Would be nice to have alternative numerical or letter names of mixer tracks to have them "organized" in consecutive manner, in order they appear in mixer for shots, holds etc. 1 A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5 E 6 F 7 G (possibly more in future?)
What we have now, where there is a choice In the track names between default letters for track instruments or, alternatively, the first letter of the patch selected for each track, gets confusing when entering the excluded tracks in chord holds, shots, and rests, since you must use the defaults there.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Having said that, requesting the capability to rename tracks is what led to the messy and awkward track naming situation we have today where users see one track name but have to use the abbreviations for the default track names to get things accomplished.
My personal preference is for the five arrangement tracks to have default labels of T1 to T5 starting from top of the mixer downward. The five arrangement tracks should be able to be relabeled by the user on a song project-by-song project basis. No matter if an arrangement track displays a default or custom name the program should use the displayed name.
Leave the Melody, Soloist, Audio and Thru track names alone. Each of those tracks have unique characteristics that separate them from the five arrangement tracks.
Jim, I think we are talking about slightly different things. I am not suggesting changing the "names" how they appear on the mixer, but something close to what you referring about "labels". I do want those consecutive "label" names respond to shots, holds, rests.
The mess you are referring to is a number after the instrument on the label? Like Guitar2 (which could be on the mixer track 4,5etc.) correct?
If yes, then I see why it could create potential boo boo, and I do like your idea of T1, T2..etc labels going down the mixer. +1!
But I do not see why shots, holds can't be attached to these numbers. So it would be written as: Em..1,4,16 and you will know that these will correspond to Mixer Tracks 1(T1), Track 4(T4) and maybe one day Track 16(T16)
It should make things more organized and logically sound.
Well, I think Jim is referring to what I mentioned, and he is right. Some years ago we requested to have the tracks use the name of the patch selected, rather than be locked into the single-letter scheme BIAB uses where it has B for Bass, P for Piano, D for Drums etc. It's arguably better because now you can have a soprano sax on the Strings track etc. But even that is confusing as implemented, because there are two S entries (Strings and Soloist, or Soprano and Soloist etc.). In some ways it got worse, because only part of the new scheme to use the first name of the patch was implemented. You still have to use the old defaults in rests, shots and holds. And now, for example, if all your patches started with S, you could get mighty confused. Try explaining all this to a new user (I have). I repeat this background info because it occurred before you joined the forum.
So I'm quite sure Jim knows all this, and is agreeing with the concept that the naming needs another convention. He and I may just not be sure yet what the solution is. In general, I work on identifying the problem but, as a programmer and system analyst, I let the developers consider the best implementation because only they know the big picture.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Yes I was going to say what Jim said. If they left a letter on the track (that can't be renamed) pertaining to the track hold letter, maybe in front of the nameable part ???
B for Bass
D for Drums
P for Piano
G for Guitar
S for Strings
I remember asking for C...(track number) years ago for RealBand but what I ended up doing was generating what track I needed in say the BB G Guitar track with the Holds C... then moved that track down to a blank track then did the same in the BB G Guitar track with another instrument, so I could have 12 tracks with holds.
Now with Biab if you want more tracks added in the future you would have to put all those track numbers after the chord hold/shot/rest to be exempt.
I had suggested this for Track Naming some years ago, which actually got some traction in terms of implementation. I'm not sure if this is the same as the current request though.
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.
VideoTrack. Yes, I think it is very close. This is how I see it. And for pushes, holds etc. option to use numbers: Em..1,4,16 and you will know that these will correspond to Mixer Tracks 1(T1), Track 4(T4) and maybe one day Track 16(T16)
Yes, essentially we're working from the same page.
+1
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.
Please correct me where ever I make an error but allow me to restate your idea.
You want a user to be able to state in one statement, or command, a single, or multiple, bar locations for a shot, hold or rest to be inserted into a song project.
The same statement, or command, should state each track, or tracks, on which to apply the statement or command.
Reference mixer track numbers 1,2,3,4,5.... for typing shots, holds rests instead of B,D,G,S
As of now, to exempt instruments, you adding their letters following the break. For example, typing C.bd So the requested "wish" same expression would look like this: C.1,2
Even if you change first mixer track to piano, banjo, violin RT or anything else - If it remains on first track, it would be always referenced as T1 and expressed as 1 in shots, rests, holds. etc.
Numerical expression will help to clarify which exact Mixer track you want to follow these rests, stops, holds
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!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
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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):
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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.
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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)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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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!
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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.
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