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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 35
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OP
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 35 |
Thanks for letting me make suggestions in this forum. Most of this is wishes for the UI for people using Band in a Box for the first time and even some experienced users. Mostly these suggestions are centered around the "Instruments and Parts" UI and also include some toolbar and file menu tweaks. This post is a work in progress and might change. Select an Instrument from the drop down: “Instruments and Parts:”Click the drop down then type the number of the instrument works but it is too fast needs a little delay for typing double digits or triple, but this is a excellent start. New: When the cursor highlights the instrument in blue, you then have the option to scroll the mouse wheel up and down the selections. Would typing the letters of the name of the instrument work? Typing the first letter in the instrument name, lets say "G" would show the first instrument starting with that letter, then tap the "G" key again to see the second instrument starting with that letter and so on. Selecting Instruments by CategoriesRight click the drop down and get a context menu for instruments organized by category, make link in this context menu to load more patches. Eliminate the current GM categories button. Master Volume"Combo" changed to Main, Master or Master Volume FavoritesThe F buttons changed to Fav's and Fav changed to Fav's in dialogs throughout BIAB Changing Values:Click in the event windows "Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus etc" and then press the up and down arrow keys on the computer keyboard to make the values change incrementally
1. Hold the Shift key to make them change by 10ths
2. Fully hold down the arrow key and have the numbers scroll by
3. Peck at the arrow key for single digit increments
Click in the event window and type in the value without the added popup window, the popup seemed a little confusing at first because of the size of the text entry area because it looked like if you pressed enter it would start a new line like a text editor does, and not close it like it currently does. Same controls for the rest of the events windows. Lastly being able to tab through the events windows. Panning:Hard Pan: Click in the Pan window and type r for right l for left or c for center, doing this will set the value to -63 Left 0 Center 63 Right. If one of the letters r, l, or c are entered that letter will stay highlighted in the event window until the user either presses the up or down arrow keys in which it will switch to numeric then increment. If the user clicks off the window the number will display and set the value. Another option would be to click in the pan event window and press the left arrow key for full left pan or right for full right and . “Period” for center or Home for center. What do you think? Melodies and SoloistChange "Audio" tab to "Melodies and Soloist" and put in Volume control event window. Add right click feature to drop down menus for categories, make links in context menu to features found in current "Select Melody Harmony pop up window, Write Harmony to Soloist Track, Note Off, No Harmony, Edit Instrument. New Jam! ButtonReplace the Wizard check box with the Jam! button. Make the Jam! button with right click function to edit the loop section settings. I picked Jam! because of the sense of Jamming with the band. New Render ButtonClick the Render button to get the export menu for midi, audio and others currently under the .Mid and .wav buttons. The new Render button will have a right click option to set it either to Audio or Midi so that when it is clicked the corresponding export dialog will be shown. The render button is a graphic of a hard drive "Write to disk" Juke Box PlayerChange text under forward and reverse from Juk to <- Fwd - Rev -> A cool feature might be to right click on the Juke Box button and have BIAB fold down into compact player mode that looks like the Juke box with a little screen that shows what song is playing complete with volume controls and song picker. New Idea for loop recordingHere’s the new loop recording features below, still change the Audio tab to "Melodies and Soloist" with right click menu for Solo and Mute. Make click in “depressable” buttons for the “Embellisher” button, the LoopSec could be possibly substituted with the new loop record feature. Loop Play Reply Button:Play button with more functions “Play – Loop - Replay” Right click the Play button and select either Loop, Play or Replay the button graphic will change to reflect the choice:
1. Play, BIAB will play the song from the beginning or from any selected bar in the chord spreadsheet.
2. Loop Play, BIAB will repeat entire song if no bars are selected over and over, or will loop any selected range of bars over and over.
3. Replay, BIAB will play the song from any given point selected by the user without regenerating the RealTracks.
4. If the Record button is press while BIAB is in Loop play mode the user can either record into the entire song repeatedly if no bars are selected or record into a selected range of bars highlighted in the chord bar spreadsheet area.
Record ButtonWould it be possible to use two interchangeable graphics for the Record button? The Midi record button would be Blueish Gray (Try Red too, thinking about visibility and visual comprehension showing that BIAB is in Record Midi mode) with a five pin midi plug on it when Record midi is on and use the current R.Aud button graphic when Record Audio is on. Transport LayoutSet the Play transport controls in this order | Rewind - Play – Pause – Stop – Record | Play From ButtonRemove the button, the song can be played with the Play button by clicking on the desired bar then click play, or double click the desired bar to start the song from that bar. File Menu LayoutFile | Edit | Play | Render | Styles - Lyrics - Harmony - Melody - Soloist - Notation | GM – Audio – Options - Window - Help Help MenuPut the “Return to Factory Settings” under the Help menu because when we need to do this we need some major help with the program. Saving BIAB projectsWhen saving a BIAB project file a check box option will be present to make a project directory with the same name as the project to store all data for that project in it. Thank you again. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for such a great program, there's nothing like it. Thanks Peter and the Gannon Family! Warren I made a BIAB UI mockup in Photoshop here's the link 
Last edited by SoundHauler; 09/01/09 04:20 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,584
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,584 |
Quote:
Transport Layout
Set the Play transport controls in this order | Rewind - Play – Pause – Stop – Record |
Play From Button
Remove the button, the song can be played with the Play button by clicking on the desired bar then click play, or double click the desired bar to start the song from that bar.
Saving BIAB projects
When saving a BIAB project file a check box option will be present to make a project directory with the same name as the project to store all data for that project in it.
Interesting ideas, thoughtfully and clearly presented. I have a few questions to better understand your ideas:
I was wondering, what is your rationale for the order of the transport buttons?
About 'Play from the desired bar', I do that now with the spacebar. Users of BIAB from the older days remember this as being the default behavior of the spacebar anyway.
About the 'Save' function, how would you handle 'Save with patches and harmony', which is now the only Save button I keep on my toolbar? Also, and you probably know this, your suggestion of a separate folder per song is how SONAR does it now: they create the folder when you create a new song. This system has pluses and minuses; I still prefer to make my own choice, but I go along with SONAR because of all the auxiliary files it creates; BIAB does not do anything remotely like this, but the more complex it becomes, the more it might.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 35
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 35 |
Hello Matt,
Thank you for reading my post
Transport Controls
Rewind Button on the left, follows the left hand direction of the operation and the mental picture of pulling the time line play head back to the start of the song.
Play Button in the middle of Rewind and Pause, it is the center focus of playing the song the main command function the main call to action.
Pause Button on the right because it is a more intermittent action and in this position it is a yield sign for the play direction which is to the right from the play button, it intermittently and temporarily stops the flow of the play button.
Stop Button last, it is a final action or ending action, brings all things to a halt.
Record Button, it is a secondary action to the main function of the main transport Rewind - Play - Pause - Stop, but is highly important and outside the ridged functions of the main transport, the Record Button helps the user add to the song by letting them input their musical style of playing into the song arrangement.
Play From Button Removal
At first new users to BIAB will most likely if they have not used the space bar to start and stop songs in a music program, will look for a button, as they become accustomed to the keyboard equivalents to the graphical aspects of the transport they will most likely use the Space bar to start and stop the song since the Space bar function cuts down on mouse clicks and gives them the alternate rapid two handed play back feature of clicking the desired bar with the mouse and hitting Space bar to play this function helps the user quickly scan through the song for themself or someone standing with them.
Save Functions
When the user Saves the BIAB project for the first time a check box option will be present to 'Save with Patches and Harmony' this will be the equivalent to checking off all the check boxes in the 'Assign Instruments & Harmonies to Song' dialog. If the user wants make edits to the 'Assign Instruments & Harmonies to Song' dialog they can do so by right clicking the Save button doing this will pop up the 'Assign Instruments & Harmonies to Song' dialog allowing edits to these functions. Also the right click feature on the Save button will give the user the option to 'Save Song Save with Patches and Harmony' on a project not previously saved this way.
Create Project Directory
Was thinking the same thing you are, I noticed that when saving and rendering BIAB projects to disk there are the .MGU .SGU .WAV .MP3 and others created , I seen that the 'SongPicker' can scan sub directories, having BIAB projects in their own sub directories maybe ok if a standardized scan sub directories is implemented for these type of features that include building songs list and libraries. The Juke box has the feature to add directory paths maybe it can have a scan sub directories feature too.
Warren
P.S. I really like your music on CD Baby, I haven't checked yet but are you recorded in any of the RealTracks?
Last edited by SoundHauler; 09/02/09 05:12 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 35
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 35 |
Update: Replay brought back out to the toolbar because the Play button has a dual feature to put BIAB into Play or Loop and Replay is not a part of what sets BIAB into Loop Record mode. Play will generate new data, Loop will activate Loop recording features allowing you to record through the whole song or just selected bars by clicking the record button while in this mode. Thinking about if you select a group of bars and press play would it be possible to regenerate RealTrack and MidiStyle data for just those bars? Anyhow hope this isn't too silly Transport LayoutSet the Play transport controls in this order | Rewind - Play – Replay - Pause – Stop – Record |  BIAB is shown in Loop mode for Loop play and Loop Record
Last edited by SoundHauler; 09/06/09 10:28 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2 |
Is it possible to create a feature which by one click could "zero down" all the panning ?
The point is - audio files render with established in BiAB pan settings and maybe problematic in further mix?
Some easy access to setting rendering as separate tracks could be nice as well.
Something like in Realband.
Thanks
Last edited by babai; 09/20/09 09:23 PM.
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Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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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!
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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)!
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-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
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- 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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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