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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673 |
It is my assumption that in BIAB 2015 when in the Style-picker window one should be able to preview/listen to the styles, staying in the same window (not having to re-generate the song each time) to find a suitable style quickly and painlessly.
When I tried to hit the Play arrow in the Style-picker window I was greeted with an access violation the first time and subsequent times with a message saying "Can't play this demo because another one is still in the process of initializing. Wait a few seconds and try again."
Well I did wait a few seconds before trying again. In fact I waited a few minutes before trying again.
And up popped the same message "Can't play this demo..."
BIABguy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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If you hit the green arrow to play, then it will invoke a web demo (which is not the song you are currently working, just a demo song) and NO regeneration is required. If you hit the "Play" button on the lower right of the screen, then it is going to apply that style to your currently loaded song and yes, it will regenerate, because it has to read your chord progression and come up with the arrangement. BIAB starts generating and then begins playing before it has finished (unlike RealBand, which generates the entire arrangement before starting playback).
That being said, I just loaded a song and selected several different styles. I could see the generation in the background, and tried several other styles right after it started playback, with no problems. But that could be attributed to machine differences.
If you just want to hear a sample of what the style sounds like, you can select the green button at the top, instead. That will load a sample file. Be aware, though that the demo button will use your default sound card setting (for example, on my laptop, my internal card is my default, but I have BIAB set to use my FastTrack Pro. Normal BIAB playback occurs through the FastTrack, but the demo files use the laptop's internal card, because it is default).
I would suggest maybe restoring default settings, resetting your sound choices and trying again. I do know it works correctly here.
Also, keep in mind that real styles with soloists (rather than rhythm accompaniment) takes longer to generate.
And I made the assumption you are using RealStyles, as MIDI styles generate immediately with no latency.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 343
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 343 |
Well you learn something new everyday....I knew you could play the demo's with the green play button or use the solo or band buttons but was unaware of the play button in the lower right corner...I'll have to look for that one and give it a whirl...Thank you..
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673 |
If you hit the green arrow to play, then it will invoke a web demo (which is not the song you are currently working, just a demo song) and NO regeneration is required.
... Be aware, though that the demo button will use your default sound card setting (for example, on my laptop, my internal card is my default, but I have BIAB set to use my FastTrack Pro. Normal BIAB playback occurs through the FastTrack, but the demo files use the laptop's internal card, because it is default).
I would suggest maybe restoring default settings, resetting your sound choices and trying again. I do know it works correctly here.
Thanks John for your help. The Style-picker window has always been the Achilles heel of BIAB for me.  I know the style I want (in my head), but after re-generating dozens and dozens of songs just to test out styles, I almost always come up short with a suitable style. I would like to stay in the SP window and just sample the sounds there, QUICKLY. I don't care about the chord progression. Just the styles please Ma'am. Right now my system isn't complying with BIAB. I hope you can help me with this. I have no problems whatsoever playing .mp3's, CD, audios, videos on my system (WinXP), you name it. But wouldn't you know BIAB throws a fit when I try to listen to the styles demo'd in the SP window. The error message is first: Need Media Player 9 or later, then can't play demo, another is still in process of initializing. TIA
BIABguy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
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Well, that's it, then. If you don't have WMP 9 or later it isn't going to happen. I'm not at my XP PC so I don't know what I have, just that it was the latest version available. WMP can be updated separately from Windows. I believe you can do it from the WMP Help menu.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673 |
Well, that's it, then. If you don't have WMP 9 or later it isn't going to happen. I'm not at my XP PC so I don't know what I have, just that it was the latest version available. WMP can be updated separately from Windows. I believe you can do it from the WMP Help menu. Thanks for helping out Ryszard. I made it a point to say I have no problem playing any audio/video that's thrown at me with my system. BIAB is the only program that throws a fit if it doesn't see its preferred media player. In the past I have tried to relent, I have actually tried to install Windows Media Player! Current versions too! But every time I do so, my system balks and the installation fails. Go figure! So WMP 9 or later is not an option for me.
BIABguy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,124
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Just wondering though is there an option to play the basic style over the chords in your song and at the same timing without actually loading it into a song?
Web demoes are fine and all that but I personally don't find them a good indication of how they might sound in a song of my own.
Take the situation where you have found a style that you quite like, but haven't saved the song and want to audition other styles over your chords and at same time (without web demo) they I find to get a good indication of how it sounds I have to load it into my song, amd in the process maybe forgetting the name of the other style that fitted quite well.
I know that I can go to recent styles and all that, but would be nice to load just basic style into song without changing the phototype.
The text that appears over the play button lower right in stylepicker says "listen to style before loading it" but I can see it does load in main biab GUI.
Musiclover
Last edited by musiclover; 04/30/15 03:28 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944 |
Yes, windows media player is required for Band-in-a-Box. Of course it comes that way with Windows, already pre-installed. So you'd have to go out of your way to remove it. It isn't the windows media ** player** per-se that is required, it is underlying functionality for decoding and processing wma files that goes away if you de-install it. It would be analogous to ripping out the entertainment system on a new car, because you dont need it because you prefer your iPad. And then finding that some unrelated other things get broken in the car 
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673 |
Yes, windows media player is required for Band-in-a-Box. Of course it comes that way with Windows, already pre-installed. So you'd have to go out of your way to remove it.
Ironically I am using an audio-optimized version of WinXP. All the non-essential stuff (just music-related essentials) have been removed from the installation. You say WMP is required for BIAB yet BIAB plays its midi and audio files perfectly on my system! Only when trying to use this demo feature in the SP window do I have audio problems with BIAB. It isn't the windows media ** player** per-se that is required, it is underlying functionality for decoding and processing wma files that goes away if you de-install it. Yet strangely enough, all the other features of BIAB work on my system (as mentioned above).
BIABguy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673 |
In the past I have tried to relent, I have actually tried to install Windows Media Player! Current versions too!
But every time I do so, my system balks and the installation fails. Go figure!
I must make one correction here. A version of WMP does live on my system, I just checked. It is v.2. (mplayer2.exe) It's a great version BTW! I just recorded some new songs last night in Reaper (.wav) and tested one out now in WMP v.2 and guess what? It played PERFECTLY. But as I mentioned before I cannot upgrade this version to newer versions. If PGMUSIC can make the guts of BIAB work (midi/audio) as it does on my XP computer, without forcing users to use WMP, they can certainly make the Stlyepicker demo feature work also. This ain't rocket science.
BIABguy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
Veteran
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Well, I could be wrong, but I doubt they are going to try to make BIAB work on any flavor of XP going forward, since it is no longer a Microsoft-supported operating system, and in your case, a [presumably] third-party modified version of XP.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
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I ran into the same issue in 2011 upon first returning to BiaB. My preferred media player was WinAmp so I deleted Windows Media Player only to find out I needed it for BiaB demo files. Microsoft will let you download the last version of media player, 11, that works with XP but you have to have service packs 2 and 3. ++ HERE ++ is a link you can follow to download Media Player 11.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 673 |
Microsoft will let you download the last version of media player, 11, that works with XP but you have to have service packs 2 and 3. ++ HERE ++ is a link you can follow to download Media Player 11. Thanks for the heads up Jim. Earlier today, on a whim, I tried to install WMP 11. It failed, as I expected. But then I tried WMP 9 and lo and behold it installed! I had previously tried many of the earlier versions and none would install so I eventually gave up. So after that I fired up BIAB and tried the SP window demos. I am happy to report they work now!
BIABguy
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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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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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 PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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