|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 10
Newbie
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 10 |
I have been using Biab on and off for quite a few years and have just bought 2018. Though I am yet to install it... So I may not be of much use at the moment in terms of furthering this discussion.
I have always found Biab great fun, but usually find that I fail to really utilise it as a good working tool. Discipline is key!
I'm a guitarist who wants to learn how to play melodies and develop my soloing. I would also like to learn to read music a little better than I do. I can't sight read.
I'm really wanting to get into Jazz but I also love blues and folk.
I have found inputting melodies into the lead sheet a little frustrating, but as I alluded to earlier have not really dedicated myself to improving. I'm sure I could get faster.
I feel like where Biab really lets me down is with melodies and transcription. I understand that this has been improved for different time sigs in 2018. Which sounds good for blues solo transcriptions in 12/8 and waltz.
But ultimately, after carefully putting a melody or a transcription into Biab I struggle to find good synth to play nice sounds!!
I'm no newbie to music technology and in the past have driven synths+sample tank within Logic from biab but I am concerned my current laptop isn't up to the job. I also found it to feel like a very fun but bloated workflow. You spend ages finding fantastic real tracks, then even longer trying out synth sounds!
Does anyone have any advice for generating better sounds and getting more from my midi melodies/transcriptions coming from Biab? I understand that this is easier with better soft synths and samplers. But I'm not really that aware of what is out there these days.
I maybe lazy and not searched properly but has anyone utilised any device to accentuate a melody? I'm thinking of using a touchscreen as a kind of theremin. This could be really useful for giving melodies a more human touch without spending a lot of time fiddling with the midi.
A "riding the faders" type of job. I'm guessing this would have to be in a DAW like Logic/Pro tools or even Garageband.
But maybe this could be saved onto the midi file within Biab? I guess I need to read up on General Midi. It would be handy if I could store everything on Biab and then send it all to a DAW. That way I don't have lots of files and configurations for a single project.
I would really like better Trumpets and Saxophones. Something to give my tracks a little more bite. The real tracks are great but the whole aura is shot if you end up using the biab synth for melodies.
If you're still here thanks for reading it all!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881 |
Check out Native Instruments for synths.
They have quite a few and they use samples. I have several of their products that I use on occasion in my DAW. Really good quality stuff.
I also have the Cakewalk Sound Center which came with Music Creator. It too has good quality sounds. Of course, Cakewalk is out of the biz now so unless you can buy a copy from Ebay, it's kinda hard to get.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 06/07/18 04:51 AM.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 10
Newbie
|
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 10 |
Hey Guitarhacker,
Thanks for the advice.
My friend has given me some trumpet samples to play with. I plan on trying them out with Logics EXS24 sampler.
Initial tests just using a single sample within that sampler seems promising. If I had a sample for each pitch of the instrument I think it would be even better.
I'm thinking that I could then map the sampler to a touch screen to use as a kind of controller. Still very early days but having played with ESX24 I think it could all come together in a solid workflow.
I'm still yet to install biab 2018 but as soon as I do I will be checking how it deals with midi on it's melody and soloist tracks.
It all comes down to whether I use a controller from within BIAB which I don't think is very likely but may be possible. OR I use the controller within logic.
I would be interested if anyone had any advice regarding workflow.
Should I resign myself to needing a logic project file for each song? Or is it possible to use a template and do all my midi controlling from within BIAB? Assuming a 'riding the faders' mentality to the melody track. (Possible pitch bending, vibrato and volume control)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881 |
Well..... now that you bring THAT up....
I construct songs in BB with the mindset that they are only getting started there. I open them in Real Band and render them as audio and add additional tracks also in audio.
I import the tracks into my Sonar DAW.
It's at this point that I can now use my synths and do anything else I want to do. I can replace tracks with live recorded parts, and edit them as needed.
If you have a synth part melody complete with pitch bender wheel activations, volume changes, etc..... the DAW will capture all of that and let you add automation envelopes for additional control. I use volume automation in every song. Panning as well. You can add midi envelopes to control the on/off and levels of things such as reverb and chorus. This is easier done in a DAW.
Essentially, I use each of the 3 software programs for their particular strengths and don't try to make them do things that they don't do very well. Using this method, with few exceptions, the only thing that limits what I can do is my ability to play a given part or to discover how to do something that I want to do.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173 |
Sonar may be gone but Cakewalk by BandLab is alive (or it was when I last looked). Cakewalk by BandLab is really Sonar dressed up but missing some of the synths. As far as Synths goes you should have Sforzando which comes with BIAB which is a sample player. There are many samples and SFZ files about.
During the week I had a piano RealTrack with a couple of really annoying notes that stood out. I put the BIAB file into RealBand reregenerated the track using multi riff got roughly what I wanted then exported the midi portion which RealBand generates of the track. Pulled the midi part into Sonar (along with the keeper Realtracks). I was then able to edit the midi track in the Piano Roll view to get shy of the annoying notes and make a few other changes to what I wanted. I used Addictive Keys to play back the midi track and was thus able to really change the piano to what I needed with the brains of BIAB really doing most of the work.
You could probably achieve similar in RealBand by simply muting the RealTrack adding a synth via the FX option on the midi track and editing it in whatever midi editor is in RealBand but I am very used to midi editing in Sonar so that is my editor of choice.
After editing in Sonar I often pull the audio tracks into Reaper which I find easier for editing audio tracks.
I really believe there are many possible work arounds if one looks and thinks outside the box.
My thoughts Tony
Last edited by Teunis; 06/08/18 12:08 PM.
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: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,217
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,217 |
.
I often find that the HARMONY feature gives the sound I want for melodies.
At the next-to-the-top line of the main screen, go to HARMONY, then MELODY HARMONY. Try a few of the harmonies in the menu to see what's going on. Try #5 PIANO DOUBLE OCTAVES, especially.
That is my starting point.
The harmony I use most often is a piano (from sample tank) with a unison piano one octave higher and another one octave lower. The upper and lower octaves are a lot quieter than the main voice.
I find this makes the overall piano sound complex, thick and believable.
I create this and save it as harmony #6. There is a learning curve to mastery of the harmony tool, but it is worth it. The harmony you create will work with any synth you choose.
NOTE: The harmonies you create will be erased every time you upgrade BiaB. The solution to this is to save C:/BB/DEFAULT.HAR as C:/BB/YOURNAME.HAR. Then you can restore your file after each upgrade.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,240
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,240 |
I maybe lazy and not searched properly but has anyone utilised any device to accentuate a melody? I'm thinking of using a touchscreen as a kind of theremin. This could be really useful for giving melodies a more human touch without spending a lot of time fiddling with the midi. Getting it right in performance is certainly easier than "fiddling with MIDI."For wind instruments, you could consider getting a wind controller. But then you'll have yet another instrument to learn. A better option might be a breath controller. These can be very natural to play. Typically, you'll have to map them to the volume control, which means that as you blow harder, it turns up the volume knob. This means you won't get the change in timbre as the velocity changes, and you'll need to run the instrument through a separate reverb (instead of the one the VSTi might supply) because turning off the volume at the end of the note means you lose the reverb tail. A "riding the faders" type of job. I'm guessing this would have to be in a DAW like Logic/Pro tools or even Garageband. No, you can actually do this in BiaB - it'll capture your MIDI performance. Personally, I prefer to edit in my DAW... but you don't have to. But maybe this could be saved onto the midi file within Biab? I guess I need to read up on General Midi. General MIDI only refers to the set of instruments that come in the General MIDI set. No need to look there - you can use custom VSTis within BiaB. However, you might jBridge for the 32/64 bit bridging, which is why it's offered with the BiaB purchase. I would really like better Trumpets and Saxophones. Something to give my tracks a little more bite. The real tracks are great but the whole aura is shot if you end up using the biab synth for melodies. There are tons of libraries out there. What works best for you is a matter of your budget, and what sounds you like. If you're on a budget, you might have a look at Session Horns, which is good for a "pop" horn sort of sound, but there are no solo horns available - you have to have at least two instruments playing at a time. There's a more complete Session Horns Pro that'll give you more articulations, as well as access to solo instruments. You can also check out WIVI Band, which is works really well with a breath controller. It's synthetic instead of sampled, but it's very responsive and comes with a trumpet, trombone and tenor sax, so you can build a decent section with it. If you want a more "classic" horn section, check out Vintage Horns. It's got long notes, short notes, swells and falls. But it's aimed at a section sound - it's not terribly expressive for solos. Blue Street Brass is a relatively inexpensive library (Indiginus makes some great cheap stuff) that has some nice "vintage" horns, but no saxes. A bit synthy, but you might like the sound. But... like many inexpensive sample libraries, it requires the full version of Kontakt, which I suspect that you don't own. I've heard good things about Broadway Big Band, but it's not cheap. There are the lower-priced and cut-down versions Broadway Lites and Broadway Gig. The Samplemodeling saxes are ranked highly, but were recently discontinued because of a licensing issue with AudioModeling. You can still get the horns from SampleModeling, but the saxes are now only distributed through AudioModeling. They are running a 20% off until June 30th, 2018. These work really well with breath controllers. There's Garritan Jazz and Big Band, but although I really, really want to like it, I've always been disappointed when I've used it. Maybe it's just me, but getting something good out of that library seems to require a huge amount of tweaking, and the sounds aren't really inspiring. You might want to check out this Pop/Brass Sample Library Buyer's Guide, which covers the libraries I mentioned, and more.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844 |
For trumpet, there is also Realitone's "Screaming Trumpet". It's just trumpet, but it gives you a lot of keyswitch options to control the sound.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,240
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,240 |
For trumpet, there is also Realitone's "Screaming Trumpet". It's just trumpet, but it gives you a lot of keyswitch options to control the sound. Yes, and watching Mike Greene's demo videos is always a blast. However, the library also needs to the full version of Kontakt to run, so that's an additional expense. That said, if you purchased a Kontakt libraries that requires authorization, you're probably eligible for a crossgrading from Kontakt Player to Kontakt full. So instead of paying the regular $399, you can get it for $249. Plus, Native Instruments is running their 50% crossgrade promotion until July 1, 2018, so a crossgrade is only $124.50. I happened to have a couple of eligible libraries, so I finally upgraded to Kontakt full the other day. Now I don't have to keep reloading Kontakt every 15 minutes when my inexpensive libraries time out!  I should note that Embertone has a couple of very cool (and inexpensive) instruments that require the full version of Kontakt - Chapman Trumpet and Sensual Sax.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,163
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,163 |
Finding the right RT's. If your song sounds like a famous band/song/instrumental etc, you can simply do a style search for the name. Once you have found a similar song/band style, you would then use the PROTOTYPE button in style search to eliminate all the other styles that won't fit with the selected prototype style. All styles listed with an * before their name will be all of the styles that matched your prototype style.
Using the prototype button saves time and takes you directly to the styles that match.
Trax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844 |
I love the "prototype" button. It went away for awhile in the redesign of Style Picker, but PGMusic added it back in on my suggestion. It's a feature that has been around since the very earliest versions of BIAB.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginners Forum
|
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 10
Newbie
|
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 10 |
Hello again everybody. I'm really sorry for the lateness. 10 months! Thank you for all the feedback, particular @ dcuny who has left a really useful post regarding soft synths and samplers. Unfortunately I haven't really had the time or been in the right frame of musical mind to make the most of BIAB this year. Work just gets in the way. I have however been playing around a little recently and figured I would share some of my thoughts. I am still wanting to do all of the things I explained in my original post. Guitarist wanting to learn how play melodies and solo better. However, the real subject being discussed in this thread is about using BIAB and other software to generate more realistic melodies. I used my friends horn samples alluded to in my first post using this sampler. It is surprisingly feature rich allowing each key and sample to be customised in a multitude of ways. Though I have hardly played around with it. The samples I have seem very effective for playing jazz heads, straight after mapping the samples to a key. https://www.tx16wx.com/Unfortunately it is very buggy for me. It doesn't allow me to save presets. So I haven't tried playing around with any kind of automation or using touch screens to affect the sampler or midi channel. I intend to buy Logic Pro at some point soon. As the ESX24 sampler is hopefully a lot more reliable. Logic Pro allows for receiving multiple MIDI channels from BIAB. Garageband only allows for one. I have also had some success with the BIAB embellish melody feature. This enables users to humanise a melody. It's really impressive. It has many features that can be controlled and a load of presets giving a range of options. From subtle touches to crazier embellishments. I intend to come back to this thread once I have EXS24 up and running! Exciting times.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,301
Posts802,938
Members40,086
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean