Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 95
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 95
So far I've been quite satisfied with using just one style for Band in a Box, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that it's possible to have different sections within a song using different styles.

I've tried searching for sections in the user guide / online help and on the website, but there's nothing coming up for this. If I search for "part markers", all I get is how to change sub-styles, which I'm doing happily already.

I would welcome advice or links on how to change styles within a song, so you have more than one style in a song, but what I want to do specifically in this case is (after creating vocal harmonies based on the chords in the song - which I've done) is to change the style for the last verse effectively to "none" - no music at all, just the recorded vocal harmonies.

Then just as an adjuct - is it possible to make the created vocal harmonies sound smoother - they sound rather electronic to me!

Thanks


Lyrics rule OK! Fighting for folk and folk-rock...
www.philmaybury.com
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,486
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,486
Hi Digihound

Using midi you can right click on a bar and select Bar Settings - on this panel in the bottom right hand corner you can select bar 1 and the chorus you wish to be silent

Then in the dropdowns on the left you can set the various instruments to Mute

If you then select the Thru feature along the top and add Reverb and or Chorus to suit and this reduces the electronic feel

Also for more info - with BIAB open go to Help > choose Topics search and the scroll to Style Changes at any Bar

Regarding the Harmonies there is not all that much you can do but something that helps is to open Harmony Maker and then hit the Edit button and you will see a column on the right named V. Boost for velocity - if you take this number down 5 or 10 or even more it will soften the edge of the sound - if it shows 5 then take it down to 0 or -5 or -10 etc

jazzman

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,352
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,352
Hi Digihound. Jazzman gave an excellent answer. I would only like to add that what he described, about changing styles, works for the MIDI-based styles. You did not mention if you meant Real Tracks or not, but if you use them, it is more complicated but possible. You cannot change a single instrument from one Real Track style to another within the same song. However, with creative use of two or more instruments and muting, you could simulate the same thing. Real Band or another sequencer opens up more possibilities.

Check out F5 (bar settings) for muting and other options.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,157
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,157
They covered the style change with the "bar settings" answer. I'd just like to mention that you can also use "chord settings" (Alt F5) for other adjustments; shots, holds, pushes & rests can be applied to the style using that command.

Those two, Bar/Chord settings, is where the power lies in creating your backing music with in Biab, IMO. They can change the "feel" of a song and take it to that next level. Get to know how those work and you will be ahead of the curve. Some styles have pushes already in them, but you can use Chord Settings to accent certain beats etc . . . Those two apply to midi styles only in Biab, for the time being.

Biab is a powerful program, once you see what lies under the hood of the thing

Trax

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 95
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 95
Wow - comprehensive answers - thanks guys!


Lyrics rule OK! Fighting for folk and folk-rock...
www.philmaybury.com
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 928
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 928
Quote:

You did not mention if you meant Real Tracks or not, ... You cannot change a single instrument from one Real Track style to another within the same song.






Another R/T item that we are waiting for to be worked out.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
There are workarounds. Lots. Copy the instrument to a solo track and make a new one. Use f5 to mute/unmute. Nema problema.


John Conley
Musica est vita
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Productor Musical
Offline
Productor Musical
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Last week I received my UltraPlusPAK hard disk. I cannot enough express the excitement! Real Tracks and Real Drums pack are incredible and open a mega world of possibilities.
Now and taking advantage of this related topic I have a question about instruments changing into style. Assuming I play a song with a Real Track style of my choice, lets say a PopBalad which have five real not midi instruments. I want to substitute the RT Piano with a MIDI instrument, all right, not problem, I just go to "Assign RT to Tracks" window and check "disable RT for this track (force to MIDI)" . But now I want select an different style ONLY for this MIDI instrument , lets say the piano from Kneelin LA POP Jazz, while the rest of the instrument stay unchanged in the original RT style. Can that be achieved without excessive tweaking? the useful "Make a Hybrid Style" does not work here because it does turn all to MIDI except drums. The only way I got done is by assign in the song the MIDI style where the instrument I want to "import" is, after I have to manually mount each one of the others RT instruments and finally save my custom style. I can´t imagine repeating such procedure each time I want to test only one instrument in order to use it in a RT style, as substitute or like new instrument track. Any enlightenment about? or it is one good for BIAB 2010 wish list?



---------------------
Carlos E. Arellano

www.carlosarellano.com/music

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,352
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,352
One of the first things I tested was to load Real Tracks, then change the style to see what it would do. The answer I found, and I'm happy to be corrected if I'm wrong, is that it makes NO difference. The Real Tracks ARE the style. Select a polka, Chick Corea, or a guaracha as the style and it won't change the Real Tracks. So, to answer your question, you can make one instrument MIDI and affect it by the chosen style, but the Real Tracks will not change.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Productor Musical
Offline
Productor Musical
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Matt, thanks. I am testing and doing how you say but my question remain:

1- I load my song or I write chords from scratch, whatever.
2- assign a Real Track style, this time RT Bossa Brasil Quartet ...
3- I force the RT piano to MIDI.
4- The piano part still as bossa style playing via MIDI in my VSTi. The rest of RT remain unaffected
...all right.

Q: Now, how may I assign a MIDI style to only the piano part (now MIDI) without affecting the others RT instruments style?

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,352
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,352
A. Run your test. I believe you will find that changing the MIDI style will not affect the RT instruments.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Productor Musical
Offline
Productor Musical
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Test done. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but RT style is gone when a MIDI style is loaded in the song, despite some Rtrack is forced to MIDI. Please, check this short video capture of my test

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Yes, using one of the RT styles, which can be identified easily in the Stylepicker by the '-' or '=' sign in front of the stylename, will always reload whatever instruments to the tracks that are placed into that particular style file.

If you make a note of which separate RealTracks there are in that style, though, you can do what you want to do.

First, load the MIDI style that has the Piano you want to use in it. Set the Tempo.

Then RightClick on each of the other parts and choose the RealTrack that was originally there in the RealTrack style.

Do that for each of the other tracks that were in that RealTrack style.

There may be other ways to do this, such as using the Style Editor to make your own RealTrack style that has the MIDI part in it. This would make for fast loading of that style in future songs.

***Don't overlook the use of RealBand here. Export the MIDI style as a Standard MIDI File, then change the BB song to the RealTracks style and export the RealTracks one at a time by Rightclicking on their tracknames and choosing the menu item that creates a separate wav track of the RealTrack. Open the MIDI file inside of RealBand and then import the Wav files one at a time to separate tracks.


--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Productor Musical
Offline
Productor Musical
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Thanks Mac, wow! right now I will do as you indicate. Sound pretty interesting and logical. I will post results.

saludos

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
For Digihound and Carlos:
Biab is great and it is the "flagship" program for PG Music but my advice to anyone relatively new to Biab is to learn to use Real Band at the same time as Biab. RB does so much more than Biab does alone that for me at least I use it almost exclusively now.
Just a few high points: 48 tracks to play with, RB will open a Biab file and generate new Biab tracks both midi and RT/RD, this means you can add multiple Biab tracks to a midi file, you can use multiple styles on a per track basis, multiple Real Tracks/Drums, 16 midi ports (Biab only has one) so you can use multiple synths in addition to the RT/RD's. And for 2009.5, they added the TC Helicon harmonizer if you already have it with Power Tracks.
This is just a quick summary, there's more.
Since Real Band is a full audio/midi recorder it's much better suited for full music production than Biab alone is, imho.

Bob


Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
Productor Musical
Offline
Productor Musical
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,055
jazzmammal you right, thanks for a great advise, I know about Real Band outstanding and devoted features on many specific task. I think Real Band take the relief from Band in a Box hand. However I had delayed a bit my definitive alliance with Real Band because I found it a little buggy in earlier versions. Crashes, ASIO failures, weird behaves and incompatibility with certain hardware devices, maybe some matter related to my hardware, not sure about, I was mainly focussed to BIAB, but I can note now in recent 2009.5 rev. a overall improve in those RB issues, therefore I am starting to use it. Count with my feedback in the meantime. Furthermore Real Band look absolutely tempting!!. Jezzz! please, tell me how I will carry out myself with two addictions? BIAB and RB .........


Gabriel Arellano,
Nucleox Music
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
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.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,342
Posts791,106
Members39,858
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Max Gain, BEAN223, Brazilboyz, doccawudi, StratMan1965
39,858 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
jpettit 351
MarioD 221
DrDan 209
Noel96 153
DC Ron 149
Rob Helms 114
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5