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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 274
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 274 |
Hi folks, Im just coming up to the end of my first year with this beast and have loved and hated it (in equal measure) the experience especially the massive learning curve. I got enough of them of my own! But Im geting there and writing backers for my songs that I never though possible January time.
Somy question is - any ideas what will be in BIAB2018 and wether its really worth it to shell out £100+ each year now for what are probably/possibly only Add-Ons?
Sorry if this sounds ashallow request but Im not sure how else to put it.
WendyM
BiaB2022PLUS,927. every extras pack I can find ;-),Sonar7XL,Win 10
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,108
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,108 |
Wendy, A good question you have asked, and one worthy of consideration. As a rule, every time a new version is released, it contains significant new features and improvements. New functions, RealTracks, MIDI tracks and more. Typically 50 differences are identified. Bottom line: wait, review the new features and decide for yourself if the upgrade is beneficial. It's not mandatory of course. I've upgraded every year, but that's always been purely my choice. Historically, the annual upgrade has been available in early December (just in time for Santa  )
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,168
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,168 |
Hello Wendy,
I am sure that a lot of us ask ourselves this question, "will I skip biab this year"
I have done this myself but then when its released and I see all the new stuff, I just have to buy it and its a great BUZZ to have the latest edition on my computer.
Actually as I am not sure what pak you have got, but I take it, it is the Ultra pak, then you can usually buy the downloadable Plus Pak upgrade for $99 £70-£80, usually 6-7gb nothing too much over a decent broadband connection. Of course the 49 bonus pak can add to this if you want it. And you don't have to pay any courier or import duties either
I worked out a few years ago,say if someone was to skip biab upgrade for a year, but then decided to upgrade the following year, they would only have saved a total of $30 £20-£25, as yearly upgraders get a more favourable deal.
have to say I am looking forward to biab 2018.
Musiclover
Last edited by musiclover; 10/19/17 04:49 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,808
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,808 |
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,108
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,108 |
Another thing to entice you to upgrade is that the price is usually heavily discounted for a short time after the new release announcement.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 274
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 274 |
Yes I have the UltraPlusPack and the extras packs that came with it and since. In fact i think ive used those extras packs and some of those clever re-mixed Styles packs more than the ones that were on it when I set it up. If that makes sense.
Im not known as Mrs Patience lmao but I guess i'll just have to sit on my hands and see what any prerelease info comes out. As it happens I bought my BIAB in the December and AFAIR I didnt get any money off as it was a firsttime buy.Cant remember. However I'm really looking forward to seeing whats on offer this time.
WendyM
If theyve fixed RT1278 (synth)from being so horribly jerky and asthmatic Id be a happy girland pay the money just for that. Itd be perfect for a lot of what I do, but I have to sub it every time it comes up in a Style cos its terrible.
BiaB2022PLUS,927. every extras pack I can find ;-),Sonar7XL,Win 10
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,062
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,062 |
snip ... If theyve fixed RT1278 (synth)from being so horribly jerky and asthmatic Id be a happy girland pay the money just for that. Itd be perfect for a lot of what I do, but I have to sub it every time it comes up in a Style cos its terrible Hi Wendy, I don't know if you mentioned you have trouble using RealTrack RT1278 prior to this post. If you haven't then you might want to send an email to PG Music support alerting them to the issue. Sometimes they overlook issues described in the forum. The more information you can provide about an issue the easier it will be for PG Music Support to duplicate and fix the issue. A SGU file with frozen tracks that demonstrate the issue typically is very helpful. Also, if you've avoided using RealTracks 1278 for awhile are you sure it wasn't corrected in the July RealTracks update available +++ HERE +++ ?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,933
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,933 |
Hi folks, Im just coming up to the end of my first year with this beast and have loved and hated it (in equal measure) the experience especially the massive learning curve. I got enough of them of my own! But Im geting there and writing backers for my songs that I never though possible January time.
Somy question is - any ideas what will be in BIAB2018 and wether its really worth it to shell out £100+ each year now for what are probably/possibly only Add-Ons?
Sorry if this sounds ashallow request but Im not sure how else to put it.
WendyM Hi Wendy! I doubt there will be any early info; they usually say nothing about the new version until it is released. And, if history is any indication it will be released at the end of November or first of December. Because you already own a decent package you will likely get special upgrade pricing in December. Now, to your question of is it "really worth it" I'd have to say YES! But to be totally honest, since my first purchase in 2012 I have not noticed anything very significant in the feature/function upgrades of the program. And some things I was excited about, like GUI and custom track names, I have actually rolled back to their older versions because the new implementation was either incomplete or just not to my liking. BUT, the new RealTracks have been worth the price of the upgrade to me every year! And, unless they somehow stopped releasing a bunch of new ones in 2017, I'll be upgrading once again! Also, if money is an issue, last year they offered a multi-month payment plan that I took advantage of so it didn't even seem like much to upgrade!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,163
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,163 |
When the new "package" comes out, you literally save hundreds of dollars with it's added features. If you wait until the "sale" is over, you will pay much more for the package at the time of sale.
You will get new RealTracks and styles, which makes it worth it for just those 2 things, IMO.
Trax
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,486
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,486 |
Hi Wendy
Because of the amount of additional goodies it has always been worth upgrading each year - unlike other programs who just do a facelift PG Music aims to give it's customers progress
There have been a couple of years when the update has not been all that advantageous to me but there has always been improvements to sounds and styles to make it worthwhile
A question that has been asked many times is - why can't bb play the recorded sounds for the melody as it does for the soloist - now that would be nice
jazzman
BIAB - RealBand - 2022
Windows 10 64
Zoo computer with 7i processor- SSD 1TB -2TB HDD
Roland keyboards
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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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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.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
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.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
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!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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!
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