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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 55
Enthusiast
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 55 |
At the old age of 74 I embraced MIDI in the 80`s for many reasons. I use BIAB for what I do now. The important thing is the audience not other musicians. My private instructor years ago told me " I never made a penny from a musician ". That has always stuck with me.
Chuck
Chuck
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Last year (version 2015), I was awarded two Everything Paks so I had one of them shipped to a Folk Musician friend in California.
She doesn't use it because "It's too difficult to learn!" Some don't want to take the time required to learn the proper use of their tools.
I've personally been using BIAB for over 15 years and only use 10% of the program's capabilities. The recent addition of video tutorials, along with the YouTube videos by subject, have helped me, a novice musician, to learn more theory and more complex features of the software. So its a case of getting back what we are willing to devote in terms of learning.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
She probably means something like: "There are way too many possibilities. I can't decide what I really want: the sounds, the rhythms..."
Two years ago I told a friend about the program. He said, he doesn't need it: "I'm recording backing tracks if I need one." Half a year later when I met him again, he said: "In music school I had to deal with the program. I'v bought the ProPak." Now he sees the value in rapid prototyping.
The EverythingPAK is probably too versatile -- if one doesn't know about BIAB yet.
Have fun.
Guido
P.S. Don: Did you receive my postcard?
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
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
At the old age of 74 I embraced MIDI in the 80`s for many reasons. I use BIAB for what I do now. The important thing is the audience not other musicians. My private instructor years ago told me " I never made a penny from a musician ". That has always stuck with me.
Chuck
LOVE that quote Chuck! That'll be my mantra from now on when other musicians challenge my use of backing tracks...
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
Last year (version 2015), I was awarded two Everything Paks so I had one of them shipped to a Folk Musician friend in California.
She doesn't use it because "It's too difficult to learn!" Some don't want to take the time required to learn the proper use of their tools.
I've personally been using BIAB for over 15 years and only use 10% of the program's capabilities. The recent addition of video tutorials, along with the YouTube videos by subject, have helped me, a novice musician, to learn more theory and more complex features of the software. So its a case of getting back what we are willing to devote in terms of learning.
Don, you should encourage her to transfer the license to somebody else then. I hate to see something of value sitting in the closet of somebody who is too lazy to explore its potential.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
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
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,497
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,497 |
Hi, Richard !:))
I just wanted to tell you that I have
so far only met with people that are
most impressed by what the software
can do (me included !!!) From when I
started to use BIAB people that have
listened to my covers or own songs have
been most positive in every way. This
goes for both musicians and non-musicians
alike ! :))
I do not have a fancy studio, I have my
laptop and my zoom H4n and occasionally,
when my good music pal Rabbe comes over to
record, I get to use his stereo mikes, but
the equipment we use is othervise the same !:))
BIAB is just simply fantastic and I still
cannot figure out how it really does the
magic (but that is probably part of the magic ?)
so......
I can play the guitar fairly well
and that has helped me a lot in pickin´out
chords for the virtual musicians I have
"under the hood" ! I think my friends
know that I could never have the money
to do these tunes if I´d had to pay
for live musicians to back me up, nor could
I have been likevise productive if I had
been restricted to my guitar playing !:))
So far I have not run into anyone
that has´nt admired this software !
I think I have even got myself a small
circle of "fans" that like to hear what
I have been able to produce with BIAB !:))
If I would encounter someone not liking
this software, I would certainly invite
him/her home and show him/her what the software
can do, but if he/she would not accept my invitation
I would not pursue it more ! As has been said,
everyone has the right to his own opinion and
I do not feel that it is up to me to start
fighting over the matter !:))
Cheers
Dani
PS
I have this habit of sending links to covers and tunes I have produced
to people I know or have met in various situations and the reactions
afterwards have always been good !:))
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 226
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 226 |
I think people assume they are more responsive over different styles than they actually are. Biab showcases many styles and because I have studied the Biab demonstrations when I listen to the actual artists. I have typed real artists into Rhapsody and Spotify and listened for what is different. I many cases I am surprised at how well the styles do reflect what that artist is doing.
Our country USA idea of freedom is do everything from scratch but in reality none of the real producers do that. But people are so phobic to what ever their exposure to music is that they don't want to give that up to expand their horizons and enjoy all music. How come more Biab users don't post reviews on KVR. The review on their is kind of up your alley for this conversation.
Also many styles have subtle tricks and I have the classical pianist and the tempo always came out at 120 BPM which is too fast so I would always slow these down to where i could hear every individual note so I could hear 32 and 64 the clearly and it is amazing how these slow speeds change a mood and no one ever talks about things like that but they have increased my patience and changed my ability to hear.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,108
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,108 |
...
Remarks were predominantly negative. One guy said (with a cyber-sneer) that "programmers aren't musicians." Another said that "if people can't [compose and arrange] by themselves, they shouldn't try." Only a handful felt that it might be worth looking at, let alone useful.
Huh?
...
And right there, you hit the nail fair and square on the head. People write anything they want and make it sound like a factual statement. We need to be incredibly selective in how we interpret these comments. Talk is cheap. My 2 cents Trev
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109 |
actually, the PGMusic programmers ARE musicians!
I think that's part of the reason why BIAB and RB have made more sense to me than any other music making software.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,610
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,610 |
actually, the PGMusic programmers ARE musicians!
I think that's part of the reason why BIAB and RB have made more sense to me than any other music making software. +1 !!!
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,725
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actually, the PGMusic programmers ARE musicians!
I think that's part of the reason why BIAB and RB have made more sense to me than any other music making software. +1 !!! Great point, no doubt a major reason why this whole thing works for other musicians. Later,
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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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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!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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!
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