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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812 |
Greetings,
I'm trying to create an MP3 master file for my ipod. In the past, I would use the Audio menu>Create Audio file command. However, now when I try to create an MP3 file, its very confusing, it actually creates a second compressed WAV file, it no longer says MP3, and I can't use the Lame converter, also it seems to crash BIAB, I get various error messages, I've never had this issue before, but I admit it's been a few months since I've tried to create an MP3. What is the difference between Compressed Wave-MP3-MP4? What file type is best in terms on sonic quality? I would appreciate any tips! Thanks
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2015
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 297
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Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 297 |
+1 But depends what you play it through.
I read a bit about this and the general was mp3,for iPod , iPhones etc..
In general ,hi fi and even I think pc listening...wav.
And car stereo yes wave.
But Pipeline will elaborate on this ,his knowledge is far superior on this than mine.
just a thought
Take care
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
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Joined: Mar 2006
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I cant use WAV files on my live gigs, because I use my ipad and ipod, so for many years MP3 has been my filetype of choice, I'm just wondering what the best sounding compressed or supported file type is best?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2007
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Anything greater than 128 KBps mp3 files are my preference. I always convert to 320 kbps, but lower values work well also. Sound quality is just fine for live gigs.
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
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I found the best WAV to MP3 converter to be CDex (open source - free - but if you like it a small donation helps). Years ago, when HD storage maxed at 2G (with an external Jaz drive - anyone remember those?) I did a double blind test with a few musicians. One I know had her hearing tested recently with no damage. Why musicians? They listen better than the average person. So I set up my PA set behind the test subjects and ran various backing track sequences I created - direct out of the bank of sound modules I used to create the tracks
- uncompressed WAV
- Various bit rate MP3s ripped with CDex always at the highest quality rating (q=0)
I conducted the tests and then switched channels in the PA Mixer so that if one channel had a different frequency response, it would show up. The results were the same even after channels were swapped. I also ran the volume at about 75db A weighted, slow response, because a lot of volume saturates the ear which can hide things. I also used different styles of music from ballads to swing to rock to Caribbean. The results were: - As expected, the listeners couldn't tell the difference between the music coming out of the synth modules and the Wav files
- At 128kbps or lower everyone could tell the difference.
- At 224kbps or higher, for all practical purposes nobody could tell the difference
- At 192kbps they all agreed that there was a very slight noticeable reduction of the highest of high frequencies
Since storage was very limited at the time, I generally play in less than pristine listening environments (clubs, rec rooms, marinas, etc.) I decided on 192kbps, q=0 with the CDex ripper. I'd probably go 224kbps or WAV today, but I stick with 192kbps so the new ones don't slightly out-shine the old songs. Note it was a thorough but non-scientific test, but I trust the results. Also, ripping with anything other than CDex invalidates the results. One more thing, I did not use VBR (variable bit rate) because some of the mp3 players at the time (early 2000s) often had glitching problems with VBR MP3s. I hope this helps a bit. Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 280
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2011
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I use Format Factory from PCFreetime.com to batch-convert anything.
My mp3s are 256K. Can't tell the difference from 320K, and they're relatively small.
Then I use Mp3Tag to write the necessary info to mp3 players.
HTH,
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,505
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A lot depends on the playback equipment and your intended audience.
I have an iPod with 10,000 songs on it that I culled from my extensive CD and LP collection (I'm a music junkie). I rip them for the iPod at 128.
Why? I play the iPod in the car, I call it "Radio Bob". With the road noise I can't hear the finer points of the music anyway, so why waste flash memory space?
I like a variety of music from blues to pop to jazz to Latin to classical (Romantic era to Contemporary) and more. There are no variety stations here, and the single format stations seem to play the same songs over and over and spend too much time advertising (I know that pays the bills). With 10,000 songs in rotation on my iPod, I get only songs I like with minimal repetition.
For listening in my home it's CDs or LPs.
Backing tracks in clubs at 192kbps through my Pa.
So it depends on where and why I'm listening.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,885
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I use the NCH WavePad wave editor. It's free and works well outside of any other program I have running. It trims, normalizes and converts waves to mp3 at whatever final sample rate you want. DL it here>>>> http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/index.htmlI believe, the last time I looked into it, it runs fully open and functional for a limited time. When that time is up, just opt to run it in demo mode. It still trims, normalizes, converts, and saves in demo mode.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 12/11/16 04:41 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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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.
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Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
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)!
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.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 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!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
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