<< To be honest, I have always been confused with Artist Performance Tracks (APT) and Songs Lessons Pak (SLP). What exactly does each of them offer? Are they simply some pre-made SGUs/MGUs, aka pre-made styles with chords already entered? Do they have same contents overlapping each other?
I understand that SLP is included in Ultra+ but not Ultra version, in other words, SLP is basically the "+". On the other hand, APT is included in both Ultra and Ultra+ version, usually from the 49 Pak and Bonus Pak. The question is, what are they and how do I use them? >>
Artist Performance Tracks are the recorded audio files attached to any SGU/MGU project. They are the artist's accompaniment performance for a lesson or demo. Current example are the vocal tracks on the Vocal Demos. BIAB and Users normally would create Artist Performance Files in a project. My BIAB software program has hundreds of demos and lessons dating back to 2009 that contain Artist Performance Tracks.
Artist Performance Files are custom audio User Tracks attached to any BIAB project that can use every sound medium BIAB recognizes like RealTracks, SuperMidi Tracks, MIDI and audio. The Artist Performance Files feature permits and empowers BIAB to convert audio files so they can be copied and moved to any BIAB Mixer Track. An Artist Performance File can be a single instrument, a mixture multiple instruments and can consist of any combination of sound media recognized by BIAB. It's a very versatile and powerful tool for BIAB. Several years ago I posted more information about Artist Performance Files *Here*
A note of interest; 100% of the Artist Performance Tracks in Demos and lessons, every one of them, are finalized and saved as an SGU/MGU type file. Although many of these files use recordings that originated in RealBand or another DAW, edited, effects added, multiple tracks comped, routed and bused in the DAW and that audio was exported from the DAW and imported into a BIAB project and mixed and rendered from there with the finished imported DAW audio saved in a folder with the BIAB SGU/MGU file. None are finalized and saved as a RealBand or DAW file.
It's an interesting conceptual reversal of a DAW track export to BIAB rather than exporting BIAB tracks for a DAW project. Recording a project in this manner is much faster, easier and allows for a more complex arrangement because 100% of every BIAB tool, technique, function and feature remain instantly available for use in the song rather than only having a few BIAB/RB generated tracks available with 0% of BIAB tools, techniques, functions and features available to the DAW project. Artist Performance Files are a critical component of accessing this composition toolbox and turn BIAB into a very powerful, robust, digital multi track recorder.
There some samples of things that don't work correctly at the moment, with the V5.0.9 plugin version included in the build 1006 update:
- when re-opening a DAW project, the plugin comes always 2 bars late. The song has to be re-generated first, before it is in sync again. And it will forget once I closed and re-opened the Daw Project again. That's not specific to any DAW, it happens with Samplitude, Reaper, Cubase and Studio One. - e.g. inserting a bar at the chord sheet creates a mess with the song structure, other than with the standalone application. - the "paste special" function does not work - re-opening an already generated song in in Reaper with the DAW the plugin, it always shows a tempo mismatch - Whatever I try to set in the plugin preferences or e.g. count-in in song structure seems to be ignored. - worst of all: since recently, the plugin consumes some 28GByte of Ram when opened (checked via the task manager). That's some 25 times more than what the BiaB standalone would use, opening the same song. This leads to a freeze of my computer and the plugin won't respond anymore, for some minutes. The memory is not freed-up anymore until I kill the session. There seems to be some kind of memory leak with the VST3 plugin.
Interestingly enough, the BiaB standalone application works fine in the 2023 version.
Interestingly enough, the BiaB standalone application works fine in the 2023 version.
I'm so glad to hear this. I'm 100% using on the standalone version and never use the BBPlugin, so all these bugs you mentioned won't apply to me.
In my opinion, I always feel the standalone version is like an iPhone, where the BBPlugin is like an iPod. You may be able do a things or two on the iPod for fun, but when it comes to more serious tasks, you never want to do them without an iPhone.
A Canadian music producer, singer songwriter, composer, and professional guitarist.
I have read your Artist Performance Tracks post written in 2020. The post was more of a feature introductory than a step by step tutorial.
Could you give a bit more details on how you and your brothers use the APT/APF in real life productions?
Quote:
Artist Performance Files are custom audio User Tracks attached to any BIAB project...
My understanding is APF is just a WAV/WMA file being mapped by the chord structure inside a SGU template with the same file name. This WAV file, can be a single instrument, or multi instruments, or a song, or external recordings. If a chord is later used but not pre-made in the SGU template, BiaB will use its zPlane Elastique engine to pitch shift to the nearest chord.
As I've searched, there's no video tutorial on YouTube specifically talks about using APT/APF. So How do I open a factory made APT/APF in BiaB? What exactly are the functional differences between an APT/APF and a regular RealTrack?
A Canadian music producer, singer songwriter, composer, and professional guitarist.
<< Could you give a bit more details on how you and your brothers use the APT/APF in real life productions? >>
Artist Performance Tracks and Artist Performance Files operate in BIAB similar to the RealTracks/UserTrack relationship. APT's are made by PG Music and APF's are user developed. PG Music's Bootcamp video where Tobin takes an existing PG Music vocal demo and completely creates a new mix is a good example.
How I use APF has changed over the last couple of yearly version releases. PG Music developers have used APF's to perform functions automatically that were manual operations prior to the introduction of Utility Tracks. Before Utility Tracks, I used APF's to enhance the BIAB Mixer into a very robust and powerful digital multi track recorder. With APF's there was no 8 track limitation to BIAB. An APF could be configured to function as a virtual track, a group, a sub-mix, a comp track, an aux track and a bounce track. Of course, being digital, there was no loss or degradation of mixed audio, no matter the number of routings used in a project. With PG Music adding the 16 Utility Tracks made these processes more visible and simplified the process. It's not complicated to produce a 50 track song in just a few minutes using only BIAB and APF's. Using APF's in conjunction with the RealTracks Medley Maker and MultiStyles makes creating very complex arrangements very quick. Instrument replacements and regenerations can be made without changing or losing the arrangement.
The main functional difference between an APT/APF and a regular RealTrack most obviously is how they generate. APF's will not regenerate to adjust to chord changes. That has to be done manually. APF's will follow key signature changes and tempo changes but don't adjust to bar changes such as adding or deleting measures or rearranging sections. They do not respond to Part Markers. I view them as an advanced track freeze option. A static track.
A user converts a track to an Artist Performance File with a Rt click on the track using the mouse, open Track Actions, Save track as Performance File (Wav/M4a). Saving an APF is different and faster than saving a WAV file. The audio file is automatically named and the track labels change to orange to show the track is an Artist Performance File. APF's can reside on all 24 tracks and are edited in the Audio Edit Window and can be accessed by the Audio Button at the top of the screen for additional functions and commands. This can be quite useful because for example, there are 18 different ways to modify volume control once a track is converted to an Artist Performance File.
<< " So How do I open a factory made APT/APF in BiaB?" >> The easiest way to open a factory made Artist Performance Track would be to open a Song with Vocals demo SGU/MGU or a Song Lesson. My current BIAB version has hundreds of these dating back to 2009. There are no Pre-made APF files.
Here's the Moveable Audio Edit. It should not be hard to implement. You can have an option to display multitrack or single track. It will also have vertical zoom.
This shows BiaB with a set tempo map (as it can't do decimal tempos) Rewired to the slave Reaper, Reaper has a varying decimal tempo map but it syncs to Biab constant tempo 120bpm map by adjusting the playback rate to follow BiaB. The same way BiaB can have a sync vst to slave it to any DAW and follow it's tempo map. All files dragged out of BiaB will have acid info to fit the DAW tempo map.
Here's the Moveable Audio Edit. It should not be hard to implement. You can have an option to display multitrack or single track. It will also have vertical zoom.
Band in a Box has the Moveable, sizable Audio Edit Window. MultiTrack is likely coming in the future but a Moveable Audio Edit Window is here now.
Both pics have the icon but the title bar name is missing "Audio Edit" yet the moveable Notation has "Notation" and the moveable Piano Roll has "Piano Roll"
APT refers to additional audio content PG Music offers...
PG Music offers many different Add-ons and Paks, and many of them have overlapping songs/styles/tracks/contents. When you install all these different Paks to the same C:\bb folder, is system going to generate duplicate files when overlapping contents are installed?
In Windows, installing the same program/content to the same location will result in one of the two possibilities:
(1) Same folders/files were replaced/overwritten, which is the most ideal, because the destination folder will be clean. (2) A new folder/file is created and renamed by the system, making a mess. For example, previously a file exists called "MyFile", when being installed again, system creates a new file in the same folder called "MyFile (1)", therefore it will have duplicate files existing in the same folder.
So, when install all these paks and addons, how to avoid the same file being installed twice causing duplicate folders/files in the bb folder?
A Canadian music producer, singer songwriter, composer, and professional guitarist.
So, when install all these paks and addons, how to avoid the same file being installed twice causing duplicate folders/files in the bb folder?
Because everything is installed in uniquely named folders. Because of this, there cannot be any duplication:
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.
... Also, if the same .exe installer is installed twice by accident, is it going to make a mess?
Historically, that has never been a problem. Running the same installer twice, or running a later installer over the top of an existing install simply updates whatever is required to be updated. It does not create duplicates. This is by design.
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.
More of a mock up of what's possible. Currently, there's no advantage to show multiple tracks in the Audio Edit Window because it's a single track editor and the menu's, functions, and edits are all single track. With the introduction of Utility Tracks and audio being able to load on more tracks than just the Audio Track, this is changing over the last few years and Multiple track edits are a reasonable expectation for future updates and enhancements.
In the multitrack audio edit whatever track you focus on is the track you edit. It works the same way as selecting the track in the drop down but can display all tracks. This can give you an instant visual of all tracks where you have volume automation or where instruments come in. Actually it would not be that hard to code.
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.
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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!
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.
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