OK,looks like in order to get anythng midi sounding like proper instruments Im going to have to go 64 bit and use this TTS to get better sounds for the midi styles already there, which I hope sounds decent and installs and runs like my Forte does in 32.But HOW do I change from one to the other and back again?Is there a 32/64 toggle somewhere? Can Posters please consider that what I do is pure and simply to create backings for my songs in BB with whats there.Thats why I have ALL the extra packs.Im never going to want to get into the "nuts and bolts" of it as hubby calls it to make it work.If I had had to do that Day1 Id never have got it in the first place in 2017.I like to think Im a musician,not a Mechanic.lol! So folks how do I do it and is it the right step? Wendy
BiaB2022PLUS,927. every extras pack I can find ;-),Sonar7XL,Win 10
Wendy, I believe the latest installer installs a 64bit and 32bit version on the desktop.
I don't think the 64bit version will necessarily give you better sounds for MIDI. That absolutely depends on your choice of MIDI synth (hardware or software).
The 64 bit version can load VSTSynthFont64 by default (this comes with BiaB 2019)
The 32 bit version can still load Coyote Forte.
Check your desktop for the 2 BiaB versions. They should be labelled.
I the shortcut is not available, navigate to x:\bb\ and launch bbw64.exe to start the 64 bit version. (BBW.exe launches the 32 bit version.).
You can also create a shortcut if you prefer.
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.
It's necessary to create two shortcuts... one for BIAB 32-bit and one for BIAB 64-bit.
Currently, it sounds like the shortcut you have is for BIAB 32-bit.
To create a shortcut for BIAB 64,
1. go to the \bb folder
2. locate the file BBW64.EXE (your computer may not show the .exe -- it will depend on its Windows configuration)
3. right-click on BBW64.EXE and select "create shortcut" from the menu
4. move the shortcut to the Desktop (or wherever you'd like it)
5. set the shortcut to "Run as administrator" -- by right-clicking on the shortcut, selecting 'Properties' and activating the "Run as admin" option under the 'Compatibility' tab.
Regards, Noel
P.S. Seems that Trev and I were typing at the same time!
P.S. Seems that Trev and I were typing at the same time!
Great minds and all that jazz...
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.
open both 32 bit and 64 bit at same time if you want the toggle option. preferences/ display /allow multiple instances of bb to run.
rebuilt styles,songs and real tracks. win 10...amd a10 radeon r6 4c+6g 1.8ghz 64 bit hp envy biab 2023 with 1004 build. styles 1 to 429 plus extras 1,2,3,4 and 6. running as admin,cleaned up returned to factory settings.
i have both 32 bit and 64 bit shortcuts with the latest BIAB update. as far as synths go, i have both forte and the TTS1 although my version is the 32 bit edirol hypercanvas by Roland which has identical sounds.
Peter Gannon in a reply to one of my posts said that PG music balance their midi styles on the Roland sound set and that it is superior to the 64 bit soft synth bundled with BIAB 2019. I also think it's superior to the forte sounds.
so if you use the 64 bit BIAB and download the TTS1 as Peter Gannon suggests for free with Cakewalk you'll actually get the best midi sounds optimised for BIAB
There are some very large GM SF2s out there. There are also some that you can purchase. One nice thing about SF2s is that with a free librarian you can replace one sound with another.
But for the best sounding MIDI you will need 64 bit BiaB. There are some good sounding free VSTis for 64 bits out there. Or you can purchase a more expensive player/sampler like Kontakt, SampleTank, UVI, etc for the best MIDI sounds. But be forwarded some VSTis can be very expensive.
You may also want to get a 64 bit DAW. You can do a lot more in one of them than you can in BiaB. Use BiaB to get you backing tracks and the DAW to control them via CCs for MIDI or automation for audio. You can also have many tracks in a DAW. YMMV
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Hi all.Thanks for the help.I now have 32 and 64 icons on my desktop screen.Lovely. Aftera bit of a struggle I DLd the Bandlab (I think)so I guess I have TTS-1(I think).Is there a specific route to get it to appear in midi divers as my dxi instead of vst that now comes with BB64 bit? Wendy
BiaB2022PLUS,927. every extras pack I can find ;-),Sonar7XL,Win 10
TTS1 (or Edirol Soundcanvas - the version I've got) came as two versions - dxi and vst. My original retail purchase has both versions. Not sure what you get with cakewalk but it may be the vst not the dxi. Procedures are different (but just as easy) for the different versions. Forte is dxi.
Either version of TTS1 will give you better sounds than the bundled soft synth with BIAB 2109 ( at least according to Peter Gannon!)
However one thing to be aware of one of the kick drums in TTS1 does not respond to velocity changes - so it can be over loud. It's a knwn bug and as the program is now discontinued it won't be fixed. All you need to do is change to the alternative kick drum in the BIAB set up. In a mix I can't hear the difference.
However one thing to be aware of one of the kick drums in TTS1 does not respond to velocity changes - so it can be over loud. It's a knwn bug and as the program is now discontinued it won't be fixed. All you need to do is change to the alternative kick drum in the BIAB set up. In a mix I can't hear the difference.
If I remember correctly you have user presets that you can use. I made a rhythm preset where I set the kick drum to a lower velocity and used that preset. Its been a long time since I used TTS-1 but I'm pretty sure I did that. You might want to try it and see if it works for you.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
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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!
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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!
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