Hi, I'm new (again) to Biab, because I had to stop using my Version 8 when I got a new 64-bit machine in 2012. I've forgotten SO much in these last 10 years!
I would love to get advice from some of you experienced users regarding writing for multiple instruments.
I'm trying to write for 5 instruments, including drums. So I asked a chat person about how to create a conductor score sheet, where I could enter the notes for the MIDI instruments that are assigned to each staff.
The person in the chat session informed me that Biab cannot present more than the single treble and bass staves at one time.
But I need to hear all the instruments playing together as I go through the writing process. And they need to play exactly what I write for them to play. No styles, iow.
Has anyone accomplished anything similar to this using Band-in-a-Box? As I sit here, it occures to me that it might be possible to write each individual part here, and then export it as MIDI to another program which can present them all together.
Any thoughts on this? It's not ideal, but better than guessing thru the whole process how the mix of the instruments would sound.
It would be great to hear from anyone who's involved in this process. This is a dream I've had for years. Really hoping there's a way to accomplish it.
Maybe this might work for you: You can write for instruments individually, and then print a score that includes multiple instrumentation.
Create the parts on each track, then in the Lead Sheet Window, add the instruments you want displayed by pressing the small '+' icon:
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.
As best I understand what you have said, I would have to say that this is not what BIAB can help you with. Do you actually write notation to the staff lines? If so, then best to use something like Musescore which is free. It will overlay multiple staff and allow you to write and play each individual instrument as one composition. Or, do you play-in and move midi notes on the piano roll? That can be done nicely in your DAW for multiple instruments.
I'm inclined to agree with MusicStudent. There are other scoring programs that are far more suited for your requirements.
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.
But I'm curious why you want to do this in BIAB at all, since you don't plan on using BIAB-generated material in your pieces. You mention starting out in BIAB and finishing up in some other program, what makes you want to start in BIAB?
Thank you all for your responses! You have helped greatly. Let me answer individually:
AudioTrack: Your information above looks great! I don't think you mean that it would allow Biab to play back all the instruments from the score, but if at least it can create the multiple staves, I could add in the instrument names later for printing out and sharing. Thank you!
MusicStudent: I actually have been using Musescore, which I have found very frustrating to use. If I enter notes near the right side of a page, it flips down to the next line before I'm thru adding notes! To avoid this, I have to minimize the page quite a bit, too much for my "old, cataract eyes." (Sounds like a nice name for a song!) I have a small, ancient keyboard, which I just discovered has a MIDI output! All this time I've been poking here on my computer keys. I tried Cakewalk years ago... for a day. Maybe I'm "smarter" now. Worth trying your suggestions. Thanks!!
Mark Hayes: What I did with the old Version 8 was simply enter music I liked, some Bach pieces for example, and listened to what Biab could do with it. I never tried to write my own things, nor did I try mixing instruments for combos. But I have two new purposes now. I'm learning to write (Nothing professional! Never had music theory, but I can "feel" what sounds OK), so I had hoped this program could provide everything I need.
The other purpose, though, will work very well. I'll be helping my sister with her flute playing while the pandemic keeps her community band membership muted, iyw. She needs to feel she's playing with other musicians. We think this is the way to go.
Thanks again folks! I guess I'll try to learn Cakewalk (my curiosity is revived), or just keep using MuseScore for the writing process. Cheers!
^^ what Bob Calver said Use multiple tracks, enter the notes any way you want (piano roll, MIDI, physical entry etc) And if you set the tempo correctly you can still use BiaB generate features, though it sounds like you may not be, which again leads to the 'why use BiaB for this' question.
Anyway, Realband will likely make your described workflow better
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
But I have two new purposes now. I'm learning to write (Nothing professional! Never had music theory, but I can "feel" what sounds OK), so I had hoped this program could provide everything I need
I, too, aspire to getting back to part-writing. I even had fantasies of sitting by a big window at my local public library with a pad of music paper and a pencil and trying to begin something that way, but at this point the idea of reading in a library feels as ancient as the idea of smoking on an airplane.
Anyway, I am currently looking at Musescore myself as a notation editor, so I hope you're wrong about it. I do a lot of stuff in Logic Pro but it's not particularly friendly with notation.
This is not what you’ve asked, but in case it helps, this is how I work. I write for a nine-piece chamber ensemble and a 19-piece big band jazz ensemble.
I make the rhythm section parts in BIAB, record them to a .WAV file, and load that file into my notation program, Notion 6 by Presonus. Often I will write the melody in BIAB and often a counterpoint / harmony line, since I find entering those in BIAB to be easier than any other program. Then I export those as Music XML. But them I form the full arrangement with other parts in Notion.
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.
Bob Calver: Thanks for mentioning Realband specifically. I've spent most of my time searching tutorials to see how to enter more than just one "instrument" at a time. And I'm so confused by the various modules in Biab, it's probably wiser now to start over "as if" I were a total newbie. I feel overwhelmed, to be honest. As to Realband itself, when I read in its blurb about it being part of a "music production powerhouse", I naturally assumed Biab would do what I've described here as being my goal. I will dig into it after I clear a few of my "basic-newbie" problems. Thanks!
rharv: Glancing again thru the Realband features, I think I see what you mean here. Not completely;-)... but this looks good. Thank you!
Mark Hayes: Again, my problem with MuseScore may be due to how I need to zoom in so tightly to each measure that I'm working on. Musescore wants to flip you immediately to where it thinks you're next going to enter notes. With the screen homed-in on one measure, that often means the measure disappears before I'm done working in it! It has positives. It's easy to balance the volumes of each instrument. Easy to change them, rearrange their placements, etc.
Matt Finley: Wow! I took a quick look at the Notion 6 site. I'm not regretting getting Biab, but that program, on brief look-over, seems to be much more what I was looking for! The two together? Oh yes!... Am I worthy?
Thank you for this! I don't understand why it didn't come up in my much-Googling. ---
Thanks again everyone! I didn't expect so many nor such helpful answers, nor so quickly. I look forward to reading these forums often. Lots to learn from you folks!
BTW - I'm "AdimWit" because I grew up with a Dad who was a musical genius concert pianist and French hornist, who played in symphonies and dance bands all his life, and a Mom who was not only an accomplished pianist, but a very respected artist and teacher in watercolors, oils, etc. I never had the sense to learn anything from them. I couldn't gain interest in piano at age 6, so I quit, and am now trying to learn it on my own at 73, because of course they're gone. And, I love diminished chords:-) Cheers, -Ken
BTW - I'm "AdimWit" because I grew up with a Dad who was a musical genius concert pianist and French hornist, who played in symphonies and dance bands all his life, and a Mom who was not only an accomplished pianist, but a very respected artist and teacher in watercolors, oils, etc. I never had the sense to learn anything from them. I couldn't gain interest in piano at age 6, so I quit, and am now trying to learn it on my own at 73, because of course they're gone. And, I love diminished chords:-) Cheers, -Ken
I grew up in a family that no one played an instrument. Mom tinkered with a piano but never really played it. My uncle on dad's side was the only musician. My kids grew up with me and my bands/music for their entire lives and no one took up an instrument! My two boys got the mechanic's gene from my wife's side; Her dad ran Nascar Modifieds back in the day and her brother raced also. But that was OK as they saved me a ton of money by working on my car; far more than they would have given me if they played in bands
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
I let "friends" convince me I wasn't any good. I quit.
Those friends are gone from my life - some died, some still living - and I am having the time of my life with my instruments. I started back to playing after a 33 years hiatus.
I actually have been using Musescore, which I have found very frustrating to use. If I enter notes near the right side of a page, it flips down to the next line before I'm thru adding notes!
FWIW, I use the keyboard entry method, digit for note length and A thru G, cursor up/down per semitone and ctrl-up/down per octave.
There are easy enough shortcuts for chord text, lyrics, section marks and so on.
Edit->Preferences->Shortcuts.
I personally prefer keyboard entry as I now have a long-standing wrist issue due to mouse use.
It may be only me and lack of practice, but I personally find BiaB's note-entry almost intolerable. I'm fairly sure sure others will feel the reverse is true. I'll do a few small changes, but for anything more I go to Musescore then Export->Import to BiaB, usually via MusicXML.
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 .
Interesting. I’ve used most notation programs and served as a beta tester for two, but I prefer entering a melody into BIAB over all of them. In all of software, this might be the most personal of all preferences I’ve seen.
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.
A lot probably comes down to what one first learned and whether happiest with computer keys or mouse.
Playing and quantising should work best of all.
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 .
It's always been interesting to hear about other musicians' experiences in developing their art. The posts here are likewise fascinating. Other than my sister, I don't know any other musicians personally.
For me right now, I guess I'll continue writing tunes and chord progressions, just to see what I can develop.
But what has sort of shocked me is how the 3 or 4 Bach pieces I've memorized on keyboard (because I can't read music in real-time!), those pieces have sort of burned into my hands a feel for where things should go. It's hard to explain. Maybe it's because I play them everyday... if I don't, I quickly forget various sections!!
I'm limited to keys of C or E mostly, because I converted the Bach pieces to those keys before learning them. And I do have a few years, up to 1990, of learning fingerpick guitar. That helped with gaining a feel for folk styles and those simple chord progressions. And the discovery of diminished chords (Bach 'taught' me!), has widened my options greatly. Although, I tend to overuse them!
So it's great to have Band-in-a-Box back again, this time with a bit more sense of where I want to go with it.
And I will take Gordon Scott's comments to heart, regarding how he uses a keyboard entry method. Yes, I've probably been making things a lot harder for myself than necessary.
It's fascinating to read everyone's comments. I'll be lurking around and add responses from time to time... So many forums here to read!!!
My friend uses ForteNotation for this purpose (I haven't tried it myself), he says that it is easy to work with.
Forte is among the easier notation programs to use. I think there are easier, but surely there are far more that are harder.
A lot depends on how much you need publishing quality of the printout. If that’s the goal, then Dorico is the easiest of the hard ones (over Sibelius and Finale). If all you need is quick basic notation for yourself, then there are different programs that will be better suited to you.
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.
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.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
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!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
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)
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!
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