I imported a .mid melody. However, it wants to play as a piano sound, and won't allow the change. It's supposed to be ukulele. When I "Select MIDI Instrument(Patch)-->Select GM2 Patch...-->25/1Ukulele, it looks like it selected it, but plays the piano patch. Once I hit "Stop", the name reverts back to "Instrument: GM2 1/1 Acoustic Grand Piano"
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
It sounds like the patch is set in the MIDI information you imported. To see if this is the case, do the following...
1. Switch to Piano Roll Mode.
2. Make sure that #1, #2 are set as shown on the upper image at the end of this thread. If a patch is present in the file, it will appear in the region labelled #3.
If a patch is present...
3. As shown on the lower image (#1), hover the mouse over the patch name.
4. Right-click
5. Select "Select all graphic events"
6. Select "Delete selected events"
Now save the BIAB with a slightly varied name. Doing this will allow you to reload the original file should you need to.
Wow Noel, I never knew this could be done in BIAB. In all these years, I've been taking the song into RB to do these types of changes, and then saving it in BIAB format and then bringing it back into BIAB. What a time saver!
Thanks for posting those detailed instructions of finding Patches in the piano roll mode. That will be helpful to people.
But I can confirm that the problem from the original post still exists for trying to make patch changes using "Select MIDI Instrument" >> "Select GM2 Patch"
By coincidence, yesterday I created a midi track using "Select Custom MIDI Style for this Track" -- and I chose a piano part from a midi style that I later wanted to change to Electric Piano.
BIAB created the midi track using Patch 1 (Acoustic Piano) and I was using the Roland TTS-1, which is GM2 compatible.
I then went to "Select MIDI Instrument" >> "Select GM2 Patch" and selected GM2 patch 6/2 EP Legend.
I regenerated the track but the original Acoustic Piano was playing.
I then went to "Select MIDI Instrument" >> "Select General Midi Patch" and chose patch 6 Electric Piano 2.
I regenerated again and the patch changed to one Electric Piano 2 patch I had chosen.
So "Select General Midi Patch" works, but the "Select GM2 Patch" does not.
It would be nice if BIAB development could fix that.
Yes, this needs to be fixed. I tried different patches, GM, GM2, etc. I only get the acoustic grand piano patch.
Every time the is an update, it costs me weeks worth of work, as some glaring oversight gets in the way.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
I've tried changing MIDI patches and the process works for me. Presently, I'm beta-testing build 841.
Just to check... are you using Standard BIAB tracks or the Utility tracks?
Please double-check the items I've numbered 3, 4 and 5 on the below image. As you can see, I've got the TTS-1 set up as my VST synth and GM2 sounds are enabled (#5).
This window is found in "Options | Preferences | Midi Driver".
Also, out of curiosity, what driver are you using for Audio (#6). This shouldn't make a difference with MIDI sounds but it is still worth considering as a possibility.
The only difference in my Midi driver settings compared to yours is that,on my setup, #3 was set to "General Midi Instrument Misc."
I tried setting it to "Cakewalk TTS-1" but that didn't make any difference.
I can still make patch changes using "Select MIDI Instrument" >> "Select General Midi Patch" and it works fine but BIAB won't make any patch changes using "Select MIDI Instrument" >> "Select GM2 Patch."
I am using regular BIAB tracks, not utility tracks.
Also, I am using ASIO drivers. I used to use MME with BIAB when I had a PCI-card audio interface, but now that I have a PreSonus USB interface, I'm getting better results using ASIO.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
Okay, I created another quick BIAB file, one chord, imported the same .MID melody.
Did the same steps you provided:
1. Switched to Piano Roll Mode. 2. Make sure that #1, #2 are set as shown on the image you provided. A patch was present in the file. 3. I hovered the mouse over the patch name. 4. Right-clicked 5. Selected "Select all graphic events" 6. Selected "Delete selected events"
Still unable to change the patch.
Undid back to before the .MID file was imported. Step-entered a melody. That works, and I can change the patch to Gen MID or Gen MID2.
However, when I re-import the .MID file, it still plays with piano sound, although the notation page states that it is "25/1 Ukulele". Now, I can't change the patch. If I try to change the patch, the name changes in the Mixer to what I change it to, and it shows up on the notation page as this new patch, but still plays with the piano sound.
When I Import Melody from MIDI File I uncheck "Include Patch Changes". Doesn't make a difference either way.
Last edited by Funkifized; 08/19/2104:47 PM.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
Funkifized. where did your midi file in your very first post come from ? the net ? if so i suspect it might have embedded control commands. is this midi file a complete song ? with different midi traks ? or just one midi trak ? please clarify. heres step 1. 1. open realband. and in menu new. 2. import the midi file to seperate traks. 3. in the traks view do you now see "visually" the midi data ? on different traks ? please post back what you see in traks view. note...rb has various "views" that will show midi data. eg event editor, bars view, midi monitor, and piano roll and notation etc.
if you go to event editor you will see the embedded commands in the midi data stream if any. please post back a pic of what you see in event editor. OR if you dont want to do above just use a free midi event editor off the net , and it will visually display whats in a midi file.
are you new to midi ? if so i suggest you get a book on midi as the subject is extensive. i mention this, cos, over the years a recurring problem for people new to midi is they sometimes try working with a midi song they have got from somewhere , and embedded control commands override any settings they make. thus first step is to edit out those control commands. this issue baffles lots of people new to midi....which is just computer data.
best oldmuso ps if you post your original midi file from your first post somewhere safe...the rest of us can take a gander at it and comment further.
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 08/20/2112:37 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.)
I step-entered the melody into Finale, Exported as .MID. When I Import the .MID file into Real Band, it asks "Import E:\Uke Tunes \Alice In Wonderland.WAV as audio into the next empty track of the song?".
I don't know why it is doing this. If I choose "No", I get one MIDI track, which is set to "Acoustic Grand Piano", but the name is still "Ukulele".
However, it does say "MIDIPlayback will be silent because no MIDI Output driver is installed in RealBand
Use the Options | MIDI Devices command to select drivers". I'm not new to MIDI, but I'm not very well versed in the back-end stuff.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
The message sucks. There is no Options | MIDI Devices command. I had to drill down to Options-->Preferences-->MIDI Devices. There I moved Microsoft GS Wavetabe Synth to the top and the MIDI file plays in RealBand. It's still an acoustic piano sound. This is a flaw in BIAB. I'm not seeing Ukulele in that list of patches at all.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
Funkifized - go to File > Import > Import Melody from MIDI File, then choose your MIDI file. You'll get the Import MIDI window - in here, please unselect Include Patch Changes - you can see that in the screenshot I attached. This step is necessary because your MIDI file includes a Piano program change message in it, and this message can override the setting in BIAB.
Next, if you imported the MIDI to your Melody track, go to the Melody menu and change Track Type to Single Channel - as your MIDI file has two tracks in it, this tells BIAB to default to using Multi-Channel mode, which by default uses MIDI channel 4 for patch changes while your MIDI is on channel 1.
I have to say that this soiunds to me a lot like the problem I had back in build 822, where we went through lots of ideas to no obvious benefit. It's hard for me to know whether the following may help, or just add more confusion ... treat very cautiously.
It resolved somewhere around these events:
Quote:
Oh ... I see something I didn't understand.
I just did Melody->Edit Melody Track->Step Edit Melody and it opened the drum track.
Maybe I've been editing the wrong event list! The notes I inspected were right, though.
(one should note that I personally would not have expected the melody notes to be in the drum track.)
and
Quote:
Well, that's decidedly odd!
The MIDI channel for all events on the melody track has changed to channel 4 and, if I now remove the Sforzando plug-in, I can get it to play the trombone.
I'm pretty sure it hadn't changed them to channel four after I altered the rest (of the) events from ch1 to ch6 to match the remainder, but it's changed now.
The difficulty is understanding exactly what I did to get that outcome.
As I say, I don't know whether it was that observation that changed things, but the song started behaving after that. In the gap between, I had tried several things aroud which midi player BIAB was supposeed to be using using, but I had tried those before to no benefit.
What I can say with a fairt degree of confidence is that there seemed to be some mingling of tracks/channel at the MIDI level and that it appears to me that MIDI events may have been coming from and going too places they probably should not.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
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!
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
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