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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 29
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 29 |
I've had '20, '21 & '22 Mac BIAB with little or no hiccups in loading or running BIAB. I'm always thrilled & excited by each new version.
'23, however, is so frustrating! Others seem to be having fun, but mine is a nightmare.
Yes, I've hit Rebuild at least a dozen times to no avail. Hasn't helped.
1) It's running verrrry slowly on the same desktop all the others ran smoothly on... 2012 iMac, 24G memory, macOS 10.15.7. Never saw the 'Beachball of Doom' w/ the earlier versions. Now, it's taking 15-20 secs to complete at least half the instructions I give it in '23.
2) Clicking the play button: sometimes the tracks start playing but it's out of sync w/ the moving chord box shading, so by the time they align, 8 or 12 bars in, I have no idea where I actually am in the tune.
3a) RE-GENERATE IS NOT WORKING!! I've lost the ability to add or update various instr tracks. '23 correctly plays any track that I placed there earlier in '20-'22. BUT -- when I need to add an instr now, I cannot get it to play correctly (despite it being a perfect match for the style picked, per genre, time, tempo, style, feel, etc.) -- i) I cannot get any instrument to play on correct pitch, time or feel (even w/ turning on the Fix Key & Chord buttons in the Track edits dialog); ii) it won't just be off-pitch, it's completely out of sync w/ any other track & painful to listen to. In the past, I've simply hit re-generate over & over -- and that would bring a new instr into line w/ the others & sound great together within 2 or 3 re-gens. Now I'm sitting there trying it 9 - 10+ times & it's not even getting close. It remains totally unusable.
3b) This is bad enough in trying to add a new instr track, but when having to update the re-generate on a long established track (by adding a few bars or otherwise updating the structure, etc.), I now LOSE THAT long-perfect track. Not just that one performance pass -- now that instrument itself will no longer work & creates the same problem as the new instruments. And I can't get it back, if I've saved something else along the way.
3c) I've been forced to completely re-arrange 3 or 4 songs now simply b/c of BIAB '23 blowing up on me! UNACCEPTABLE!
4) Upon opening a track I'd labored on, installing tricky bar lyrics into while in '22, Voila! Opening it in '23, all the lyrics are gone. Just not there.
5) Sporadic dropping out of saved instruments when opening a file in '23. I rarely use Utility tracks & will place instr. on the main tracks. So, I'll have a certain well-considered & chosen guitar or something else on some track, fully saved. I open that song file in '23 & it's GONE. Only the white empty Guitar, Strings, Melody, etc. track. I've always relied on BIAB's ability to save, & am paying for it as I have no recall as to which of the 10,000 RTs I had in that spot.
I sincerely do NOT like to complain & I've been totally blissed out by BIAB '20-'22. But I'm finding '23 nearly totally unusable. I haven't even had a moment since installing it to eagerly explore all the new aspects of '23, as I'm still battling all the destruction of what I've had in the earlier versions.
Please help. I'm at my wit's end...
Much appreciated!
E.J.
NYC
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,583
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,583 |
Now, it's taking 15-20 secs to complete at least half the instructions I give it in '23 Could you confirm that have "speed up generation of RealTracks" checked in the RealTracks Preferences? Also, I would suggest that you close BiaB, duplicate your Preferences folder to back it up (e.g. Preferences_saved), then delete all the files in your Preferences folder and see if the same problems remain. If not, please zip up your Preferences_saved folder and send it to us. Sporadic dropping out of saved instruments when opening a file in '23. Next time it happens, could you send us the file? I'm not sure what is going on, but hopefully there is a clue there and we can get to the bottom of this. BiaB 2023 should be just as fast or faster than 2020-2022. Also the Activity Monitor (Applications - Utilities) on your Mac and see if you spot anything unusual there..
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 29
Enthusiast
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|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 29 |
Now, it's taking 15-20 secs to complete at least half the instructions I give it in '23 Could you confirm that have "speed up generation of RealTracks" checked in the RealTracks Preferences? Also, I would suggest that you close BiaB, duplicate your Preferences folder to back it up (e.g. Preferences_saved), then delete all the files in your Preferences folder and see if the same problems remain. If not, please zip up your Preferences_saved folder and send it to us. Sporadic dropping out of saved instruments when opening a file in '23. Next time it happens, could you send us the file? I'm not sure what is going on, but hopefully there is a clue there and we can get to the bottom of this. BiaB 2023 should be just as fast or faster than 2020-2022. Also the Activity Monitor (Applications - Utilities) on your Mac and see if you spot anything unusual there.. Thx, Andrew. Yes, 'speed up RT Gen' is clearly checked in RT Prefs. I don't know what you're referring to on "Pref folder" points. I'm afraid you're gonna have to talk me thru that one. I don't see any PG/BIAB Prefs folder; either on the external PG HD or on my MAC HD -- merely my Mac Prefs folders & there's no PG/BIAB subfolder in there... You're gonna have to steer me better on that one... You're talking MAC, right? For its dropping out of '22 RTs when opening a '22-created tune in '23, I don't have one handy, of course, b/c I just dealt w/ the problem on the spot each time (2x). But, if/when it happens again, I'll send it along... Any thoughts on my biggest woe? The inability to add new tracks / update current RTs as noted above in my original post? That's my biggest heartbreaker of the moment... it's got me rather dead in the water. Thanks for the help, Andrew.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,583
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,583 |
I don't know what you're referring to on "Pref folder" points. I mean the Preferences folder in /Applications/Band-in-a-Box. Do you have Band-in-a-Box installed on your internal Mac hard drive, or are you running it from an external drive? I can't recall if you've told us either way. Let's assume you have it installed on your Mac drive. The idea is to try running Band-in-a-Box at (or close to) factory settings to see if the problem still happens. 1. Close Band-in-a-Box. Go to the /Applications/Band-in-a-Box folder, and you should see a Preferences folder in there. 2. Click on the folder and press Command+D to duplicate it. Name it "Preferences_backup_may24". It doesn't matter what you name it, this is only to keep a backup of the folder with your previous preferences in case you need to send it to us or do further testing, or restore your previous settings. 3. Open the Preferences folder and delete all the files in it. 4. Run Band-in-a-Box now and see if there's any change. Any thoughts on my biggest woe? The inability to add new tracks / update current RTs as noted above in my original post? No, I don't recognize this problem at all, it's very strange. However, often even the strangest problems turn out to have simple solutions once you figure them out, so hopefully that will be the case here. One question: is it only happening with certain songs? Does it happen for example if you load in a RealTracks demo song?
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 29
Enthusiast
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|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 29 |
I don't know what you're referring to on "Pref folder" points. I mean the Preferences folder in /Applications/Band-in-a-Box. Do you have Band-in-a-Box installed on your internal Mac hard drive, or are you running it from an external drive? I can't recall if you've told us either way. Let's assume you have it installed on your Mac drive. The idea is to try running Band-in-a-Box at (or close to) factory settings to see if the problem still happens. 1. Close Band-in-a-Box. Go to the /Applications/Band-in-a-Box folder, and you should see a Preferences folder in there. 2. Click on the folder and press Command+D to duplicate it. Name it "Preferences_backup_may24". It doesn't matter what you name it, this is only to keep a backup of the folder with your previous preferences in case you need to send it to us or do further testing, or restore your previous settings. 3. Open the Preferences folder and delete all the files in it. 4. Run Band-in-a-Box now and see if there's any change. Any thoughts on my biggest woe? The inability to add new tracks / update current RTs as noted above in my original post? No, I don't recognize this problem at all, it's very strange. However, often even the strangest problems turn out to have simple solutions once you figure them out, so hopefully that will be the case here. One question: is it only happening with certain songs? Does it happen for example if you load in a RealTracks demo song? Andrew, I just sent an email w/ the subj line: '23 Mac Woes. I've already trashed & regenerated my BIAB Prefs folder in my '23 BIAB HD. The song file here contains a track w/ emblematic problems I'm having w/ '23, w/ adding or updating RTs sounding horribly off. Don't know the tech reason but the aural effect is being off-pitch & off-feel and not coming into alignment no matter how many times I regenerate the track. This, when all the aspects (time, style, genre, tempo, etc.) SHOULD by rights work fine. I'm not shoving obvious square pegs into round holes -- these tracks SHOULD work, have worked in the past but are not now working. I cannot fathom why. I hope this clarifies. Many thanks! E.J.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,583
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,583 |
Thanks for sending the file. It sounds great, but maybe you sent the wrong file. This file has a Horn Section track that is frozen but completely empty, and has no guitar track.
However there is something strange - The song is set to the key of Eb but it playing in D. This could have happened if the song was generated, frozen, and then the key was changed later without unfreezing and regenerating again. If I unfreeze all tracks, unmute the horn section at bar 9, and re-generate, all tracks sound good, along with the Horns.
I'm not noticing anything else strange with it here.
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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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.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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