looks good but the mixer improvements and more tracks don't give me anything i don't already have in RB, but i will be upgrading for the extra RealTracks and new styles.
i hope the new sour note fix carries over to RB as i hate trying to punch in on a vocal with one sour note!
certainly addresses a lot of user posts if you want to stick in BIAB
all in all welcome to BIAB 2021 although i may wait for a few weeks to see the inevitable patches come out!
Are those what you would consider the top 5 new features? Is there a list of "over 80 new features" available anywhere? I read the paragraph on this page https://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.new.htm so I guess those are the top new features?
Mine is a greatly reduced list of items that were specifically and often requested here by users. The bluegrass players, for example, needed the notation enhancements. There weren't many of them asking, but it is an example of how one person can make an important suggestion and it is addressed by PG Music. I make no attempt to rate these few items as being important to any given person, and clearly PG Music's videos give a complete overview.
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.
Mine is a greatly reduced list of items that were specifically and often requested here by users. The bluegrass players, for example, needed the notation enhancements. There weren't many of them asking, but it is an example of how one person can make an important suggestion and it is addressed by PG Music. I make no attempt to rate these few items as being important to any given person, and clearly PG Music's videos give a complete overview.
Thanks Matt! I am happy for the two people who wanted bluegrass improvements. But there are so many long-time requested features like bar-by-bar regeneration, 255 bar limit, etc. that have been requested by so many of us for so long and I am not seeing any/many of those in the description. Hopefully I missed them and they are in there somewhere!
...But there are so many long-time requested features like bar-by-bar regeneration, 255 bar limit, etc. that have been requested by so many of us for so long and I am not seeing any/many of those in the description. Hopefully I missed them and they are in there somewhere!
LOL I said the same thing. I was pushing for bar to bar in the beta, what was stated is that bar to bar works currently with a soloist track. if you open the Soloist dialog and check "Custom" in that dialog check overwrite. Now if you hit Shift+F4 then Enter it should re-gen just those selected bars. I think this function will now be modified to regenerate any bars of any track, so as usual watch this space.
With 255 bars you can now do that with the BB Plugin, see pic below. VST 1 is set sync offset to 0 (click arrow on Sync button) with the Ending unchecked and VST2 is set to sync offset of 256+- with Count-In unchecked.
...But there are so many long-time requested features like bar-by-bar regeneration, 255 bar limit, etc. that have been requested by so many of us for so long and I am not seeing any/many of those in the description. Hopefully I missed them and they are in there somewhere!
LOL I said the same thing. I was pushing for bar to bar in the beta, what was stated is that bar to bar works currently with a soloist track. if you open the Soloist dialog and check "Custom" in that dialog check overwrite. Now if you hit Shift+F4 then Enter it should re-gen just those selected bars. I think this function will now be modified to regenerate any bars of any track, so as usual watch this space.
With 255 bars you can now do that with the BB Plugin, see pic below. VST 1 is set sync offset to 0 (click arrow on Sync button) with the Ending unchecked and VST2 is set to sync offset of 256+- with Count-In unchecked.
So, are you saying I can now do the following in BIAB 2021?
1) put a RealTrack on Soloist track 2) generate the Soloist track 3) select bars on the Soloist track that I want to regenerate 4) regenerate only those bars using the dialog you showed 5) end up with all other bars of Soloist untouched but the selected bars regenerated?
If this is how it works and it is not too kludgy that would be a major new feature! But I don't see that listed anywhere.
... the two people who wanted bluegrass improvements...
Since the same notation enhancement works for cut-time samba, it's far more than two people. I was among those asking for this for many years, since the beginning of RealTracks.
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.
What I'm saying is the bar to bar is there for the Soloist track and soloist instrument "so bar to bar is entirely possible" it just needs to be modified to work on all other instruments and tracks. So in that dialog it would be just using the button click function "Generate Solo Now". I tried hard to get it in this release believe me !! I'm sure this will be implemented as it's not hard to do using an existing function. You can use the new extra tracks to create up a track just how you like but most users want that magic button to do it. So if you keep this alive it will help. I also hopeful we will have F5 change UserTrack or Loop at any bar. Again keep it alive.
Further.. with the new Utility tracks you simply highlight a section you like in the Audio Edit of the selected RealTrack/Drum/Midi and paste it in a Utility track, just have Snap checked !
Thanks Pipeline! I'm hoping this represents significant improvement over my current workflow which is to generate several tracks of the same RealTrack and then edit in the DAW. Not sure I'm seeing that here yet.
You can move all you song RT/RD to the Utility tracks then choose Multiriff, mute all but one Multiriff, play it along with your song tracks and find the sections that fits best and copy them to a new Utility track below building up the track just how you need.
No, it just needs to be fine tune like a Selected bars check box in the Copy/Move Dialog, and a quick launch button for the Copy/Move Dialog in the mixer and the other windows like Audio Edit & Piano Roll.
It can be all automated. Like I generate a track, play it and like bar 5-8, I highlight those bars and with a right click they are instantly sent to the same section in the Utility track, find another an do the same.
It can be all automated. Like I generate a track, play it and like bar 5-8, I highlight those bars and with a right click they are instantly sent to the same section in the Utility track, find another an do the same.
Yes but this cannot be done today in the upgrade I'm considering purchasing, right? Some of what you describe is future, if they implement it, right?
Well if they want user to buy it and users want these features they will need to state their intentions here. As I said I tried hard to get these implemented for the initial release so users would not be disappointed as there was so much interest for more tracks and bar to bar regen. But as said it should be all doable.
Matt and also to PG. my comments on 2021. not sure i'm gonna upgrade. (ive been a big pg supporter over the years.) frankly i'm rather disappointed with this release. both in terms of the added technical features i need , as well as the added song styles.
my main music interests lie in 60's //70's rock (includeing soft/heavy rock/pop but not tres heavy metal), and i would like to get back into the operatic style of singing that is found in old rodgers and hammerstein movies. i enjoy singing opera , particularly comedic opera. these latter R/H styles are lush orchestral soundscapes.
thus i was hoping that biab, over time would include these types of soundscape styles. alas i have oodles of jazz and country styles which i never use.
my other comment is, though the electric guitar rock styles are v good "technically" ie the playing, i find often i have to manipulate the actual "sound" via plug ins etc to get the song sound i want. i would recommend upgradeing the "sound" in these styles.
still i believe biab has too much of a jazz bias. and i like some jazz. but for me it has to be very melodic jazz.
exotic chord structures are all well and good. but songs like taking care of business (first aired in a jam in BC if i remember when Randy B started rocking on C/Bb/F ) are a lesson in the fact that lots of people just want to rock out on a saturday night. thus the song became a huge hit. simple as it might be in chord structure. its simplicity is a great songwriting lesson imho.
in summary i would like to see more film soundscape styles, and many many MANY more orchedstral instruments. i would very much like to get back into my operatic singing. but i have to stick to rock/pop right now due to lack of features/soundscape styles in biab.
best. muso.
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 11/29/2001:16 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.)
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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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):
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!
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This Free Bonus PAK includes:
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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
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)
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