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Hi All Here is my April blog post. I definitely bit off more that I could chew with this one... any comments and feedback is appreciated. Options for mastering your band-in-a-Box album
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Another great blog Joanne. Lot's of good information and with your conversational style of writing, everything is easy to understand.
A few comments about Audacity. A shortcut to silence up to the intro is to select that area and hit ctrl-L keys. Very fast. At that point I may move the cursor to the edge of the selected area and the cursor will change to a pointed finger and I just drag the selection back to the point I want to delete the leading silence.
You may want to experiment with the method I use to normalize audio in Audacity. I select the entire track and select the compressor and lightly compress the entire track. I use the default settings for 1:5 compression. After compressing the stereo track, while the entire track is still selected, I select normalize and normalize the track. This results in normalizing the peaks down rather than upward. This appears to raise the overall volume more cleanly due to the compression lowering the peaks so the volume can be raised without raising the track noise floor...
Also, according to how a song begins, I sometimes select and use the fade in option to ease an abrupt beginning of a song. I do this before I delete the silence so I can experiment and choose the best fade in volume.
Audacity has some pretty nice plug ins and is quite a useful program.
Charlie
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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PG Music Staff
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 408 |
Great post, Joanne! Mastering is definitely something that needs a bit of demystifying and you do a wonderful job! I love the spreadsheet idea -- I never would've thought of something like that.
Will - PG Music
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Thanks Will and Charlie. Will post your comments to the blog if thats okay.
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Thanks Will and Charlie. Will post your comments to the blog if thats okay. It's ok with me. Never a problem with me for you to repost. I think what you're doing is great and helping numerous people around the world. I'm just riding your coat tail... You do all the work. Charlie
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Joanne,
Thanks for this easy to read guide...its a well thought out blog. I still go into a fog trying to understand some of the terms, but you held my attention and someday I`ll be back to the baby steps of the subject!
Robert
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Journeyman
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Hi Joanne,
Great teacher,I did a a quick read down through this guide and im listening to both your song its time.The Izotope version I know is wav but its clearly better to my ears than the landr mp3 (which was good until I played the Izotope option).Just wondering what your method or work flow on the lead vocals as they are so clear,Do you use Nectar.I got a song sung and am happy with the voice but getting it hard to be clear.
I bought the music bundle last month and am totally hooked as you said.
Im going take a more detailed look at your post,Thanks again and this guide is very much appreciated.
P.s love the song
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Joanne,
Thanks for this easy to read guide...its a well thought out blog. I still go into a fog trying to understand some of the terms, but you held my attention and someday I`ll be back to the baby steps of the subject!
Robert Thanks Robert. Glad to help and please shout if you need any more info
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Hi Joanne,
Great teacher,I did a a quick read down through this guide and im listening to both your song its time.The Izotope version I know is wav but its clearly better to my ears than the landr mp3 (which was good until I played the Izotope option).Just wondering what your method or work flow on the lead vocals as they are so clear,Do you use Nectar.I got a song sung and am happy with the voice but getting it hard to be clear.
I bought the music bundle last month and am totally hooked as you said.
Im going take a more detailed look at your post,Thanks again and this guide is very much appreciated.
P.s love the song Hi Hugh. Yes I didn't pay the $9.99 for the wave from Landr (I probably should have!) but I think the MP3 gives a good idea anyway. I am using Nectar for my vocals now but back in 2013 when this was recorded I did not have it. In fact I did not have much at all! This was recorded with a cheap dynamic mic via a mixer plugged into the microphone jack on my computer! Hit and miss processing was done with standard PG plugins.
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Joined: Jan 2013
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Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 114 |
I've just seen your notes on mastering. They are so helpful. Thanks for helping bring some demystification into all this stuff.
I always think your material has a nice production. How about another article but specifically on mixing - saying a bit about how much compression and reverb you used on tracks. Obviously there's no standard approach - but it would be good to know which tools you used and why.
Thanks again for all your shares.
Regards
Phil
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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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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®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
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