Well, here is an update on my progress: I have managed to make a tune with my mini midi controller. I have had to use the controller's software because I could not find a way in BIAB to make the controller sound when I press the key, not after supper. I then managed to get the midi file onto the melody track in BIAB and used the notation editor to adjust the time and notes and... anyway getting that far took hours! The melody time kept shifting; it seems when you save you have to choose the "save patches....etc. Then I got to a MGU file which I was happy with and, like always, exported to MP3. which is my preferred format for backing tracks and Lo and Behold......there is no melody. Imagine my dismay? Now, please, how can I convince Band in a box that the melody track which contains the midi tune, is part of the backing track?
So, I updated last night to BB2018 build 520. As midi input driver I have LPK25, which is an Akai LPK25 mini midi controller, however, that is out of the BB equation since I created the midi file with its custom software. The output driver is Microsoft GS Wavetable,and the Sybth is Coyote Wave table DXi. When I play the MGU file in BAIB, then Use VST/DXi Synth must be unticked, otherwise there is no sound from the track. When I save the file to MP3 or WAV, BB insists that the Vst box be ticked. I tried exporting the song as audio, but it makes no difference. Exporting the song in track actions > save track as Wav, saves the melody, but with piano, not with Harmonica which it plays correctly in the mgu file. In short, the MGU file is perfect and all I want to do is save it to an audio file, that should not be so difficult.
When I play the MGU file in BAIB, then Use VST/DXi Synth must be unticked, otherwise there is no sound from the track.
That is a clue. If you check the Use VSTi/DXi synth box, you should be able to hear all tracks .. and render it as such. Do you have the other settings as in the below image? Or did you miss the additional settings?
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
The output driver is Microsoft GS Wavetable,and the Sybth is Coyote Wave table DXi. When I play the MGU file in BAIB, then Use VST/DXi Synth must be unticked, otherwise there is no sound from the track. When I save the file to MP3 or WAV, BB insists that the Vst box be ticked.
I'll clarify "synth" here before I start. We are not talking about the Moog-type synthesisers that make the 'synthesiser sounds' we know. We're talking typically about sound engines that use samples of instruments to build a passable-to-good sound of any instrument, traditional or synthesiser.
I think the "Microsoft GS Wavetable synth" is about as 'legacy' as one can get (Win98 I think). I set the output driver to "no MIDI driver", or whatever the words are, and use the VSTi/DXi synth and I'm pretty sure most people would use BIAB that way.
CoyoteWT is the default synth bundled with BIAB, will render OK and sounds OK but not great. There are better synth available, one is even bundled with BIAB but rather hidden away.
I suggest sticking with CoyoteWT whilst you find your way around getting MIDI to work for you, then probably exploring other synths in the future. The one bundled is VSTSynthFont and you'll find instructions in the BIAB manual. It uses a soundfont and there are a number available on the 'Net, mostly free.
Where using a MIDI driver may be useful is if you have a hardware MIDI->audio generator that you would prefer to use, rather than the VSTi/DXi. Then you would set the driver to control that hardware device. Be aware, though, that BIAB itself will then no longer render, the external hardware will, so you would need to record the output from that hardware.
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 .
I think I have now learnt what I did, or did not do. It's very difficult to explain to someone something you don't know? The VST box must be checked if I use a VST! and not an output driver. So I set the output driver to no midi output. Then I learnt that using a VST requires that it must not be empty. I must select an instrument from the VST interface. I loaded a midi style and generated a melody. Saved it as an MP3, and, fingers crossed, it sounds the same as the MGU file. Now I am back to my very original problem but at least now I know what to ask. Where do I get decent sounds that work with the VST's I have. The VST's that work at present are szorfando which seems to contain very few instruments, and synktronic, which has many sounds, but all are synths and no traditional instruments it seems. So how do I go about finding a nice mellow cello or glitzy, brassy sax? You guys have been great in guiding me sofar and I am most grateful (or is that greatful?)
vstsynthfont is bundled with BIAB. it will load soundfonts which are availlbe free - a nice one is timbres of heaven.
however read Peter Gannon's sticky post 'no brainer'. It will tell you how to download the TTS1 GM soft synth. lots of people will tell you its old and out of date - yes it is old - but lots of us like it.
according to Dr Gannon it's the synth PG use to test design and balnce their midi styles so it can't be that bad.
try the TTS1 and see if you like the sounds. it might be what you are looking for and its easy to install and use. once you've donwloaded and installed it BIAB will find it automatically and all you have to do is choose it as the default synth. its easy to have a go and see what you think.
I have searched hi and low even on the original bb hard drive, but I cannot find vstsynthfont. Was it maybe only bundled wit BB after 2018? Is there a place one can download it from....or maybe I should just jump straight in and find TTS1 GM.I don't mind old and out of date, I fall into that category, but I still work!
I have searched hi and low even on the original bb hard drive, but I cannot find vstsynthfont. Was it maybe only bundled wit BB after 2018? Is there a place one can download it from....or maybe I should just jump straight in and find TTS1 GM.I don't mind old and out of date, I fall into that category, but I still work!
It may be after 2018, but I thought it was there then. It would be in /bb/Data/libx64
I've just looked in the 2018 manual and it isn't mentioned, so I guess it's a later addition.
It's available +++ here +++ . The one PGM bundles is "VSTSynthFont [3]", but it's a pay-for, though with a free trial. Consider the TTS1 that Bob Calver mentioned. It's old, but popular.
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 .
Thank you Gordon. From what I can gather, both are 64-bit. My BB is 32 bit. I'm trying to find out from BB if there is a free upgrade. I just cannot afford or justify upgrading to later BAIB versions and made the decision back then that my upgrade from 2014 to 2018 would be the last.
I just cannot afford or justify upgrading to later BAIB versions and made the decision back then that my upgrade from 2014 to 2018 would be the last.
Sforzando is free and bundled with BIAB. Looking around the 'Net a bit, several "best free..." commend it. I know some users find it rather 'odd', but it's definitely worth exploring.
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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