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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
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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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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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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!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
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!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
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!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
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.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
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!
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