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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9 |
I do a solo vocal/keyboards/drum machine act....playing 50s, 60s, 70s tunes at upscale country clubs and private parties and am looking to add a little more "zoom" to my performance by using backing tracks. I do everything from Jerry Lee Lewis to Van Morrison to Ray Charles to Jimmy Buffet. I am considering buying the "Pro" package from BIAB. Will I be able to use their midi and realband stuff to my advantage? I don't want to sound like a 10 piece band...just add a little bass,drums (instead of the drum machine), and a few strings and/or horns one some tunes. I plan on using an IPad running thru my PA system and my piano/organ keyboard live. Comments please.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7,748
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Quote:
Will I be able to use their midi and realband stuff to my advantage?
Yes.
Quote:
I don't want to sound like a 10 piece band...just add a little bass,drums (instead of the drum machine), and a few strings and/or horns one some tunes.
You can leave empty or mute any tracks that you don't want to use.
One caveat: When you say "strings", you're talking about MIDI strings. BiaB has some great fiddle RealTracks and a nice cello RealTrack, but for string pads and the like, MIDI is your only option right now.
Similarly, there are some great solo trumpet and saxophone RealTracks, but if you're looking at doing horns as a section, you're looking at MIDI.
BiaB has a great MIDI auto-harmonizer, so if you've got a melody (or countermelody) that you want to give to a section, you can just put in the top voice and choose one of the built-in voicings (such as 4 Part Close, Drop, Drop 2, etc.) to quickly create parts for sections.
But RealTrack "string sections" and "horn sections" don't exist... yet.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9 |
dcuny.....thanks for the input....Anybody else want to chime in?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,675
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Joined: Dec 2000
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The Pro version only comes with a handful of styles and RealTracks. It will give you a pretty good idea of what the program can do, but I'm pretty sure once you use it, you will be clamoring for more styles and tracks.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA BB2025/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 9 |
jford: Thanks for the input. I am thinking the MegaPack version would be better for me.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,706
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Rockman59,
Buy as much as your budget will allow, you can thank me later.
Welcome Aboard!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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By all means go with the MegaPak.
Don't let the style genres and such get in the way here, many styles that may be labeled as something other than the way you want to perform a certain song can be pressed into good use in other genres.
And the more of those Styles and Realtracks you have, the more you will be able to do with your show, as well.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,226
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,226 |
As much as your budget can afford.
QFT
You'll be glad you got the whole deal to start with, rather than adding later. Some have tried going minimal and adding later, but it's not as cost effective.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
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Posts: 8,021 |
Not getting at least the megaPack would be like buying a Ferrari and asking them to put a governor so it could only go 50MPH.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026 |
Silvertones and Rharv are right! I bought Pro version first and a week later realized I needed the Mega pack version, now I can't imagine Biab without the Everything version.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392 |
We haven't gone the backing track route yet in my wife's and my band. We gig with at least keys and bass and play jazz where my wife...the singer...feels the need to take the songs where ever she wants to go...in terms of repeats...rubato endings...solos etc.,. so using drum tracks is problematic for us.
But if I were doing what you do...as a solo act, I would JUMP onto the BIAB bandwagon.
And there is NO QUESTION but that using BIAB even in our structure would result in a MUCH more comprehensive music experience...for the audience. But, since we ain't doin' this for the money, my wife's personal musical fulfillment is issue NUMBER ONE.
I suppose if I got up to speed on the "conductor" features in BIAB then we might have more latitude than would be the case with fixed backing tracks...but I am WAY not ready for prime time on that aspect of the software.
But for a LOT of uses...and what I perceive to be your use...I couldn't recommend biab more strongly.
Best,
Jim
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,693
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,693 |
Jim, since it's your wife, using the Conductor will work as long as you do some rehearsal with her. I subbed for a sick friend a few years ago with his partner and I used Biab with the Conductor. No rehearsals, just reading out of the real book. The problem was he wasn't familiar with it so he would suddenly do his "front man" thing and decide to just vamp wherever we happened to be in the song with no warning. Normally with a band, that's no problem, just follow him and he'll cue us when he starts to sing again. That's a disaster with Biab and trying to work the Conductor with no warning. He suddenly starts singing the bridge and I'm still looping a vamp or the verse. However if you work those things out ahead of time, she knows to tell you first and give you time to figure out what to do then there's no problem. Once you're familiar with the Conductor we're only talking a few seconds it's not like you're leaving her to stand there for 8 bars or something. I had it set to jump at the next part marker but you can set it to jump at the next bar if you want and it will stay in time. You can set it to jump instantly but that doesn't sound good. If you hit the key at beat 2.6 it jumps immediately and starts with a new bar on 1. Not good.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,826
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,826 |
Realtracks = game changer
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 236
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 236 |
I have the Everything pak and it is everything I need. I probably will never even get through all of the RT's.
Todd
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
Dang! I didn't know about the cello realtrack -- it sounds great. I missed the upgrade special this time around, though. Maybe in December.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1 |
.
How many synthesizers in BB 2012 in order to transfer midi lines to separate wave lines
ttvl
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
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that can be done with as little as one DXi or VSTi GM MIDI synth.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,693
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Veteran
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Posts: 7,693 |
Ttvl, to be clear, Biab itself does not have sound of it's own. This constantaly confuses new people. Biab is not a DAW like Sonar or Reason that has a whole rack of built in synths. PG Music gives you the Coyote Wavetable synth just to get you started for 64 bit systems. It uses your Windows Wavetable sound. Not very good. For 32 bit systems you can use the Roland VSC that is also free from PG and that's a bit better than the Wavetable. Beyond those two, it's up to you to use either software plugins, hardware synth modules or keyboards for sound. The better the sound the more they cost. This is why PG has several good synths for sale on the website like Garritan for software and the Ketron for hardware. You can use multiple VST plug in synths, one for each instrument if you want. This is for midi, the Real Tracks/Drums are audio so they don't depend on a synth for sound, they sound the same regardless of what synth you are using.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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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.
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XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
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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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
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Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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