2015 12-03-2014
Win7, AMD QuadA8-5500,16GB,2TeraHD, Komplete 10
PG Ultra Plus 2016,Alesis 12USB, Sonar Platinum
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
The main reason I use Biab first is Track generation. You can start listening faster than RB.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 430
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 430
I also start in BIAB first as i can get the basic song sorted first. I also find it easier to add piano fills using the midi solo functionality here.
I also do not do any panning and volume adjustments here
Once done i then go to RB and open the aong there and finish the rest there, effects and the rest...


I'm doing allright for Country Trash ....

I used to care, but things have changed (Bob Dylan)

BIAB 2026W + RB
M-Audio FastTrack C600, Rode NT2-A
Digitech VoiceLive 4

Epiphone Sheraton, Ibanez 12str, Washburn 6str, Cort 6Str Nylon
Yanagisawa Tenor Sax

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
I use BIAB first because I find song creation in any sequencer cumbersome. Besides, all kinds of cool things happen when you make "mistakes" that you would never think of or come across any other way. I have come to consider BIAB a co-composer at times. Why sidestep the wonderful possibilities?

Then immediately edited to add: If you already know exactly what you want to do, got to RB or another sequencer first. BIAB becomes a distraction in that case because it so rarely comes up with anything remotely close to what you hear in your head. I just happen to have abandoned that approach because I often let my synths and software tell me where to go.

Last edited by Ryszard; 08/28/12 07:21 AM.

"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,610
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,610
BIAB first here as well for much of the same reasons already stated. BIAB is just right for my quirky "composing". When I have an idea for an arrangement, I often change my mind somwhere in the process... instruments, chords, you name it. BIAB is quick to adapt to my numerous mind changes. Once I'm somewhat satisfied, I'll generate indiviual wav files and import them into RB (or, more often than not, Sonar).

Cheers,
Mike


Cheers,
Mike

My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,612
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,612
I use whichever one I need.
If I'm home alone and trying random ideas, BiaB.
If I am with a guitar player and bass player, I use RB since we can all easily input our part ideas.
Depends on the job at hand and the desired outcome. Each has its place.
As for the OP original question
Quote:

Is there any advantage to using BIAB first, and then opening up the file in RealBand




Yes in some instances. You can audition styles, chord changes, song structure changes faster in BiaB. BiaB is ready to play the generated song faster than RB. I think that's because RB has to generate the whole thing first and BiaB is able to generate 'enough' and then generate the rest behind the scenes as the song plays. Plus RB requires laying out changes 'linearly' where BiaB uses choruses to repeat certain sections (although it still generates a new section for it). So RB is more time consuming to change sections that way (if the song has repeating sections) since BiaB can change the chords once for three verses or choruses or whatever.


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 194
R
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
R
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 194
Thanks, all, for the replies. I think I'll give BIAB a spin rather than just using RB, depending on the work.

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!

All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!

It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.

What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?

XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!

Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!

The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.

The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos

With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.

Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.

Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.

Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.

Holiday Weekend Hours

As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:

April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours

Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!

— Team PG

Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!

If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!

If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,223
Posts802,083
Members40,071
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
Newest Members
geswho22, Orchestr8, dimtass, Quamido Pirendo, Allan63
40,071 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 125
zedd 110
DC Ron 91
rsdean 85
Noel96 74
Today's Birthdays
Jed, Richard Gibbons, UZER
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5