SPARKLE 2 - WAY more useful than IRON2 imo - in my first Quick test found 5 AMBER2 tracks (the "demo" from an above post) - but I found 11 Sparkle tracks that worked (for the sound I was after at the time).
ROYAL 2 - their "session" bass player (I want that!). Rowdy 2 is not that useful to me because it is Very busy. BUT - just as easy to work with as the others (similar interface). And a nice, even Bass sound.
and
SOLID 2 - a drummer. I haven't looked at these because I have already have more drum choices than I know what to do with (and I think BIAB is THE BEST Drum Machine you can buy)
The nice thing about those crash cymbals is that they respond very nicely to the velocity of the keystroke. You can get a soft gentle crash to a honker.
A UJAM plugin license allows you to authorise and activate your products on all your machines. It also allows multiple users on a single PC, but it does not license for multiple users on multiple computers.
Now the UJAM Plugins are a self-contained code not needing a bridging app running in the background ? They just play prerecorded chord, bass or drum sections from the source files ?
If so why on earth is the BBPlugin not doing the same thing ?
I paid for these UJAM Plugins and they all just work without issue or bugs.
Now the UJAM Plugins are a self-contained code not needing a bridging app running in the background?
The UJAM plugins are are self-contained code using the VSTi protocol.
A "bridging app" like jBridge is only needed if you are trying to run a 32 bit VSTi on a 64 bit machine.
Since UJAM plugins are already 64 bit, they run on 64 bit machines without the need for something like jBridge.
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They just play prerecorded chord, bass or drum sections from the source files?
No, UJAM instruments play sampled notes, not loops.
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If so why on earth is the BBPlugin not doing the same thing?
I'm not sure what you're asking.
BBPlugin is doing the same thing, in that it's running as a 64 bit VSTi plugin in your DAW.
BiaB RealTracks work by playing prerecorded audio to match chords.
UJAM VSTis work by playing prerecorded notes. It has MIDI patterns that can be selected via MIDI notes, and a chord recognizer function that's also triggered by MIDI notes. It's akin BiaB's MIDI tracks.
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I paid for these UJAM Plugins and they all just work without issue or bugs.
As they should.
So do most VSTis. I don't understand why this would come as a surprise.
There are 2 modes prerecorded phrases and a sample/note mode, both NI and UJAM never had this feature until after I was suggesting this for PG to do "Playable RealTracks" in the forum, but they were slow to move and the other companies did it first, same deal with the Live Arranger, I tried for ages to get PG to do this by showing actual working examples and I said a keyboard will be released soon if you don't move, and sure enough the Ketron Live Arranger was released with RealTracks and RealDrums.
The bridge app is BBW4.exe that the Plugin controls in the background.
"As they should.
So do most VSTis. I don't understand why this would come as a surprise." Have you tried the BBPlugin ?
There are 2 modes prerecorded phrases and a sample/note mode, both NI and UJAM never had this feature...
By "prerecorded phrases", you mean prerecorded MIDI patterns.
That's something that BiaB has always had.
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.. until after I was suggesting this for PG to do "Playable RealTracks" in the forum, but they were slow to move and the other companies did it first...
This is apples and oranges.
UJAM works like a traditional ROMpler - the recorded samples are single notes. Altering a note requires selecting a different sample.
RealTracks are phrases. Altering a note in a phrase requires knowing the pitch and duration of a specific note in a phrase, and then pitch and time stretching in a way that doesn't disturb the rest of the phrase.
This can be done, but it's akin to using Melodyne. Plus, it only works with monophonic instruments, and pitch shifting only works about a minor third up or down, after which it starts to sound weird.
So what you can do is limited.
What most people are asking for when they want "playable RealTracks" is the ability to specify in MIDI notation the sound they want, and then have playback with all the nuance of an actual instrument.
That's not a trivial thing to accomplish. There are sample libraries that do exactly that, such as the ones sold by Straight Ahead Samples. However, these require far more extensive samples than are available in RealTracks.
But it's not just the notes that give RealTracks their realism, but the articulations and musical ideas. These come "for free" when using phrases. But when building these from scratch, these articulations (bends, slides, vibrato, staccato, etc.) all have to be specified. Without that, it's only a slight improvement over using MIDI with sampled instruments.
I'm not sure how feasible it is at this point in time.
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...and sure enough the Ketron Live Arranger was released with RealTracks and RealDrums.
The idea of using live phrases isn't novel. RealTracks are basically automated Acid loops. Acid loops were released back in 1998, and RealTracks in 2007.
I don't see how Keytron Live Audio tracks are that different from RealTracks. And you can't adjust the pitch of individual notes in Keytron Live Audio tracks, either.
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The bridge app is BBW4.exe that the Plugin controls in the background.
BiaB is much more complex that a typical VSTi such as those by UJAM.
This file here is not recorded midi patterns, you don't have 6+GB of just recorded single notes, version 1 GB was not that big as there was no sample set with it to allow single notes:
The first UJAM never had a sample set as I have mentioned, they were actual real playing as stated on their website "phrases", then the sample set was added to the next version. Midi drag n drop phrases were also added in the next version to give the same notes as the audio phrases. This is what sets them apart from EZDrummer, EZBass or EZKeys midi phrases that trigger sample notes.
"BiaB is much more complex that a typical VSTi such as those by UJAM." Why are you using this UJAM VST, why are you creating tracks with different phrases playing or single notes ? I thought you could only do that in a complexed Biab exe ?
I made sample set with slides, vibrato etc... PG just made simple SFZ's for their RealTracks. I suggested to have the same guitar each time recorded in Direct Input to allow the same sample set to be used rather than have so many different SFZ's for each different sounding guitar, you could that have one decent sampler with articulations. Where have you guys been ? I have been posting all this stuff for years in the forum, showing working examples of it all.
This file here is not recorded midi patterns, you don't have 6+GB of just recorded single notes, version 1 GB was not that big as there was no sample set with it to allow single notes
UJAM doesn't really say what is in that large binary file.
Since the UJAM guitars allow different voicing of chords, I doubt that they've sampled all the possible chords with all the possible voicings. I certainly wouldn't.
They have sampled notes at different velocities and articulations (upstroke, downstroke, picked, muted).
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Why are you using this UJAM VST, why are you creating tracks with different phrases playing or single notes?
For the same reason I use any other VSTi - if I can't do something in BiaB, I'll find another solution.
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I made sample set with slides, vibrato etc... PG just made simple SFZ's for their RealTracks.
How are they .sfz files? The .bt1 files look like binary files, although I've never tried to decode them. The audio files are are .wma or .wav files.
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I suggested to have the same guitar each time recorded in Direct Input to allow the same sample set to be used rather than have so many different SFZ's for each different sounding guitar, you could that have one decent sampler with articulations.
Sure, it would be useful to have sampled notes of instruments in parallel with the RealTracks of the same instruments.
Look at Silk v1 size without the sample set (phrases only):
As I said I can create a VST instrument from each RealTrack/RealDrum that will work the same way UJAM works, but why do I have to do this, why can't PG do it ? I already uploaded some sfz examples using the wma source files that worked the same way.
The chord types recorded are limited to these else it would allow all chords...
Thanks for the clarification. For some reason I thought it allowed inversions, but it appears I confused that with the NI Session Guitar.
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As I said I can create a VST instrument from each RealTrack/RealDrum that will work the same way UJAM works, but why do I have to do this, why can't PG do it ? I already uploaded some sfz examples using the wma source files that worked the same way.
I would assume it's because any added complexity/feature to BiaB needs to be justified.
Sure, there are plenty of things that BiaB can do, but should it?
In order for this to work within BiaB, it would need a new notation interface, an expansion of the file format to accommodate the notation, and a file for holding the samples that are pulled from the audio files, some way of indicating the a RealTrack had and editable music notation. Would each sample library need samples of all possible chords? What would the duration of the chord be?
The new addition would have to be worth the multitude of changes to BiaB, and worth more than the features that won't be done because that time is spent on these particular features.
I built .sfz instruments before, including drumkits where hits to hi-hat mutes the other hi-hat samples, as well as multi-velocity instruments. Easy-peasy to write a program to generate the .sfz if you've got the samples logically named.
But I'm having trouble following your train of thought here.
Are you suggesting that PGMusic include .sfz instruments with RealTracks, or what?
Personally, there are already so many good VSTis that I'd prefer that BiaB focus on what other programs don't do, and not add features that I can already get elsewhere.
Most of the surgical editing of my songs happens in the DAW, not BiaB.
Just as the Sforzando VST is playing back the wma source file chord section direct so can the BBPlugin rather than having to decompress the wma into RAM then render to wav file. This will also allow it to be used as a Live Arranger the same way I can use UJAM as a Live Arranger by sending my keyboard input to it. Current way the Plugin works:
How the Plugin needs to works, self-contained crossplatform Plugin/Plugin Standalone:
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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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):
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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.
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.
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This Free Bonus PAK includes:
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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
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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)
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!
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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)!
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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.
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