Have a small problem, which I hope you can help me sort out:
Using BiaB 2019 for Mac, I have loaded the style _GENTLE (Gentle Even Acoustic Pop w/Cello) the guitar should be strummed, but it's not - it is held!? Anyone know why?
I give it a listen. You are right, a held single strum in general on each chord. Why do you feel this not what it is supposed to sound like? I suspect it is as recorded.
However, If you want a more rhythmic strumming pattern try RT 362 guitar, acoustic, Strumming Ev 085. I have another strum pattern with some palm muting, I really like but can't think of it right now. So look in the RealTrack Picker for "strumming" and you should find some nice options.
There definitely seems to be a problem here. I agree with you. The guitar plays as a held, single strum. In the Memo description, though, we are told that it should be: "The acoustic guitar is being played by Brent Mason who is strumming a palm muted even eights rhythm."
To see what's causing this problem, do the following....
1. Load the style _GENTLE
2. Select "Realtracks | Realtrack Picker Dialog" (#1 and #2 on the top image below). If your desktop view is different from mine, press CTRL+T to toggle between views.
3. Now select the Realtrack that contains the Guitar. (#3 on the lower image below)
You can see that this has "[Style: Held]" listed in its name. Which is saying the the "Held" setting has been set in the style and this would seem to be a mistake.
I will report this to the developers and it will be corrected.
In the meantime, to solve this problem, all that you need do is put Realtrack 2780 on the 'Piano' track.
To do this...
4. Select the Piano track (#4 on the bottom image).
5. Type 2780 in the "Filter by" found at the bottom of Realtrack Picker.
6. Select RT 2780 to put #2780 on the empty track and then click on "Close" at the bottom of Realtrack Picker.
The mixer should now show that 2780 is on the track immediately under the Bass as well as on the original faulty track.
7. Turn the volume down on the faulty track (if you set the volume to zero rather than mute, it will save with the song).
8. Generate the song and it should now play properly.
Pure genius Noel. I had the file still open and looked closer and followed your lead. This little lesson opened up my eyes to how the RT Styles are being developed behind the scenes. I knew by ear it was "held" but did not see where this was coded. The real clue to me should have been the lack of musicality to the held chords - something was indeed wrong. But you nailed it.
Can't we remove the "held" and "simple" when it is used? Or is the only way this little work around by placing the RT back into the song?
And final question - where the heck did you learn all this?
And finally... Jochim, hope it don't look like I stole your tread.
That's a great question and its solution is worth adding to the thread.
Yes it's possible to enter into Stylemaker and remove the "Held" setting.
To see this setting, return to Realtrack Picker with _GENTLY loaded and you'll see, on the upper far right where the various RT options are located, that the "Held" option is ticked. It is grayed out, though, and cannot be accessed. This means that it was set in the style.
The problem with editing the style is that next time, an update arrives, it's possible that the update will overwrite the changed style unless it's renamed to a non-BIAB-style name.
Of course renaming and saving a new style is easy enough to do... say _GENTLY9 <--- this would mean that it will still appear near "_GENTLY" in Stylepicker and it's unlikely that PG Music will use a 9 at the end of the style (also, there are only 8 characters to work with in the name).
If you are curious how to do this... read on...
1. Enter into Stylemaker -- "File | Stylemaker | Edit current style"
2. Use "Save As" to save the current style as a new style. (Top image below.)
3. As shown on the middle image, now select "Misc" (#1) and then a second window will pop up from which you can select "More".
4. Now, as shown on the bottom image, select RT 2780 (#1) and then remove the checkmark from "Held" (#2).
5. Exit back to the original Stylemaker window and save the style.
6. Exit back to BIAB's chord sheet.
You now have a new style that has the correct setting.
Regards, Noel
P.S. I just pick up this stuff as I try understand a little more about BIAB. For me, it all begins with watching the PG Music videos found at...
I hope our newest member, Jochim, appreciates that he just woke up and walked into a masterclass lesson in RealStyles. No extra charge
And then just between us long timers.
This perfectly illustrates the Yin and the Yang of BIAB. Or is it the Pain and the Passion. I have tended in recent times to get frustrated with the depth of this program when I feel things should just be like I think they should be. Easy to just assume bugs in the code and shut it down. And in this case we do feel a code change should be done. But it is also clear now that the tools are all there for us to get the job done (making music) completely.
For me this is a kind of wonderful little Christmas tale here in our quite forum on this blessed day. Appreciate what we have been given, Use what we have to its fullest, and make a joyful sound unto the world.
Merry Christmas to you and yours Noel from me and mine.
Have a small problem, which I hope you can help me sort out:
Using BiaB 2019 for Mac, I have loaded the style _GENTLE (Gentle Even Acoustic Pop w/Cello) the guitar should be strummed, but it's not - it is held!? Anyone know why?
Best regards Jochim
Thank you for reporting this. The style is from Xtra Styles PAK 4: Folk and Beyond 1, and will be updated in a future patch.
Also, Noel96 has provided an excellent tutorial on the StyleMaker. Thank you for providing a workaround in the interim.
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!
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This Free Bonus PAK includes:
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-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
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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!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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!
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.
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