Ooh look-a wish list! A plea! I bought 2017Everything and the $40 Forte. Biab works great with realteacks styles which i love. But i had real trouble getting forte to work. It seems unless your in The Know, you are on your own. Apart from thexwonderful help on the forum. Even so i only got forte to work by trail and error and lots of total reinstalls. Can you imagine hw long this took. Now the same thing is happening trying to get Hi-Q to work with it and so far failing. Im spending way too much time trying to get the program i bought to work rather than make music and this shouldnt be right. My plea. If your gonna include stuff in bb it should be plug and play, not have to have computer knowledge about paths and "vst isnt a dxi, dummy" (why should the laywoman user even care?) and have to KNOW exactly where to go, what to click in midi drivers and so on. OR-A video tutorial for Dummys would be perfect or a picture guide giving step by step instructions on how to comfigure a new BB so they BOTH actually work and together would be nice.All anyone needs to know is- do this,do that,click exactly this and exactly that and it should work. Never assume prior knowledge-im a singer not a computer programer. Me? Ive only got a few days left before my money back promise runs out and if I cant suss it out(and I'm not a dumb blonde) Im going to invoke it. WendyM PS-for some reason I have file manager on this note-its not on every one Ive tried to make. So please look and see how far Ive got and what I do next to ADD sforandzo if its THAT easy. I suspect youll be talking in tongues again. lol
BiaB2022PLUS,927. every extras pack I can find ;-),Sonar7XL,Win 10
"Im spending way too much time trying to get the program i bought to work rather than make music and this shouldnt be right."
Now I remember !, that's how I ended up stuck in this forum, I got Biab/RealBand to make music but found so many problems that needed fixing and found a lot of things that needed to be added to make it easier to use, so yearsssss later I'm still here chipping away at it lol.
I agree with WendyM on the need to keep things straightforward and simple. As a long time BIAB user, I still only know the very basics. I sequence songs and play live. That’s it. For my purposes, that’s all I want or need to know----i.e., a basic, professional-sounding backing track for live performance. If BIAB failed on a gig, I wouldn’t know where to start looking. I have little interest in clicking around on a computer. The less, the better. So, PG Music, please keep the plug and play options available, as the program grows and gets more complicated.
I agree with WendyM on the need to keep things straightforward and simple. As a long time BIAB user, I still only know the very basics. I sequence songs and play live. That’s it. For my purposes, that’s all I want or need to know----i.e., a basic, professional-sounding backing track for live performance. If BIAB failed on a gig, I wouldn’t know where to start looking. I have little interest in clicking around on a computer. The less, the better. So, PG Music, please keep the plug and play options available, as the program grows and gets more complicated.
You got it. Its all brilliant if i use the realtracks. But thats only half my BB. I want it all. The midi styles are horible unless you buy the Forte. And thats where the trouble is - I got it and it is assumed i know how to make it work. I didnt and still dont and it took ages and lots of reinstalls before I twigged it. Now the midi sounds much better. So i moved on to sForzando for Hi-Q and again there are no instructions (proper ones for dummys). So I mess about and when it says its in the vst.dxi box all i get is Nothing! Silence. Again its a total reinstall cos i cant get it back where it was. So, how about it PG? a tutorial, idiot specific so I can get what I paid for to work? WendyM
BiaB2022PLUS,927. every extras pack I can find ;-),Sonar7XL,Win 10
You bring up some very important points. BiaB has opened the door of confusion to many people when it comes to MIDI. Many are used to using BiaB with the GM synth that comes with BiaB and GM softsynths are the only so-called plug and play synths that come with automatic presets. That is channel 1 is always piano, channel 17 is a drawbar organ, etc. BiaB does all of the background work for you. Your Forte is GM so it should work after you tell BiaB that it is the GM softsynth you want to use it should work.
But sForzando and Hi Q sounds are not GM compatible. That is you the user must set up tracks and channels. For example you must tell BiaB that you want the bass to play on track 1 channel 3 and the piano on track 7 channel 1, then set the synth up so the bass is on channel 3 and piano is on channel 1. All tracks and 16 MIDI channels are waiting for you to assign them. Note that you must do the above with all DAWs: the process maybe slightly different but the end result is the same-you must set everything up.
Thus I think PGMusic should take the Dummies book strategy and have step by step tutorial/videos for those whom never used MIDI before. This would also include how to replace a GM synth in BiaB. They may already have these tutorials, don't know.
Most all of my music is strictly MIDI, but I only use BiaB as a scratch pad to get the chord progression I want. I move all tracks to my DAW, Sonar, for all of my MIDI work. I rarely use GM as I have sounds that are far better. When you get into MIDI you have to learn a few MIDI commands called CCs and invest some money to get great sounding tracks. BUT I started out like you and everyone else. Go steady and keep learning.
I hope this helped and didn't confuse you too much.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
So please look and see how far Ive got and what I do next to ADD sforandzo if its THAT easy. I suspect youll be talking in tongues again. lol
I assume you have your "default GM synth" Coyote Forte running? That is a General Midi and will play any and all BIAB midi instruments by default. Yes?
Now Sforandzo is a different type of synth and will not play all the BIAB instrument by default. It needs to be actually set up for each midi track you want to use it on. BAIB 2017 was intended to do this automatically, but in the early roll out versions it was a bit funky. That has now been fixed in newer updates. So when you load a Supermidi Track it should automatically assign the HiQ sounds of Sforandzo. If this is not happening then you can still do it manually.
Have you considered having someone logon remotely to your machine to push the right buttons and show you how? PG Support will do this or you can ask here and I or someone else will be glad to "Skype/Teamviewer" in and take control of the mouse to show you how. Once someone shows you how, it ain't so mysterious any more.
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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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 amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
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Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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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.
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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.
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!
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