Here some explanation about my usual workflow, how I use Band in a Box. It may explain a bit, why certain functionality of the plugin is cruicial for me and/or why some current behaviors are a bit annoying.
1st step: It usually starts all with some roughly recorded song idea, jam session, band rehearsal or recording from a live gig. I load it into the bbw64.exe as an audio file for a new song. As usually there are all kind of tempo changes in it, I use the ACW to determine tempo and to tempo equalize the audio towards the desired tempo. This makes later processing a lot easier, and is also necesssay when using the bbw plugin with my DAW later. Here comes my first big wish: Often there is a desired ritardando or tempon change at a certain point of the song. ACW is currently not able to equalize the tempo only for a particular area, it can only do the whole song, which leads to problems later on. During this phase I just use a drum track from bbw to determine the sync. All other style tracks are muted at this point. I use a one chorus structure with the required amount of bars.
2nd step: I try to determine the appropriate chords and enter them at the chord sheet along with the A/B part markers for intros, verses, bridges and choruses. Most times the chord detection is not very reliable. It seems to be easier to enter the chords manually to the chord sheet. The copy and paste functions help a lot here.During this step I usually just unmute some drums and a guitar or piano track in bbw. This makes it easier to figure out the chords. Fequently I have to go back to the ACW to make some little timing adjustments (fine tuning) and to equalize the tempo again to a constant tempo.
3rd step: Once the chord sheet is done, I start playing around with various styles and additional instrument tracks in bbw64.exe, until I got what I like. It is a lot faster and easier to handle than the plugin. I then save the .sgu file to my appropriate DAW song project folder.
4th step: I open a new song as a DAW project using some DAW template where the bb plugin is already loaded with a default song. I have to ensure that the new DAW project uses the correct tempo first. Then I replace the default song in the plugin via the file menu, with the .sgu created by bbw64.exe. And I have to generate the song already generated by the .bbw64.exe once more. Usually it sounds similar but slightly different. I have no idea why the plugin can't just take the tracks previously generated, but let it be.
5th step: I copy the audio track from the plugin to my DAW and mute or delete it on the plugin. My DAW projects use 96kHz/24 bit. Often something has to be restructured on the initial jam/song structure and that's a lot easier to be done using the DAW. Along with that, I have to correct the chordsheet at the plugin. Using the insert/delete bar function in the plugin is a real pain, as it currently does not move the part markers for A/B sections accordingly. After several corrections, re-generations and saves of the .sgu, I usually roughly get what I wanted. Not perfect, but something audible.
6th step: During this step I sometimes also add additional instruments using the bb plugin, change a style of a single instrument or of the whole song, Once I am happy with it, I start moving bb tracks from the plugin to DAW tracks. The BB .wav tracks are converted to 96/24 and copied to the song project folder by the DAW automatically. Sometimes I use the RTs provided, sometimes just the midi charts. Although some of the RT drum and bass tracks sound pretty good, tools like Toontrack's SD3 or EZ Bass give me a lot more control over the sound and particular notes. Thus I sometimes take the bb tracks just as source of inspiration to further elaborate the tracks with SD3, EZBass or something from the Komplete, UVI or Korg library. Along with the tracks coming from bb, I record and edit my own instrumental and vocal tracks in my DAW, often enough whilst the bb tracks still reside within the bb plugin. All further FX, mixing and mastering happens in my DAW. I copy the used bb tracks to my DAW project before doing the final mix.
Some of the painpoints I still have with the plugin:
a) Dealing with solos and fills that should only appear at certain points in a song. I read that there's a solution using silence tracks and style changes for particular tracks. But I couldn't figure that out properly yet. Currently I just cut out what I don't need from my DAW tracks. b) Trying to apply tempo changes during a song is a pain too. May it be a ritardando in some verse or at the end, it is a struggle to get the DAW and the plugin playback in sync. I wonder why it should not be possible for the plugin to track tempo change information from the DAW automatically, write it to the chordsheet (as option) and reflect it during the next audio track re-generation of the sgu. At least the other (midi) plugins I use seem to do so. c) Some of my songs use specific rhythms or better to say accents or they mix 16th and trioles within the same bar. Microchords may be the solution here, but I was not able to figure that out properly yet.
There may be other workflows and possibilities to deal with the subjects above, but for me it appears somehow intuitive, simple and straight forward. Only some "little functional bridges" within the BiaB package and the plugin reliability as such missing here and there.
Often there is a desired ritardando or tempon change at a certain point of the song. ACW is currently not able to equalize the tempo only for a particular area, it can only do the whole song,
One way to work around this limitation is to cut the audio file into smaller files and then have the Audio Chord Wizard (ACW) analyze each smaller file individually.
Of course everything depends on each song performance but you may find having the ACW analyze a song's intro, verses, bridges and solos separately provide more accurate results.
Thanks for posting your workflow steps. This gives good feedback for PG. I hope PG read through and think "how can we make this process easier for users ?" especially if they are in a professional work environment. Why can't this all be done in the DAW with the BBPlugin ? that should be the aim of PG.
Unfortunately, usually my initial song material is pretty messy. Most of the time it is just some captured ideas or jams, that will be re-recorded later anyway.
Altogether I am pretty happy with the ACW. It is still the handiest tool I came across so far, when it comes to create an initial basis track that can also be easily re-used by other tools,(e.g. my DAW). I find the time stretching and bar marking functions a lot better in ACW than anything else I have seen and tried so far. Obviously I could split the track, process the areas seperately and join them later again. But that would be a lot of additional work, also causing further trouble.
A restriction of tempo equalization to a marked area in the ACW would be the easiest and best solution from a user perspective.
That was the intention behind my post. Maybe it helps PG Music to focus a bit more on the essentials and strenghts of their product.
I don't mind fancy add-on stuff around, that comes handy occasionally. But what counts are the basics, that have to work smoothly, reliable and in a conveniant way.
I am not a fan of having "everything" in the plugin. But I agree that it deserves at least as much or even more attention than the standalone. This seems not to be the case at the moment.
I am not a fan of having "everything" in the plugin. But I agree that it deserves at least as much or even more attention than the standalone. This seems not to be the case at the moment.
Thank you for the detailed info Roland! I've been working on various stability improvements as suggested by you in other posts but you've made some excellent points for me to consider here. The idea of tracking tempo changes from the DAW to the plugin would require the user to play through the entire song for the plugin to record every tempo change. Instead, I would recommend that you use the bar settings dialog in the plugin to add tempo changes while you are building your song, and then import a tempo map into your DAW using the [C7] button above the chord sheet. If you do this then the plugin and DAW should be in perfect sync. I really appreciate all your great feedback!
Regarding your suggestion: Unfortunately I have not found a way yet, to import tempo changes from a plugin to the DAW (Samplitude), without messing up everything else that already exists there. Maybe it is a matter of philosophy, whether Biab accompanies the DAW or the DAW accompanies Band in a Box. So far for me the DAW has always been the master and the plugins acted as slave, not the other way round. It would be a bit like the tail wagging the dog.
So Samplitude can't import the midi tempo map from a midi files dragged from the Plugin C7 ? The Plugin needs to playback the rendered tracks with elastique this way it will sync with any decimal tempo map changes in the DAW and the files being rendered with acid info will fit the DAW if dragged in.
Samplitude can import midi and wav files and also analyze the tempo of such a track. The result can be interpreted as virtual timing grid markers or as tempo change. Even linear tempo changes between previous and following bars are possible. This C7 copy method might work if BB was the initial DAW track. However when applying such changes to already existing tracks the problems start, in particular with tools like Melodyne which looses all the editing done so far, but also with previously existing markers and areas in the DAW. I would have to bounce all audio tracks beforehand, apply the tempo change, bounce again after the stretching and then save the DAW project. Maybe I am just too stupid to do it right, but that's the experience I have made so far. That's why I rarely change the DAW tempo anymore after once having set the desired tempo map in the DAW.
It's 5 years on and it's still works the same way which is a shame as there is so much potential there to get something half decent like Toontracks. This pic below is Biab as the Rewire master and Reaper as the slave. Biab is playing at the same set tempo 120bpm but the tracks in Reaper are a varying tempo map but Reaper uses eleastique to sync Reaper playback rate to Biab so Reaper plays back in sync at a steady 120bpm. The Plugin needs to work the same way and follow any DAW tempo map rather than just playing back the rendered tracks at a set tempo. If it can't do that and generate up tracks as fast or faster than Biab then there is not really much point in using the Plugin.
Not sure whether Rewire would really be the right choice. I also heard that it is discontinued meanwhile. And there might be a couple of other conflicts and drawbacks coming along with a Rewire approach. 90% of the job happens within the DAW and BiaB should just accompany. So let's focus on ways how the the plugin could follow the DAW and not the other way round.
Here is the solution, just playback those SavedTracks wav files with elastique changing the playback rate to match the DAW tempo map. The plugin could also do what the DAW is doing, playing the source wma and changing the pitch and rate with elastique.
Hi Musocity, Thanks for your suggestions, but I think you lost me now. I have a bit of difficulty to understand your setup.
Where I am coming from: I use the BB plugin as a midi track in my DAW (Samplitude) to accompany the already recorded tracks there with some further instruments. I would like the BB midi plugin to follow the DAW tempo. Elastique pro I could apply in the DAW on selected audio tracks, but not on midi tracks (as this also isn't necessary, as usually midi plugins automatically follow the tempo given by the DAW). If I had to copy the audio tracks from BB to the DAW first, then I could use the BB stadalone instead and the plugin would become obsolete. The advantage of the BB plugin is, that I can easily try out various alternatives, in parallel with my work on the tracks in the DAW.
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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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.
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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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