Did you know about RealTracks Medleys? They are special groups of RealTracks that play in sequence. This tutorial shows you how to make your own medleys with the RealTracks feature in Band-in-a-Box: youtu.be/xzJBMmyCzoU
When it comes to Medleys, we don't stop there! With a previous release of Version 2008, we added a feature to Band-in-a-Box called the Medley Maker. This feature is great tool if you are wanting to make a medley of various songs you've created with Band-in-a-Box!
Inside the Medley Maker, which is accessed through the Song Form [AABA] button (the one with the pencil), simply select the songs that you want, and Band-in-a-Box will make the medley for you. A medley is not simply joining songs together - a good medley uses a "transition" area between songs to introduce the new style, key, and tempo. The Medley Maker automatically creates a nice transition area for you, writing in chords that would smoothly transition to the next song, style, key, and tempo!
Just my opinion, but I don't see that the 255 bar item is in any way related to the Making Medleys topic being discussed.
The maximum number of 255 bars is in place for any and every song, however created. The discussion here is centered on Making Medleys.
If you need more than 255 bars for your medleys, just use multiple choruses, like the designers intended.
However, if you need more than 255 bars for any one chorus, then you could add the request (again) to the wishlist
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.
I just don't know a song that has "one" chorus with a length that prohibits it to be used in a medley. Yes if a medley consists of ten songs each with more than 25 measures in average there might be a problem...
It really depends on the choice of tunes for the medley. But the way I see it, there is a very small chance to be stopped by the 255 bar limit. How high is the percentage that the average user with the average medley is affected? In at least 80 percent of all medleys there no problem. In at least 80 percent of the remaining 20 (16% in total) there is a creative solution to make it possible. That leaves a (calculated) maximum of 4 percent of medleys that might be affected.
Maybe somebody has a valid example where it does not work.
The 255 bar limit is a problem for me for the following reason.
I often play keyboard for gatherings, parties etc and would like a way of stringing together a couple of dozen songs so that I can play continuously for a long time with no breaks in between. e.g. I play literally dozens of songs as background music for a Xmas dinner. In theory the Jukebox does this (each song has it's own 255 limit) but it has one major flaw, that has been discussed many times. If it gets stopped in the middle of a batch of songs you cannot just restart the Jukebox where it stopped.
When I saw this thread on creating a medley I thought - great, the problem is now solved, I don't have to use the Jukebox but unfortunately the 255 limit still applies to the total medley.
Yes, I see it now. Creating a medley is limited for 255 bars, you then can repeat the medley using a number of choruses. So the same 255 bars get repeated over and over until the last iteration is reached.
That is again a topic for the wishlist. A wish that is probably hard to fulfill since it might tackle the current file structure. Just the wild guess that the number of bars is written into one (!) byte giving 256 unique states. To have more than that this status byte needs to be expanded to at least two bytes, allowing 65535 bars per song.
I'm positive that PGMusic will address this when the file structure has to be modified in one way or the other. Then there must also be a converter routine to correctly interpret and write legacy file formats.
One possible way to increase past 255 bars is to use Real Band It has had Medley Maker since 2011 and no 255 bar limit:
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.
One possible way to increase past 255 bars is to use Real Band It has had Medley Maker since 2011 and no 255 bar limit:
It does have some issue with the 255 bar limit and BIAB RT generations. There was a seriously long discussion thread about a year ago. I'm not sure how it would apply to the Medley Maker limit.
A related hidden feature I've found using the Song Medley tool is as way to match incompatible elements within a single song project.
Because the Medley Maker can repeatedly use the same song in the Medley Maker song list and access defined measures of that single song, change tempo, change key as well as include/exclude a list of 7 song elements, and apply these to individual chorus's; Plus you can have transitions from 0-16 measures between each 'song'.
Setting the transition to -0- has no gap between the songs so BIAB plays that transition the same as if it were a Part Marker.
The Medley Maker also creates a unique SGU file to play the Medley and so it's non-destructive to the SGU file made to use repeatedly in the Medley Maker tool.
It's one heck of a powerful single song arrangement tool...
Here's a link from the Songwriter forum where I used the Medley Maker to do with 'songs' what BIAB couldn't do within a single song because BIAB played each 'song' as if it were a Part Marker.
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
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 new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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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 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
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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