Hi, I like to use F10 a fair bit to loop highlighted sections of a song. I found what appears to be a weakness in the process that I suspect needs some programming to fix. If I am correct that it needs to be programmed the programming is about as easy as programming can get yet the improvement alone is probably enough to get me to upgrade because it will get me using the feature a lot more often :-)
The problem is the fact that the difference between the highlighted chord view cells and the cell that is playing right now within the loop is so slight that it becomes very difficult to know which cell is the current cell playing and this is important to know at a glance if one gets lost or if one just wants to tend to something else then get back to working with the loop. I would recommend simply changing the current cell playing background colour to (light yellow against black letters) to contrast with the (black background with white letters) of the highlighted section. You might want to make this the default option with the option to change the background colour to other light colors such as light blue or light green that contrast well with the black letters.
I thought there was a work around but unfortunately not: Okay so I discovered that once the loop is playing and while it continues to play I could highlight a cell outside the loop and I could easily see the current cell playing within the loop. However this creates two problems and is a very poor work around. 1/ there is no way to pause the loop such that I can restart it with F10 only (the loop is lost and F10 restarts the song from the beginning). I tried both space bar and ESC and they both stop the loop but again pressing F10 restarts from the beginning of the song (not good). 2/ Highlighting outside the loop so one can see the current bar playing can cause one to forget where they set the loop. So it is better to keep the loop area highlighted as it currently is now and have the current bar playing be changed as I describe above.
That's it, I would give this a high priority if I was in PG-Music's shoes simply because it is so easy to change yet could get someone to upgrade (in other words the payback period could be within a day if people are notified of this fix). Notifying specific people of fixes they have requested is a good idea but a lot harder :-) I have requested a few things and have no idea if they are in (I get so busy).
My system is Windows based and I'm unsure if you have a PC or Mac version of BIAB and I'm also unsure if this works with the Mac version of BIAB the same as the Windows version.
However, on my Windows BIAB I can input a looping command that does not highlight the looped section but rather, it highlights the bar playing just as BIAB does when it's not in looping mode so I see the bar playing and the Chord Chart appears as it normally does. When the looped section reaches the end of the loop, the highlighted bar jumps back to the first bar of the loop and continues the looping process. This allows me to clearly see where BIAB is playing on the Chord Chart. I can stop the loop playing with the spacebar and hitting space bar again and the loop continues to play from the bar it stopped on. I can also stop loop play and select any bar within the loop and the loop will continue from that bar forward and continue looping.
To do this on the BIAB Windows version:
. Select any bar on the Chord Chart. It doesn't matter if there's already a Chord placed in the chart. The Chord returns once you hit the Enter Key. . Type the command in the bar: L4,1 and enter. The L commands BIAB to enable looping. The 4 is the number of bars to loop. The comma separates the number of bars to loop from the bar you want looping to begin at. In this example the beginning bar is 1.
This command instructs the song to begin playing at bar one, play for 4 bars and loop back to bar 1. L2,9 will loop 2 bars beginning at bar 9. Follow this procedure to loop any number of bars beginning at any bar.
Hopefully, this process will work for you regardless of which version you have.
Thanks Charlie, I got your method to work including the space bar pause and the restart from any bar. That certainly solves the issue #1 of my work around (the more important issue). I will document it in my reminder database and set it for frequent repeats initially so I get in the habit of using it and being able to remember how to do it.
However issue #2 of these workarounds is not solved and I think it would still be worth having solved. It is also easier to highlight the bars than having to enter the commands (both easier to do and remember - no need for a reminder database entry which most user's won't have programmed for themselves). So for just these two reasons PG-Music may still want to make the change considering the fact that the change can probably be done within 10 minutes by the programmer who knows exactly where the code is (not by other programmers since finding the code may take quite a while).
Thanks Charlie, I got your method to work including the space bar pause and the restart from any bar. That certainly solves the issue #1 of my work around (the more important issue). I will document it in my reminder database and set it for frequent repeats initially so I get in the habit of using it and being able to remember how to do it.
However issue #2 of these workarounds is not solved and I think it would still be worth having solved. It is also easier to highlight the bars than having to enter the commands (both easier to do and remember - no need for a reminder database entry which most user's won't have programmed for themselves). So for just these two reasons PG-Music may still want to make the change considering the fact that the change can probably be done within 10 minutes by the programmer who knows exactly where the code is (not by other programmers since finding the code may take quite a while).
I agree and will add my plus one to your proposal.
So here is my reminder database entry with a slight rewording of Charlie's instructions:
Subject: There is a way to loop BIAB that allows you to (see the current bar being played) and allows you to also (pause and restart the loop with the space bar) and allows you to (pause the loop then highlight any bar within the loop and restart it from that new location with the space bar). See notes for how to do this.
Notes: To do this on the BIAB Windows version:
1/ Select any bar on the Chord Chart. The command I am about to give in point #2 below will temporarily hide any Chord that appears in that cell but pressing enter to initiate the loop causes the chord to reappear (no need to worry). 2/ Type "L4,1" in the bar and enter. The L commands BIAB to enable looping. The 4 is the number of bars to loop and the 1 is the bar you want looping to begin. This command instructs the song to begin playing at bar one, play for 4 bars and loop back to bar 1. As another example, L2,9 will loop 2 bars beginning at bar 9.
As stated in the subject line press space bar to pause the loop and press space bar again to restart it. Before you press space bar to restart it you can highlight a different bar within the loop to restart from.
Yes, just a colour change :-) I have BIAB version 2018 and 2016. I noticed yours has a blue background for the one that is being played (perfect). My versions have almost the exact same background as the highlight background for the whole loop (next to impossible to see which one is playing at the moment even if I stop and try really hard - in fact I think it is impossible - must be the same colour). Did you set a parameter somewhere to get the current bar playing to a different colour?
I tried (options, preferences, colors, chord cell) as the attached picture shows but it did not change the current cell.
Can't recall if this feature was in the 2018 version, but try options > Preferences > Display.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
Thanks Pipeline, I got the colors I want for the current playing bar against the highlighted loop bars. Your dropdown located at the top right of display options was all I needed. I had looked there before but didn't notice that drop down. So after analyzing the selections for a while I finally figured it out (I could not read your selections). Actually I went back later while proof reading this post and with Google chrome using ctrl+ I was able to make your post's characters larger so eventually I could see your selections.
So Between Charlie's info and this is it is pretty much solved.
Having said that, it seems Charlie's approach is the only way to get pause to work without loosing the loop. The space bar pause does not work with the highlighted bars approach (the loop is lost).
I clicked the (loop button, Loop Section Dialog) sequence and found reference to the L command Charlie pointed out. You can leave the default to 4 bars or change it to a different value. I also tried entering L3 then pressing enter. It defaults to beginning the loop from the current highlighted bar.
In the end (because I generally only loop small difficult sections for improvising purposes) I will probably use the highlighted bars approach and if I have to stop with the space bar I will just restart it from the beginning with the F10 key. But I will keep my reminder entry and maybe in the future I will have a need for the L command. Come to think of it, if one gives a 2 bar lead in to a large difficult section there is probably no need for all the loop to be highlighted. I find the loop in itself normally takes a bit of practice.
If you hold ctrl then use the mouse wheel it will zoom the page in/out. I asked for this ages ago for the chord sheet rather than having to go into display options, as most apps work this way like word processors, text editors, image editors, browsers etc..
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!
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)
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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean