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Playing or writing songs when drunk or on psychedelics has nothing to do with my point.
Steroids can give an inferior athlete the ability to beat a superior athlete. That's what my analogy was all about.
And I can think of a number of singers who can't sing their way out of a paper bag without auto-tune. It's not that they are inferior singers, but not singers at all, Taylor Swift, Ke$ha and so many others.
I heard the Britney Spears cut that was smuggled out of the recording studio before auto-tune. In the entire song, if she hit two notes on pitch, it would have been a coincidence. If you wanted an audio definition of either tone deaf or sour notes, that would be it.
And EQ, amplification and other FX are not the same thing. Echo, reverb, EQ all recreate natural environments. At one time they used tiled 'echo chambers' for the same effect. If you hit a note a half step flat, no EQ or other FX will fix it, only Auto-Tune or a competitor.
I mentioned Bob Dylan, probably one of the worst singers in rock and roll history. At least he was honest about it. And I started imagining what Bob would sound like with auto-tune, and I decided, definitely much worse. As bad as Dylan sings, he uses pitch for expression, and that's the only redeeming quality of his performances.
So I'm old fashioned. If you can't sing, you should be a famous singer.
When I hear the auto-tune artifacts, I change the radio station - and can't do it quickly enough.
To me when I hear auto-tune, that tells me that person cannot sing, is a fraud, and is denying the world the plearure an Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Mark Murphy, Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Sheena Easton, Brook Benton, Lou Rawls equivalent a chance at that pop fame - and they are doing it by fraudulent cheating.
Now I know the world isn't fair, and connections have always been more important than talent, but IMHO this auto-tune takes things way too far.
That's my opinion anyway FWIW.
Insights and incites by Notes I find it interesting that you feel so strongly about this yet you sell add-ons to BIAB to facilitate people in using computer-based music instead of hiring real musicians for practice, recording sessions, performances, etc. 
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Taylor Swift might need be a great singer, but she isn't talentless: Taylor on a bus (the music starts at around 1:48). She writes songs that connects with her audience -- what more can you ask for as a songwriter.
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<snip> She writes songs that connects with her audience -- what more can you ask for as a songwriter.
Probably nothing, but it isn't the WRITING that's at issue, it's the PERFORMANCE - I'm with Notes. I play a fair bit of musical theatre (actually opening Phantom of the Opera tonight  ) and I can tell you that there are lots of great amateur singers and performers around who can sing the socks of the auto-tune dependant. Oh, and I do NOT use BiaB to "create" - for me it is primarily a rehearsal tool so my 'bone playing can improve... 'cos it certainly needs it But note, that's ME improving, not my "product" being "improved" by a technological cheat. However, that said, being a great singer isn't the be all and end all. Being a great entertainer IS. Take Kenny G: lot's of people like to bag him out, his pitching on that soprano from hell is often awful, and his circular breathing party trick gets old pretty quick, but guess what - he ENTERTAINS, and he does it well... AND he doesn't use tech tricks to hide the flaws - you can bet he knows his pitching is often off, hell, soprano saxes are notorious for it, but he doesn't try to hide it, he just entertains. On the other hand, while I like a pretty girl as much as the next red-blooded bloke, I WILL NOT watch or listen to the likes of, say, a Miley Cyrus. If these girls must descend to stripping and "twerking" on stage to get sales then I can only assume they are otherwise pretty talentless and therefore not worth my listening time. I would FAR, FAR prefer to listen to, say, Ella Ftizgerald at her worst than these amoral brats at their best.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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.. It's not that they are inferior singers, but not singers at all, Taylor Swift, Ke$ha and so many others... .. Probably nothing, but it isn't the WRITING that's at issue, it's the PERFORMANCE - I'm with Notes. .. So after watching the video you agree that Taylor is not a singer at all. The fact that you guys think that just shows you really haven't taken the time to form an opinion based on fact. Taylor is 1st, a songwriter, 2nd a performer and 3rd a singer -- and she sings better that anyone on this forum that I can tell.
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.. It's not that they are inferior singers, but not singers at all, Taylor Swift, Ke$ha and so many others... .. Probably nothing, but it isn't the WRITING that's at issue, it's the PERFORMANCE - I'm with Notes. .. So after watching the video you agree that Taylor is not a singer at all. The fact that you guys think that just shows you really haven't taken the time to form an opinion based on fact. Taylor is 1st, a songwriter, 2nd a performer and 3rd a singer -- and she sings better that anyone on this forum that I can tell. +1 I'm with Kevin!
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.. Probably nothing, but it isn't the WRITING that's at issue, it's the PERFORMANCE - I'm with Notes. .. So after watching the video you agree that Taylor is not a singer at all. The fact that you guys think that just shows you really haven't taken the time to form an opinion based on fact. Taylor is 1st, a songwriter, 2nd a performer and 3rd a singer -- and she sings better that anyone on this forum that I can tell. That ISN'T what I said. I said that the issue being discussed was PERFORMANCE, and the quality of her writing was irrelevant to that. Just not in quite those words. I don't care either way whether she sings well, adequately, poorly or just plain badly. If she needs Autotune to "sing" a song on key then that's a cheat, BUT singing on key isn't the be all and end all of entertainment. I mentioned I play trombone - you try keeping one of those suckers properly on pitch. One of my worst enemies is habit, especially when I move from one horn to another. E.G. I'm playing a bass trombone for Phantom of the Opera - this is a new instrument for me and I'm still learning its' quirks, but habit from my primary horn (a small bore tenor) has me playing with less than perfect intonation - I'll get there, but it's taking work. Believe me, if I couldn't get it right, WITHOUT technological cheats, I wouldn't get these gigs. Oh yeah, EVERYBODY sings better than me - that's why I play trombone! Speaking of "Phantom of the Opera", our Phantom is being played by Ben Stephens (one of Australia's "Ten Tenors") and he is note PERFECT. Now I know he's a professional, but interestingly "Raoul", "Christine" (2 different women sharing the role) and "Carlotta", all of whom are true amateurs, are also all note perfect, as are most of the rest of the cast. They've worked at it, true, but they've also acheived it, and without technological cheats. But even if they weren't note perfect, they'd STILL be wonderful entertainers.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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The Autotune debate might be analogous to legacy photography vs. digital imaging. In the Olden Times of film, photos were regularly air-brushed to remove flaws. Every magazine and ad agency had an airbrush section in their photography department. Movie posters were airbrushed. Pinups were airbrushed. Ever notice how “soft” some of the female stars looked in old movies in close-ups? That was due to the use of a “soft” portrait lens, which softened hard edges and smoothed out contours. A soft lens, used judiciously with subtle lighting, could make a regular looking person look quite glamorous. You could buy a special soft lens, or you could just smear Vaseline on a standard lens for the same effect.
Enter Photoshop and CGI. With the exception of news photography, there probably aren't any images you see today that have not been manipulated with image editing software. Same with movies.
So, both Autotune and Photoshop/CGI alter the original audio/image. Are they “cheating”, or are they tech that has come to be not only accepted, but expected?
If you are an aspiring artist trying to break into the business, will you choose purity over expedience when your producer says he will be using AT? If you are pitching a song to a producer or artist, will you use AT on the vocal track? Does it give you and unfair advantage to use it, or a disadvantage not to?
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<...snip...> I find it interesting that you feel so strongly about this yet you sell add-ons to BIAB to facilitate people in using computer-based music instead of hiring real musicians for practice, recording sessions, performances, etc. To me that's an entirely different thing. People using backing tracks are obviously using backing tracks and enhancing them with vocals or instrumentals. The lead part, whether it is vocal or instrumental is the focus of what the audience hears, and with automated backgrounds, at least the focus of the product is real. It's like a person hiring a background band - but with today's economics performers in small venues just don't get paid enough money to hire a band. And for example, in the small rooms our duo plays in, they would never hire a large band, and they wouldn't fit anyway, so we aren't putting people out of work. So we have our backing tracks (which I create myself), we both sing, I play sax, wind synth, flute, guitar, and sometimes keys, and Leilani plays guitar and synth. We are performing skills over a track we created (sometimes with the help of BiaB). But as I said, the main part of the product, the focus, the most important part is real. "Singers" using auto-tune are not performing any skill at all, not even singing. They are pretending to sing, and the vocals are the focus. It's like going into a restaurant, ordering grouper, and getting tile fish or snapper. It's also like when Martha Wash (of The Weather Girls and Two Tons Of Fun) sang the lead to CC Music Factory, Black Box and probably a few other groups. The sexy model danced around on stage while the prerecorded Martha Wash voice came out of the speakers - Milly Vanilly like. Martha is quite obese but a great singer. So they have some sexy model/dancer pretending to be a singer - to me that's fraud. And she got cheated out of being credited and the royalties from the record "Gonna Make You Sweat Now" - sued - and created a landmark decision. Taylor Swift might need be a great singer, but she isn't talentless:<...snip...>
She writes songs that connects with her audience -- what more can you ask for as a songwriter. Taylor Swift is a talented songwriter but she isn't a good singer by any stretch of the imagination. She needs auto-tune - therefore she isn't a singer - period. Let her ditch the auto-tune and sing badly Bob Dylan style and I'll show her some respect. Until then, I feel she should write songs and let real singers sing them. That would do even more justice to her creations. My duo partner Leilani is a great singer and a great entertainer, and can sing rings around any of those auto-tune frauds. In my life I've had the pleasure of working with a lot of talented singers. I've heard them practice long tones to stay on pitch, expressive nuances to ornament their music, and listen intently to study what the great singers do and how to do it. I hear Taylor, Miley, Ke$ha and so many others "sing" and it just turns me off. And many of them are like the stand-ins for Martha - pretty faces and bodies doing an erotic dance while pretending to sing. Oh I too like a pretty girl and like to admire her body. But what we have here are soft-core p0rn stars using the term 'singer' to legitimize their act. And I have nothing against p0rn stars, they needs no legitimizing to me. I like to see unclothed and semi-clothed women, but lets call a p0rn star a p0rn star, not a singer. 90db mentioned photo shop. When the supermarket tabloid takes a picture of some starlet and splices in a picture of a young star that they never went out with and prints a story about their hot new romance - that's the equivalent of auto-tune - a fraud. When a cable news station takes the speech of the president, slices it, dices it, and rearranges it so that he appears to be saying the exact opposite of what he really said, that's the equivalent of auto-tune - a fraud. I know it's not going to stop, and it isn't going away any time soon, but I don't like the sound of auto-tune artifacts, I don't like the abruptness of pitch changing, and I don't like to hear someone who can't carry a tune pretend to be a singer. That's my story and I'm sticking to it  Insights, incites and minor rants by Notes
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... Taylor Swift is a talented songwriter but she isn't a good singer by any stretch of the imagination.
She needs auto-tune - therefore she isn't a singer - period. I like how you guys stick to your stories and beliefs -- even when confronted with facts that show the exact opposite. You can continue to believe what you want, but I think you are just misguided when you include Taylor in your anti-whatever stances. Yes, Taylor is not a "great" singer, but to just say she isn't a "singer - period" comes across as ignorant at best and jealous at the worst. Taylor's songs and career are not the enemy of your songs and careers.
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Playing or writing songs when drunk or on psychedelics has nothing to do with my point.
Steroids can give an inferior athlete the ability to beat a superior athlete. That's what my analogy was all about.
And I can think of a number of singers who can't sing their way out of a paper bag without auto-tune. It's not that they are inferior singers, but not singers at all, Taylor Swift, Ke$ha and so many others.
I heard the Britney Spears cut that was smuggled out of the recording studio before auto-tune. In the entire song, if she hit two notes on pitch, it would have been a coincidence. If you wanted an audio definition of either tone deaf or sour notes, that would be it.
And EQ, amplification and other FX are not the same thing. Echo, reverb, EQ all recreate natural environments. At one time they used tiled 'echo chambers' for the same effect. If you hit a note a half step flat, no EQ or other FX will fix it, only Auto-Tune or a competitor.
I mentioned Bob Dylan, probably one of the worst singers in rock and roll history. At least he was honest about it. And I started imagining what Bob would sound like with auto-tune, and I decided, definitely much worse. As bad as Dylan sings, he uses pitch for expression, and that's the only redeeming quality of his performances.
So I'm old fashioned. If you can't sing, you should be a famous singer.
When I hear the auto-tune artifacts, I change the radio station - and can't do it quickly enough.
To me when I hear auto-tune, that tells me that person cannot sing, is a fraud, and is denying the world the plearure an Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Mark Murphy, Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Sheena Easton, Brook Benton, Lou Rawls equivalent a chance at that pop fame - and they are doing it by fraudulent cheating.
Now I know the world isn't fair, and connections have always been more important than talent, but IMHO this auto-tune takes things way too far.
That's my opinion anyway FWIW.
Insights and incites by Notes I find it interesting that you feel so strongly about this yet you sell add-ons to BIAB to facilitate people in using computer-based music instead of hiring real musicians for practice, recording sessions, performances, etc. If you have a problem with people using tracks in live performance (which you evidently do), you might try putting a professional 5-6 piece band together, get some gigs, and then get paid enough to keep the band together. Let me know how that works out for you.  Notes has already explained the economic realities in the market today, but instead of accepting his real world experience, you choose to take a cheap shot at his side business. I fail to see how his dislike of AT has any relevence to his BIAB styles.
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I fail to see how his dislike of AT has any relevence to his BIAB styles. I think the comparison is relevant. Both are the use of technology in the recording/performance world. I think we have cleared up that Taylor does not use AT in a live situation (or at least most live situations). Does she use AT in the studio? All studios use AT. Also in the studio, Taylor can afford to record take after take until she gets the performance she wants. I bet not much pitch correction is done -- but AT is used to get that modern sheen that everyone does nowadays. Taylor does not use AT to cover up the misguided opinion that she can't sing at all -- in the studio or out of it. She uses it to tweak studio things here and there -- and why not? Truthfully, the comparison between taylor and what notes' band does breaks down on many levels (notes said the female in his duo sings rings around taylor, so he made the comparison). Taylor is an ARTIST, Notes' band is a successful cover band. No downplaying here the work and effort and talent is takes to be a successful band, but Taylor is just in an whole other league.
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“I think the comparison is relevant. Both are the use of technology in the recording/performance world.” So creating a BIAB style is the same thing as using an autotune program in performance? OK. “All studios use AT.” I would like to see the reference material from which you draw that conclusion. I think that you may be mistaken. Josh Groban comes to mind, for example. “Taylor is an ARTIST, Notes' band is a successful cover band. No downplaying here the work and effort and talent is takes to be a successful band, but Taylor is just in an whole other league.” Do you think “Taylor” could cover the songs that Notes does? Does she have the chops to play everything from Gershwin to The Miami Sound Machine? "...No downplaying..." I don't know what else one would call it.
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If you are an aspiring artist trying to break into the business, will you choose purity over expedience when your producer says he will be using AT? If you are pitching a song to a producer or artist, will you use AT on the vocal track? Does it give you and unfair advantage to use it, or a disadvantage not to? Nicely put!
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Playing or writing songs when drunk or on psychedelics has nothing to do with my point.
Steroids can give an inferior athlete the ability to beat a superior athlete. That's what my analogy was all about.
And I can think of a number of singers who can't sing their way out of a paper bag without auto-tune. It's not that they are inferior singers, but not singers at all, Taylor Swift, Ke$ha and so many others.
I heard the Britney Spears cut that was smuggled out of the recording studio before auto-tune. In the entire song, if she hit two notes on pitch, it would have been a coincidence. If you wanted an audio definition of either tone deaf or sour notes, that would be it.
And EQ, amplification and other FX are not the same thing. Echo, reverb, EQ all recreate natural environments. At one time they used tiled 'echo chambers' for the same effect. If you hit a note a half step flat, no EQ or other FX will fix it, only Auto-Tune or a competitor.
I mentioned Bob Dylan, probably one of the worst singers in rock and roll history. At least he was honest about it. And I started imagining what Bob would sound like with auto-tune, and I decided, definitely much worse. As bad as Dylan sings, he uses pitch for expression, and that's the only redeeming quality of his performances.
So I'm old fashioned. If you can't sing, you should be a famous singer.
When I hear the auto-tune artifacts, I change the radio station - and can't do it quickly enough.
To me when I hear auto-tune, that tells me that person cannot sing, is a fraud, and is denying the world the plearure an Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Mark Murphy, Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Sheena Easton, Brook Benton, Lou Rawls equivalent a chance at that pop fame - and they are doing it by fraudulent cheating.
Now I know the world isn't fair, and connections have always been more important than talent, but IMHO this auto-tune takes things way too far.
That's my opinion anyway FWIW.
Insights and incites by Notes I find it interesting that you feel so strongly about this yet you sell add-ons to BIAB to facilitate people in using computer-based music instead of hiring real musicians for practice, recording sessions, performances, etc. If you have a problem with people using tracks in live performance (which you evidently do), you might try putting a professional 5-6 piece band together, get some gigs, and then get paid enough to keep the band together. Let me know how that works out for you. Notes has already explained the economic realities in the market today, but instead of accepting his real world experience, you choose to take a cheap shot at his side business. I fail to see how his dislike of AT has any relevence to his BIAB styles. My position is simple! If you feel that using backing tracks enhances your performance, then by all means use them! Likewise, if you feel Autotune enhances your performance then use that too! Use whatever you like in your music and if you are able to find a market for it (or even if it simply gives you joy) then that is a home run! But when you embrace one technology to enhance your own performance while labeling artists who choose a different technology as "frauds".......
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Lots of interesting and valid points of view being expressed here... though I wish the H word would remain absent from the discussion. No need to attack a friend when he has opinions we may not share. What I think is interesting is that intelligent and analytical people can come up with very different conclusions about a topic. In the end, we make choices based on our own individual preferences... and debating such topics is a lot like debating whether chocolate or vanilla is better. Having said all that, here is a clip I haven't seen posted yet, but may be the one to which Notes made reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sET9NYIA5tAto be honest, the more I listen to this clip, I hear artifacts that suggest somebody may have manipulated the vocals to make it worse (rather than being an un-edited natural voice)
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Lots of interesting and valid points of view being expressed here... though I wish the H word would remain absent from the discussion. No need to attack a friend when he has opinions we may not share. What I think is interesting is that intelligent and analytical people can come up with very different conclusions about a topic. In the end, we make choices based on our own individual preferences... and debating such topics is a lot like debating whether chocolate or vanilla is better. Having said all that, here is a clip I haven't seen posted yet, but may be the one to which Notes made reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sET9NYIA5tAto be honest, the more I listen to this clip, I hear artifacts that suggest somebody may have manipulated the vocals to make it worse (rather than being an un-edited natural voice) Pat I think that vid might be a fake. Here is a vid of her real singing voice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW-X9zF_S1c
OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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OK, I have a question.
What is "in tune"?
As a trombone player with an easily achieved pitch change, I'm like the string player (without frets), I can play the "right" note in any given context.
But what IS the right note?
Bach wrote works for "The well tempered Clavier" and it is still debatable which temperament he meant.
In the western world we are bombarded with "equal temperament" Every semitone is 100 cents from the next, even though this makes "perfect fifths" out of tune.
On the other hand, musicians who play fretless strings and other easily "tuned on the run" instruments (I guess that really only leaves trombones and singers) most often naturally use a "just temperament" which will make Perfect fourths and fifths "in tune" even though they will not match equal temperament.
SO, when using a tool such as Auto Tune, WHAT IS THE RIGHT NOTE? You will get different answers from different artists who use different instruments.
A piano player will have one answer, a violinist will have another. Often singers will have different answers again... There are so many temperaments that, even though by convention we usually use even temperament, most musicians prefer some form of just temperament.
Try this example: I really enjoy listening to the harmonies that barbershop quartets achieve - I reckon a good barbershop quartet is awesome harmony wise. Why? They sing "just temperament" is why. IMHO Autotune would break a barbershop quartet.
Then you have the singers who use "vocal gymnastics" to the same extreme that AT has been used and that many of us find so objectionable. To me, the vocal gymnastics is the singer saying "What is the ##^$@%$&#$@ note?"
So how does AT answer "What is the ##^$@%$&#$@ note?" and is it truly musical?
So I ask again: "What is "in tune"?"
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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So I ask again: "What is "in tune"?" MAC woulda had a clever and theoretically correct answer for that. (I don't) Mac? Now would be a good time to come back...
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"What is "in tune"?" I always thought it was A/440 Hz. Of course, it may be different for a trombone, but it's always worked for me.
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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.
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