Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Hey Jim.
We met at Cakewalk forum smile
I am admitting that I might be wrong in many ways, but
I do not believe my assumption is wrong in the way BIAB handles real tracks.

Meaning, it is programming issue, not the hardware issue.
These rendering processes take way long, even on my fast i7-7600 CPU machine with fast SSD and plenty of memory. Philosophy on the engine that handles them should be re-thinked.

It is about the cleanliness of how you design software. If you remember, I mentioned ChordPulse program at Cakewalk forum. I am not going to compare apple to oranges here, but ChordPulse is a great example of robust code and clean user friendly interface that lasted for years without significant changes.

There is no excuse for PG programmers or their supervisor. Do not get me wrong, I love what the program can do, but execution of BIAB is just unacceptable for 2018. Will not be upgrading anytime soon unless they do it with their heart and not the place they have been doing it.

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,072
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,072
We’re almost there.

In the earliest days of RealTracks, a few of us users attempted to measure (in a very unscientific way) the difference between rendering the WMA files and the WAV files. We concluded it was maybe 20% faster with the uncompressed WAV files.

That difference is less now. When the Elastique algorithm was introduced, if your PC was fast enough, you could delete what was called the +- files. These eliminated fully 2/3 of the required files, since pitches could be shifted effectively using Elastique. Not only did it dramatically save storage space, but it seemed to work faster

In any event, the program first has to uncompressed a WMA file, and this is why the regular version regenerates a song slower than the audiophile version.

It is my understanding RealTracks are loaded into RAM, and that the real magic is then done by the CPU. Another way to say this is that the CPU seems to be by a good measure the most important component in how fast BIAB regenerates a song. Yet another way is to say that improving my CPU and RAM made much more of a difference than switching from a hard drive to an SSD, or from the PG Music USB drive to an internal hard drive.


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; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
I know that homework was done on this. But how sure you are that BIAB renders files in memory? Sorry, not being clear.... It sources them from hard drive when rendering and I believe they should be loaded in memory from the time you assign them to mixer and worked on the project from there. See attached.

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,072
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,072
I only know what I’ve read. I would guess the reason you see that message is that you might want to play a frozen song, in which case that audio is loaded rather than the RealTracks and RealDrums specified in the mixer. Those are only loaded before regeneration.

It’s a valid question, whether the efficiency can be improved.


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; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,821
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,821
Rustyspoon#,

You've got a good memory to remember me from the Cakewalk forum! Did I mention ChordPulse to you or did you mention it to me? I've had the program for a long time and don't remember now how I first found out about the program; I'm glad I did though as it's a wonderful program. However, I feel comparing ChordPulse to Band-in-a-Box is an unfair comparison. That's kind of like comparing a Volkswagon Beetle to a Rolls Royce. Both are reliable, European vehicles but beyond that, they are hard to compare.

As you mentioned, +++ Chordpulse +++ is an accompaniment program that uses styles to create songs. So ChordPulse and Band-in-a-Box share that functionality. However beside that shared function the two programs differ.

ChordPulse has a simple but elegant user interface while Band-in-the-Box's interface is much more complicated. But that is because the Band-in-a-Box program has many more features. ChordPulse is a midi only program that relies on Windows' built-in GS wavetable for sound reproduction. Band-in-a-Box midi can use any midi driven external or internal sound module. However BiaB also use audio sources such as audio loops, user created audio, RealTracks and or RealDrums. ChordPulse can create a general midi file. So can Band-in-a-Box. Band-in-a-Box can create, display and print notation while ChordPulse does not offer anything similar.

But, I don't think your intention was to imply the two programs were equal. I suspect your intent was to highlight the minimal but elegant user interface of ChordPulse versus the busy and complicated user interface of Band-in-a-Box.

PG Music has been making incremental changes to the user interface in the last few years so I believe PG Music is aware change is needed. However, the program is so versatile and users use the program in so many different ways that I believe it is difficult for PG Music to know what features to highlight. But every year they tweak and receive user feedback regarding what works and what doesn't work.

Band-in-a-Box regenerates on the fly. By that I mean Band-in-a-Box renders the first few bars of a song then begins playback while regenerating the rest of the song as a background task. I don't know of any other program that builds tracks that way. Maybe one way to make the program more efficient would be to delay playback until all tracks are completely regenerated.

Last edited by Jim Fogle; 08/19/18 11:35 AM. Reason: added comment.

Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk Sonar - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954
P
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
P
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954
If you get the Windows Task Manager up and look at the RAM being used by bbw.exe you will see it grow as the tracks are generated, add double the amount of bars and double the RAM is used.
The saved SGU with frozen tracks will just contain the the position, length and transposed information only of the section from the source wav/wma so it will use that information to load the same section back to RAM rather than a new random one.
In RealBand it uses bbw2.exe in the background to generate up the tracks direct to wav in a temp folder then loads them into the RealBand tracks as wav. So it will use all 7 tracks in bbw2.exe to generate up 7 MultiRiff of the same intrument to wav segments in the Realband temp folder then overwrite that section of track in RealBand with the MultiRiff you choose.

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Jim, as I mentioned I do not want to compare apples to oranges. I only brought up ChordPulse to put accent on what is elegance vs clutter. Complexity should not be excuse for clutter.

Guys, I know that you are trying to help, thank you! I am sure you know about BIAB 10 times more than I. The last time I have tried it over a decade ago and gave up on it. This year I bought it and tried to approach it with open mind. This thread caught my attention, because rendering does steal a lot of time and when I have the time and the mood to make backing tracks, I do not want to waste a good chunk of it on rendering processes.

The point that I am trying to make is, I believe frozen or not BIAB goes to the source location of files on hard drive instead of loading active real tracks (the ones used in composition) directly to memory each time you click on that "render" button. If I am not mistaken, probably it is the culprit of the problem.

Most likely that code was written at the time when computers had 512megs of Ram on average, not the case now. Again, I am guessing here, but I think I am right on the getting files from hard drive each time when rendering instead of keeping them in memory.

What does PG say about this? Do they even reply to such concerns?

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,821
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,821
Rustyspoon#,

You're correct that you can spend a lot of time waiting for Band-in-a-Box to render. Selective rendering could reduce wasted time. But at the same time that's why I appreciate the multi-riff feature in RealBand. I believe the more you try to force Band-in-a-Box to render bars exactly to match specifically what you hear in your mind, the more time you will spend waiting while tracks are rendered. That is time lost.

I also believe new users loose more time than seasoned users. New users must try more styles and instruments than seasoned users because new users are not as familiar with the available styles and RealTracks. Demo songs can not accurately represent how an instrument will sound with the chord progressions, other instruments and styles you may be using in your song.

I can say that experience seems to dramatically speed up the song building process, especially if you frequently create songs similar to your past creations.


Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk Sonar - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Jim, I think we have a bit different views on things.
You are telling me that you can make 20 great dished with potato and I am telling you that potato must be cooked first.
I think RealBand is irrelevant piece of software (I think I will be eaten by now). BIAB should be one program not two. RealBand probably one of the worst DAW wannabees of the 21st century. Especially now, when you have amazing Cakewalk with great engineer team that listens, for free.

Please do not take this as an insult. I am just trying to view this realistically. Believe me, I want BIAB to be robust, modern, user friendly software and not a patient on "life support" infused by cash of loyal followers.


I think both of these things: selective rendering and option of "holding" active realtracks in memory should reduce rendering time to minimum.

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 117
C
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
C
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 117
Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#

The point that I am trying to make is, I believe frozen or not BIAB goes to the source location of files on hard drive instead of loading active real tracks (the ones used in composition) directly to memory each time you click on that "render" button. If I am not mistaken, probably it is the culprit of the problem.

Most likely that code was written at the time when computers had 512megs of Ram on average, not the case now. Again, I am guessing here, but I think I am right on the getting files from hard drive each time when rendering instead of keeping them in memory.




As pointed out it all depends on how much RAM you have, and the size of the tracks you're trying to render. I suspected the same thing, but then again I believe it also happened on my machine with only 8gb of ram.

My external drive ran out of space, and that is how I figured out it was using the drive to render. I don't think I ever got a definitive answer on it. I thought if anything it should have been using the internal drive to render if not the RAM.


Windows 10 build 16299
2018 Ultra
Intel i5-3550 @ 3.3GHz
p8z77-v pro
RAM: 32GB
Roland V-Studio 100
Alesis VX49

https://soundcloud.com/dirtbom/
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Originally Posted By: CoolBreeze

As pointed out it all depends on how much RAM you have,



Nope. I do not believe you are right. My memory does not spike above 25% and CPU at 38% when rendering. I believe the slowness in rendering is caused by program taking/gathering audio files from their original sources each time you click "render/play" button.

To me, if BIAB shows loading while rendering from C: it is loading from C:

I want somebody from PG to answer this relatively simple question instead of users wondering and speculating. This is called answering customer question.

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,610
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,610
Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#
Originally Posted By: CoolBreeze

As pointed out it all depends on how much RAM you have,



Nope. I do not believe you are right. My memory does not spike above 25% and CPU at 38% when rendering. I believe the slowness in rendering is caused by program taking/gathering audio files from their original sources each time you click "render/play" button.

To me, if BIAB shows loading while rendering from C: it is loading from C:

I want somebody from PG to answer this relatively simple question instead of users wondering and speculating. This is called answering customer question.


Just a tip, then: why no contact Support? They will be happy to answer your questions. It's not their job to monitor this board and evaluate every post to see if they need to reply.

Just a tip. laugh


Cheers,
Mike

My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Mike, you were right, that was the easiest thing smile

To those who still have doubts. It was confirmed by PG that every time you press "generate/play" button, BIAB goes to the source files on your hard drive. or where you store your files, does not work with them (keeps them) in memory.
Ram has very little to do with the time it takes to render/play composition because of re-indexing. Horrible approach...

If they were kept/worked in memory it would take much, much less time.

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,348
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,348
Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#
Mike, you were right, that was the easiest thing smile

To those who still have doubts. It was confirmed by PG that every time you press "generate/play" button, BIAB goes to the source files on your hard drive. or where you store your files, does not work with them (keeps them) in memory.
Ram has very little to do with the time it takes to render/play composition because of re-indexing. Horrible approach...

If they were kept/worked in memory it would take much, much less time.



I don't know this for sure but maybe they had to do it this way because it is a 32 bit program. 32 bit programs only have 3.5 GBs to work with, that is without some kind of addition workaround software like jBridge for MIDI.

I would guess that a 64 bit program could eliminate the operating procedure.


I get most of my exercise these days from shaking my head in disbelief.


64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,687
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,687
"Ram has very little to do with the time it takes to render/play composition because of re-indexing. Horrible approach...

If they were kept/worked in memory it would take much, much less time."


Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#
Mike, you were right, that was the easiest thing smile

To those who still have doubts. It was confirmed by PG that every time you press "generate/play" button, BIAB goes to the source files on your hard drive. or where you store your files, does not work with them (keeps them) in memory.
Ram has very little to do with the time it takes to render/play composition because of re-indexing. Horrible approach...

If they were kept/worked in memory it would take much, much less time.



As one who never had a doubt, I already knew this, I'll skip ahead to what I think is the issue being overlooked. With the focus of this thread being on what the computer is doing, most of the comments say nothing about what BIAB is doing. It has been noted that the amount of ram is not essential which lead some to have concern about rendering time.

What some think is a "Horrible approach" is to me a brilliant design feature that brings the magic of quality, studio grade audio to many students, songwriters, producers, teachers and hobbyists that have limited resources so they can't have the latest $5,000 CPU running Protools highest level pro version and mixing to an SSL console. However, they may have the audio technical skill to write, create, arrange, produce and perform a BIAB song on an XP machine with a $20 Behringer interface or worse -- a usb Snowball Mic -- to create a quality production that is indistinguishable from any other song published in the Users Showcase. To me, that alone is reason enough to forego irrelevant and faster rendering.

BIAB technology is about creating audio and not about replacing Protools on your machine. If you think RealBand is useless, you probably need to spend some time over on the Mac forum. Many there would love to have it. Because you may not can get the results you want from RealBand doesn't mean it can't be done, it just means you can't do it. Even with its relatively slow rendering, you can create a BIAB song much faster, with less steps, than you can in a DAW.

Let's do a real life rendering comparison, for time and money.

1. Joe Gilder, Home Studio Recording website and YouTube

Joe is a Nashville singer/songwriter and session musician that has a popular YouTube presence for home recording and also creates tutorials for Presonus. Joe and four other Nashville session musicians also provide a demo service. Approximately once a month they get together at one of the players home studio and over the course of the day create 5-9 demos they've contracted to complete for clients. The client submits an MP3 and either a phone conversation or skype call to describe their vision for their completed demo. Once agreement is reached on the demo structure and general arrangement, Gilder's group offers a basic package of 5 instruments, Bass, Piano, Drums, rhythm guitar and lead guitar for $550. Does their package of 5 instruments sound familiar? Next, one of the group charts the song and they discuss and decide on the final arrangement. Then they record the song (it usually gets done in one take but sometimes they have to overdub mistakes. Joe states recording is usually done in 10-12 minutes.) Once all the tracks are properly recorded, WAV files of each track are dropboxed to the client for the client to mix/master in their own DAW.

That's a real scenario and we see that from the time the client submits his MP3, it may take up to 3 1/2 weeks or more to get their WAV tracks. If they decide to add additional instruments, there is an additional cost in time and money. If they want to audition additional instruments or split solo parts between instruments, there is additional cost in time and money.

2. Same Recording done in BIAB

In this story, the client is your next door neighbor. He comes to you with an MP3 Saturday night about six. After the third beer he's convinced you to create and arrange a BIAB demo for his song.

To chart his MP3 song to BIAB, you play the MP3 through the ACW (Audio Chord Wizard) With a few chord corrections, you have the BIAB chord chart completed, Part markers placed, the correct key signature and the correct tempo and time signature. You spend about 10 minutes with your neighbor in the StylePicker selecting a suitable style and set of instruments. You replace one RealTrack guitar with a selection you both like better and you decide on a lead soloist.
Using F5, you create your arrangement in about another 10 minutes. You generate the song and your neighbor is so excited with his demo he heads out to the convenience store to get you a 12 pack while you print his song to CD. If you want to experiment with auditioning other soloist instruments, you can do dozens before you and your neighbor consume the 12 pack.

To me, this sort of displaces the aggravation of a 25 second render.... It doesn't matter how many times you render before you are satisfied. A track will render before you can set up and complete a live punch in.


Another thing when one's focus is directed to only the single source of what the computer is doing and not what BIab is or can do, is it eliminates many, many analog recording techniques available for use in BIAB to accomplish and obtain results that some have spent thousands of dollars on additional software unaware that BIAB can do the same without ever leaving the program.

I'm probably alone with my thoughts here, but I'm not feeling the benefits of the computer architecture that I've seen in the thread.


BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,687
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,687
I chose the group of Nashville session musicians for several specific reasons. One- Their group of musicians and instruments are similar in makeup to many BIAB styles. Two- They are multi talented musicians so they can easily and quickly offer and provide additional instruments to exchange out the basic setup with other less common instruments that may fit a particular demo song better, eg. banjo, fiddle, pedal steel, dobro. Third- There is the common denominator between this specific group of session musicians and BIAB RealTrack musicians being that at least one of Gilders bandmates is also a BIAB session player....


BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 6,735
Charlie, I think you are missing the point.
You do not need $5000 CPU.... All you need is 8-16gb of RAM on $150-$300 computer smile A used i7 Thinkpad would be great example of that.

10-15 years ago, I can agree that would be a "brilliant" approach. Now it would considered to be a very sloppy programming.

The only point where I can agree with you on this is to have this feature available for people who are using 10-15 year old computers. For vast majority there should be a choice, an OPTION of choosing between rendering from hard drive OR doing the process in memory.

Adobe and other software companies had this option for over a decade to choose how processes are handled.

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,792
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,792
Just because riding a horse is faster than walking is no reason not to build a car!

And I wish that the ACW worked even half as good as Charlie described. I've tried to use it on simple songs with simple chords and found its quicker and way less frustrating to type in the song!

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,687
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,687
"For vast majority there should be a choice, an OPTION of choosing between rendering from hard drive OR doing the process in memory.

Adobe and other software companies had this option for over a decade to choose how processes are handled."

You're right. I'm missing the point. You missed my point that in its present form, Biab works with every PC configuration from XP to the futuristic next years super whiz bang model meaning the final audio product is the same quality and sound regardless of the computer the audio is generated on. Your suggestion removes that option of universality and eliminates many users from compatibility with future versions of BIAB.

I'm missing what improvement in sound quality of the audio that 64 bit, selective regeneration will make? What will it produce that is different from what BIAB produces today? Why will a rendering from a hard drive sound different or be superior to current rendering?

My guess is that adobe and other software programs that have made major changes to their core programs most likely have early versions of songs created with their product that are incompatible and cannot be opened with the latest version. I don't see where BIAB and Adobe processing differences are an issue. BIAB creates audio tracks Adobe does not. So isn't the rendering speed of BIAB a mute point when it comes to what Adobe does? What is the difference between having a live player record a track in Adobe and importing a RealTrack created in BIAB? If rendering speed is an issue, isn't a 25 second render of a 3 1/2 minute track preferable to a live player recording a similar track but having to do it in real time of 3 1/2 minutes?


BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,687
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,687
Originally Posted By: JohnJohnJohn
Just because riding a horse is faster than walking is no reason not to build a car!

And I wish that the ACW worked even half as good as Charlie described. I've tried to use it on simple songs with simple chords and found its quicker and way less frustrating to type in the song!


It works that way for me. I'll repeat with respect, what I said above about RealBand. Because you may not can get the results you want from the Audio Chord Wizard doesn't mean it can't be done, it just means you can't do it. It also doesn't mean you that with some work and practice it can't be as efficient for you as it is for me. Some songs yield faster and more accurate results than others and more times than not, I don't use the ACW for speed. That's not the value and benefit it gives me. I've no more to say about the ACW because this thread is about another subject that has no effect on the ACW and how it works.


BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

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
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!

It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!

We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!

Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:

Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!

Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!

New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!

We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!

Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!

Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.

Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles

Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)

And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.

You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.

Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!

The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!

Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!

With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
  • Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
  • Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
  • Playable RealTracks Set 4
  • RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
  • SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
  • 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:

  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
  • Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
  • Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
  • RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 9 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.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 9 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.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,470
Posts779,588
Members39,670
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Bazzac, kirkebyen12, Bassace, Leo.andrade.guitar, Nelsong2025
39,669 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 134
WaoBand 98
DC Ron 86
rsdean 73
dcuny 72
DrDan 63
Today's Birthdays
clinton, PgFantastic
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5