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Plugin technology continues to amaze me. Acoustic guitar is one that I have never heard done well. Until today. Check out this video on this virtual instrument - the player's technique is very well suited to it since he knows how to play the keyboard in a guitar like fashion, but even so the sound it incredibly convincing, in my opinion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrEM448PxAEHere's the plugin. http://www.amplesound.net/en/purchase.asp it's not cheap, $170 for just one model of guitar, but this is the closest I've ever heard and listening to the Youtube without watching definitely sounds realistic. With BIAB midi generated acoustic guitar tracks, I'm guessing most folks could get really nice results from this plugin and fool most people very well.
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That's what I thought. I'm very surprised there aren't more replies here as folks have asked about acoustic guitar simulations for what seem like ages and they have all had the caveat that they don't sound realistic. This one is amazing to my ears, given the right midi technique. I would think that it would be great with BIAB, which my understanding outputs guitar-technique-appropriate arpeggiation.
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Scott, I think it depends on where you’re coming from. For me, (JMHO), using an acoustic guitar simulation and talking about how wonderful it sounds is kind of like telling someone that they should go to Bozo’s Authentic Seafood for Alaskan King Crab. The only problem with Bozo’s Alaskan King Crab is that it’s actually fish scraps that are pureed and poured into forms, artificial color and artificial flavorings are added and then they attempt to pass it off as Alaskan King Crab. The trouble is, … there’s NO crab in it!!! It doesn’t look like crab, it doesn’t smell like crab, it doesn’t taste like crab, it doesn't have the texture of crab. So if you want crab, go to someplace like Joe’s Crab Shack. If you want acoustic guitar, …… find one of the tens of thousands of acoustic guitarists who are looking for work and offer them a job. Most of them will work CHEAP !  JMHO.
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Bob, that has been my opinion as well. Let's say that someone has a midi-only setup (very common on this forum from what I can gather) - then this is the type of thing that's right up that alley.
Did you listen to the demos? Or watch the guy giving it a run-through? It's pretty impressive.
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I listened and watched and I thought that this would be a good thing for any non-guitarist to have in his or her arsenal. I think that this is one of the closest sounding acoustic guitar sounds that I have heard. Of course like any other instrument that you are trying to emulate you must get to know all of the nuances that make whatever instrument sound as real as possible. The guy on the demo must also play guitar.
I don’t think that many of the PG MIDI style guitar tracks are that good. I do believe that with the MIDI SuperTracks and the transcribing of RTs to MIDI will change all of that.
Being an acoustic and electric guitarist who has other guitarist friends that come over to my home studio I will not be buying this. However for other instrumentalists this is a very good sounding softsynth and well worth the $170 IMHO.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Scott, Did you listen to the demos? Or watch the guy giving it a run-through? It's pretty impressive. I did watch as much as I could. It’s not that it didn’t sound good. It’s just that I don’t think music should be turned over to an algorithm that has to “decide” what is physically possible on a guitar or any other musical instrument. I’d just rather hear REAL LIVE MUSICIANS play musical instruments instead of listening to a computerized approximation. ……………………………………………………………… OOPS !!!!!!!!
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I’d just rather hear REAL LIVE MUSICIANS play musical instruments instead of listening to a computerized approximation.
Hi Bob, I agree with your real live musicians’ statement. However, I’m not trying to start a war here I’m just giving you my opinion, real live musicians have been playing MIDI instruments for years. Keyboard, wind controller and guitarist for example. I would rather listen to a real sax player but there are wind controller players who do a fantastic job at it. Keyboard players have been emulating B3s, pianos, Rhodes etc for years now. In fact I played for years with a midi controller guitar to emulate some of the sounds that we could not perform live with. Sounds like mallets and steel drums and such. The only genres of music that I do not like to have emulated is bluegrass and true blue country, not the pop country of today. I know that bluegrass is your favorite so I know where you are coming from. Peace
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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It’s just that I don’t think music should be turned over to an algorithm that has to “decide” what is physically possible on a guitar or any other musical instrument. I’d just rather hear REAL LIVE MUSICIANS play musical instruments instead of listening to a computerized approximation. ……………………………………………………………… OOPS !!!!!!!! OK, this seems more of a criticism of auto-generated backing tracks than it does of this particular plugin. I'll take a live band that is tight any day, including if I can play the parts. But man I've been using MIDI since about 1983 as well. I've also been continuing to build my own chops on different instruments over the years. I would have never guessed I would 'become a bass player' until I simply got fed up with midi bass and bought one and started in learning the thing. That was probably 2006 or 2007. Now, I could have a Sunday gig every Sunday of the year playing bass in worship teams across this city. On more than one occasion, I played AM and PM services, across town from each other. That said, the whole premise of BIAB needs realistic MIDI sound generation. This is the best acoustic guitar MIDI module I've ever laid ears on. That's all. Not trying to take anyone's gig away from them. Tonight I'm off to practice electric guitar for this Sunday's set....
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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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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
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Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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.
Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
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Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
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