It's April and no PT 2020. I used to use PT a lot for finishing BIAB tracks. It's a little quicker and lighter than RealBand. But I know that RB does everything PT does and more so these days I use RB almost exclusively. So has PG decided not to update PT?
I've used PowerTracks for about twenty years and it's still where I go to record live tracks. You're right in that it's quicker and lighter than RealBand - it boots faster and in my experience is more stable. I switch to RealBand to add RTs of the instruments which I can't play myself and that's just like having a virtual room full of session musicians. I don't get into BiaB at all and I don't use styles - I just pick out the RTs that I need from the list.
About a year ago I wrote to PG, twice, suggesting that they might like to consider giving PowerTracks the ability to load realtracks - it already loads realdrums, so not much work needed. This would create a product which would suit a whole new group of people who work the same way as I do - buy PowerTracks first and then buy groups of RTs as and when needed.
Never got a reply, which is strange because PG are usually so polite, but there it is. Still think it was a good idea.
Hey ROG, good to see your alive and kicking in isolation. Maybe they never responded because Realband is Powertracks with the ability to add RTs. Are you suggesting to break it out of BiaB completely?
Last edited by Rob Helms; 04/17/2004:52 PM.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
Yes, still working away in splendid isolation here in England.
You're right of course, about Realband, but it does carry a lot of baggage which Powertracks doesn't have. That and the fact that it's inextricably linked to BiaB which gives it an "auto accompaniment" image. This immediately alienates a whole group of people who would otherwise not be put of by the idea of virtual session musicians. It's also a marketing thing - buy stand-alone Powertracks very cheaply and then get hooked into buying RTs, which as we all know are very addictive.
I put all this and more in the letters to PG, so it was disappointing not to get an acknowledgement, but life's too short to worry about things like that.
Hi there (sorry for my english)! I am using the PowerTracks sequencer since v3.0 and I love working with it!
ROG, I also sent suggestions to pg music without getting ever any answer.
Maybe this is the way to be heard ;-) I personally don't need a new version each year. I'd love to have a - Complete (choosable knobs for all needed midi-cc) midi automation from within the tracks and mixer window, not only cc7, 10, ... (I know I can draw cc in piano roll). - Completeley new designed mixer window (I avoid it as possible). For example I prefer the look of the v8 mixer window by far, to me it is clearer and less distracting from working with it.
i don't think i'll be buying PT 2020. RB is almost like PT for what I need to do and does have extra functionality i like. I upgraded from BIAB 2008 to 2018 after not making music for a long time and although BIAB had changed completely, RB was still familiar enough for me to use it right away.
I would think for PT to be able to generate and manipulate RT like RB it would have to be linked to BiaB hence it would become RB which is what happened in the beginning. ROG, I also and many others have sent ideas to them but never got a response so were in good company.
I guess they do respond in a different way many features requested have been implemented. I suppose to respond to all idea letters would be tedious.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
I suppose what I'm actually advocating is a slimmed down Realband with a different name and without reference to styles or anything else which might hint at auto-accompaniment, so it could be marketed as a stand-alone to a different market. I used to write for Sound On Sound at one time and a couple of years ago when I was speaking to Paul White, the Editor in Chief, it transpired that although he knew about BiaB he'd never heard of Realband! Looks like an opportunity missed to me, but then as I said before, life's too short to worry about these things.
/available soon near you //Rainbow drums were generated 'after the fact' in PT .. //sometimes realracks/realdrums can be used to 'backfill' not just to create
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
...consider giving PowerTracks the ability to load realtracks - it already loads realdrums, so not much work needed.
I could be wrong but I think this is incorrect. Drums do not handle chords only time stretching. If you're using an RT, they respond to chords which requires Biab's full generating function.
Curious, what other functions does RB have that you think slows it down? I used to use PT exclusively before RB was created and never bothered with PT again. Could it actually be better to use PT and the Biab plugin rather than using RB as I have been?
A couple people I know boughtPT simply because it is inexpensive, allows 48 track recording, and if they need a track generated for something we can bring the seq file into RB here, generate what we need and save the whole thing to a seq file PT can open for them back home.
I know I could use my 3 licenses for the three locations, but we try be on the up and up so they at least wanted to buy PT.
One of them has PT12 (ancient) yet it still does what it does and allows seq files to go back and forth between the current RB and it.
"Could it actually be better to use PT and the Biab plugin rather than using RB as I have been?" If you have the plugin, you have RB, and PGMusic has said RB can do what the plugin does, so I don't see anything to gain going that route.
Last edited by rharv; 04/29/2011:19 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Hi Ember looked at the sales faq and note that TC Helicon is available in BIAB and PT but only in RB if you have PowerTracks. Does that mean RB can't use the BIAB version? I have decided that if you do bring out a PT 2020 I no longer need to upgrade my PT2019 because RB does everything I need although I find PT a little lighter and swifter.
But does that mean if PT2020 gets an improved TC Helicon function I have to buy it just to get TC Helicon to work in RB?
The "Packages" page is not Android smartphone friendly. I only see the left side of the screen, with no way to navigate to the content on the right. The other PT2020 pages appear fine.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
What were the settings for those drums in rainbow? I keep having issues with trying to render drums from Addictive Drummer in PT (the first few note don't play because i guess it's still loading the samples?)
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®.
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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.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
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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