One reason that I invested in BIAB was the hope it could give me some controllable way to generate solos. Say you work on Rhythm Changes - the tune has two chords to the beat so the simplest way to outline harmony is to play half note chord tones - one per chord. Not the most exciting solo but gives you solid connection to how harmony moves, where you are etc. Then try mixing in quarter-notes. Then eight-notes. I tried to force BIAB to create such very simple solo "outlines" but no luck. I would appreciate any pointers on the subject.
Hello woland99, I do not see a way to force both the soloist and the melodist to create just quarter or half note lines. The simplest musical figure is two eights notes, so even if you set phrase lenght to 1, force 1 note per beat and pause lenght to 1 beat you will always get phrases of two eigths notes, as the style options just offer 1/8, 1/16 in either swing or even or waltz feeling.
Your proposal would be a great idea for Band in a Box' feature wish list. Such a feature would really increase the value of Band in a Box as a learning tool for many people.
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
This is actually possible by design if you want to use MIDI instruments by generating phrases to your desired length section by section via the Soloist dialogue (see screenshot), and is also possible to approximate for RTs as well through a slightly more complicated process that I figured out as a sort of 'hack.'
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
Hello DeaconBlues09, Have you tried this? Even with the entry "1 note per beat" and a phrase lenghth of 1 the soloist creates phrases of two notes, an eighth and a quarter note. I tried this with a lot of different style settings and did not get any "one note per beat" solos (screenshot is from my localised Band in a Box, so options are labeled in German language). Could it be that it depends on the .ST2 chosen as the "style knowledge base"?
May be this is a question for PGMusics new FAQ or tutorial video forums.
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
So I've tried it and, while I did manage to get one note per beat, I don't believe that actually addresses OP's issue in retrospect, as one note per beat (4 quarter notes per measure) is actually more notes per beat than I would want in a solo that builds up gradually (in which case a long sustained note here or there could be tastefully played over even a couple of measures.
I also tried messing around with the phrase length setting, but the results were a disaster (although that may just be an issue with me not setting the parameters properly).
BTW, note that there is an option under the preferences settings for RTs to allow solos to crescendo (see screenshot), so make sure you have that checked (I do, and IME, it does not afford the flexibility and scope as envisioned by OP).
It would be great if PG Music could make a video about this by all means!
FWIW, there are amazing things that could be done under the hood in BIAB with RTs. I had my mind absolutely blown out of the water when I managed to generate a medley of RTs jamming out the solo for Hotel California using a saxophone, piano, jazz guitar, fiddle and slide guitar. The RTs I used (and you could listen to the "raw data" for said tracks as they sit in a BB sub-folder) had absolutely no hint of said melody, yet the program put it all together with the right parameters tweaked, which I consider to be the most insanely awesome thing about this program I've ever discovered. The implications and possibilities hinted at here are boundless.
I had hoped to get one note per bar by putting different pause values between the phrases. This reduces it to one phrase per bar, but I still always get phrases with two notes. I will actually put a request in the new video tutorial forum. What you wrote about the crescendo switch I'm gonna try. Your example sounds really good.
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
There is an very old video in the tutorial area of PGMusics website. It's funny that this video explains and shows the option "One note per beat" (at about 7:20 min), but the then generated solo still contains complex lines of 16th and 8th notes (at about 7:37 min).
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
..... the most insanely awesome thing about this program I've ever discovered. The implications and possibilities hinted at here are boundless. .......
Agree, but drives me nuts, like riding a horse with 12 legs upside-down. The interface's layout is not laid out very user friendly IMO. Probably the results of keeping existing tweakable settings while adding more and more new features. Maybe a general overhaul of the lot is needed, Could be very useful, for me maybe, but especially for the jazzers .... F
Thanks for all the great answers and apologies for not answering all the post individually - I was away for a while and they accumulated. The tip for selecting max number of notes per beat is very helpful. With 1 I get mostly quarter notes and 2 mostly eight notes. That makes big difference. I guess if you use Scales feature along with max notes set to 2 you get to some degree a logical move - from eight note scales to eight note solos.
The interface's layout is not laid out very user friendly IMO. Probably the results of keeping existing tweakable settings while adding more and more new features. Maybe a general overhaul of the lot is needed, Could be very useful, for me maybe, but especially for the jazzers .... F
Help file does not have a lot of info - mouse-overs actually have more.
... The interface's layout is not laid out very user friendly IMO. Probably the results of keeping existing tweakable settings while adding more and more new features. Maybe a general overhaul of the lot is needed
What version of BiaB are you using?
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Woland99. how did you get solos with mostly 1 note per beat? I tried different .ST2 as knowledge base and also many different settings in the solist editor, but never get such simple solos. Almost all generated solis nearly always consist of an eighth note and a quarter note in a row per beat. This is with Band in a Box 2018.
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
Woland99. how did you get solos with mostly 1 note per beat? I tried different .ST2 as knowledge base and also many different settings in the solist editor, but never get such simple solos. Almost all generated solis nearly always consist of an eighth note and a quarter note in a row per beat. This is with Band in a Box 2018.
I think I might have exaggerated - maybe not "mostly" - but a lot of quarter notes. And honestly - those were not very good solos - lotsa "ketchup over brownies" moments (to borrow from Greg Fishman) like eh playing Bb on the beat over E7/B (or B over E7/H if you are in Germany). Stuff that no improviser - even complete beginner would do. I think that setting 1 note per beat might over-constrain the algorithm. Doing 2 notes per beat sound a bit smoother. The whole process is tad frustrating - I am very much NOT a tweaker - no guitar pedals (with small exceptions with more than three knobs. I like playing music not twisting knobs.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
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.
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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.
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)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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