Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,976
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,976
When I write a song with just one single style I can add new or modify the RealTracks in the mixer-window.

When I write a song which changes the style I can't do this (or at least I didn't find out how) for the second style because the RealTracks in the mixer-window do not change when the style changes.

Should technically be easy to implement (after all, everything you need is already there) and would open a complete new door to amazing compositions...

Edit: just noticed that the second style don't even keeps its own panning and volume settings...when I change those for the first style it just uses those crazy

Last edited by B.D.Thomas; 08/18/22 02:15 AM.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,855
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,855
Hi. Can you provide a bit more detail to how you're building your song? There's multiple ways to implement style changes and BIAB can handle as many as 24 style changes in a song, each with a-b subsections. There's also multiple ways to handle panning and volume setting changes when a style change occurs.

Charlie


BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 129
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 129
I agree with this.

A problem with more than one style in a song, either using Medley Maker or style-change in Bar Settings is that the mixer does not display the instruments of the new style. The mixer only displays the track information for the first style, so I can't see or tweak or substitute instruments for the other style, which I should be able to do. In fact, it keeps the name of the instrument of the first style but plays the new instrument on that channel.

I assume the architecture of the mixer has only room for one main bass/drums/keys/guitars/etc.- of the first style - so it is impractical for it to keep swapping between them on the fly. Of course, with all-tracks-equal, I can manually duplicate a style by separately loading each instrument into a utility track so that they can all be seen in the mixer, and then mute or silence all the bars of each style when the other is playing, but this would be quite cumbersome and laborious, and all the information is known by BIAB to do this automatically.

SUGGESTION:

I'm wondering if when there are two or more different styles in a song, using either Medley Maker or style-change in bar-settings - an option for an automatic button to print the tracks of the new style(s) into utility tracks and appropriately mute both styles when the other is playing.

As already said, the information is available in BIAB, but it just needs to separate the tracks/instrument channels of each style to its own set of tracks (which of course can then be modified or substituted)

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 129
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 129
I agree with this.

A problem with more than one style in a song, either using Medley Maker or style-change in Bar Settings is that the mixer does not display the instruments of the new style. The mixer only displays the track information for the first style, so I can't see or tweak or substitute instruments for the other style, which I should be able to do. In fact, it keeps the name of the instrument of the first style but plays the new instrument on that channel.

I assume the architecture of the mixer has only room for one main bass/drums/keys/guitars/etc.- of the first style - so it is impractical for it to keep swapping between them on the fly. Of course, with all-tracks-equal, I can manually duplicate a style by separately loading each instrument into a utility track so that they can all be seen in the mixer, and then mute or silence all the bars of each style when the other is playing, but this would be quite cumbersome and laborious, and all the information is known by BIAB to do this automatically.

SUGGESTION:

I'm wondering if when there are two or more different styles in a song, using either Medley Maker or style-change in bar-settings - an option for an automatic button to print the tracks of the new style(s) into utility tracks and appropriately mute both styles when the other is playing.

As already said, the information is available in BIAB, but it just needs to separate the tracks/instrument channels of each style to its own set of tracks (which of course can then be modified or substituted)

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,976
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,976
Originally Posted By: Charlie Fogle
Hi. Can you provide a bit more detail to how you're building your song? There's multiple ways to implement style changes and BIAB can handle as many as 24 style changes in a song, each with a-b subsections. There's also multiple ways to handle panning and volume setting changes when a style change occurs.

Charlie

Thanks for your reply, and sorry for the late answer, I somehow completely missed your post.

When I use multiple styles I first write the chord progression for the complete song, and when I e.g. decide to change the style for the chorus I left-click on the first bar of the chorus and select the new style via
"Bar Settings" -> "Style Changes at This Bar".

Works without problems and the new instruments of that style are used, however as I wrote above in the mixer-window there are still only the instruments of the "main" style displayed and I can't change anything for the new style, like panning or track-settings (both are used globally for both styles), or just see that the instrument(s) have changed.
Needless to say that Utility-Tracks are also globally used and not per style.

BTW, the same problem exists when you change a RealTrack under "Bar Settings", the mixer window is not updated with the new RealTrack.

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,855
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,855
No problem. I'm glad you replied.

I understand your issue and I agree it would be convenient for the Mixer to update. I don't know why it doesn't or if it can be updated to have that feature so I will Plus 1 the Wishlist request.

You and Thomass manually change Styles and that's fine, the feature's there to be used.

However, that's the most basic way to accomplish the task and BIAB automates Style changes with MultiStyles that can be modified and are also easy to create your own from any existing Style in the StylePicker. There are two variations, a MultiStyle that is a global style or a MultiStyle for use in a specific purposed song. I reference them as the first to be a permanent addition to my StylePicker and the second version I normally discard after completing my project. I use the 2nd version most times.

Like I mentioned in my earlier comment, a BIAB project can accommodate up to 24 substyles in a song, each having a-b sub sections. They are activated using multi colored Part Markers and can be placed at any bar on a Chord Chart. They can be used multiple times in a project. PG Music has developed a large number of pre-made MultiStyles and utilize them frequently in their Demos. My BIAB version has around 9,800 Styles and about 10% of those styles are PG Music MultiStyles. MultiStyles can be used individually or in conjunction with a Master MultiStyle.

A Section Text Layer can be opened to notate MultiStyle instrument changes. Part Markers can be placed at any bar and the 'Part Marker' starts a new line function can be turned off so the Chord Chart doesn't get mis-aligned.

I've found this to be the most convenient and quickest method to use Styles for instrument changes and vary the song dynamics. Once you have your MultiStyle variations, changes can be made by selecting Part Markers.




Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
Screenshot 2022-11-10 092425.jpg (349.14 KB, 29 downloads)
MultiStyles.jpg (399.33 KB, 30 downloads)
Section Text.jpg (397.79 KB, 30 downloads)
Last edited by Charlie Fogle; 11/10/22 05:20 AM. Reason: Images added

BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,976
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,976
Originally Posted By: Charlie Fogle
However, that's the most basic way to accomplish the task and BIAB automates Style changes with MultiStyles that can be modified and are also easy to create your own from any existing Style in the StylePicker.

I read that you can create your own styles, but I thought that was a bit complicated. Changing an existing style should be much easier.
And "MultiStyles" are new to me, I think I'll take a closer look at them.

Thanks so much for bringing them to my attention, Charlie!

Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,855
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,855
Originally Posted By: B.D.Thomas
Originally Posted By: Charlie Fogle
However, that's the most basic way to accomplish the task and BIAB automates Style changes with MultiStyles that can be modified and are also easy to create your own from any existing Style in the StylePicker.

I read that you can create your own styles, but I thought that was a bit complicated. Changing an existing style should be much easier.
And "MultiStyles" are new to me, I think I'll take a closer look at them.

Thanks so much for bringing them to my attention, Charlie!


Yes. MultiStyles are very versatile and it's easy to modify any style into a MultiStyle for use on a particular song. PG Music developers use RT-1152: silence in a lot of their MultiStyles.

To me, it would work good in a workflow where you create your Chord Chart and then decide on the various instruments to use in your song and create a series of MultiStyles using an instrument or two in each new MultiStyle so that you will then be able to change instruments and combinations of them as easily as you can edit the Chord Sheet. You would rearrange instruments by changing Part Markers.


BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Holiday Weekend Hours

As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:

April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours

Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!

— Team PG

Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!

If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

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.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!

PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.

The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.

The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.

Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!

Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.

Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!

Order now!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.

Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,118
Posts800,418
Members40,036
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
Newest Members
Dewbert, shelipicia, Shakey2, Matt1575, Christian210
40,036 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 137
rsdean 99
DC Ron 94
WaoBand 63
Today's Birthdays
trptart
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5