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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213 |
Hi I am just familiarizing myself with BiaB. I am through the initial woods where you can't do one thing and it seems like it might be 6 months before anything is accomplished. But I am having a little fun with it already. I have no regrets at all on this purchase. And I have not even worked with my Real Tracks that will arrive in the mail maybe in a day or two.
Anyway I am learning about the markers. I just started a chorus. A beginning and end to it. But I think right after that all the bottom went dark gray. Not sure how to turn that white again.
Also so I put 3x on the chorus. I will have to see what maybe after I end a verse it will go back to that chorus again? And I don't have to copy and paste it down again? Then there is a bridge I may will be putting in my songs also. I will have to find out if there is a marker for that.
I still haven't found out what A and B is. When would I use B on a marker? I will keep reading in hope I will find this information out. Unless you can quickly let me know.
Now so far I did use my Chord Wizard on some of my favorite songs I sing. Send them over to BiaB and had a little fun trying out some midi styles. They have some real nice sounds on some of those styles. Trying a lot of Bossa Nova. Latin stuff. A couple styles trip up a bit. I won't be using those.
I was wondering though just putting one big chord progression in without any markers and you put a style on it. BiaB won't actually be creating you something with consistent musicality through would it? Say when it hits a second verse after a chorus without the markers telling it that this is another verse it may do something a little different than what it did on the first chorus right? And this is why we have the markers so it will intelligently apply the style to each verse and chorus in the same way?
Ok That is it for this post. I hope you can answer what you can. I should just keep it to one question I guess instead of adding too much.
Thanks,
Sly Ruby
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,607
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Veteran
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,607 |
All the questions you asked are in the manual. If you don't have a manual, you can call PG Music and order one. It would take a long post to explain all of your questions. Check out the help menu also. Later, Ray
Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,832
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,832 |
Ruby,
In BIAB talk, a 'chorus' means once through the song (it's the classical definition of the word). It's not a chorus in the sense of verse-chorus.
What you should do, is to have a look at some of the PG Music videos. If you go to Youtube and type in Band In A Box, heaps will appear!
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213 |
There is a real manual on BiaB 2014? An actual soft cover book? This has more information in it than the help files? Sounds good if it is cheap enough. Too bad they don't send it with my 809 dollar order. It should come with the deal. Yeah well we will see if I get any replies to my question. Probably 100% of the question are in the manual. In that case we can just shut down this forum now and never ask a question again lol. But I will take your advice. I am looking at the help files now. This all takes time. I like to rattle off a question to read someone's occasional type happy answer. They may have a better perspective than the manual. Ok back to my research.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,030
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,030 |
Helllo Slyruby,
As regards the display and chorus when doing a song some people go into edit, and click to "unfold to one big chorus" then the whole song will be on just a large number of bars, no coming back to do second and third chorus.
As regards those grey little part makers lines on your chord sheet, some people love them, I find them them very off putting and a distraction, so if you go into preferences and click on display there is a box there to untick "new line for every section" But if you like them just let it be.
hope you enjoy your new toy.
Musiclover
Last edited by musiclover; 12/06/13 02:58 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213 |
Thanks MusicLover, I think next time I see that I will uncheck that box for a new line. Seeing too much gray and wasted space might be annoying. I don't have that chord sheet with the bottom half all in dark gray anymore so I don't know how that would effect that or not. If it happens again I will see what it does.
I am checking into this Chorus definition. I was thrown because I thought they referred to a chorus as usual, Verse, Chorus. Maybe their has always been a couple meanings to that word and this is the other one I never heard about. Thanks for the reply. I thought there would be some answers instead of the classic go read reply lol. That is a good idea is to study but also to ask a question and get an answer from a real person is great. That is why there are forums. I am not going to let people slow me down on asking questions.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,030
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,030 |
As Noel says the videos are very good too.
As regards the manual it needs to be totally updated with a proper search facility, type something in that you want to know and a whole lot of stuff will properly come up that is totally unrelated.
I would think if someone bought a copy of biab that never had the program before, who doesn't really understand basic chords, and you gave them the manual and told them to read how to use it there, then both would be handed back to you with the response "That is far too complicated for me".
But on the other hand if they buy a copy of biab and you tell them to ask how to use it on the forum, within a very short time and without many questions asked they would be up and running.
Musiclover
Last edited by musiclover; 12/06/13 04:16 AM.
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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
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
The Band in a Box program is a lot like picking up a new instrument and attempting to make music with it.
Like the Guitar, it can be remarkably easy to get something basic out of it, but all too soon it becomes apparent that the new owner has to spend some time daily with the new instrument, learning and practicing to get more out of it.
Band in a Box program is exactly like that in many ways.
BTW there *IS* a manual there, look in the bb folder for the .pdf manuals. Likely that you will have the full .pdf manual for an older version at this time, but there should also be the 2014 upgrade manual as well as the 2014 New Features manual. You can view these onscreen and also print out by page if necessary to have a hard cheat sheet while learning and working.
Forum member and longtime BiaB user, John Conally, now deceased, used to like to point this out from time to time to new users - He used to say something along the lines of, "If Band in a Box could be mastered in a few days' time, it wouldn't be worth it."
This program is Feature-Packed. There are a host of possible commands that simply cannot be learned in a few quick sessions. But it is possible to create songs from the beginning, but likely as you learn more and more, you would probably want to revisit those first songfile creations at a later date and do some editing on them using newfound features and skills.
I always recommend opening the Main Stylepicker window and highlighting any one of the Styles that may sound interesting to you, use the button at top right to Load Demo Song onto the main BB screen. Close the Stylepicker, hit the Play button, and watch the Chord Sheet as the song plays, noticing how the experts at PGMusic have invoked different things for different purposes. I still spend some pleasant time every year at every new release repeating that with the Demo songs that show off the new RealTracks, methods, etc. - and it is a fast way to find out some pleasant surprises without resorting to pouring over a hard copy manual.
Before too long, you should be able to use many of the controls located in the Band in a Box "cockpit" - and that analogy is very true. Even though we now enjoy the new GUI, which really helps to eliminate the notion that you are sitting in front of the controls of a 747 for the very first time, all those controls are still there somewhere (mostly in the menus across the top) - and every one of them is there for a reason.
Take your time, do a little each day, before too long you should be on here answering the questions of others rather than asking your own.
Have Fun,
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 273
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 273 |
Regarding the manual, I was told by Customer Support that a printed manual can be purchased from PG Music for $10, and that the printed manual for BIAB2014 won't be ready until early in January.
I'm not sure how updated (from previous versions) the overall manual will be for BIAB2014 though.
Kawai VPC1 MIDI Controller; Asus A53E Laptop running Windows 7 - 64 bit; BIAB 2017 UltraPlusPak (upgraded from 2014 EverythingPak), running from Laptop's Hard Drive.
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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
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
I'm not sure how updated (from previous versions) the overall manual will be for BIAB2014 though.
Well, since the GUI is completely new, I'm guessing that old screenshots will have to be replaced in order to show things as they now are done, as well as a lot of rewriting or editing of the text for the same reason. --Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1 |
Helllo Slyruby,
As regards the display and chorus when doing a song some people go into edit, and click to "unfold to one big chorus" then the whole song will be on just a large number of bars, no coming back to do second and third chorus.
As regards those grey little part makers lines on your chord sheet, some people love them, I find them them very off putting and a distraction, so if you go into preferences and click on display there is a box there to untick "new line for every section" But if you like them just let it be.
hope you enjoy your new toy.
Musiclover
Thank you musiclover! Those grey part markers were making me loony!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 49
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 49 |
A quick question. Why are some of the bar numbers within a box with red bordering ? I am looking for an explanation, but no luck so far. Just some of the measures, and there isn't any pattern. I will keep looking.
Thank You
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,672
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,672 |
Also, note that you can change the width of the grey divider lines in the Display tab under Options. I have mine set for 2 pixels, so they are not so jarring.
Also, red boxes around a bar number indicates that a change has been made at that bar location using the F5 key. So just select the bar, hit F5, and you should be able to see what changes have been made.
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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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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Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
Join the conversation on our forum.
Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll also keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
From overviews of new features and walkthroughs of the 202 new RealTracks, to highlights of XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAKs 18, the 2025 49-PAK, and in-depth tutorials — you’ll find everything you need to explore what’s new in Band-in-a-Box® 2025.
Reference this forum post for One-Stop Shopping of our Band-in-a-Box® 2025 Mac Videos — we’ll be adding more videos as they’re released!
Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until July 31, 2025! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Mac 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.
If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us directly—we’re here to help!
Band-in-a-Box 2025 Italian Version is Here!
Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.
Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.
Band-in-a-Box 2025 - Italiano
RealBand 2025 - Italiano
Band-in-a-Box 2025 French Version is Here!
Bonjour à tous,
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music
Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:
BIAB 2025 - francisation
RealBand 2025 - francisation
Voilà, enjoy!
Band-in-a-Box 2025 German Version is Here!
Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!
Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.
Stay up to date—get the latest update now!
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