I do not know enough about MIDI in general yet to be able to comment on how much functionality RC has that may already be present in BIAB. For me it just seems a lot easier to use (but still a bit quirky!) And there are features like chord suggestions, chord progression library and riffs/phrases library that really help a self-taught musician like me. But many of these features could be easily added to BIAB (hint, hint, hint!)
The RC user songs in the area I linked tend to be classical or other instrumental. I have been unable to find anything comparable to the showcase here where lots of folks create songs in lots of styles most with vocals and additional instruments played live.
My interest has been in creating a track or two in RC for my BIAB songs. Honestly, BIAB is still by far my go to tool when I want to generate complete songs with several tracks that do not sound computer-generated.
I do not know enough about MIDI in general yet to be able to comment on how much functionality RC has that may already be present in BIAB.
You don't need to know that much about midi to work with these midi phrases in the piano roll window.
Biab also has a piano roll window. It's the icon that looks like music rolled up with some notes next to it. click on that and a window opens that looks a lot like the RC window that's shown in that link you posted.
Pick a midi style let it run then stop and open Biab's piano roll window. Pick one of the chording instruments, piano or guitar and look at it. Biab tends to use one or two bar phrases. Hit the spacebar so the song starts playing and watch what happens in that window. You'll soon see the repeating phrase playing until the next chord or style change happens. That's what I'm talking about. Biab generates phrases similar to what RC is doing.
But this is midi only, not RT styles.
What's cool about what I'm seeing in those examples of the piano roll is the different editing you can do. Without boring you with lots of detail, Biab lets you do some of that but it looks like RC has very flexible midi editing especially the ability to grab an entire phrase and change it.
As I'm typing this I realize I'm going to pick this up, I can see the possibilities and we have our friend Pipeline to give us the finer points, as long as he goes easy on the coffee and slows down his writing style a little...<grin>
As I'm typing this I realize I'm going to pick this up, I can see the possibilities and we have our friend Pipeline to give us the finer points, as long as he goes easy on the coffee and slows down his writing style a little...<grin>
Bob
I bought the full version to get the Melody Generator, Idea Tool and some other enhancements. But I have not used these enhancements to any significant degree yet.
I agree about Mr. Pipeline! I'm gonna have to send him a fruit basket or some chocolates or something to keep him happy and helping us out around here. Right now he is going too fast for me but I hope to catch up and learn something soon!
So this way you can save your phrases with the keyswitches in them, so no matter where you place your phrase on the chord track it will play the same articulation.
I will get it all worked out first myself and do a Tutorial.
Articulations (Full Edition Only)
Articulations specify how individual notes are to be performed within a phrase or passage.
Articulations are described in an editable text file with .rcCTRL extension in one of these locations: Windows: C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\RapidComposer\DB OS X: ~\Documents\RapidComposerV2\DB
Each library or virtual instrument requires such an .rcCTRL file that defines the possible articulations, arranged in groups.
An articulation can be a key-switch or a controller value change or both. It can be assigned to a phrase, or individual phrase notes, or even a track can have its default articulation.
E.g. if you open “Garritan Personal Orchestra 4.rcCTRL” you’ll see that there are articulations with just key-switch or controller change or with both as in group=“GPOSoloStrings”; articulation=“Legato”; keyswitch=“C-1”; ctrl=68; ctrlval=127;
Explanation: “group”: articulation group “articulation”: articulation name “keyswitch” (optional): specify keyswitch note as note name (C4=MIDI note 60) or MIDI note number (0-127) “ctrl” (together with “ctrlval”, optional): MIDI controller number (0-127) “ctrlval” (together with “ctrl”, optional): MIDI controller value (0-127)
The author will gladly help to create an articulations definition file, assuming there is a specification.
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!
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.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
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