|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23 |
A bit of a newbie question here. I searched the BIAB 2014 pdf manual for "half time" and "cut time" but couldn't find any results.
When looking for a style and selecting from "Best RealStyles" for a given song, it's really helpful the way BIAB lays out the various RealStyle options available categorized by even and swing 8ths and 16ths... Does anyone know of a way to see the half-time/cut-time style options, or is there a way to alter a style so that it plays in half time instead of the standard 4/4? A lot of folky/country tunes I play have a feel of 2 beats per bar instead of 4, not 2/4 but 2 half notes.
I've tried using bar settings to set 2 beats per bar in measure 1 but this causes broken-up playback for some reason.
Is there a menu where you can select 2/2 for the time signature. This could be a solution. I just haven't figured out where you can do that.
Thanks in advance for any advice...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,864
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,864 |
I don't use cut time or 2/2 so I'm not 100% sure what to say.
I do know that I am able to go in to a measure and change the beats per measure from 4 to 2. I've done that on a measure by measure basis where needed in a song.
I don't know if there is a global command to apply that to the entire song. I would think there should be.
Hang on, someone else who does know more about this will chime in shortly.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,566
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,566 |
If you use F5 in the first measure to change the number of beats per measure to 2, it will hold until you change it. If you don't change it, it holds for the whole song. But that's 2/4 not 2/2.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
That was my inital idea. If you want 2/2, you need to play a 2/4 and adjust the length of the melody notes to fit the new time signature as well as the beats per minute need to be adjusted.
Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23 |
Thanks for your help, guys! I will try that. I'd been thinking that setting the # of beats per bar to 2 would produce more of a faster, more intense, 2-step kind of 2/4 feel rather than the lighter and more sparse 2/2 I was looking for.
I'll play around with some styles and see what kind results this generates.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,566
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,566 |
That's a good approach. I'm not sure you will find one method that always works. Better to experiment and see how each style and/or RealTrack & RealDrum responds. One other variable to play with is in the Edit menu, where you can double or halve the length of the song. I think you'll have more luck with this and tempo changes than with 2 beats per measure.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23 |
I appreciate the tips, Matt. Thanks a lot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,273
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,273 |
edwardjc:
You said "A lot of folky/country tunes I play have a feel of 2 beats per bar".
I've found the same thing.
If you're after something to which you can do the two-step, try these:
C_2STEP
TEX2STEP
-TEX2STP
-TEX2ST2
If you're after something with a "2 beat" feel, try these:
ANCHORS
C_2BT-SW
CASHLUTH
CTRFST16
TRAVEL
TWO_BEAT
BOUZOUK1
ETHFAST
BODID1
CLASHIN
ISRAEL
MISSJH1
POLKA3
RAYCH2
RIDERS
ROK2BEAT
SCAND1
TZENA
C_TEX_SW
BLUEGRAS1
I haven't previewed these for awhile, I just found them on an old list I had of when I was looking for something with a "2" feel. It looks like I probably just typed "2-beat" (without quotes) into the Style Picker filter to get them.
Good luck!
LLOYD S
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23 |
Thanks so much for those lists, Lloyd! This will be a huge help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,199
Posts801,872
Members40,065
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean