Hi All New purchaser of BIAB 2021 and loving it! I am working on my 2nd original song, just kind of winging it, and I know I am barely scratching the surface. Admittedly, the first song was pretty straight forward, and things just fell together pretty easily, although still trying to figure out a few things to improve what I have. My next tune has a few more complex things going on though(at least for my knowledge) Working on them all, but one thing I'm trying to do has me stymied. The song in in 4/4. I have used part markers at the beginning of my chorus so I get a nice drum fill going into the chorus, but at the end of the chorus, I want to have one chord hold for 1 1/2 measures (6 beats) and then a drum fill for the last 2 beats of the 2nd measure. I've experimented with various options in Bar Settings and Chord Settings, but can't seem to get it. If anyone could point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it. Thanks all!
2023 BIAB Ultrapak, Reaper, EZDrummer 2 & 3, Roland VS-2480, Tascam 38 Reel to Reel 8-Track
Yes, this is what really starts to make a song sound realistic.
Let's say the 6-beat held chord is a G7 chord and it starts on measure 30.
Put this: G7... in the beginning of measure 30. Yes, that's three dots after the chord name.
Go to the second cell of measure 31 and put C.d
In measure 32, you will probably want to put a new chord so chords start playing again.
Explanation:
If you look in Help, Index, Rests, you will see how to use one, two or three dots after a chord name to make a rest, shot, or hold respectively.
C.d means, play a C chord but rest all instruments EXCEPT the drums.
This will give you just a drum playing. I used the chord C because if you are resting all the other instruments, it doesn't matter what chord you put here.
Next you can also experiment with substyle part markers (the blue or green colors you get by clicking over the measure numbers) at the beginning of measure 32 because they will generate a drum fill pattern and you can try to get the one you want.
Play around with these and you should get to the next step. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
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; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Yes, this is what really starts to make a song sound realistic.
Let's say the 6-beat held chord is a G7 chord and it starts on measure 30.
Put this: G7... in the beginning of measure 30. Yes, that's three dots after the chord name.
Go to the second cell of measure 31 and put C.d
In measure 32, you will probably want to put a new chord so chords start playing again.
Explanation:
If you look in Help, Index, Rests, you will see how to use one, two or three dots after a chord name to make a rest, shot, or hold respectively.
C.d means, play a C chord but rest all instruments EXCEPT the drums.
This will give you just a drum playing. I used the chord C because if you are resting all the other instruments, it doesn't matter what chord you put here.
Next you can also experiment with substyle part markers (the blue or green colors you get by clicking over the measure numbers) at the beginning of measure 32 because they will generate a drum fill pattern and you can try to get the one you want.
Play around with these and you should get to the next step. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
Thanks so much Matt! That was extremely helpful. I'm still trying to figure out how to get passing notes/chords, and how to change chords for each beat in a 4 beat measure, instead of every 2 beats. Would that mean finding a style with a different time signature? LOL Sorry...hitting you with more questions!
2023 BIAB Ultrapak, Reaper, EZDrummer 2 & 3, Roland VS-2480, Tascam 38 Reel to Reel 8-Track
Wow! Now that indeed is easy. I will try that. OK, here's another one. For the first two tunes I'm working on, I have picked a Style, and that's worked out pretty well. But, is there some way to change one of the instruments selected in that Style? If not, how does one pick individual instruments? I promise that's all for today!
2023 BIAB Ultrapak, Reaper, EZDrummer 2 & 3, Roland VS-2480, Tascam 38 Reel to Reel 8-Track
You should be able to change instruments for a particular style. Click on the track in the mixer, and select the instrument you want. For RealTracks, you need to have the required ones installed beforehand of course.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
Hi, and thanks for the response. (sorry it took me so long to try that). Anyway, when I try that it brings up a window with description but no actual tracks to choose from. Is that because I have a style selected?
2023 BIAB Ultrapak, Reaper, EZDrummer 2 & 3, Roland VS-2480, Tascam 38 Reel to Reel 8-Track
Hi again Matt! Once again, thanks for your help. That worked for me at the end of each verse and chorus. But...I have a problem with the ending of the song. I want to end with a C chord held for one bar, followed by the next bar having the same thing (held C), and ending with a held G chord. So, I am putting C...in Bar 102, C... in Bar 103 and then G...in Bar 104. But, it doesn't want to play the chord at all in Bar 103. I'm thinking, the held chord from Bar 102 is still ringing possibly, preventing the new held C to strike in Bar 103? For reference the instrument is a piano, and I am bringing the tracks into Reaper and eventually into my Roland VS-2480 24track. Thanks for your time, and let me know what you think.
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Yes, this is what really starts to make a song sound realistic.
Let's say the 6-beat held chord is a G7 chord and it starts on measure 30.
Put this: G7... in the beginning of measure 30. Yes, that's three dots after the chord name.
Go to the second cell of measure 31 and put C.d
In measure 32, you will probably want to put a new chord so chords start playing again.
Explanation:
If you look in Help, Index, Rests, you will see how to use one, two or three dots after a chord name to make a rest, shot, or hold respectively.
C.d means, play a C chord but rest all instruments EXCEPT the drums.
This will give you just a drum playing. I used the chord C because if you are resting all the other instruments, it doesn't matter what chord you put here.
Next you can also experiment with substyle part markers (the blue or green colors you get by clicking over the measure numbers) at the beginning of measure 32 because they will generate a drum fill pattern and you can try to get the one you want.
Play around with these and you should get to the next step. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
2023 BIAB Ultrapak, Reaper, EZDrummer 2 & 3, Roland VS-2480, Tascam 38 Reel to Reel 8-Track
Hey Matt, 1) 6 103 1 2)Not sure what a Tag is, but I am using two repeats. I liked the piano part the Style was using, but it would change sometimes at a particular chord that I didn't like, and I couldn't figure out how to stop it. BIAB Help guy suggested doing a Repeat so I have the first verse repeat once, then to to the chorus, than the third verse repeats once, than the chorus again. Than a new verse plays and then the chorus. There are two choruses at the end, but I just did a copy and paste for that. Thanks Matt and let me know what you think. I probably screwed something up unknowingly.
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
There are two things I need to know:
1) what are the three numbers above the tempo (bar for beginning of chorus, bar for end of chorus, and number of choruses)?
2) are you using a Tag, and if so, what are those settings?
It sounds like your song is set to end a bar too early.
2023 BIAB Ultrapak, Reaper, EZDrummer 2 & 3, Roland VS-2480, Tascam 38 Reel to Reel 8-Track
i rarely get every bar of every part 'right' in BIAB. In fact i've stopped trying. once i've got the form right i open the file in RealBand where i can regenerate whole versions of tracks and cut and paste the bits i like or just regenerate individual parts or bars.
Thanks for the idea Bob. Have not explored RealBand as of yet, so that is definitely on my very long list! That Cutting and Pasting sounds like a good workaround for those disliked sections. I kind of have a convoluted way of recording, so I should mention I love my old Roland VS-2480 24 track. For live recording it has very nice preamps and I have some excellent Effects cards. I also am an old school guy and love riding the faders, plus it has a great Automix function for recording fader movements. Anyway, I have the Midi Out from my Roland going in to my computer. I bring my tune into Reaper with the BIAB plugin. Then, with Reaper recognizing the Roland Midi signal, when I hit Play on my Roland it kicks off Reaper perfectly. I'm hoping I can get RealBand to do the same so I can avoid the Reaper step.
Originally Posted By: Bob Calver
i rarely get every bar of every part 'right' in BIAB. In fact i've stopped trying. once i've got the form right i open the file in RealBand where i can regenerate whole versions of tracks and cut and paste the bits i like or just regenerate individual parts or bars.
something to try when you've got BIAB sorted
2023 BIAB Ultrapak, Reaper, EZDrummer 2 & 3, Roland VS-2480, Tascam 38 Reel to Reel 8-Track
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!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
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
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 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 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 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 20 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.
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