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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2012
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OP
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Hello All. My name is Joanne and I am new to this forum. I have been dithering about buying band in a box for a while but have now decided it is the time. I am starting out on my songwriting journey and after listening to some of the original music produced using BIAB and Real Band I feel it is for me!! I am really looking forward to it and have a couple of songs ready to be worked on! My question is what package to buy that will be the most cost effective for me. I am probably only going to be writing folk, country, and maybe some praise and worship, maybe some blues. I doubt I will ever be much good at writing, say, rock, jazz or funk. What would you the forumites suggest I buy to get the most bang for my buck? I have considered just buying the PRO or MEGAPAK and then buying the individual Real Tracks I fancy. What can you suggest? Thanks in anticipation Joanne www.joannecooper.co.za
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Hi Joanne,
I use BIAB for songwriting all the time. My experience is that it's best to spend as much as you possibly can so that you get the most you possibly can. You won't be disappointed. I have the UltraPlusPak.
Like you, there are a number of genres that I don't write in. The UltraPlusPak has all Realtracks, Realdrums and all styles. This means that I have the most versatile collection of sounds and tools possible for my songwriting. With so much at my fingertips, I've found that I don't confine myself to genres at all.
One of the big advantages of BIAB is its ability to mix instruments as I want in a way that suits my individual songs. I don't have to select a 'song' on the basis of a genre. Also, it's often cheaper to buy the UltraPlusPak (with everything) than to buy a few different Realtrack packs.
All the best,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2012
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OP
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Thanks Noel. I think I will invest in that. I look forward to becoming a regular here and posting some of my original songs!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,199
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,199 |
Hi Joanne, Buy the one that is the most you can buy. I have the Everything Pak. You say that you don't write songs in Jazz,Rock or Funk. With band in a box you can mix and match different instrument styles by making up your own styles. e.g. you can have a country bass a rock piano a jazz guitar and funk drums.  This means that you can gain inspiration from hundreds of your own styles. Or you can just use the styles that are in Band In a Box. You will not be disappointed whatever Pak you buy. Regards George
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2024 1111, Realband 2024
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,876
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hi Joanne!
sounds like you and I are on similar paths! I started writing songs earlier this year and bought Band in a Box about two months ago! I bought the UltraPlusPak and I am positively thrilled! still learning it but it is amazing so far. I look forward to hearing more from you. :-)
John
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,407
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Hi Joanne, I'm looking forward to hearing your work You really won't be sorry. Around 2006 or 2007, I was hesitant and bought the cheapest version of BIAB going because I didn't want to waste my money. Back then, it was before Realtracks were invented. Once I started playing with the program, I loved it! At the very first bargain-value upgrade option, I got everything and I've maintained that ever since. The software is a songwriter's treasure chest full of gold. All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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OP
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Thanks everybody. I bitten the bullet and bought the Ultrapak.
Regards
Joanne Cooper
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,341
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Congratulations on your purchase and welcome!
One thing that has not been mentioned yet is that if you have any questions this is the place to come. These forums have the nicest people on the planet. Many here are pro users of BiaB and RB and they are more than happy to assist anyone who needs helps.
Also be sure to view the tutorials. They are extremely helpful and will shorten you learning curve.
Good luck.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 491
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 491 |
Hi Joanne, You'll find that you have a great package! With RealTracks & RealBand as a DAW, (if you use it?)....everything you need!  Regards, Joe G.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 427
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 427 |
You will not regret it! It is the most brilliant software i have EVER paid for ......
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
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,821
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,821 |
Hi, Joanne -
Welcome to the forum and I look forward to hearing your music.
If you have any problems or questions, please feel free to ask. We're a friendly bunch here and happy to help out. Sometimes the answer might be that you need to read a section of the manual (which you should) or watch one of the video tutorials, but unlike many other forums, you WON'T get a reply like, "I wish you newbies would just read the friggin' manual".
As Peter Gannon says, "have fun!". We all do with these great products, Band-in-a-Box and RealBand.
Again, welcome!
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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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 |
There's a manual? Videos? ha, ha -- the only way to learn is to pick a song you want to do in BIAB and start doing it. Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!
As you get stuck, the manual can be useful -- but you will be better off asking questions here. Don't get me wrong, manuals and videos are great, but in my opinion, if you try a bunch of stuff first, the manual will make more sense.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Posts: 38,502 |
This forum should be used as a last resort AFTER you have perused the Manual, the Help files and the online FAQs.
This forum is a wonderful resource, but consider what would happen if *everybody* demanded forum attention as suggested.
Lots of helpful users here, please think about the amount of time and effort they put into helping others and try to help them help you.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,610
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I can't help but to support what Mac says here. I've had some questions that I posted answered with kindness and support, only to find out at a later date, that the manual had the answer to begin with. Shock, huh? LOL! Anyway, welcome to the community Joanne!!! You'll end up loving the people here. I can guarantee that. I'm not of much help, because I am using BIAB in the most simplistic way: - I have an idea - pick a style I think that will fit my idea - enter chords - pick RTs - once happy, I render individual WAV files - import into my DAW - if I so choose, record whatever instrument I want to play live - save, export as MP3 and show it to the world. As simple as it gets 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
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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 |
Sorry, my opinion is that a lot of times the manual is the last resort. Most manuals are really good -- if you know how the program works. If I have a problem with how something works in the computer world, I google it first. Now, if you could query the manual or on-line help by using a google type query, then I would agree with you.
You all are free to say I am wrong, but I just can't see myself ever agreeing with you on this point.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,610
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Google is most certainly your friend. Can't disagree with that one, Kevin.
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
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
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OP
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Thanks all for the welcomes... I am expecting my Ultrapak plus to be delivered on hard drive by the end of the week. I live in South Africa so am hoping there won’t be any snags with customs etc...Our broadband here is not great so to download 60 gigs of data would have taken me the rest of my life. I have printed out a version of the manual for 2011 which I found on the net so I am perusing that. I have a few original songs that I am going to try and put some backing to as soon as I get my stuff!!! I like Mike’s simple approach and I think that is what I will do….I am also looking forward to using the program to recognize chords in an MP3 as I have a lot of Karaoke files and often get the request…late into the gig to say “Can you play “Sweet Caroline”…so being able to get the chords from the mp3 on the fly will be great…
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,407
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Hi Joanne,
I find the Audio Chord Wizard an amazing tool but it's not really designed to work on the fly. While it does a brilliant job interpreting chords from audio files, it is not perfect. Often timing and pitch issues within the file can lead to chords that need tweaking. It would be a good idea to play around with this tool before unleashing it in public.
All the best with your songs!
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Posts: 8,109
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There are so many features to this program, many people get intimidated by it and don't know where to start.
I recommend that new users get acquainted with the program by listening to the demo songs for a LOT of styles... all of them if you have the time. Turn off the melody as you listen. Chord patterns aren't protected by copyright, and a lot of songs use the exact same chord patterns.
If you listen to a thousand or more demo songs without the melodies to put a different spin on the chords, you're bound to hear many songs that are either exactly like, or very close to other songs you want to record.
And even if you aren't trying to recreate covers, it's a good way to get inspired. Many people start with a demo song and rearrange it to meet their own needs. No need to get bogged down in feature shock. Play with what's already been created for a while.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks Pat. I am looking forward to it and hope I will not find it too intimidating...I do find cakewalk/sonar very confusing and have long ago given up trying to work it out. I have had some success with putting styles to my own compositions with a very basic Yamaha keyboard. I am hoping that this will be just a simple but far more professional sounding. Noel..I do expect the audio chord wizard to not be perfect..…I have tried a chord recognition tool that comes as a plugin for Winamp. It is not great but it can do the trick IF I know I can sing the song very well. I mostly just need to know the key of the song, some basic chord changes and I can wing it. Most of the times I do requests is when it is late at night, the crowd is rowdy and don’t care too much about perfect guitar playing….
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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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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
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