I know that its hard to please everyone and a lot of people have been crying out for a new GUI for band in a box for a long time. So the best of luck to them that really asked for this feature and I hope they have many happy hours with it.
I myself have fairly poor eyesight (nystagmus) no where near been classified as blind though and to be honest I find the new GUI hard to see, its uncomfortable squinting at it all the time trying to make out the type etc.
I do use a resolution of 1280X960 and I set display to 150%. I found that the old GUI was brilliant in that if you increased the resolution or magnification of monitor, some of the biab icons might disappear but you could easily access them with the > buttons. Everything was so easy to see as well there.
Probably I will use the old GUI most of the time now both in biab and relaband, and just use the new realtracks that kind of thing that came with 2014. I hope I wouldn't be loosing too many things feature wise if I do this.
I might put it on wishlist forum if it would be possible for PG to add a few buttons to one of the older biab GUI so that visually impaired would have access to a few of the added 2014 features but sill be using the easier to see GUI.
This is not a rant or anything, indeed a lot of the other DAW software companies have the same problems for me, a bigger monitor is not always the solution as people with less than perfect eyesight like to sit close to it, and it involves too much head turning in that position.
I would just like to add that when the mixer was introduced a few years ago Dr Gannon and PG team fixed a mixer problem that was relevant to the screen resolution I was using. I was so grateful for that, and the mark of such great customer service that Pgmusic offer
Your comments are worth noting for visually impaired folk, such as you describe yourself. Yes, I can understand that larger screen fonts, icons etc can be a tremendous aid. I also understand that these features can be difficult to deliver without creating undesirable issues elsewhere.
I do hope you can find a suitable configuration of the new version that caters for your needs.
Kind regards
Video Track
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
I THINK I like the new GUI but am disappointed that the "buttons" and gubbins now takes up so much space at the screen top that there is little room at the bottom to put chords in!! I liked the old GUI because it gave me more bars of chords so I could sit and view what I had done without scrolling around. I too have a sight problem but so far havent found the new GUI a hindrance. However - onwards and upwards PG - there are new bits of BIAB in this Release that I'm already enjoying messing with. cheers ian
Old Guys Rule.The older I get,the better I was! BB2023 ULTRA, 1013, Win 7 and 10
If you revert back to 2013 so that you have the old GUI, you should still be able to use all the new Realtracks and Supertracks. As far as I'm aware, no new engine of any kind was introduced in this update.
If I were you, I'd drop support@pgmusic.com an email and ask them. They'll soon let you know.
Peter is aware of these issues and said there will be new user controls coming in a near future update. I don't have any details but he implied it would help this a lot.
To be honest even if it was just to use the old GUI with the 14 biab buttons added or even hidden such as user realtrack buttons would leave me very happy and have confidence to upgrade on a regular basis
Here are screenshots of both the new and the old at resolution of 1280X960 and display set at 150%, as you can probably see a better layout for people with vision impairment on the old GUI, though I do realise everyone is different, most users will love the new GUI
I notice that the old mixer is still available, however it just floats on top of the new expanded mixer. I think a good option would be that if you choose the floating mixer, then the fixed panels also drop off and leave you with the old adjustable toolbars. That would help those with sight issues and also those who prefer the extra working area. Col
I don't have a vision problem, but still prefer maximum space to see the chord chart for live gigging. I just discovered this 2014 upgrade a few minutes ago. My first reaction, before hearing any of the demos, was the amount of stuff at the top of the screen that I don't need or want to see. That's a downer for me. Hope there's a solution for that.
We are adding a patches tab to the Mixer, that displays the patch names in as large a font as possible.
Keep in mind that the previous version (BB 2013) displayed a single tracks' patch name on the main screen, in a small font. This version lists all track's patch names
Also, the last version had no text for most buttons, so there was nothing to squint to read. This version has text for all buttons, and it is the same point size as typical windows buttons.
There is the ability for us to make different skins of this GUI in the future, and a 'easy to read' big font version would be one consideration. Though it is hard to please both sides - "make the toolbars smaller" and "make the toolbars easier to read"
Thanks a lot Peter for looking at this issue. I really appreciate it as I would think many with less than perfect eyesight do on here, your desire to help everyone.
I understand that it is early days yet and more changes are in the pipeline via updates.
In my posted attachment of 2014 a lot of the buttons are missing, perfectly understandable considering that I am using 1290x960 resolution at 150% diplay magnification on windows 7. As long as there is an alternative way to do a certain thing if a button is not able to be shown through a menu or right click then I'm more than happy. The ability to add/remove buttons would be a great help too.
Maybe a "switch to classic GUI view" if it was not too difficult to implement, might be one of wishlist items for people like me who sort of knew and even liked the old GUI.
Thank you very much Peter for all your help and your great software.
I'm running 2013 so I have not seen the new GUI yet. I guess this may have already been mentioned but what about being able to add your own toolbar options according to need? Some prefer this or that while other may not want this or that etc. Customisable toolbars? I know for myself there are many buttons I never use cause I don't understand them yet?
I'm running 2013 so I have not seen the new GUI yet. I guess this may have already been mentioned but what about being able to add your own toolbar options according to need? Some prefer this or that while other may not want this or that etc. Customisable toolbars? I know for myself there are many buttons I never use cause I don't understand them yet?
That also is in the pipeline for future Update delivery.
There is the ability for us to make different skins of this GUI in the future, and a 'easy to read' big font version would be one consideration. Though it is hard to please both sides - "make the toolbars smaller" and "make the toolbars easier to read"
My eyesight is perfect but I'm also having trouble reading the new GUI An easy to read big font version would certainly help
With the next patch (build 376, out later today or tomorrow), we added a feature where the "patches" tab of the mixer (ie press the Patches tab of the mixer) will show the patch names in the largest font possible. That's helpful to read the patch names.
Peter, in looking at your screenshot, why is there anything in the three unused tracks? They say Not Used, Not Used and the Soloist track says Empty. All have a patch name assigned. I noticed this earlier and forgot to ask about it. Where is the patch names coming from if that song and style are not using those tracks? If they're not part of the style why is there anything there at all, shouldn't those tracks be blank until the user decides to add them? To me it clutters up the mixer and causes confusion.
I did not receive my hard drive yet but can anyone please clarify this for me? Does the "chord chart" in the new gui have smaller font than 2013, and if it is can it be adjusted larger?
I did not receive my hard drive yet but can anyone please clarify this for me? Does the "chord chart" in the new gui have smaller font than 2013, and if it is can it be adjusted larger?
Thanks,
Font is about the same size when opened at he default settings, but we also have the same options we've always had in Custom dialog, to set fontsize ourselves selecting from a list of various Font sizes. You can make the Chord symbols larger.
Once you get the program and install it, start a new post to find out the exact commands to do that if you can't figure it out.
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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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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)
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