Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Beginners Forum
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3
P
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
P
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3
I'm having trouble with song endings. I'll enter let's say, C... and instead a long chord ending, it cuts short fast. I tried several real tracks and it keeps cutting short. It used to do the last chord nice and long and fade to silence. Any Ideas?

Beginners Forum
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 877
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 877
Did you try setting the chord as a held chord?

Try typing in C... instead of just C and see if that helps (there are all sorts of fantastic and complex ways you generate endings, but it sounds like you just want the chord to resonate to the end of the measure, am I right about that?)


Band-in-a-Box 2024. Custom Build Desktop PC W/ Windows 10 Home 64-bit. CPU: Intel Core i5-9600k @ 3.7GHz (6 core x 6 threads) RAM: 16GB DDR4. Storage 238GB SSD + 2.7 TB HDD. GPU: ZOTAC NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
Beginners Forum
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,884
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,884
Right click within the chord sheet and bring up the "song settings" dialogue.

You can also get to song settings via "Edit->Song Form->Settings (for this song)", or you can press "Ctrl N"

Under "ending options" make sure you have "generate two bar ending for this song" and "use 4 bar ending for realtracks" enabled.


Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
biab ending.jpg (140.52 KB, 197 downloads)
Last edited by BlueAttitude; 03/15/18 12:25 AM. Reason: more info
Beginners Forum
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 716
T
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
T
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 716
Originally Posted By: painterroy
I'm having trouble with song endings. I'll enter let's say, C... and instead a long chord ending, it cuts short fast. I tried several real tracks and it keeps cutting short. It used to do the last chord nice and long and fade to silence. Any Ideas?


The simplest way is to enter C... followed by ANY OTHER chord with one dot e.g. A. at the point you want to held chord to finish. This way you regulate the length of the hold. You also may want to mute some instruments, especially drums, at the same point as C... to get a smooth sound. Make sure there are enough bars in the song to reach the A. bar.

Tony

Beginners Forum
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,884
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,884
He is talking about the last chord for the ending of the song.

Unless he has the endings option set correctly in "song options" no matter what option he uses on that chord the song will end abruptly at the last bar of the song.

Beginners Forum
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 716
T
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
T
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 716
Originally Posted By: BlueAttitude
He is talking about the last chord for the ending of the song.

Unless he has the endings option set correctly in "song options" no matter what option he uses on that chord the song will end abruptly at the last bar of the song.


I am also talking about the last chord in a song and you don't need the song set for a 2/4 bar ending in song options.
If you have the C... to A. one bar apart the chord holds and fades for one bar, if two bars apart it holds and fades for two bars, if three bars apart it holds and fades for three bars etc. The song never ends abruptly. You can even hold for half bars.

Tony

Beginners Forum
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173
Hi, often the chord will be better with say C... followed by a chord in the next bar. Eg. The song ends on bar 64 with a C... followed by a C entered in bar 65 which is not played. Also ensure you have held chords allowed in your preferences.

That is what I do and it works.

Tony


HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home,
Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612
BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
Beginners Forum
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382
K
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
K
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382
A little more detail on the rested chord (C.) after the held chord, which is what I recommend on a regular basis:

A held chord will sustain until the next chord you've entered, so if you put one on the last chord in the song, results will be unpredictable (BIAB hasn't been clearly told what you want). That's why we need to enter a rested chord after the held one. You'll sometimes need to make the song a bar longer so there's room for the rested chord before the end bar.

As long as this is done, your ending settings in Song Settings won't really matter, as playback will already be silent by the end of the song.

Cheers
Kent

Beginners Forum
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
A fine point on what Tony wrote: the "any other chord" means, I always choose a chord different from the chord being held. This has been a long-time unwritten rule with BIAB.

Example:

If you are holding a C7... then put C. to silence the hold. Or D.

The point is, don't put C7.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382
K
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
K
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382
Hi Matt,

That really shouldn't matter. I just tested it with C... to C., A... to A., and C7... to C7., and it worked fine in all cases. If this causes any issues with one of your songs, please send it to support@pgmusic.com for testing, and I'll be happy to investigate.

This may have been a bug in an earlier version, though I've been here since 2008 and don't remember it myself (though my memory isn't perfect).

By the way, it looks like I was mistaken in my previous reply. If you use this trick on the end of the song, you should turn off the automatic ending in Song Settings, or you'll get a hold, followed by a rest and then the band kicking in again for the ending bars.

Thanks
Kent
PG Music

Beginners Forum
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
Kent, thanks, I'm glad if this has been fixed.

The practice goes back well into the 1990s. I think you would find all of us from then just do it this way. Tony referred to it above.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
I suspect we old timers still use Matt's method, because there was a time it was previously reported as being fixed, but wasn't, and then no update after that. So if truly fixed now, then yay, and I'll start using the same chord as the rest chord, as it makes for a cleaner looking leadsheet.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA

BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
If I could have another wish, I would want to have NC ( no chord) implemented, with the ability to hide it on the printed page. Then I could use that.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 20,777
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 20,777
Off to the wish-list Matt? I'll endorse that for sure.


BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
Originally Posted By: VideoTrack
Off to the wish-list Matt? I'll endorse that for sure.

Done.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,082
w Offline
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,082
Sorry for coming to this party late however reading thru these posts i am somewhat lost as to how this should be done. Reading the built in programme manual made it worse for me.

Could you gurus please summarize for this old guy how to do this chord ending a song .

Thanks.


Mac Audiophile 2020 2019 2018 2017 USB plus previous years versions

macOS Mojave - 10.14.6 @ Aug 16, 2019

iMac i3 3.6 GHz 8GB RAM 4K with Retina display

some examples @ sound cloud done with Mac Band and DAW's : https://soundcloud.com/you/tracks
Beginners Forum
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,918
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,918
W,

Reread Blue Attitude's post (with screenshot) that is thirteen prior to yours, Tony Wright's post that is ten prior to yours and Kent with PG Music post that is eight prior to yours.

When you're using RealTracks end the song with a held chord (three periods after a chord name) and the RealTrack instruments will fade naturally.

Also you can force the RealTracks to end a song by fading over a set number of beats by entering a held chord then enter a rest (one period after a chord name) X number of beats after the held chord. So, for instance the RealTrack instruments could be forced to fade for 2 1/2 bars by entering a held chord then a rest chord 2 1/2 bars later.


Jim Fogle - 2026 BiaB (Build 1217) RB (Build 4) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk Sonar - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Beginners Forum
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3
P
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
P
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3
You seem to be expert status here, so hopefully you can help. Ok, I dint know what changed. Before I used to end a song with let's say, C... and if would end with a long held chord no matter what style. I've tried every trick everyone's suggested here, from adding a chord with one period a bar or even two bars later. That didn't work. I've checked and uncheck Generate 2 Bar ending and enable 4 bar endings in different combos to see if that mattered. I've tried tried multiple real tracks, with both A & B settings. and no matter what I do every chord ending with ... always cuts short, no lingering chord. Any thoughts as to why I can't get it working like I used to?

Beginners Forum
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3
P
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
P
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3
Still no luck with getting a chord to end with a long lingering note. I don't know what changed. Before I used to end a song with let's say, C... and if would end with a long held chord no matter what style. I've tried every trick everyone's suggested here, from adding a chord with one period a bar or even two bars later. That didn't work. I've checked and uncheck Generate 2 Bar ending and enable 4 bar endings in different combos to see if that mattered. I've tried tried multiple real tracks, with both A & B settings. and no matter what I do every chord ending with ... always cuts short, no lingering chord. Any thoughts as to why I can't get it working like I used to?

Beginners Forum
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,338
Painterroy, are you using a Mac OS or Windows? What version? What build?


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Andrew - PG Music, PeterGannon 

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 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.

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows 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 Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows 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.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,294
Posts790,658
Members39,854
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
StratMan1965, CPIA2002, janhardo, Minstrel, Deb D
39,854 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
jpettit 321
MarioD 217
DrDan 214
Noel96 162
DC Ron 146
Rob Helms 127
Today's Birthdays
Kara Music Production, Алик
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5