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Joined: May 2012
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Someone has probably mentioned this in one of the comments above... I didn't read them all. There are several folks with sites online that have already taken the time to create MGU and SGU files of quite a few of the hits from the past. That will certainly save you a lot of time and effort if the songs you want are in the list. And with time being equal to money.... it might actually be cheaper to buy them if they are not too overly expensive. At the risk of being shot down for unsolicited self promo (but really trying to be helpful) I have a membership site with currently 285 backing tracks. New ones are added every week. https://www.band-in-a-box-files.com/Here are some free ones you can download https://joannecooper.co.za/files/403221/all-band-in-a-box-sgus.zip
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Joined: Jul 2000
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When I make my backing tracks, I use my experience to try to anticipate what will work best for my typical audience. Try is the most important word. Sometimes I nail it, sometimes it's a learning experience.
Being that it's a business, it's more important to me to do it the way the bulk of the audience wants to hear it than how I might want to play it. If they are into the music, I'm having fun.
Sometimes that means making the track as close to the famous version of the song as I can. There is no shame in that, after all, I've played Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and The Beatles note-for-note in my lifetime. Some songs are so etched in the audience's mind, that changing them will result in a significant part of the audience disturbed.
Sometimes my backing tracks will have significant elements like a guitar figure or brass stabs like the original, but otherwise be more our interpretation than a note-for-note copy.
Other times I might drastically change the song, make a rock song Reggae, another Latin American, another Swing Jazz, or whatever.
There are many right ways to do this. I've played in cover bands that tried to do everything note-for-note and jazz bands that did nothing note-for-note like any recording.
Some musicians don't want to play songs like the record. Others strive to make it as close as they can. Either way is fine as long as what they are doing goes over with the audience they are targeting.
If the audience is enjoying what you are doing, you are doing the right thing. After all, music without a listener isn't complete.
I've been a live performer since I was in junior high school, and many decades later, I'm still learning what my audience wants to hear, and how they want it presented. As time changes, the tastes of my targeted audience changes, and it's my job to adapt. That is, if I want to gig and buy groceries next week.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton  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
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,980
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If you interested in full MIDI arrangements for popular songs then https://www.midi.com.au/signin.aspis a great source. Cost is ~10 USD, but these guys are pros and arrangments are as close to note for note as you can get.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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If you want instant results, buy the files. If you want to learn something and put your touch on it in the process, roll your own songs.
I've told this story before in these forums....This is what it used to be like creating your song covers in the days before BB made it a simple process accessible to all with a modicum of musical ability.
So... It had to be 40 years ago now.... I was on a staff retreat with the company that employed me at the time... In Myrtle Beach SC. The swanky place we were staying had a bar and the bar had a band. The band was 2 guys. One on bass and one on guitar and both sang. They had a full band behind them that I thought initially, was tape, including background vocal harmonies.
On their break, I talked for a bit with the guitarist who showed me they were running one of the earliest versions of Cakewalk sequencer. Everything was midi going to synth sound modules. Drums, piano, strings, guitar switching from rhythm to lead, vocal harmonies were all midi controlled, and even the lights were controlled by midi. All running from a 286 DOS machine. State of the art at the time.
In talking with the guitarist, I asked how long it took them to sequence a song. He said depending on the song, it could be a week or more. They were both studio musicians and highly proficient at their job.
Point being, it takes about an hour or so to set up a song in BB for a cover.... and we're complaining about how long it takes and how much work is involved. Give me a break. We have it so easy compared to what used to be involved in creating covers and original songs that sound professional.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 07/14/23 03:38 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Posts: 6,505 |
Yes, using BiaB will get the job done quickly. However, using BiaB in many cases will not get you the best backing track, depending on the song, and how close to a famous recording you might want to play. For me, there is room for more than one approach. - Completely Band-in-a-Box. In the arrangement I want, and if there is an appropriate style, I can make a backing track quickly
- Band-in-a-Box plus. I can make a MIDI Band-in-a Box arrangement, export it, then import it into a MIDI sequencer or DAW and then change instruments, add song specific licks, and edit to my heart's content. I can even make an into and ending with the same MIDI instruments that I choose for the rest of the song.
- Partial BiaB. I can make a BiaB track, export MIDI, import into a DAW or sequencer and use the BiaB parts as “comp” parts while I build the song around it recording directly into the sequencer/DAW
- From scratch. Sometimes BiaB, as versatile as it is, won't do justice to a song the way I want to do it, so I do the entire thing in a MIDI sequencer/DAW playing the parts in, one at a time. This is time-consuming, but worth it.
There is more than one right way to do it, and sometimes a different song requires a different approach. I play music for a living, so my tracks can't be “just good enough” they have to be the absolute best that I can make them. A good customer requested a Metallica song, so we did “Nothing Else Matters”. Absolutely impossible in BiaB, it took 2 or 3 days to get it right, and it goes over phenomenally. Worth the time and effort. Another asked for the Commodores' “Night Shift” which only took one day (with the sheet music). Also, not a BiaB style matches, so I did it from scratch. Someone else asked for the old standard “Near You”, it was their wedding song. BiaB to the rescue. Found a good style, exported MIDI to Master Tracks Pro, played the song figure on another track, added an intro and was done. It's nice to have more than one tool in your digital tool box. Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton 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
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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 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®!
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!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
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.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
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.
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
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