I have faithfully followed the video tutorial on setting up and using VSTs, but am having no luck.
For example, I am trying to set up the "Bass" instrument to run through the Aria Player. I open the "VST/DX Synths/Plugins (synth in first slot" dialog box and select th drop-down for Plugin.
When I scroll to the bottom of the list and select "Add VST Plugin", then navigate to and select "ARIA Player VST_x86.dll", nothing happens. The Aria UI does not appear, and it is not added to the list of available plugins.
However, the "Piano" instrument already shows the Aria Player (and "Coyote"), but none of the other plugins that show up on the "Bass" are present. Maybe they aren't germane to the other instruments?
Anyway, Piano, Melody, Soloist, Thru, and Default Synth all show the Aria Player and Coyote.
Aria player works fine with BIAB. I use it with Garritan Jazz and Big Band. The image below shows how I load the player into the Bass slot of BIAB.
If I understand your post correctly, the Aria player is listed when you click on other instrument slots (those underneath the "Bass" in the above image) but not on the "Bass" track as I show in my image. Is this correct?
I suspect that your problem arises because you have a Realtrack loaded on your Bass track. Try loading an all-midi style (that won't have Realtracks on the Bass) and the Aria player should show up.
The reason for this is because when a Realtack is present on a track, BIAB no longer sees that track as a midi track because the RT is audio. Using the Aria player requires BIAB to see the track as midi since it is a midi soft synth.
Is there some way to save the Aria configuration (aside from as an Aria ensemble)? And is it really using multiple Aria instances, one for each instrument? If there was a way that they could all use single instance, the using the Aria ensembles would make sense.
Placing a single instance of the Aria player in the "Default Synth" slot would allow all tracks to access it. To do this, it's necessary to assign a midi channel and instrument (inside Aria) for each BIAB track so that Aria player can read BIAB's information.
The image below shows the midi channels that BIAB (2015) uses for its tracks (i.e. Bass = 2, Piano = 3, etc.).
I haven't tried this but it seems that once the set-up you create has been saved as an Ensemble in Aria player, it should then simply be a matter of loading it in (with Aria in the "Default Synth" slot) every time you need it. It's worth playing around with.
Thanks, Noel. I'll play around with the Default Synth now and figure this out.
Saving ensembles in Aria is easy and works like a charm. I've used it for years with other software, like Finale and Anvil Studio. And using only 1 Aria instance sure seems more efficient.
Thanks guys my JABB3 is finally working with BB, thanks to you. However on tracks where I have arranged e.g. a 4 or 5-trumpet section, only the top note gets played, so it definitely does not sound like a Big Band.
Is there any way to work around this?
Is it possible to use JABB3 only for selected tracks and let the remaining MIDI-tracks be played via my Roland sound module?
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.
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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
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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!
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!
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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