Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Sometimes when I save a midi file from BIAB notes are added or removed so that the playback is not the exact same in my DAW.

Normal?

Billy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,869
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,869
Billy, did you freeze the master prior to saving/moving using the DAW mode in BiaB?
If you don't freeze the tracks they will regenerate when you save or move tracks to your DAW.


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
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Yes, what Mario (MIDI king) said: that’s normal, so you need to freeze first. But there could be more to it depending on whether your question is limited to content, or also includes sound.

If you render your BIAB tracks to audio you should be good. Check that you do (or don’t, as you prefer) have it centered with no panning or effects. If you are taking MIDI tracks into your DAW, are you using the same MIDI synth? Same panning and effects?


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 for Windows
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Thanks, guys. I had forgotten about the freeze issue.

This was two piano-only midi tracks.

This is a midi-only issue, as far as I know. I put a midi demo file in BIAB. I then rendered that midi file and put it in my DAW. There were only a couple of added notes that I did not notice at first.

The chord chart indicated a chord that did not sound correct when I played the piece on my piano. As I then started transcribing everything note for note, I discovered the added notes.

The chord issue is something I occasionally see. A chord is indicated, but it is not correct. It almost always only happens when a song is regenerated.

I always assumed a glitch in the regeneration algorithm.

In normal conditions for me, I am rendering several tracks and would not even notice something like this. In this case, I was trying to learn to play this demo note for note on my piano.


Thanks again, guys.

Billy


Last edited by Planobilly; 06/04/23 02:42 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
About the chord issue, you might enjoy reading through my article in the Tips and Tricks Forum about when BIAB doesn’t quite play the chords you expect. Lots of suggestions. Here it is: https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=694482#Post694482


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 for Windows
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Thanks, Matt. I just forget some of this at times. Good reminder you and others posted.

It is always better to get what you want from the start. Almost all fixes are detectable at some level.

Billy

Last edited by Planobilly; 06/04/23 04:35 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,508
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,508
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
About the chord issue, you might enjoy reading through my article in the Tips and Tricks Forum about when BIAB doesn’t quite play the chords you expect. Lots of suggestions. Here it is: https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=694482#Post694482


Great advice. Everyone should read this one.

Notes ♫


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,019
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,019
Originally Posted By: Planobilly
Sometimes when I save a midi file from BIAB notes are added or removed so that the playback is not the exact same in my DAW.

Normal?

Billy


No that is not normal. While the sound may change due to different synths, the midi notes and their associated CC's should be identcal. Otherwise, something is wrong. Ya, it could be your workflow as suggested here in the forum. BIAB has many ways to move MIDI which could get it changed in either before or after the transfer. But if you do it right, it will be the same.

Dan


Retired to Make Music - No Plan B
My SoundCloud
View Current Projects
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Dan has a good point: Tell us exactly how you take the MIDI from BIAB into your DAW (there being several choices).


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 for Windows
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
I open BIAB
File
load from Stylepicker
Load song demo
file
save special
save song as a midi file
type one midi file
OK save as file


In the case of the file in question, there were only two tracks, and both were midi piano.

I did not freeze the tracks. I am not sure why one would need to. I never even played the song in BIAB before rendering it.

There are a lot of uncommanded actions in BIAB based on preferences.

Also, I would never notice one note missing from the piano track in a normal situation. I just happened to return to BIAB because of a chord that did not sound correct when I played the song live on my piano. I wanted to see if what got rendered was correct.

The chord issue is another preference issue in BIAB. BIAB can and does play chords differently than what is written both by the user and in a demo.

This is just part of the arcane nature of the software. More or less fixable if you know exactly where to go and understand the interrelationships between the possible selections.

Billy

Last edited by Planobilly; 06/05/23 03:00 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Originally Posted By: Planobilly
… I never even played the song in BIAB before rendering it.

Billy
The MIDI doesn’t exist until the song is (re)generated.


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 for Windows
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
So, now I am really confused. It is possible I played through the song in BIAB I guess.

If you go to Stylepicker and find a demo song which obviously has a chord progression that is midi, what does it load?

I will go back to BIAB and check something an be back.

Billy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Yes, Matt, I must have played at least a few bars of the song. Otherwise, you can not render it.

I did a test to see.

Also, I assume the song was rendered as soon as I hit play.

Re-rendered?


Billy

Last edited by Planobilly; 06/05/23 04:16 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Let me be more clear. The MIDI doesn’t exist if you load the song but don’t play it, so when you go to export the MIDI, BIAB automatically regenerates the song before exporting it.


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 for Windows
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
When I did the test just now, BIAB would not render the song at all until I played a few bars.

Can you test that idea? Any midi song. Load it but don't hit play. Go straight to render.

Billy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,121
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,121
Originally Posted By: Planobilly
When I did the test just now, BIAB would not render the song at all until I played a few bars.

Can you test that idea? Any midi song. Load it but don't hit play. Go straight to render.

Billy

Billy,
I just loaded an all MIDI style, and checked notation for one of the instruments. Its was blank/empty as expected.

Then I dragged the Master onto the MIDI drop-zone, which went green almost immediately, and when I checked the same instrument (ElPiano), the notation was now available.

So I am surmising that the single action of dragging the Master track to the MIDI drop-zone also generates the song (if required), which matches what Matt mentioned above.

In my tests, the notation never changed by dragging multiple additional times unless the Generate/Play button was pressed.

I repeated with a new song, loaded a style demo, the tracks were empty (song was not generated) and then I used your steps:
file
save special
save song as a midi file
type one midi file
OK save as file

And it definitely generated the file before saving.

HTH a little,

Trev


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.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Thanks Trev

I guess I had always assumed that when a demo song was loaded and chords appeared, the tracks were in place. Actually, it is evident that BIAB is doing something before it starts playing the first time by the delay.

I have never been exactly clear on what conditions cause BIAB to regenerate. I typically use the freeze function to prevent that.

That brings up another question. Occasionally in the past, BIAB has regenerated a song for reasons I did not understand.

Is there a direct way to get back to the original generation?

Billy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
OK, Billy, I think we are closing in on this. You are correct that BIAB 'does something' before it can play the song or render the song in any form. That's what I was trying to say.

The conditions to regenerate should be clear but the picture has been muddied by occasional oddities where it regenerates when not required, or worse, does not regenerate when you think it should. These cases have been fixed by patches, but they do tend to reoccur after many years, to be patched again. That may explain your observation. Yes, as you say, Freeze is your friend here.

I think the answer to the last question, is there a direct (my emphasis) way to get back to the original generation, is a No. You cannot Edit, Undo, for example. The best method probably is to do an end run around the process: make lots of Freezes and Saves of versions when developing a song.


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 for Windows
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,742
Thanks, Matt. That clears up all my questions. One could write a large book about what I don't know about BIAB...lol

I would say all these issues are minor and seldom occur, to begin with.

I assume, for me at least, they occur due to "pilot error." It is easy to forget things like freeze. I have never had an issue when I remembered to use freeze.

Thanks again, to all of you who responded.

Billy

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
I know I'm not going to be the one to write that book, because I know there is too much I don't know.

That's probably a nice problem to have.


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.
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
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!

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

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

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 amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.

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!

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

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac 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 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.

Holiday Weekend Hours

It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:

Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Regular hours
resume Tuesday, May 19th!

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!

Don't wait - order today!

Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

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.

Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!

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)

Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,413
Posts804,597
Members40,120
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
Newest Members
asanford576, King Terry, Jt54, John Steer, therichestplat
40,119 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 128
rsdean 98
DC Ron 94
WaoBand 81
vicarn 75
dcuny 73
Today's Birthdays
Ingar R Henden, isidro1
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5