It appears that Sforzando is a VSTi and RealBand requires a DXi.
DXi sound engines such as Coyote WT are registered with Windows during installation. Registration is how RealBand knows the utility exists and the location.
Sforzando does not register with Windows during installation so RealBand does not recognize the program.
Using RealBand 2019 build 3, I set an empty track to midi, clicked the track fx, selected the add VSTi option, navigated to Program Files\Plogue\sforzando\VST and selected the "sforzando VST_x86.dll" file and it loaded fine. You have to select the x86 file because RealBand remains a 32 bit program at this time.
haen't tried it but does that mean that BIAB uses sforzando automatically when you select the appropriate midi patch but when you open a BIAB file in RB it doesn't work?
just tried it and can't get a midi supertrack to play. i can see it has information but no sound is produced. i get a messgae like 'ok to add ?????????.tgs but press ok and nothign happens
i have added the sforzando ok but it shows the instrument as empty
tried all sorts of combinations but the only thing i haven't tried is deselecting 'route all midi to default dxi' which is the hypercanvas
did that and the supertrack played - but the edirol showed up as the default player. loaded the sforzando and its silent again.
how do i get most midi tracks to play with the edirol then supertracks as they are supposed to with the high q patches?
What version of RealBand are you using? You can verify by looking at the bottom of the splash screen while the program opens or selecting Help > About. The latest is RealBand 2019, build 3
A TGS file error means the program is searching for 1K Multimedia files for Amplitude or SampleTank2. PG Music provided a copy of SampleTank 2 back when SampleTank was 32 bit and had a free player available for download. When SampleTank 3 was introduced the player was 64 bit and no longer compatible with PG Music products so PG Music switched to the 32 bit version of Sforzando. Sforzando uses SFZ and SF2 soundfonts.
Does the yellow message in the image below look about the same as the message you saw?
I'm using the very latest version of RB. the message was I think green and said ok to load something or other patch etc tgs which looked like RB was doing the right thing
midi info appeared but it was silent
in the past I've found that its usually me doing something simple wrongly
by the way all other tracks were real tracks and could it be that i'd converted all tracks to ordinary tracks as opposed to BIAB? the midi info was there just couldn't play with the high q patch.
do I need to load the sforzando in a different way? I can get it loaded - as per the screen shot - but instead of the midi supertrack being loaded the instrument box says no instrument
I have build 3, RB 2019 and when I loaded a style with a MIDI Supertrack in it, the song's generation defaulted to my default VSTi/DXi (in this case Coyote WT).
What I did was then
1. right-click on the MIDI Supertrack
2. click on the "Open VSTi/DXi Synth Panel Configuration" (upper image)
3. next I loaded Sforzando in the top slot (#1 on lower image)
4. followed the #2, 3, 4, 5 to load a PG Music Hi-Q sound
thanks Noel - my issue is adding a Midi supertrack to an existing RB project.
all the other tracks are realtracks and i have been adding realtracks with no problem and hoped i coudl do the same with midi supertracks.
i know if I want to add a normal midi track in RB I have to change the style to one I want that has a midi part. the problem i have is that i need to know which midi style to change the style to - i can't audition midi tracks like realtracks (maybe that's too much to ask!)
with the option to add a midi supertrack i get to see all the midi supertracks i could use but they remain silent once generated.
ideally i'd like to see the supertracks available, click generate and hear them play when i return to the tracks window - but whilst the information is visible no sound is produced. i got the track to play using the edirol but that defeats the object of having high q sounds - unless i can choose the right instrument in sforzando? that would mean memorising the patch the supertrack claims to use. the tgs message seemed to suggest everything was working ok but i just couldn't get the track to make a sound with sforzando loaded but i will try your suggestion as above and see if i can select an instrument in sforzando
Under "Options | Preferences | 6-MIDI | MIDI Devices", do you have the option "Reroute MIDI playback through default VSTi/DXi" selected? In addition, do you have a default VSTi/DXi selected?
yes i do - see the post above but if i uncheck it what do the rest of the midi tracks that i like do for a soft synth - do i have to assign the edirol to each track and the sforzando to the track i want the high q patch on?
You do midi two ways in BIAB. 1.Assign one synth for all midi tracks. This is the DEFAULT. 2. Assign individual midi synths to each track by unchecking the DEFAULT syth.
RealBand does not need a midi style to sample a midi instrument. The program can use whatever style that is already loaded. However, the program does need a chord chart that can be used as a guide to generate tracks.
As a side note, when a Band-in-a-Box song or melody file is opened in RealBand, RealBand normally reserves the first eight tracks for Band-in-a-Box midi tracks and loads RealTracks starting with track nine. See first screen shot.
This default behavior can be changed by right clicking on any track icon to open a sub menu. Select "Track" then "Make all BB tracks regular tracks" and all tracks become audio tracks. The sub menu also has a selection to "Make first 8 tracks BB tracks" if you want the first eight tracks to revert to Band-in-a-Box midi tracks. See second screen shot.
Right click on any unused track icon to bring up the sub menu. Select "Track Type: Audio Stereo" and change the selection to "MIDI". The unused track will change to a midi track. See third screen shot.
Once a track is set for MIDI right click on the track icon to open the sub menu. The sub menu now has many midi related options and settings, including loading a Hi-Q Instrument. See fourth screen shot.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean