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BiaB UltraPak+ 2026; Windows 10
Bass: Intermediate; Piano: Beginner
I came to this forum in order to suggest feature improvements for non-professional musicians like myself that use BiaB mainly as a playalong tool and as a learning tool
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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WIN10 20H2, AMD R4800H ,16G , 2T ,FOCUSRITE 2i4 MKII，Studio One,FL STUDIO
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But the drums in BIAB are not very good.
I replaced it with a more modern drum, which immediately felt modern.
... Which you are, of course, at liberty to do and many people here will likely do similar. The older people are likely to go for more natural sounding drums. A large part of the reason for BiaB is to allow musicians to use a computer to substitute for other musicians they don't have right now. There seem little point in using software like that and then replace the more natural sounds with the ones we can find in loops or drum machines or synthesizers everywhere.
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
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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But the drums in BIAB are not very good.
I replaced it with a more modern drum, which immediately felt modern.
... Which you are, of course, at liberty to do and many people here will likely do similar. The older people are likely to go for more natural sounding drums. A large part of the reason for BiaB is to allow musicians to use a computer to substitute for other musicians they don't have right now. There seem little point in using software like that and then replace the more natural sounds with the ones we can find in loops or drum machines or synthesizers everywhere. Gordon Scott: A friend told me that it's not the drum, it's different music. My favorite drum actually belongs to reggaeton music The drums in BIAB are real Reggae drums They are very similar, but they are also different. Like you said, reggae is more natural Reggaeton is harder and more modern At present, many popular songs use reggaeton's drums I hope BIAB will add some reggaeton drums in the future https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuKpcnHRlgk
WIN10 20H2, AMD R4800H ,16G , 2T ,FOCUSRITE 2i4 MKII，Studio One,FL STUDIO
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Reply to Replace drums02.mp4
Sounds Like you only wanted to hear the drums - you could hardly hear the melody and other accompaniment in your 2nd version. Why not try a mix where both drums are at the hearable volume.
Keith
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Reply to Replace drums02.mp4
Sounds Like you only wanted to hear the drums - you could hardly hear the melody and other accompaniment in your 2nd version. Why not try a mix where both drums are at the hearable volume.
Keith
Yes, it was a little like: "Replace Everything Else with Drums" I liked it musically - including the percussion, but the levels needed a little work.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Reply to Replace drums02.mp4
Sounds Like you only wanted to hear the drums - you could hardly hear the melody and other accompaniment in your 2nd version. Why not try a mix where both drums are at the hearable volume.
Keith
well. I'll try. The volume of the instrument is not adjusted I believe the effect will be better after mixing. I keep trying 
WIN10 20H2, AMD R4800H ,16G , 2T ,FOCUSRITE 2i4 MKII，Studio One,FL STUDIO
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However, if these songs are very different from many popular songs now.
Please note. I don't hate JAZZ music, I also like it very much, but I think it's almost the same. In fact, I prefer modern songs full of personality.
Music evolves pretty continuously, though to be honest, I think most popular music is stuck at the moment. Same tempo, same drums, same synths, similar chord progression, same compression, so often aggressive auto-tune. I like a fair bit of modern pop music, but only in small amounts at any time, or I get bored. Far too many songs comprise what I describe as "shrill girls yodeling". Personally I find Country music too "samey", but there are many others who love it and struggle to see why I feel as I do. Again, I do like some Country music, just not too much of it. That wouldn't stop me using a country realtrack in a jazz composition. I hadn't intended to suggest that you hated jazz. What I'd intended to mean was that sometimes, some people who think they don't like jazz, have a narrower than fair idea of what jazz is or can be. For me, this video by the very outspoken Rick Beato is quite telling, and it covers only chords in modern music: https://youtu.be/nuGt-ZG39cUIn fairness, this is perhaps more of a defence of the same: https://youtu.be/d46gO5FUh-g
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
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However, if these songs are very different from many popular songs now.
Please note. I don't hate JAZZ music, I also like it very much, but I think it's almost the same. In fact, I prefer modern songs full of personality.
Music evolves pretty continuously, though to be honest, I think most popular music is stuck at the moment. Same tempo, same drums, same synths, similar chord progression, same compression, so often aggressive auto-tune. I like a fair bit of modern pop music, but only in small amounts at any time, or I get bored. Far too many songs comprise what I describe as "shrill girls yodeling". Personally I find Country music too "samey", but there are many others who love it and struggle to see why I feel as I do. Again, I do like some Country music, just not too much of it. That wouldn't stop me using a country realtrack in a jazz composition. I hadn't intended to suggest that you hated jazz. What I'd intended to mean was that sometimes, some people who think they don't like jazz, have a narrower than fair idea of what jazz is or can be. For me, this video by the very outspoken Rick Beato is quite telling, and it covers only chords in modern music: https://youtu.be/nuGt-ZG39cUIn fairness, this is perhaps more of a defence of the same: https://youtu.be/d46gO5FUh-g Yes. totally agree. My knowledge of JAZZ music is very superficial. I don’t know how to distinguish it. Anyway, when I hear the taste, I know it’s JAZZ. I don't have time to study JAZZ. In fact, I think music is a complex. I may place more emphasis on lyrics and singing. As for whether it is four chords or two chords, I don't really care. When I saw a scene or an event, I wanted to record it through music. I found four chords. I thought of the humming melody. It was OK, and I was done. Why don't I just write text with pictures or take a video to record. Because I think music is more conducive to spreading, and singing it will enhance memory. So, when it comes to music arrangement, this is not my strong point, and I don't have the energy to learn, I think it's almost enough. Currently, in my situation, Band in a box is my perfect companion
WIN10 20H2, AMD R4800H ,16G , 2T ,FOCUSRITE 2i4 MKII，Studio One,FL STUDIO
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My knowledge of JAZZ music is very superficial. I don’t know how to distinguish it. Anyway, when I hear the taste, I know it’s JAZZ.
I don't have time to study JAZZ.
I think most of us can relate to that, though one thing I've learned over many years is that I've been listening to jazz since the 70s, but didn't then realise that it was jazz. In the 60s and 70s, "jazz" by that name largely disappeared from the music scene, to be replaced by R&B and Progressive Rock, but when you look closer at those, quite a few were heavily jazz influenced ... that's where lots of jazz musicians went to earn money. Back then I thought I didn't like jazz. But actually I was listening to jazz in the forms of progressive rock. I was a huge King Crimson fan, but it was years before I realised just how much they were jazz driven. By the 80s, jazz-funk and jazz fusions were appearing everywhere. Now I'm influenced more by African and Latin and their fusions. Jazz largely grew out of The Blues in America, but it crossed the Atlantic, toured Europe, picked up quite a bit of Kletzmer. then went back to the US. It's been touring the world ever since. In fact, I think music is a complex. Music ranges from drone, though plainsong and Gregorian chant, to folk and blues to classical to Schoenberg and beyond. It's what you want it to be. There's an expression that applies in lots of places, though is probably best known from aircraft testing: "pushing the envelope". It means reaching into the corners of what's expected. In a musical context, it's trying to find the unexpected. Perhaps a dissonance or "edge" that triggers an emotional response, perhaps an unusual rhythm. Quite a lot of the "clever" stuff in jazz was found simply by people pushing for a little more tension, or indeed just playing a wrong note and thinking "wow, that sounded good". People play ahead of the beat to add a little "drive", or play a little behind the beat to make a more laid-back sound. So I would say, be comfortable with what you do, but also embrace that envelope. Maybe allow the timing to be flexible, try the odd 7, 9, 11 or 13 or 6/9 chord and see what sounds you get. Try them flatted or sharpened. If you like the effect, keep it, if you don't, then remove it or change to another. You may find you get more "zing" in what you produce.
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
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Music evolves pretty continuously, though to be honest, I think most popular music is stuck at the moment. Same tempo, same drums, same synths, similar chord progression, same compression, so often aggressive auto-tune.
Gordon, true, Autotune is also one of those factors. The simpler the music is that sells quite well, the less skills the artists need to have. Unfortunately, all these extreme simplifications in pop music even force highly-skilled musicians to hold back their abilities. Great singers use Autotune, just to match what the mass is currently used to; and talented composers mainly try to figure out how much complexity the mass might just accept, instead of regularly showing what they really have to offer. Best examples are Lady Gaga (fabulous with Tony Bennett) and Charlie Puth (brilliant with Jacob Collier): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyTa_gJkYwIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-bgCGjRt94
Last edited by MoveToGroove; 10/12/21 12:28 AM.
BiaB UltraPak+ 2026; Windows 10
Bass: Intermediate; Piano: Beginner
I came to this forum in order to suggest feature improvements for non-professional musicians like myself that use BiaB mainly as a playalong tool and as a learning tool
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,706
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Gordon, true, Autotune is also one of those factors. The simpler the music is that sells quite well, the less skills the artists need to have. Unfortunately, all these extreme simplifications in pop music even force highly-skilled musicians to hold back their abilities. Great singers use Autotune, just to match what the mass is currently used to; and talented composers mainly try to figure out how much complexity the mass might just accept, instead of regularly showing what they really have to offer. Best examples are Lady Gaga (fabulous with Tony Bennett) and Charlie Puth (brilliant with Jacob Collier): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyTa_gJkYwIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-bgCGjRt94 For sure, though my particular issue was with the aggressive auto-tune so often used. It was clever when Cher used it all those years ago, though personally I didn't like it then -- much less now that it's so universal. Modest/subtle use of auto-tune is much less conspicuous and, if nothing else, helps to avoid countless takes and/or punch-ins. Lady Gaga demonstrates very well that modern music can be special, though that particular song, of course, is a Cole Porter number from 1936. I've have been a little harsh on modern music, too, because I think it actually is already coming out of that "stuck". I think one of the other factors that have made so much music in the recent past so bland is the universal use of a video to go with it. Something to look at whilst listening means that the music can be less challenging. The Puth/Collier link was interesting, partly as they're more adventurous and partly because they also think that modern music is already starting to collect forgotten influences, adapt and interpret them, and move on. These are two very talented young men! I note that they use modest-ish auto-tune. I've seen so many answers to "how do you produce a song" that start with "well, first I lay down a kick track". And it's quantised, and it's compressed to death, and it's relentless. I look forward to the time when new music again excites me. It's gradually getting there.
Last edited by Gordon Scott; 10/12/21 03:55 AM.
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
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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.
Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
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!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
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