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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 266
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 266 |
I'm thinking of purchasing BIAB so that I can use it to create experimental/preliminary arrangements of songs I've written, but I don't know which PAK would best suit my needs. My songs fall in the gospel, pop. rock, blues, folk, and country genres, so I have no need for the jazz styles that are included in BIAB. I've been going back and forth between the ProPAK and the MegaPAK but can't seem to settle on either one. I'm also confused about the upgrade (or is it crossgrade?) options and the additional Xtra Styles PAKs. It appears that the Xtra Styles PAKs are all included in the OmniPAK but not the UltraPAK and that none of them are included with the Pro and Mega. So, as a first time buyer who is also a mediocre guitar player, which PAK should I start with?
Tom Levan (pronounced La-VAN)
BiaB 2024 Win UltraPAK Build 1109, Xtra Style PAKs 1-11, RB 2024, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, Intel Q9650 3 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 500 GB SSD & 2 TB HDD, Tracktion 6 & 7 (freebies), Cakewalk, Audacity, MuseScore 2.1 & 3.4, Synthesizer V
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,486
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,486 |
Hi and welcome. Most of us will recommend you buy as much as you can afford, but if you don’t, you can call PG Music Sales and upgrade. One thing to keep in mind: the base program for all BIAB packages is exactly the same. The difference is in the number of RealTracks, RealDrums and styles you get.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,003
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,003 |
Greetings muzikluver, Welcome to the forum and to Band-in-a-Box. The best answer is to purchase the largest package you can afford. The Band-in-a-Box program is the same for every package. The pc version includes RealBand while the Mac version does not. Every package includes the same audio loops, Samplitude's Amplitude 3 (amp simulator program), Plogue's Sforzando (soundfont virtual instrument player) and collection of Soundfonts. I'm sure there are some other things included in every package I've overlooked. What changes in each package is the quantity of MIDI only styles, midi only Soloists and midi only Melodists; quantity of MIDI SuperTracks, quantity of RealTracks, quantity of RealDrums and quantity of styles that use RealTracks and RealDrums. MIDI quantity differences are detailed in the package chart available on +++ THIS +++ webpage. Quantity differences of included RealTracks, RealDrums and supporting styles is a little more difficult to figure out. It's easier to figure out looking from the top-of-the-line packages down to introductory package. Both the UltraPAK & Audiophile include all available content except for bonus material and Xtra Styles. RealTracks and RealDrums in the UltraPAK are in compressed, lossy wma (pc) or MP4 (Mac) file formats. Audiophile contains both the lossy file format and uncompressed, lossless wav (pc) or aif (Mac) file format. Both the Pro & MegaPAK lack content available in the UltraPAK and Audiophile. Both the Pro and MegaPAK contain content representative of all genres. Many users find that a style, RealTracks or RealDrums labeled for one genre works in another genre on a hit or miss basis. +++ HERE +++ is a link that describes what is included in the Pro package in some detail. +++ HERE +++ is a link that describes what is included in the MegaPAK in some detail. In my opinion both the Pro and MegaPAKs are good if you want to explore the program's capabilities and concentrate on learning how to use the program. That can easily occupy most people for six months or more. One of the great frustrations using either the Pro or MegaPAKs is you will encounter the term "N/A" (for not available) a lot since most of the content is not included with the packages. There are two ways to gain additional content: upgrade to the Ultra or Audiophile package or purchase sets. PG Music typically sells packages and sets at a huge discount the first month a new edition is released. If you have the Pro or MegaPAK you will save the most money if you plan to upgrade when a new edition is released. Mac releases typically are in June while pc releases typically are in December. New editions typically include an annual program upgrade, additional midi SuperTracks, RealTracks and RealDrums added to each package and bonus content only available during the sale. XtraStyles are styles that use existing midi SuperTracks, RealTracks and RealDrums differently than the way they were presented and used when released. XtraStyles also include a professional mix. XtraStyles are separate purchases and are not included in any package.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,827
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,827 |
Well since you asked for a recommendation... UltraPak If $$ are a concern wait till end of year sale.
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,751
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,751 |
I'm thinking of purchasing BIAB so that I can use it to create experimental/preliminary arrangements of songs I've written, but I don't know which PAK would best suit my needs. My songs fall in the gospel, pop. rock, blues, folk, and country genres, so I have no need for the jazz styles that are included in BIAB. I've been going back and forth between the ProPAK and the MegaPAK but can't seem to settle on either one. I'm also confused about the upgrade (or is it crossgrade?) options and the additional Xtra Styles PAKs. It appears that the Xtra Styles PAKs are all included in the OmniPAK but not the UltraPAK and that none of them are included with the Pro and Mega. So, as a first time buyer who is also a mediocre guitar player, which PAK should I start with? As others have suggested, I also recommend buying as far up the ladder as you can reasonably afford. The main thing to keep in mind is the further up the ladder you buy, the more of the REAL TRACKS you get. What are the real tracks you ask???? Well, those are the audio tracks and are nothing short of pure musical magic in my most humble opinion. I originally bought BB/RB because I wanted a good steel guitar and fiddle that I didn't have to learn how to play. The REAL TRACKS are the things that give you the steel, fiddle, dobro, Hammond B3, guitars... both rhythm and lead, piano, bass, literally studio quality tracks. Take a minute and listen to my song The Road To Cheyenne I;m playing the guitars but everything else is the Real Tracks.... bass, drums, steel, fiddle..... all RT's. I do not even use any of the styles that are not Real Tracks based. I've had seasoned musicians and studio owners in other sites comment on the real tracks stating that they loved the quality in a certain track in one of my songs, and asked who was playing it. Just so you know..... I have been a user of PG products from 2008 or so. I started with one of the middle paks, and quickly moved up to the top. I don't have the audiophile version but several here do. I have the everything pak on it's own hard drive. All the music I write and record is done with Band in A Box, Real Band, and Sonar. There's a bunch of folks here in these forums to help answer your questions and if we can't help, PG staff can.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,833
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,833 |
Something to keep in mind... There is a big difference in the amount of variety one gets with the "full package" - which can be had with the UltraPlusPak at $469 - compared to the "lesser" packages (Pro and Mega). The Mega has 500 hours of RealTracks - The UltraPlus Pak has 2500+. That is a big difference (for $200 difference). Since you mentioned so many genres (gospel, pop. rock, blues, folk, and country), I would guess you have a bunch of songs to record (not just one in each category  ). You could start with a lesser package - as others have suggested, but the chances are you will find instances when you "just can't find the right acoustic guitar. Or electric. Or piano... etc. Having the full lot (of RealTracks) you cam almost ALWAYS find the right sound. Even though you don't think you need the jazz stuff, you might be surprised once you have them. But even if you do not use those, the variety offered with the UltraPlus Pak is well worth the extra cost. Consider that a single demo from a good studio (especially using the level of player you get with BIAB) would cost you $400. For that same price, you can have a lifetime of demos - any time you want... You can hear a wide variety if you find song lists from users who do a variety of styles and treatments. If you listen to a user site that only has the Pro pak, you will often hear a fairly small range. Check out the stuff that Janice & Bud do - a lot of variety... https://soundcloud.com/mootsman/sets/samplerYou can hear more variety at my site... http://floydjane.com/Songs/List.htm
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 266
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 266 |
Thanks, everyone, for answering my question---especially Jim Fogle, Guitarhacker, and floyd jane for going into such detail with your answers. I apologize for not responding much sooner to your answers, but shortly after I posted my question, I had a mental health crisis in my family to deal with that dragged on for months and completely ruined my plans for the rest of 2018. It wasn't until last month that I finally started to rebound enough to revisit this issue. After reading over everyone's answers again, I decided to take Jim Fogle's advice and purchase the ProPak edition of BiaB with the intent of upgrading at a later date once I became comfortable with the program and its amazing features. This will take me a while because I currently don't have much free time available to use the program. But I'm thankful for the time I do have and look forward to learning how to make the most of BiaB with my songs.
Speaking of which, in the last week or so that I've had enough time to check out all the style demos in the ProPak edition, I found a couple of styles for two of my songs. BiaB's arrangement for one of my songs turned out really well, so I'm planning to post a link to that arrangement in the User Showcase forum in the next day or two. Keep an eye out for it. Thanks again for all your answers to my question!
Tom Levan (pronounced La-VAN)
BiaB 2024 Win UltraPAK Build 1109, Xtra Style PAKs 1-11, RB 2024, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, Intel Q9650 3 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 500 GB SSD & 2 TB HDD, Tracktion 6 & 7 (freebies), Cakewalk, Audacity, MuseScore 2.1 & 3.4, Synthesizer V
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 266
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 266 |
XtraStyles are separate purchases and are not included in any package. I have one follow-up comment for you, Jim. According to the OmniPAK description, it includes all of the XtraStyles, which would normally cost $159 by themselves. That makes the OmniPAK worth serious consideration as an upgrade path for me to take down the road.
Tom Levan (pronounced La-VAN)
BiaB 2024 Win UltraPAK Build 1109, Xtra Style PAKs 1-11, RB 2024, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, Intel Q9650 3 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 500 GB SSD & 2 TB HDD, Tracktion 6 & 7 (freebies), Cakewalk, Audacity, MuseScore 2.1 & 3.4, Synthesizer V
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,796
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,796 |
Besides all that you just missed the 6 weeks '40% sale' offer period each year when a (still a little bugged) new version comes out early December. I would say buy what you really need, and upgrade eventually by the end of this year. PGmusic also has a 30 days money back warranty service, if you're not happy with what you get; their client and helpdesk service is probably one of the best around ... F
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 266
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 266 |
Besides all that you just missed the 6 weeks '40% sale' offer period each year ... F I did see the sale going on and was tempted to upgrade to the UltraPak+ edition before it ended. But after chatting with someone on the sales team about the cost to upgrade to the OmniPak edition vs. the UltraPak+ edition ($479 vs. $179), I decided to wait on this decision until after I had more time to become familiar with the program. The reason is that the cost to upgrade to OmniPak is the same from all editions and doesn't change.
Tom Levan (pronounced La-VAN)
BiaB 2024 Win UltraPAK Build 1109, Xtra Style PAKs 1-11, RB 2024, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, Intel Q9650 3 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 500 GB SSD & 2 TB HDD, Tracktion 6 & 7 (freebies), Cakewalk, Audacity, MuseScore 2.1 & 3.4, Synthesizer V
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,003
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,003 |
muzikluver,
Nice to read you're posting to the forum once more and that life has granted you some free time once again. It is always exciting to hear the songs new users post to the User Showcase so I'll be on the lookout!
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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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PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
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!
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