I feel bad, because the first reply is not a favorite thing, but an 'un-favorite thing'
Not to be negative, but to offer constructive feedback
This is my most un-favorite thing about BiaB. That menu that you get when you click on the mixer.
I started using BiaB in Atari days. I now use it in Windows 10 days - but I still have very little idea about what to expect from this particular menu. It needs a lot of work. Sorry.
Suppose I have a style with RealTracks, and when I click (Right or left) on the Guitar Track (note the track) I am presented with one single menu - with no categories or sub-items - that gives me options to select "a Hi-Q MIDI Synth Patch" or "Select MIDI patch" or "Freeze Strings Track" or "Select Best Chording RealTracks" or ....
I click on a track in the mixer and I get no fewer than 25 options - Many of which have got absolutely nothing to do with the mixer!!!! (sorry, was I yelling? I apologize).
Now before you slam me because you know it already, just imagine I'd like to hear a Flugel Horn on this track. I presume that the Mixer will allow me to find a Flugel Horn or a Sax. Imagine I am a brand new user, and I am confronted with this 'Menu' with a plethora of single-item options that only the original coder could really understand. Where would I start? Are you with me?
This menu needs a lot of work. It is full of ambiguity, descended from a lifetime of new features that have been 'tacked-on' without any real thought as to how to best deliver functionality, but to 'just put it here'.
Sorry Andrew that the first response to your post is not a 'favorite' feature, but this Menu gets me every time. If it gets me, I have to figure there are a lot of others who it gets as well. Users who use it once - and don't come back (are you with me Peter?)
Let's work together to deliver a better product. Incidentally, I've offered to help support PGM products previously, but there's been no follow through from the other side.
Only doing my best... I'm actually on your side.
Click on 'Guitar Track' in the Mixer and see if you all really intuitively follow all of this:
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.
Thank you for your post! We appreciate all feedback, especially of the constructive variety
Removing menu options can be a sensitive endeavor. It seems for every customer who dislikes an option, there is another who loves it! Perhaps we can come up with a happy medium, such as a “Simple” and “Advanced” menu structure so you’d see only the most basic options unless you specified otherwise. Definitely something to ponder!
Thanks again,
Last edited by Alyssa - PG Music; 08/25/1611:42 AM.
I've given this specific suggestion some thought over the decades. In some programs that "beginner/average/expert" choice works, protecting novices from themselves. But I don't see it working here - we need it all.
One easier-to-implement option as mentioned would be to make submenu pull-outs. Have a menu option for MIDI, another for RealTracks, and list only the categories within each etc. The resulting screens would be a lot less overwhelming. That sort of change.
And if you haven't viewed VideoTrack's short video of GUI suggestions, you should.
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.
One of my unfavorite behavior of Mac's BinaB is opening/starting a " new " project.
When I am finished working on a song ( which i prefer to call a project ) and select " new " from the drop down menu the instruments used in the previous project are still there.
I find that most disconcerting.
Why can't we have a drop down menu that allows us to select " close " song/project ?
And then when we select " new " give us a fresh start with the default instruments ( bass, piano, drums ) as well as the default style. The same as when we first launch BinaB.
Removing menu options can be a sensitive endeavor. It seems for every customer who dislikes an option, there is another who loves it!
This is indeed true but this is the realm and challenge of the GUI designer! I strongly feel PG should hire or consult with an experienced User Experience (UX)/User Interface (UI) designer in order to significantly improve the products. We are way past the days when programmers design interfaces by simply adding yet another option to an already enormous list of options.
An even better example of this would be the Preferences dialog. When this dialog displays it is quite complex (and confusing). And then you see there are 30 buttons that each open another complex dialog!!! As a power user I admit to loving that PG has included all of these options BUT I must also say I can almost never find what I am looking for in this complex set of dialog boxes. And I suspect 80% or more do not need to be so easily available. Maybe a panel with common preferences and then something really deep like the current one.
But an experienced UX/UI designer would be a great place to start!
Another " unfavorite things " is the " plug-ins " setup/preferences.
The other day i set up an AU plug in to play the BASS track and another AU plug to play the PIANO track in a song.
Now every time i open a song that AU plug in plays although in the Patches pane ( extreme upper right hand side ) shows Acoustic Bass and Acoustic Piano and in the Plugins pane it shows NO plug-in.
I selected plug-ins and set the BASS and PIANO tracks to none. .
Those two plug-ins still play.
I find the " preference " settings for plug-ins somewhat misleading and more complicated then it should be .
Yes, reconfiguring menus can be challenging, and there will be a 'please some of the people some of the time' moment along the way, but as JJJ mentioned, that is the job of the design people, and, well, if it needs fixing, it needs fixing.
Your acknowledgement is appreciated.
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.
And of course one of the things you CAN'T ever do appears in the menu - if you have an RT track to begin with you CANNOT substitute a midi instrument in. Ian
Old Guys Rule.The older I get,the better I was! BB2023 ULTRA, 1013, Win 7 and 10
Another " unfavorite things " is the " plug-ins " setup/preferences.
The other day i set up an AU plug in to play the BASS track and another AU plug to play the PIANO track in a song.
Now every time i open a song that AU plug in plays although in the Patches pane ( extreme upper right hand side ) shows Acoustic Bass and Acoustic Piano and in the Plugins pane it shows NO plug-in.
I selected plug-ins and set the BASS and PIANO tracks to none. .
Those two plug-ins still play.
I find the " preference " settings for plug-ins somewhat misleading and more complicated then it should be .
Sorry for answering my own posting however i wanted to post:
Problem solved although somewhat crude approach.
I started by going to Library/Audio/Plug-ins and moving my AU and VST plug-ins folders out ( to my desktop ) then launching Mac 2016 BinaB which effectively forces BinaB to redo the AU/VST plug-ins.
When i re-launched BinaB all was OK and then I moved the plug-ins folders back.
I'm sure Mac BinaBox gurus as well as PG tech support may have a better solution and would like to hear those suggestions.
I'd really like to see a NEW Audiophile PRO+ Version made available
..., where Audio files were offered in 24 bit.
I'd also like to see this proposed NEW Audiophile PRO+ Version ..., To also include a DRY TRACK OPTION
- ie; DRY track versions also offered for the realtracks ..., (DRY meaning - a bare bones audio track with No FX added to it)
- ie; Minus their already added reverb and compression etc , giving users the ability to instead add their own 3rd party FX in their own preferred flavour via both the BIAB FX slots , or In a DAW
This would enable (proposed future BIAB 'Audiophile PRO+ version' users)
- access to higher quality 24bit audio samples that would better survive the audio mangling and mashing that goes on within a DAW .., like file conversions, time stretching, adding FX etc .
The Dry Tracks suggestion would ................,
- Create a better 'all round' end result to your mixes , by allowing the user to sit the instruments in the mix where they like , (and not where BAIB pigeon holes' it to be) ........,
This means ....,
- the amount of reverb also not only creates a sense of space (eg: size , like room, hall, cathedral etc) - it goes further than that by giving its own uniqueness to what type that space actually is and the materials contained within (wood , stone etc). - Reverb can be special FX also , like plate reverbs , tube reverbs , reverse reverbs , pre-delay adjustments , Dry vs Wet signal blending (or using FX sends) etc .
...,and most importantly by adding your own reverb to a DRY audio track enables the producer to place emphasis on giving the listener an idea (ie; attention or focus) to where the instrument actual placing is within the sound field. - All the above applies to compression FX also.
This placing could be either being up close and personal, through to being further back in the room , and all points in between.
I think it would be great to allow the user to decide where this space and place and feeling need to be in their mix .., all this can be done without placing a finger on the volume fader, and turning up that fader will only increase volume and not increase that vocal or instruments presence and focus point in the mix.
... , rather than having to force all the other added elements of your mix (like your own added vocals, or recorded instrument tracks) to BLEND to the pre-determined BIAB mix .., all that possible power and uniqueness is lost with the current method.
Last edited by SFG; 10/09/1606:09 PM.
My Specs Computer : Mac Pro (late 2013) - OS Yosemite 10.10.5 Processor : 3.5 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon E5 Memory : 64 GB 1866 MHz DDR3 ECC Graphics : AMD FirePro D300 2048 MB Interface : Avid Mbox 3 Pro DAW : Pro Tools 12.6.0 (64 bit AAX)
I was going to mention to you in the other post to use the DI Direct Input Option in RealTracks as it gives much more control and diversity with vst's like Amplitube and Guitar Rig.
I really like the Dry version release idea. That would give users greater flexibility with mixing their own.
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.
24-bit would be nice, though older RealTracks would not be able to take advantage of the added resolution since they're all recorded in 44.1/16-bit.
I love the idea option of more dynamics. I know it's used a lot for DVD and Blu-Ray audio. For someone releasing audio on CD, it will be downmixed to 44.1 16-bit and need to be dithered anyway. Even some popular compression formats won't do 24-bit.
Just genuinely curious about the final media format you would use for the 24-bit output.
Note: I'm not the development team, and if this hasn't been mentioned yet already, it should be posted in the Wish List forum if there is genuine interest in this feature.
24-bit would be nice, though older RealTracks would not be able to take advantage of the added resolution since they're all recorded in 44.1/16-bit.
I love the idea option of more dynamics. I know it's used a lot for DVD and Blu-Ray audio. For someone releasing audio on CD, it will be downmixed to 44.1 16-bit and need to be dithered anyway. Even some popular compression formats won't do 24-bit.
Just genuinely curious about the final media format you would use for the 24-bit output.
Note: I'm not the development team, and if this hasn't been mentioned yet already, it should be posted in the Wish List forum if there is genuine interest in this feature.
I assume your statement, "older RealTracks would not be able to take advantage of the added resolution since they're all recorded in 44.1/16-bit" is true for ALL RealTracks and RealDrums currently released since their Audiophile wave forms are 16/44.1. Is that a correct assumption or were some of the master files recorded at a different setting?
Multiple high resolution standards were released in the 1990s including SACD, DSD, DVD-A and Blu-Ray.
Download the pdf file available at ++ Mastered For iTunes ++ and you'll see Apple suggests songs to be uploaded at 24 bit / 96Khz to be "future proof" against changing standards.
Crutchfield.com has a recent ++guide ++ guide to high resolution audio.
As stated earlier, most sample libraries are 24 bit or offer both 16 bit and 24 bit selections.
I hope that at the very least PG Music considers having the RealDrum and RealTrack master recordings to be tracked at 24 bit depth and 96 Khz sample rate for when the market is ready for higher quality recordings.
"24-bit would be nice, though older RealTracks would not be able to take advantage of the added resolution since they're all recorded in 44.1/16-bit. "
Older ? I wonder how old before higher bitrates were used 2009, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 ?
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
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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.
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.
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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
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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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)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
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