I realize this must be such a newbie question it was probably asked and answerd in 2008 and I just cannot find it. I am composing a few songs and I have been exploring the best styles to go with each.
However, while I understand the theory behind realtracks, I always seem to pick a style that is either not available or, at some point 3 of the 4 instruments simply stop playing. From that point on I am lost. Even saving the song before that point doesn't always return me to the base song I saved (as an example, I have a song now with 3 Bass channels, one in melody one in soloist and one in Bass. The first two are empty, but I am unable to make them go away. Not to mention that invariably, when I go save a song I get a yellow alert sayng "Realtrack #xx is not available". Is there even a log where I can see that in the song, so should I really, really need it I can choose to buy it and not end up with the wrong set? Do I have to take screenshots?
In any case, this is what I would like to do:
1) Display and audition only the Realstyles I own. Yes, I know I can display N/A in front of the ones I don't have. I don't want to see them at all. Should I want to, I'd like the ability to display them but on a regular basis I don't want to see styles I don't own.
2) I'd like the same thing for regular styles. In fact, I am having a hard time displaying regular styles the way I was used to in BIAB 2008. I don't mind MIDI based styles. In fact, except for drums and the odd instrument, eventually I am going to record my own part in Studio One anyway.
3) Drums, realdrums… Let's say I find a style I like but I want the drums to have a bit different rhythm. How do I do that? Again, I love the sound a realdrum, but if I don't own it, it's no good to me, unless PG Music is going to start selling them A La Carte.
I totally see why PG Music puts the not owned RealStyles in among the choices. It's useful for the artist that absolutely needs to have that style and PG music gets to sell a pack. Unfortunately, I have a budget and while my BIAB is not the bottom of the barrel, I know I am missing a lot of nice styles. Tough luck for me.
While I am on topic, I find the purchasing of add on a bit confusing. I know I can check what I have and what I am missing from the HELP menu. Apparently I have all the Styles Disks and all the Soloist disks, except that I am constantly getting alerts that say I don't have this or that. At the very least, I'd like to understand the logic behind it.
Thank you. I did find that, and I did set it up the way you have it, but then after choosing a style and saving the song, I got "Style #xx is missing, etc. etc." which I found confusing. Wasn't the entire style that was missing, but one of the instruments. Is it possible something went wrong in the install?
Also, I had styles from back in 2008 (The last version I purchased. Maybe those are the ones throwing an error?
Thank you though. At least now I know there isn't a secret handshake for that.
Question: How come even after choosing to display only owned RT I still see the majority of tracks with N/A in the list? Also, each time I try a style of the song I am working on, invariably I get a notice that some RT instrument is missing.
First, when you have the Style Picker window open, do a Rebuild, Slow, Yes.
Second, is this computer running a newer version of BIAB? I ask because in 2018 PG Music changed the location of files, which may account for your 2008 files missing. There is a Cleanup utility you can run that cannot hurt and may help. Look in the Help menu, Utilities, Run Cleanup Routine. Look for a bunch of lines that say File Count 0.
However, RealDrums were introduced in 2008 and RealTracks not until 2009, I think, plus no such thing yet as RealStyles, so that may not matter. But it will still help us if you give us more detail about what you have.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
The things proposed by Matt Finley and VideoTrack SHOULD have taken care of this - if it isn't filtering properly still, that is curious.
What exact version of Band-in-a-Box is this? Win or Mac, and what year version? And if you go to your 'About Band-in-a-Box' window, what's the 3 digit number in brackets? This will be the build you are running - maybe there's an update you are due for that would fix this up.
Question: How come even after choosing to display only owned RT I still see the majority of tracks with N/A in the list?
To answer this question specifically, it is because as can be seen in your screenshot, you haven't selected to only show Styles with RealTracks that are found. I.E. it's possible to have a style (.STY) and not necessarily have all of the RealTracks that it calls for. You can, if you want, load in one of these styles and find the best substitute that you DO have. Right-click on the track | Select RealTracks | Find Best Sub... If you wanted to get all of the RealTracks, then an UltraPAK upgrade is the best route.
I have BIAB 2020 (717) MEGAPACK for Windows that I bought about a month ago. I did own BIAB 2008 and at some point I had purchased a few other things from PG Music, but I have having issue remembering what I had for lunch, who knows what I did in the past 13 years? So I have been trying to have at least one computer (the one I am on now) where only BIAB 2020 is installed (Although I have old stuff saved in a backup external disk, so I hope BIAB doesn't search the whole machine). I have added a few old songs I had from back in the day, but that should not be an issue.
Considering how long it has been since I worked with BIAB, I think I am doing OK as far as output, but the Realtracks, realdrum and loops, while easy to understand concepts, are confusing me in practice when it comes to using them in practice. I always seem to find a style that's a beer short of a six pack.
I just cleared the search, rebuilt all the styles and I took a screenshot of that.
I assume that [RT n/a] is something I don't own? Maybe I am misunderstanding that. Could it mean the style exist just not in RT?
I also noticed there are two menu items that say "Show only styles that are FOUND". Clicking on either only highlights the top one and there is no change in the list (that I can see).
My objective is simply to see the styles (or realTracks?) I own or I may have added/downloaded (if there is such a thing) and not tracks that are not going to work.
I also would like to only see midi styles, but I think I know how to do that. The tools are pretty self explanatory.
I hope the new screenshot helps, but I am ready to admit I could be clueless.
Thank you. I think I am getting closer to a solution. While I love realtracks, short of owning the Audiophile edition, I think it may turn out to be an exercise in futility. Since in my own songs I intend to play many of the parts myself (to various degrees of ability and digital cheating), they are not absolutely necessary.
In fact, I was looking at updating my BIAB collection, but I'll leave that for a separate thread.
The difference in RealTracks between MegaPak and Ultrapak is significant - 500 versus 2900(!). I'm a new BiaB user - a little over a month, and bought the starter kit (aka ProPak) not knowing anything about RealTracks. Within a couple of days I was sold on them so did the upgrade, and haven't regretted it. IMHO their usefullness may depend upon the styles of music you are creating - for me the jazz guitars, bass, and drums are priceless.
I don't think there's a difference in number of RealTracks between Ultrapak and Audiophile, just the higher quality audio files. I've read a mix of opinions on whether that difference can typically be heard.
I do find the upgrade paths a little confusing for someone like me who wants to incrementally upgrade over a period of a month or two - being a new user it takes a while to understand the power here. I went from Pro to UltraPak for the same total cost as if I had purchased Ultrapak initially. But as I understand from talking to the sales chat , if I wanted to upgrade from Ultrapak to Audiophile it would cost $469, versus the $200 difference between what I have and Audiophile.
Last edited by cwiggins999; 05/27/2010:40 AM.
Chuck Wiggins
BIAB 2023 Win UltraPak, Cakewalk, Windows 10 Pro Custom AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core, Focusrite Scarlett 4x4 interface
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows 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.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 60 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until December 31, 2025. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49. Browse the full contents of each package and listen to demos here.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 Windows or for Mac.
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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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