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software companies usually provide the minimum hardware spes for their software but not the minimum user knowledge requirements to get the most benefit from the software
just wondering what this community feels are the minimum user knowledge requirements for a person considering the purchase of biab\rb for these categories
music theory knowledge
instrument proficiency for the instrument you will be using to control the device or software and the instrument sound you want to produce
performance proficiency
computer usage basic knowledge
music production proficiency
did i miss any categories
Lenovo YOGA 900 Window s 10 Home 64bit M4 pro Mac mini 1tb HD 24GB mem casio wk7500 presonus audiobox i2 usb interface
casio wk-7500
biab & realband 2025 everything pk both with Current builds
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Mike,
In all honesty, I would recommend BIAB to anyone that’s serious about music and has a basic understanding of computers.
That doesn’t mean they would be able to get the most out of the program, but as their music and computer skills grow, … so would their ability to use BIAB.
BIAB would also be an impetus to furthering their music and computer skills.
Double edged sword.
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Band in a Box can be used by folks at all levels of musicianship.
You don't have to try to be a master of all things that it can do in order to start in using it right away.
And if the program were such that things could all be found and done in a week, well, it wouldn't be anything worth pursuing.
There is the "30-day no questions asked" return policy that is like having a full featured demo that saves work for a month.
What's to lose?
--Mac
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Must still be breathing and own a computer. I let my then 6 year old Granddaughter use my computer with the 2004 version and she had no problem using Biab.
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Journeyman
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Quote:
music theory knowledge
music production proficiency
I think these two disqualifies me! I have always played by ear only, unfortunately NO formal training ...
Who do I contact to give my stuff back?
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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I agree with CountryTrash...you guys are way ahead of me in theory, hardware and software. I just follow Dr Gannon's advice and am here to have fun....which I do everyday! So I would say that this is rather remakable software in that it can encompass both the novice and the professional. Quite amazing that a product can have that broad of a market appeal while not alienating either sector.
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Quote:
Band in a Box can be used by folks at all levels of musicianship.
You don't have to try to be a master of all things that it can do in order to start in using it right away.
And if the program were such that things could all be found and done in a week, well, it wouldn't be anything worth pursuing.
There is the "30-day no questions asked" return policy that is like having a full featured demo that saves work for a month.
What's to lose?
--Mac
Bump!
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 263
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 263 |
I'd have to say that anyone with the desire to "make music" will find a way. I needed some way to put music to the songs I was writing and when I chanced upon a copy of BIAB at a dealer at the NAMM show in Nashville, back in 1997 I grabbed it up and started learning. Back then it was pretty simple and the hardest part was learning about computers. I knew a bit about music but nothing about computers. No computer training at all. I have been lucky to follow along with each new upgrade but find the computer part the most difficult.
It is stimulating and challenging but worth every minute of the time you will spend with it even when it stretches the old brain a bit. I would have to say it would have been much easier had I had some basic understanding of the computer first...but we are still learning with each new upgrade that introduces new challenges. In fact after discovering that my new 2013 installation had put the Sample Tank instruments in the wrong folder, I was able to move them to where they needed to be and now my Sample Tank instruments are working correctly. Quite an accomplishment for this old lady! Now if I can just figure out how to configure my new sound card that arrived today. I'll be back in business.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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You can get up and running with BIAB in a few minutes. There is a little bit vof set up required but hre guys here will help0 if you run into issues.
Also dont fdrget if you run into any theory problems, or get stuck musically, you can post here, or you can use the internet. I us=ually just google my thoughts and something comes up to help
BIAB has an easy to use interface with powerful stuff going on underv the vhood chiefly
IMO its the best learning tool on the planet for musicians. I use it every day for hours
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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1 At minimum 3 months of using a computer.
2 Understanding that each key has 3 primary chords, so if a person is only able to input C F and G, thats enough to get started with.
Am I the only one though that finds the manuals not a great help and the search function is absolutley terrible, in fact if a beginner was to start reading the manual I feel it would only put them completely off the program.
I find if I put in a search in biab manual and tell it to list the items, it comes up with a whole range of pages that are totally unrelated to what I am looking for.
That said If I do find the page I am looking for, then the info is very good, but getting to that page ....wow.....
Musiclover
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Journeyman
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To quote a famous personality, "I feel your pain."
I have only a very basic knowledge of music theory (can't sight read notes) and usually just play by ear or follow the chord symbols.
That was why I purchased BIAB to begin with.
However I'll have to agree that the printed Manual and the Help/Search manual sometimes gave me a headache and only added to my frustration level.
Many times I wished for a Wizard to guide me through some of the setups when faced with too many buttons or boxes to select from, mayn of which I had no idea what their meaning was (ASIO vs MME for example).
What really helped me were the how to videos and this amazing forum with it's generous members always willing to help with even the "dumbest" of questions.
These not only helped solve my problems but opened up whole new areas of music to explore and appreciate.
It also brings up the fact that the best way to learn something is to try to teach something.
That's why this site is one of my first to visit every day.
Carkins
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Luckily there are lots of tutorials in youtube made by kind selfless souls to help music theory dunces and BiaB beginners like me. On the whole though, BiaB is a rather daunting program, I think I have grasped about 2% of its possibilities. On the plus side though, I won't be needing another programs to help me create music for a long time.
Chris
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Very difficult question to answer. I think it boils down to keeping an open mind, having a good attitude and above all else be willing to learn and recognize it takes some serious effort to learn. A lot of folks think they can jump into Biab with no knowledge of basic musical concepts and no basic knowledge of computers beyond turning it on and checking their email. Then they get completely frustrated, angry and leave in a huff muttering under their breath. That's where the attitude and being willing to learn comes in.
The answer is the more you know up front the easier it will be.
Can you start from square one with no musical knowledge and no computer knowledge and just start picking it up? Sure you can but it won't be easy because there's already a well established and accepted language of music, recording studios and computers you have to learn. Someone who's never recorded a lick in their life knows squat about a compressor or a tag ending. To them a compressor is used to fill up their tires or paint their house. Tag ending? What the heck is that, a skin condition on my butt? That's just two of a gazillion examples I could name.
Attitude, open mind and be willing to do whatever it takes. Basic rules of life including Biab and using computers.
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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You'll need to know your credit card number...... Probably your shipping address.  WSS
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interesting question...
to me, it's like asking "How much do you need to know before you can learn something new?"
Every baby ever born started from zero and learned from there.
No matter what you're learning, if you start with the understanding that you don't know it yet, but you can learn with some effort and without giving up... you will make progress. And that's all learning is: progress. There is no final destination to learning.
What makes BIAB uniquely usable in my opinion is that even with no experience or knowledge of music at all, an inquisitive person can go through the demo files, replace a chord here and there, and come up with something new.
On the other end of the scale, those with a lifetime of acquired musical knowledge will find multitudes of theory-based tools for developing their music ideas in BIAB
Whereas a novice might use a hammer to fix a loose board, a carpenter might use it to build a whole house. So, the answer to the question "What's the entry level knowledge required to use a hammer?" would be quite different than the answer to The question "what's the entry level knowledge required to build a house?"
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Quote:
"Do you have to clean up to take a bath?" -Mike Warnke
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Like many here I do not have formal training regarding music and computers alike, but I am now and have been for a while doing quite well with BIAB. With this said I am however very grateful to all my more knowledgeable forum members for the sharing of their expertise in both music theory and the use of BIAB. But there comes a time when as Nike says you just have to do it! I mention this as sometimes we spend so much of our time asking theory, or what do your prefer, or other “what if” questions that there is now way on this good Lord's earth one can have the time to comprehend and apply all of this new gained knowledge. So my answer is (was there a question I don't remember  ) if you want to get involved with making music or as the tag-line says “Just Have Fun” this is hands down the software for you, because if I can do it anyone can! Later,
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Quote:
"Do you have to clean up to take a bath?" -Mike Warnke
I don't know... My wife always says we have to clean up the house before Merry Maids (maid service) gets here.
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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Quote:
Quote:
"Do you have to clean up to take a bath?" -Mike Warnke
I don't know... My wife always says we have to clean up the house before Merry Maids (maid service) gets here.
We may be husband-in-laws as I have heard that same remark.
Later,
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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!
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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®.
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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
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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!
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- 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)
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- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
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Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
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