Hello all. Can a user set a default for the number of bars and choruses one wants when he/she opens a new song or do these aspects have to be set manually each time? For example I want to make a number of quick down and dirty practice tracks with 12 bars and no repeats. Do I have to enter those parameters each time I produce one of these?
I suppose a work around would be to make a template song to open each time and then change the chords or key.
Yes a default for song measures and repeats can be setup. Not at my computer right now, but take a look under Options...Arrange tab...I think what your looking for is there.
BackingTrack, your suggestion of making a template song is a good idea anyway. Load it, rename it immediately, then continue. That's a common technique in lots of software.
The BIAB option that Jeff and Jim mentioned is indeed new in BIAB 2022 and was a direct answer to user requests. The good news is that the default now is one chorus, but for those of us who liked it as it was, we can set that using the dialog Jim showed. Everyone wins.
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.
The good news is that the default now is one chorus
That one likely was due to customers contacting support asking why their song keeps repeating - it can certainly be confusing to new customers.
And not just support. Many times that question got asked here on the forum pages too
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.
My comment was taken out of context, so it might be useful to point out why I liked it the way it was. I’ve been a pro jazz player since the early 1960s. BIAB began as a tool to play jazz fakebook songs and the three-chorus model (where chorus = once through the tune) was well-suited for jazz. As BIAB evolved way beyond just jazz users, norms like this one began to be less appropriate. There were many requests to change the defaults and even the terminology to accommodate verse, chorus, bridge etc. But for those who liked it as it was, such as me, it’s now a user setting and anyone can have it the way they like it. That’s the right way to handle something like this.
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.
You’re welcome. Where I grew up, we used to have to walk to and from school, uphill both ways, for five miles in 8 feet of snow. You young whippersnappers have it easy.
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.
You’re welcome. Where I grew up, we used to have to walk to and from school, uphill both ways, for five miles in 8 feet of snow. You young whippersnappers have it easy.
Whereas I'm a millennial so I have everything easy and eat avocado toast every day, which is of course the reason why I can't afford a house.
In all seriousness, Matt's contributions here are absolutely invaluable. I learn a lot from you here on the forums (particularly about BIAB history), and I work here. I mean, I'd probably have learned more by now if we were in "normal" circumstances, but I started here during lockdown last May and I still haven't met about 2/3 of the company in person - including PG himself!
Thank you, Simon. Many of us have already commented how terrific it is that you participate actively here. It really has made a difference.
I have a background of building all my own PCs since 1983 but even so I’ve picked up some good tech info from you. I hope you do get to meet others in your company because you have some great ones working there. We had no idea all of you were not together.
Pat Marr even proposed a BIAB reunion a few years back, and Victoria BC was considered. We wound up at my place on Lake George NY with three total to go to my concert, but it was great fun. Maybe someday we all can go to western Canada?
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 remember a time when Dr. Gannon offered a get-together in or near Vancouver island, but it never materialized. Its one thing to arrange a road trip and get 20 people to agree to meet you as you pass thru town. Its quite another to get the same number of people to make travel plans to show up at the same place and time. There are so many things that make demands on peoples' time, trying to arrange a group event is outside the realm of my skill set.
Thank you, Matt, for hosting that great weekend in Lake George! I totally enjoyed your show! Meeting Mario and his dear wife was the icing on the cake. I had already met you and your wife in Virginia on another trip (as you already know... but I mention it for the sake of anyone reading this.)
I just bought a new car, so maybe its road trip time again. I have internet friends in Vancouver & Vancouver island I've never met in person, so don't be surprised if I show up at PGMusic headquarters and ask for a nickel tour.
After Simon’s comment, I wonder about what and who would be in Victoria, at least until the pandemic is under control. I’m having trouble imagining a world of work where I’ve never even met most of my coworkers, and am saddened if that’s the new normal. There are occasional newcomers here who wrongly think I’m against change, but on this, they might be right. If I worked with someone as knowledgeable and helpful as Simon, it would be inspiring.
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.
Thank you, Simon. Many of us have already commented how terrific it is that you participate actively here. It really has made a difference.
I have a background of building all my own PCs since 1983 but even so I’ve picked up some good tech info from you. I hope you do get to meet others in your company because you have some great ones working there. We had no idea all of you were not together.
Pat Marr even proposed a BIAB reunion a few years back, and Victoria BC was considered. We wound up at my place on Lake George NY with three total to go to my concert, but it was great fun. Maybe someday we all can go to western Canada?
Aw shucks, you're gonna make me blush
Thank you though - I've been actively trying to make a difference , and I'm glad my efforts are noticed!
Originally Posted By: Pat Marr
don't be surprised if I show up at PGMusic headquarters and ask for a nickel tour.
Nickel tour is about right - there's not much to tour, being that the office is quite small, and most of us work from home now anyway.
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
After Simon’s comment, I wonder about what and who would be in Victoria, at least until the pandemic is under control. I’m having trouble imagining a world of work where I’ve never even met most of my coworkers, and am saddened if that’s the new normal. There are occasional newcomers here who wrongly think I’m against change, but on this, they might be right. If I worked with someone as knowledgeable and helpful as Simon, it would be inspiring.
Yeah it's definitely strange not knowing who I work with. So far I've met in person less than 1/4 of the company. I personally think that working remotely is something that should be embraced by society, as it provides a lot more opportunity for people who have physical challenges with workplaces, and thankfully the pandemic has proven that it can work for businesses
Again, thank you for your kind words Matt, always a pleasure.
Working from home has many benefits but so does working in an office space. Department meetings, training and even the office Christmas party supports and builds social bonds and a company's culture. I believe most businesses will realize a mixture of the two works best for most employees and the business itself.
Chatting whilst making coffee or at the water machine or the printer. It can be about work or social or about whatever else seems appropriate. Chatting cross-discipline.
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 .
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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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®.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
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:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
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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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