Not sure if my memory is failing or if BIAB has changed concerning chord playback.
My understanding was that if a chord (eg a ‘C’) was entered in a bar, but nothing in the next bar, then the C chord would play as ‘tied’ notes across both bars. Then, if a C was entered in both bars it would play the chord separately in both bars. However with a C entered in both bars it continues to play as tied notes.
Is my recollection wrong or has perhaps something changed in the program or maybe there is a setting relating I haven’t found – any thoughts please?
First, it depends on the instrument. Second, it depends on the style. Third, it depends on whether you are using MIDI or RealTracks.
In the jazz songs I write, I would absolutely not write the same chord again in the next measure, because the algorithm used for RealTracks selects phrases between one and (I think) eight bars; the longer the phrase, the smoother it sounds, particularly better for the voice leading.
So, can you elaborate, please?
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.
It seemed to me that it ought to be possible to repeat chords and couldn't readily understand why it didn't work. However, I'm still rather a beginner in a number of ways and hadn't realised the subtleties of the matter. Now I know!
Thank you. Not sure if I'm seeing all of your attachment, but can only see two lots of four bars which are identical. Could you elaborate please?
The two sets of bars are NOT identical.
Each set of bars illustrate what is actually played when you have a: 1) A blank bar entry (no chord) following the chord in the prior bar 2) An identical chord entered into the bar following a chord (identical chord on two sequential bars).
Result - same exact sound is played! BTW, these are RT's, and the style plays only the chord block. So blank or no-blank chord entry, makes no difference. Isn't that what you were asking?
I can't tell you "what track is that..." cause I did not save and I just picked a style blindly from the Style Picker Song Demo as a test case.
Regarding the Style which produced the notation. The is actually the Chords Track which is sent to a Utility Track. "chords track" is the chord chart sent as MIDI to the utility track to hear the chords only. So the actual Song Style, in this case is moot. Maybe we need to call this "the Misha Maneuver" since he popularized this feature with its introduction in BAIB 2023.
Well, OK, but I guess I don't see your point. Your empirical findings were shown using the Chord Track, but is that what the original post meant to ask about? If you examine what BIAB generates using any instrument's RealTrack, you should see differences in what is generated between only one chord over several bars, and several of the same chord over those bars, because the notes will not be held and tied as in your example. So I must be missing the point.
I'm also not ready to concede yet that the new ChatGPT gives 100% correct answers.
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.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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.
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
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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!
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