I also bought the optional 49-pack to go along with it. This ain't my first BiaB rodeo -- I've been using it since 1998. The last version I bought, though, was 2014, and it's been about that long since I've used it, plus I never really achieved any level of mastery with BiaB 2014 -- more of a passing acquaintance, really. Got busy with other things and it got set aside.
Well, I've decided it's time to get busy again and I'm wondering what the best way to reacquaint myself with BiaB, the everything pack in this case with the 49-pack addon, would be. I've been a member of these forums for about five years, but my last series of posts were about three years ago, so I've been absent for a while and my absence corresponds to my lack of use of 2014 as well. Oh well.
I've browsed through some of PG's tutorials and I'll probably start there. I've noticed some posts here about Youtube videos, so I'll probably take a look there too, see if any are worthwhile. I've been browsing through the forums here, but I haven't found much so far -- but I'll bet I'm just not looking in the right places.
Right now, my machine is still downloading the basic core files. I think I'll probably wait on all the others until I have BiaB 2017 up and running on this machine.
So, is there any sort of learning procedure you'd recommend? Just go through all the PG tutorials more or less sequentially? What about info sources here at the forums?
I guess it also bears mentioning that I've collected thousands of BiaB format song files over the years and I use a lot of them as ways to rehearse the music. As for my own work, I compose primarily instrumentals, and my styles can range from classical to zydeco and just about everything in between. One of the nice things about BiaB is it is flexible enough to handle just about anything I can throw at it. But I want to get acquainted with this new interface first before I start to put it through the paces I'll need.
If it was me, I would start by purchasing the Groove3.com ++2015 Band-in-a-Box for Windows Explained ++ video tutorials (or try the monthly all-access pass). Just read the list of videos and I think you will agree the series is presented in a clear, concise manner. I downloaded the videos and use them as a quick reference. Groove3 has numerous video series you may find interesting.
After that I would watch both of the new features video for BiaB & RealBand (RB). That will bring you up to date with what you are purchasing and act as an introduction to RB. Many Windows users overlook RB and how its features compliments BiaB.
Then I would use the collection of song files you have. Start loading songs into BiaB and figuring out how the chord sheet matches what you're hearing.
Finally, select a few of your favorite song files, save them under a new name (so you don't mess them up) and modify them. Experiment, go crazy, have fun!
By the way, welcome back. We missed you while you were gone.
Thanks for the response, Jim. Well, I've started working my way through a couple of tutorials. I may try out the one you suggest too.
But right now I'm struggling with other things. You know, it's all coming back to me now. When I bought the 2014 version, I discovered that my laptop wasn't up to the task. I was getting pops and crackles and drop-outs. It was somewhat slow, with a 1.7 gig processor and only 2 gigs of RAM (with no possibility for increasing RAM capacity). So I bought the one I have now, which has a 2.8gig Core 2 Duo processor and 8 gigs of RAM, plus I'm running a 64 bit OS (still Win7) on this machine.
But shortly after I bought this machine, a couple of things happened. 1) we moved to a new house, and it was a major move that took a long time and a long time to recover from (we'd lived at our last house for 16 years), and somewhere in all the chaos, BiaB fell by the wayside. 2) My desktop DAW's hard drive crashed during the move (I dropped it, POS Seagate!) and I lost everything on that 2TB drive, including my BiaB setup and all the other music software I had installed. I still haven't given up hope of recovering something off that drive, but the desktop sits in a room piled high with boxes full of stuff that I don't know where is gonna go. I have a new 3TB drive for it, but I haven't bothered to reinstall the OS yet.
So anyway, I'm dependent on this current laptop, which, with a 5.9 ratng on the "Windows Experience Index," should be more than capable of handling anything BiaB can toss at it, especially since it handles Cakewalk's Sonar Platinum and Studio One v3 without so much as a hiccup.
But what do I get when I open up BiaB and set the screen to notation mode? Pops, crackles, and drop outs. Say what!? OK, so the song I was trying to play was pure MIDI, so I go and take a look in preferences at the MIDI settings. They all looked good to me. So, to reduce overhead, I closed all other programs. This helped a lot, but there was still the occasional pop, crackle, or drop out. They were most likely to occur when the music reel reloaded the screen with four more measures. A curious thing began to happen, though. The longer I let the tune play, the fewer glitches occurred. It was almost as if BiaB was healing itself. Well, fine, I think. As long as it stays healed. But there's the rub. It doesn't. When I load a new tune, I have to go through this mess all over again.
I can't afford another laptop --and I feel that this one should be able to handle BiaB anyway. I'm gonna find a tool that will help me clean out the registry of junk, which I'm sure there's a lot of. And I'm currently in the process of offloading a bunch of files just so I can continue with installing the rest of BiaB. Frankly, I'm stunned that I'm having to come up with another 170+ gigs of space (that's what the BiaB installer is telling me I need). I've never in my life dealt with another computer program of any sort that required that much disk space for a full install. Even the Win7 OS doesn't require that much space!
So anyway, if this problem continues, then I guess I'll have to get busy setting up and configuring the DAW again. And turn my back on the POS 2 TB Seagate. And hope I don't have the same problems with it!
The EverythingPak is fantastic software. From the description of your current lap top, it should do the job.
If you are still having "pops and crackles" issues, try the following....
1. Right-click on the chord sheet.
2. Select "Song Settings".
3. Activate the option that says "This song has playback problems, disable fast generation" as shown on the image below.
Let us know if it helps.
Regards, Noel.
P.S. Pops and crackles are sometimes due to antivirus software double-checking everything that BIAB does. Try entering into your AV software setup and then exclude the \bb folder from checking. This often helps.
"A curious thing began to happen, though. The longer I let the tune play, the fewer glitches occurred. It was almost as if BiaB was healing itself."
I seen this myself. Doesn't this have to do with the way that BIAB loads and buffers the song initially versus RB? Wouldn't disabling fast load in BIAB help?
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 Windows or for Mac.
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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean