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pg please pin this in the beginners forum please cos i
dont want to keep on posting this. OR include as a guide
for new beginners in your docs.
i am posting this as i see the same q's over and over ad
infinitum in these forums.
A NICE STUDIO SET UP FOR BEGINNERS/ANYONE.
AROUND 1.2 K IN COST.
(THIS SET UP I USE AND I HAVE RECORDED IN BIG STUDIOS.)
1. biab and reaper for software.
2. xtra plug ins. pay 20 bucks for an issue of computer music
magazine. great plug ins. see you tube for demos.
YOU DONT NEED TO SPLASH OUT HUGE MONEY FOR PLUG INS.
THE BUILT IN free PLUG INS IN BIAB AND REAPER ARE ALSO
WONDERFULL..
(inside tip check out the free JESUSONIC plug ins in reaper.
and also reaper stash.)
3. BUY A REFURBISHED COMPUTER WITH WARRANTY.
eg. i5//i7 cpu , one or more ssd's, 8/16 gigs ram.
300 bucks. ive found refurbs often better than new !!
AND you save a bunch of dollars.
make sure it boots fast , thats the clue.
4. add a STARTECH external box that accepts ssd's.
they are 40 bucks or so and look like a toaster.
great for fast back ups from pc internal ssd or you can use
as primary.
5. DONT USE ON BOARD SOUND. GET A PROPER INTERFACE.
i use steinberg ur22. works a charm. great drivers.
had it several years now. nice mic preamps.
6. A MIC , DONT USE DYNAMICS cos they need a lot of gain .
USE A CONDENSER.
i use this nice little tascam tm 80. under rated imho.
its 80 buks. now before anyone crits me ive used multi
thousand dollar mics . there are loads of other under 150 buck
condensers. but the tm 80 doesnt need a strict 48v dc.
the advantage of condensers over dynamic mics is you
dont have to crank the usb interface mic preamp like one does
with dynamics or need an in line preamp booster.
i got a load of mics i hardly use lol.
7. dont overpay for fancy monitors/phones.
i learnt that lesson the hard way. one reason being that the people
listening to your song often are useing cheap speakers.
remember often mixes done on 5k soffit monsters sometimes
dont translate well to your bro's 50 buck boombox.
the above set up should yield grrreat results.
irrespective of gear. songs are a ton of dedication and sweat.
i compare the above to when i owned big studio gear , and i will say
this is a golden age for cheap gear.
often its how one uses the gear rather than the gear itself.
i dont profess to have all the answers.
just hoping to help newbies a little.
keep laughing/be happy and make music.
my moniker is "mystery muso".
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Good info sir. Unfortunately, they do not generally pin user posts here. Most new folks are far too lazy and impatient to spend the time doing a search. I agree, stuff like this has been posted over and over again. It's a conundrum to say the least.
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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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.
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sslechta.
re. lazy. your right.
i would like a dollar for every time someones posted on a recording forum,,
"i'm playing this midi file and adjusting the fader but the volume dont change".
lol. i would be rich.
people need to take the time to understand midi/embedded commands in the midi data stream. and buy a book on midi.
i'm happy to help people new to this crazy music life;
its just that it gets a tad tiresome answering the same
questions for the thousandth time.
pg need faq's on questions like this cos it would save a ton of time.
regards.
mysterymuso.
ps i like the tm 80 mic because it will run all the way down to 9vdc.
so one isnt dependent on a strict 48 v dc phantom supply.
btw nice rig you got. try reaper daw sometimes.
i love it.
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 09/12/20 03:40 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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I hate to rain on anyone's parade but, without knowing the type of music one wants to make, any such list is useless. If a newbie blindly spends after reading, then such a list is worse than useless. The acoustic singer/songwriter, aspiring film composer and the fan of industrial have vastly different needs, for example.
The problem with such a pinned post is that many would not agree to your list. Count me among that crowd.
Reaper? Audacity? Cheapware or freeware with no phone support for a beginner? Can't agree to that for a second. No phone support is why I could never recommend a Steinberg ur22. Well, that and the fact that the UR22mkII is a much better interface as are all the new Fast USB 2 interfaces introduced since last October (all use the same DAC).
I had a simple support issue with Steinberg recently—the kind that no user group can help with, BTW. I received the email with the link I needed 10 days later. Yamaha is one of the largest music companies in the world and it took one of their divisions 10 days to email a support link. Ok, I'm a working professional and it wasn't a big deal but if I was a newbie, 10 days would be beyond unacceptable.
The MOTU M2 costs $5 more than the UR22mkII, uses the same DAC, has much better metering, comes with Performer Lite and has telephone support. Logic Pro X may be $199 but again, it has phone support (Apple doesn't advertise this but it does). BIAB has phone support. Beginners should buy interfaces and apps that let them talk to people when they're starting out and in a jam.
Likewise, telling any group blindly that certain items are not required is the biggest mistake. Again, it depends on the goal.
Unless you know the exact price and immediate availability of used gear "with a guaranty", the less said about that, the better.
I'm happy to make gear recommendations for beginners but only after I know the goals.
BIAB 2026 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 & M5 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScore/Notion/Overture
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mike.
i was just trying to help beginners.
have you ever tried reaper? there are avid fans useing it in EVERY music genre all over the world includeing these forums.
big studios down to home set ups.
if you peruse the reaper.fm forums you will see qoutes
along the lines of "the biab and reaper combo is a well kept secret".
perhaps you might like to share your beginners set up
for each music genre. rap/rock/country/jazz/blues etc etc. ?
respectfully.
mysterymuso.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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I hate to rain on anyone's parade but, without knowing the type of music one wants to make, any such list is useless. If a newbie blindly spends after reading, then such a list is worse than useless. The acoustic singer/songwriter, aspiring film composer and the fan of industrial have vastly different needs, for example.
The problem with such a pinned post is that many would not agree to your list. Count me among that crowd.
Reaper? Audacity? Cheapware or freeware with no phone support for a beginner? Can't agree to that for a second. No phone support is why I could never recommend a Steinberg ur22. Well, that and the fact that the UR22mkII is a much better interface as are all the new Fast USB 2 interfaces introduced since last October (all use the same DAC).
I had a simple support issue with Steinberg recently—the kind that no user group can help with, BTW. I received the email with the link I needed 10 days later. Yamaha is one of the largest music companies in the world and it took one of their divisions 10 days to email a support link. Ok, I'm a working professional and it wasn't a big deal but if I was a newbie, 10 days would be beyond unacceptable.
The MOTU M2 costs $5 more than the UR22mkII, uses the same DAC, has much better metering, comes with Performer Lite and has telephone support. Logic Pro X may be $199 but again, it has phone support (Apple doesn't advertise this but it does). BIAB has phone support. Beginners should buy interfaces and apps that let them talk to people when they're starting out and in a jam.
Likewise, telling any group blindly that certain items are not required is the biggest mistake. Again, it depends on the goal.
Unless you know the exact price and immediate availability of used gear "with a guaranty", the less said about that, the better.
I'm happy to make gear recommendations for beginners but only after I know the goals. I'm totally with you. This list is totally useless without knowing the requirements and optimistic at best for a solution. I sing and do a lot of background vocals. I couldn't imagine using this list and yielding any good results. I won't even get into the product list. It seems to be based more on personal preference than fact. Also if you really want to prove that this works produce and release some music. Then I would be in a better position to judge.
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mike.
have you ever tried reaper?
I would never recommend an app or an interface to a beginner that doesn't have phone support. Ever. I've made my reasons clear. What I might do for myself has nothing to do with anything. With over 50 years experience in the record industry and using DAWs for nearly half that time, I am no beginner. There's a large community who thinks that all you need is an iPhone, ear buds and GarageBand. They are happy with the music they make and I'm not going to tell them they're wrong. I don't think they are except that I believe an iPad is better  In fact, I'm about to knock out guide tracks for a band I work with using my iPad only. The other tracks will be created on iPhones, an old Boss recorder, an M2 into a Mac Mini and one of those Steinberg interfaces you like into a MacBook Pro. I'll assemble the results in my studio. All were beginners in March except myself. Again, because you didn't understand me the first time: What a person wants to do with a recording setup makes all the difference in what a person needs. There is no "one size fits all" here.
BIAB 2026 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 & M5 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScore/Notion/Overture
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mike.
this will be my last comment on this subject as i am going through rehab after a major surgery.
people can easily check on reaper by going to the pg biab win forum here at pgmusic and asking if people are happy with it.
or the main reaper.fm forum.
i am not willing to get into a mac vs pc debate as this has been hashed out thousands of times over the years in various recording forums.
eg. gearslutz.com has many threads on the subject.
with pros and cons on both sides.
lots of mac and pc threads. configs etc etc.
also reaper.fm has forums for both mac and pc. lots of info.
frankly i'm not happy with any computer architectures currently.
we are stuck STILL with slow cpu's for example.
I yearn for the day when we have ultra high speed processors and busses etc.
but until that day comes one works with what is offered by the marketplace.
as everyone knows,, new product introductions are rapid these days.and obsolescence is just as rapid. thus i am carefull.
(yes i'm well aware of the M.2 as well as the new SSL interfaces.but i typically wait awhile on new products to see if there are any problems.)
its rather interesting you should mention telephone support as your major criteria because just the other day , an organisation ive trusted for years with their telephone support and instant accessibility was not available when i really really needed them, and didnt get back to me for 2 days.
(note, the occasional time ive called pg phone support. no problem).
even the most well run organisation can be flooded with calls, as they can only afford the overhead of so many people in a call centre.
because call centres are a cost centre.
respectfully.
mysterymuso
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Or ----
BIAB $129 PG Music Pro Pak
Dp03 $330 Tascam 8 track Digital Multi Track Recorder
_________
Total $469
No Mac/PC debate necessary.
No external DAW required. The Unit has Proprietary built in DAW capable of completing a project from start to finish.
No Latency.
Hardware and PC VST compatible.
No mic required, two included. XLR's available for external mics.
No interface required.
No electric mains required. Device can be operated on batteries.
No knowledge of the goals or type of music user performs is necessary in order to recommend the unit...
Excellent phone support by both companies.
This combo satisfies all seven of the beginners home studio recommendations from the original poster.
Recordings are indistinguishable from like/kind quality recordings made on expensive DAW/interface/comparable mic system or iPhone, ear buds and GarageBand.
Completely compatible with all BIAB tracks from any version, release year and sound format.
Super easy to set up and operate. Set up and operation can be mastered in less than an hour by a complete novice.
______________________
So:
"What a person wants to do with a recording setup makes all the difference in what a person needs. There is no "one size fits all" here." is an incorrect statement.
A home studio is a recording path from a sound source input to a sound source output that provides the ability to archive audio/data. It can be as simple or complex as one wants or can afford and understands how to use.
This setup is capable of recording anything from a singer/songwriter, Karaoke singer, duo band, trio, 7 piece band, full orchestra or aspiring film composer because it has the necessary inputs and outputs to be configured and adapted to the recording environment.
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Charlie:
We Tascam Guys gotta get hot on this Model 12. Introduced this year. I've been holding out, waiting for Tascam to get up to date with respect to computer compatibility. Not ready to write the
DP-03 off, mind you, but not recomending it at this time.
Examples: (1) I build a BIAB backing track, render to six WAVs, want to quickly transfer those six tracks onto the recorder, tweak and reduce them to two or three.
(2) I have a set of 24 songs on a 32G card. I want to go into a song and start doing some serious bouncing and mastering. I'm up against power limitations right away.
(3) I want to isolate one track and run it through the Reaper or Audacity effects bank. In short, I want to be able to do all those things Willie can do in his $1M studio for a couple of grand. Is that asking too much?
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Charlie:
We Tascam Guys gotta get hot on this Model 12. Introduced this year. I've been holding out, waiting for Tascam to get up to date with respect to computer compatibility. Not ready to write the
DP-03 off, mind you, but not recomending it at this time.
Examples: (1) I build a BIAB backing track, render to six WAVs, want to quickly transfer those six tracks onto the recorder, tweak and reduce them to two or three.
(2) I have a set of 24 songs on a 32G card. I want to go into a song and start doing some serious bouncing and mastering. I'm up against power limitations right away.
(3) I want to isolate one track and run it through the Reaper or Audacity effects bank. In short, I want to be able to do all those things Willie can do in his $1M studio for a couple of grand. Is that asking too much?
Ed, thanks for your ciomment. Yes, the Model12,16 and 24 are exciting new gear and welcome additions to the recording scene. My recommendation of the DP03 was to demonstrate a bare minimum setup as a alternate to the DAW/audio interface system discussed above. The DP03 is a reasonable choice as the anchor of a home recording studio for beginners because it offers all of the basic necessities to compose and complete high quality recordings at both a reasonable cost and quite a manageable learning curve and it interacts wonderfully with any version of BIAB. There are definite benefits to a hardware and BIAB combination that enhances the potential product, complexity and arrangements of BIAB tracks that elevates BIAB tracks on par with tracks edited in a DAW. These tools, techniques are mostly ignored by users that move their tracks over to their DAW because there's no benefit to do it in BIAB over a DAW. There are however many benefits when using hardware rather than a DAW. BIAB functions as a digital multi track recorder so it can do a lot of advance edits, bounces, sub-mixes, smooth transitions, fade-in's, fade-out's, intros and outros. BIAB can also serve the function of virtual tracks for a digital recorder with a set number of physical tracks like the DP03. These digital multi track capabilities overcome all of the limitation you list in your comment above. I agree there are better choices but that by no means diminishes the DP03's capability to accomplish the task.
Last edited by Charlie Fogle; 09/16/20 02:00 PM.
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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... Yes, the Model 12,16 and 24 are exciting new gear and welcome additions to the recording scene. ...
Just a reminder, if I read the specs correctly, only the Model 12 functions as a DAW controller. I admit, the unit looks spectacular. I'm still a little put off by Tascam abandoning the FW-1884 even though it had in its possession updated drivers for Windows 10.
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.
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... Yes, the Model 12,16 and 24 are exciting new gear and welcome additions to the recording scene. ...
Just a reminder, if I read the specs correctly, only the Model 12 functions as a DAW controller. I admit, the unit looks spectacular. I'm still a little put off by Tascam abandoning the FW-1884 even though it had in its possession updated drivers for Windows 10.
In my opinion, none of these hybrid units are 'best' choices in a studio that does not completely rely on a DAW for all processing. Even mundane tasks of punching in/out, recording additional tracks with the same instrument or mic are more efficiently, easier and quicker completed in the DAW rather than using the hardware device. The unit line from top to bottom continues Tascam's development decisions of compromise equipment. At the moment, the DP-24/32 units are hands down better choices for a dedicated home recording studio that's not completely dependent on a DAW for everything beyond tracking. The best choice for an ideal hybrid BIAB/hardware recording combination would be a joint venture between Tascam and PG Music to revive the Tascam 2488neoMarkII (3rd gen 2488 model) and integrate the entire BIAB program and Styles/RealTracks/SuperMidi for built-in access of the full program so the device would be similar in concept to the Digitech Trio but also a full blown 8 input, 24 track digital Multi track stand alone recorder. While this concept would work with any of the Porta-studio style digital multi track recorders including the DP-24/32 models but the Tascam 2488neoMarkII model is a better choice for several reasons. One, the Tascam 2488neoMarkII had aftermarket VGA video out capability so it would work with large size monitors. Second, it should be easy to adapt the units to larger, modern SSD Hard drives and the latest USB connections which would complete an up to date all in one unit with proprietary OS, DAW and BIAB...
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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First part of this video good info. https://youtu.be/MlT5OIxEZXo
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Charlie:
We Tascam Guys gotta get hot on this Model 12. Introduced this year. I've been holding out, waiting for Tascam to get up to date with respect to computer compatibility. Not ready to write the
DP-03 off, mind you, but not recomending it at this time.
Examples: (1) I build a BIAB backing track, render to six WAVs, want to quickly transfer those six tracks onto the recorder, tweak and reduce them to two or three.
(2) I have a set of 24 songs on a 32G card. I want to go into a song and start doing some serious bouncing and mastering. I'm up against power limitations right away.
(3) I want to isolate one track and run it through the Reaper or Audacity effects bank. In short, I want to be able to do all those things Willie can do in his $1M studio for a couple of grand. Is that asking too much?
Ed, thanks for your ciomment. Yes, the Model12,16 and 24 are exciting new gear and welcome additions to the recording scene. My recommendation of the DP03 was to demonstrate a bare minimum setup as a alternate to the DAW/audio interface system discussed above. The DP03 is a reasonable choice as the anchor of a home recording studio for beginners because it offers all of the basic necessities to compose and complete high quality recordings at both a reasonable cost and quite a manageable learning curve and it interacts wonderfully with any version of BIAB. There are definite benefits to a hardware and BIAB combination that enhances the potential product, complexity and arrangements of BIAB tracks that elevates BIAB tracks on par with tracks edited in a DAW. These tools, techniques are mostly ignored by users that move their tracks over to their DAW because there's no benefit to do it in BIAB over a DAW. There are however many benefits when using hardware rather than a DAW. BIAB functions as a digital multi track recorder so it can do a lot of advance edits, bounces, sub-mixes, smooth transitions, fade-in's, fade-out's, intros and outros. BIAB can also serve the function of virtual tracks for a digital recorder with a set number of physical tracks like the DP03. These digital multi track capabilities overcome all of the limitation you list in your comment above. I agree there are better choices but that by no means diminishes the DP03's capability to accomplish the task. I'm with ya Charlie. I do ALL Vocals on a DP32. Especially important for me since a lot of my tracks have 3 and 4 part background harmonies. NO LATENCY, NO PROBLEMS WITH BUSS SPEED. Effects added at Pre-Fade so I can hear them while singing but not recording, etc... and I can easily export over to Cakewalk for mixing. I couldn't do without it.
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Songmen:
I still use the same DP 03 I have had for years. Haven't yet found a good reason to change. Maybe the 12 will be it. Notice in the videos he is mastering with the dials...even multi band compression. This could be huge. Also, he demonstates how to import a track directly from a computer. Another bigly. Also. more power and larger SD. Have you had the unit shut down and complain it is being overworked? I have, many times.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
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Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
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!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
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)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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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