Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 24
T
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
T
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 24
I typically love the Solo's PG comes up with. The only problem is they are written as if the Soloist is the end-all be-all, the instrument with the spotlight. I write music typically with vocals. It would be nice if there was a way (other than Holds and Shots, which don't work very well with Real Tracks and wouldn't be 'correct' anyway) to have the Soloist be informed in what bars a vocalist will be active so the Soloist picks it places to shine, and when to shut up or tail off. That sounds POTENTIALLY more like a RealTracks thing where we could mark in the timeline sections where we would like the Soloist to be active and the regenerate, but it might also be a BB thing as well?
Paul

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Try RightClicking at the bar, pick Bar Settings, then use the selective Muting where appropriate on that solo realtrack.


--Mac

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 178
A
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
A
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 178
I agree with Paul that this would be a really nice feature. Back in the pre-realtracks days I thought (briefly) that this was exactly what PG had delivered when they added a feature called 'Soloist Play Around Melody' (or something similar). I assumed that this meant the soloist would not stamp all over the melody line and would also hopefully play something that was in sympathy with the melody notes. As it turned out this feature was actually something else altogether (I can't remember what now!).

I realise that, even in the Midi world, the feature that I was hoping for would have been really complicated to deliver, and now that we have moved up to Realtracks I suspect that it would be almost impossible. (The 'real musician' would need to record an almost infinite number of phrases to work around all possible melody phrasings).

I try to address the issue by generating multiple 'takes' of the solo wav files and then comping them together in my DAW. (Sometimes tweaking the results with Melodyne). This is a really painstaking process and is still not always succesful but quite often achieves pretty good results and occassionally achieves brilliant lead licks.

The other approach which works pretty well is only using the soloist for intro & middle 8 sections and not during the verses and choruses. This tends to work better for up tempo songs where there is not so much 'dead space' between the sung lyrics.

On the other hand PGMusic never cease to amaze and delight me with their new features so maybe they have got something up their sleeve to deliver exactly what we want!


If I hadn't seen such riches I could live with being poor.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 24
T
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
T
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 24
Both good ideas and I'll try both.

I'm going to go out on a limb and propose something that might tail into this. One of the other limiting factors in BIAB is that you only have a limited set of 'players' in the band: Bass, Drums, Piano, Guitar, Strings, and Melody. Yet there are times when I'd like to have the choice of additional players without having to fudge around like Aubrey and I have, creating multiple files, etc.

What I would suggest (for now) is something like a workbook grid that pops up that allows us to enter something like:
---From-- ----To---
Instr Bar Beat Bar Beat Relative?
365 1 1 1 4 Y
365 12 2 13 3 Y

So, for example, the first line would mean 'play the "Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking, EV 085" from Bar 1 beat 1 through bar 1 beat 4 and from bar 12 beat 2 through bar 13 beat 3, or using time stamps would work as well.
Then BIAB would do it's best to only play during those bars/beats ONLY without having to mute other bars, etc, and would assume in it's algorithm it should start and stop elegantly for this time of instrument.

The "Relative" column with value of 'Y' would mean 'shift the bar and beat markers according to edits done by the user.'

Something like that! :-) Cludgey but it might work...

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 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.

Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.

Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!

Season's Greetings!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!

The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.

Team PG

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window

In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

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®!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,797
Posts796,284
Members39,959
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
MirabelConnell, Rohde, Dobrnjac, MaxxFV, jwagner51
39,960 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 185
Noel96 122
DC Ron 109
rsdean 104
dcuny 102
DrDan 97
Today's Birthdays
gbasedband, Will.I.Am
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5