This is / was one of the high demanded features. There are several looong threads in this forum section on the subject, including a recent one. I will not go in details of those threads. This is simply a concept of how it can be done visually from user standpoint. This is what I came up with.
To have a multi-function "freeze" (snowflake) button. Press once, turns "blue" - regular freeze. Click on it second time- turns orange, which means it will be ready for partial bar freeze/unfreeze. Click again - clears it.
So the way I see it can work is this. You click snowflake till it turns orange, only on the channels that you want to do this "partial" freeze. Select the bars that you want to freeze->right click on selected->freeze section (or unfreeze section). Frozen section(s) will have slim bar on the top, indicating they are "frozen".
JJJ, Yes, I read what Matt wrote. However, assume you do this exactly how Matt described, what will make these "desired" regeneration(s) HOLD in place if you make a change above or below them? To my understanding, software is designed in such way that it will regenerate whole arrangement, even with minor change. So that section has to be glued / frozen in specific places not to disappear with next alternation to chord grid.
If Matt's idea suggest this by "default freezing" those finished sections, it would still need a visual indication that they are "done with". Same as you do with bar changes - you have indication on chord sheet that they were altered.
Or...If you decide to exclude several channels from bar-to bar generation, how would you do that?
My idea is essentially the same what Matt proposed with 2 differences: 1)Be able to Pre-trigger specific mixer instrument channels or exclude ones which you want or do not want to follow: Select-Regenerate. 2)Have visual on what and were was altered.
That is a good distinction, and it would be important to work this out.
I do realize my little three-step process is really four steps, since you have to specify the track(s).
But you are correct to ask, what happens next, if the user regenerates the song again.
Perhaps the workflow is to regenerate everything until you get a workable set of tracks, then freeze them. Only then are you allowed to use the new technique we are proposing to make tweaks. These would also be frozen after being done. In this way, no visual indicators are needed (the orange versus blue snowflakes) although that approach could work as well.
If you unfreeze, all is fair game for being changed again by a new regeneration. Would that work?
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.
Matt: "my little three-step process is really four steps, since you have to specify the track(s)." In my concept the orange snowflake is exactly how you do that.
"But you are correct to ask, what happens next, if the user regenerates the song again." Orange + Blue "snowflaked" tracks will stay the way they are, everything else - regenerated.
For example you want to re-generate a section that already was held in place by "generate selected" with orange snowflake... It could just prompt: "Section has frozen bars do you want to re-generate?" Yes/No.
Blue snowflake freeze - will ignore any changes.
The principle and operation is the same: Select Bars->Generate or whatever the "wording" might be.
Again, this is idea for visually seeing what is getting Bar-to-bar regenerated (and held) and what is not, and I think have a multi-purpose "freeze" button which will double as a selector and indicator of which tracks are being grouped for bar-by-bar and slim line at the bar could solve this in minimalistic, yet very usable way.
Like many such ideas we propose, my guess is that PG Music will figure out a good way to implement them. I think the need has been clearly expressed, and from this and many other threads since 2009, there is much interest.
In my case, as a composer, I want to stay within BIAB for as long as possible before getting into production with a DAW. That's why RealBand is not the answer for me. Audio editing of Utility Tracks is likewise possible but also, for my reason, not the answer for me.
Rusty, I appreciate your interest and effort in this topic.
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.
I am just trying to come up with idea that would require the least amount of modifications to user interface... and make most sense from user end. The logic behind is absolutely same what you described. To stay as long as possible in BIAB without doing crazy stuff with workarounds.
I am just trying to come up with idea that would require the least amount of modifications to user interface... and make most sense from user end. The logic behind is absolutely same what you described. To stay as long as possible in BIAB without doing crazy stuff with workarounds.
I like your orange snowflake proposal. It is logical, and easy to understand and work with.
It hasn't been implemented yet, and yet it feels kind of "right" to me.
What Matt described is bang on too... but your idea of how to represent this visually and allowing for this visual representation to be saved with the session (so you can come back to it later) might help PG Music developers implement this more easily.
This is / was one of the high demanded features. There are several looong threads in this forum section on the subject, including a recent one. I will not go in details of those threads. This is simply a concept of how it can be done visually from user standpoint. This is what I came up with.
To have a multi-function "freeze" (snowflake) button. Press once, turns "blue" - regular freeze. Click on it second time- turns orange, which means it will be ready for partial bar freeze/unfreeze. Click again - clears it.
So the way I see it can work is this. You click snowflake till it turns orange, only on the channels that you want to do this "partial" freeze. Select the bars that you want to freeze->right click on selected->freeze section (or unfreeze section). Frozen section(s) will have slim bar on the top, indicating they are "frozen".
I love that idea - it's close to perfect
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Probably the reason it has not been implemented it that the tracks are currently generated into RAM as the complete track. Maybe in the old days Biab had to do this ? If I do the same in Reaper it is instant but is playing the track direct from disk, I can regenerate any section. Most DAW work like this. If you want Utility tracks to be the same as the BB tracks then they will have to fill up in RAM. If you generate a big song look at the RAM Biab is using, and if you want more than 255 bars how much RAM will that be ?
This is something I'm trying to get implemented with the BBPlugin so we don't have the wait times and a mountain of wav files filling up the hard drive. The files Reaper is using are on an external USB drive playing direct from there and they are 48khz 24bit.
This can be implemented now with an option for old Pentium 100 users with XP to use the current way, but those with modern hardware will play direct from disk same as Biab plays back utility tracks direct from disk. Once Biab calculates the sections of the source RealTrack files, instead of joining them together and writing to RAM Biab will play those sections of the wav/wma direct from disk and cut out the middle man. This will then work as the pic below and easily regenerate any section. As mentioned elsewhere when you freeze tracks Biab will save the RealTrack section data in the SGU then when you open that SGU the next day it will load and write them into RAM, BUT rather than do that it can play those sections direct from disk. This will also allow frozen Biab SGU/MGU to be opened in the BB DAW Plugin with all the same sections and Utility tracks.
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.
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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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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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