What am I doing wrong? I want a nice, clean "sheet music" looking notation, where the notes aren't all jumbled on top of each other and it is clear what each note is. This is so hard to input notes. I can't imagine getting the whole song to work like this. It's so painful. I tried importing a musicxml from MuseScore, but it omitted all the breaks and symbols so it wasn't usable. So I'm trying to input it directly, but not like this. It's just so hard to see what I'm doing and each note is an adventure. Like, if the note is middle C or lower, I have to put it in a random spot then edit the note and set the exact letter. I can't just place it where I want it. Why is this so hard?
There are various display settings for the Notation window when clicking on the [Opt] button on the left hand side; there might be something that could be adjusted there. You could post a picture of your settings and then we can compare.
Also, a few other notation questions: 1. When I try to put a note below middle C on the treble clef, it won't make the note. I have to put it at middle C, then "edit note" and move it down to the note I want. This is tedious. Is there a way to make it so I can input lower notes? 2. In a lot of cases, when I switch the note, it only offers me a flat option (not sharp). So I select Bb and it puts the B note with the flat marker. Is it not possible to instead make it an A with a sharp symbol? I tried the "force accidental" option, but it didn't do anything. 3. When using the scroll bar at the bottom to scroll through measures, it always goes ahead 4 measures. What if I want to see measure 4 and 5 next to each other? I haven't found a way to advance just to the next measure and see the previous 3 still on the page. 4. When importing a musicxml, it loses all the repeats. Is there a way to import the whole notation? It would be so much easier to be able to input this stuff in MuseScore then just import it. 5. When I try to add a repeat to a section, it makes a copy of the section in gray, then it plays the repeated part and the gray part at the same time. Not sure if I'm explaining this one right. How can I make it so it just has the 2 dots for the repeat, and just plays that section twice without adding the gray section?
Sorry one more question... I managed to input the whole melody, re-inputting where necessary for a total of 32 measures. I set it to play the "chorus" 4 times. But for some reason it only plays the melody the first time and not the subsequent 3 times. Is there a way to make it play the melody on the 1st and 3rd chorus? (I want to alternate playing rhythm and lead.
Sorry one more question... I managed to input the whole melody, re-inputting where necessary for a total of 32 measures. I set it to play the "chorus" 4 times. But for some reason it only plays the melody the first time and not the subsequent 3 times. Is there a way to make it play the melody on the 1st and 3rd chorus? (I want to alternate playing rhythm and lead.
Hi Milky.
From a notation perspective.... In BIAB, each chorus is a is independent. To copy your first chorus's melody to all the other choruses, go to the Melody Menu (at the very top of BIAB) and follow the 1, 2, 3, 4 on the image below.
What am I doing wrong? I want a nice, clean "sheet music" looking notation, where the notes aren't all jumbled on top of each other and it is clear what each note is. This is so hard to input notes.
"Jumbled" means they are out of order. But they aren't "jumbled", they are just closely spaced, so they are overlapping.
Unlike many notation programs, BiaB has a fixed bar size, so it won't get wider to accommodate more notes in a bar.
Instead, reduce the number of of bars/screen, so the bars are wider and there's more room for notes.
Press the "Opt" button in the notation and choose a smaller number for Bars/Screen.
Quote:
When I try to put a note below middle C on the treble clef, it won't make the note. I have to put it at middle C, then "edit note" and move it down to the note I want. This is tedious. Is there a way to make it so I can input lower notes?
BiaB arbitrarily chooses Middle C as the "split point". If you click on the bass clef, you can enter notes at Middle C and below.
If you want the split point to be a different note, choose Opt, and put a different value Clefs split at under Transpose Options.
Quote:
In a lot of cases, when I switch the note, it only offers me a flat option (not sharp). So I select Bb and it puts the B note with the flat marker. Is it not possible to instead make it an A with a sharp symbol? I tried the "force accidental" option, but it didn't do anything.
BiaB follows the key signature set in your song. Make sure the Key has been set properly on the main screen.
Quote:
When using the scroll bar at the bottom to scroll through measures, it always goes ahead 4 measures. What if I want to see measure 4 and 5 next to each other? I haven't found a way to advance just to the next measure and see the previous 3 still on the page.
Go to the Opt button above the notation, and change the Scroll Ahead value.
Quote:
When importing a musicxml, it loses all the repeats. Is there a way to import the whole notation? It would be so much easier to be able to input this stuff in MuseScore then just import it.
I don't know, but based on your experience, I'd say no.
Quote:
When I try to add a repeat to a section, it makes a copy of the section in gray, then it plays the repeated part and the gray part at the same time. Not sure if I'm explaining this one right. How can I make it so it just has the 2 dots for the repeat, and just plays that section twice without adding the gray section?
I don't see what you're describing, but I'm going to make a guess.
The "gray section" indicates the section is past the end of the song.
On the main screen, the Start and End are displayed. Click End either type in the correct bar number where the song ends (excluding the tag) or click the cell the bar is in. It looks like a modal dialog where you can't do that, but you can interact with the song sheet behind the popup dialog.
For the forced accidental issue, it was an A sharp and the song is in the key of G. That key doesn't have an A sharp or B flat, so no reason the key should have forced it to be flat. But, going back in the song now, the "forced accidental" option is allowing me to change it to A sharp. Not sure what changed.
The repeats issue was not at the end of the song. It was at the end of the first section (the A section repeats, then the B section repeats). It put the gray measures after the repeat symbol and then I'm not sure what was going on. I haven't figured out how to turn off the real tracks so I just heard like 2 versions of the real track over each other, apparently repeating from the beginning and playing the gray measures at the same time. Anyway, I solved this by just abandoning repeats and I just duplicate the whole section and key in the chords and melody twice. It's a pain but it gives me the backing track so in the end I have what I need.
Anyway, I solved this by just abandoning repeats and I just duplicate the whole section and key in the chords and melody twice. It's a pain but it gives me the backing track so in the end I have what I need.
Cut and paste allows you to copy the chords and melody from cells to another set of cells, so you don't have to re-enter the same information.
Anyway, I solved this by just abandoning repeats and I just duplicate the whole section and key in the chords and melody twice. It's a pain but it gives me the backing track so in the end I have what I need.
Cut and paste allows you to copy the chords and melody from cells to another set of cells, so you don't have to re-enter the same information.
Another way is via the Edit menu and Copy/Move Tracks.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 Windows or for Mac.
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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 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 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 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 20 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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