The "minimal mode's Custom tab " does not allow me to rename the tab, and does not allow me to create more than 1. Also is would be nice if I could move the toolbar to where I want, floating would be good if it could stay where I put it.
I would just like to see, users be able to customize (hide/show, move and pin windows, create toolbars) BiaB to their needs.
Just make things more "modular" as Rustyspoon# said " tune up GUI and modular is the way to go, as you can cook your own interface (or use a factory default)".
I agree with the idea of having a moveable and floating toolbar with tabs. Staying put between sessions is a great idea that could be useful for users with more than one display monitor.
I do not agree with the idea of having more than one Custom tab. I just do not understand the need now or in the near future.
A configurable User Interface could be useful for some users workflow.
+1
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
I do not agree with the idea of having more than one Custom tab. I just do not understand the need now or in the near future.
I have 4 monitors and want to place windows in specific locations, having a toolbar specific for the task at hand, for example: On the music staff that's on monitor 4 with all of the toolbar icons that work with the staff as well. Also let's say I have the tracks on Monitor 1 with the tracks toolbar.
The view tab is useless to me, because I want many of the windows open at all times on the monitor that I place it.
Again this is to allow the user to setup his BiaB the way they want and hide what they do not use. To me, there is only two choices, very basic and overdone (you see everything). I want more than basic, but not everything.
Let's say a user want to only use BiaB MIDI, and not Realtracks and Realdrums. He should be able to hide (or deactivate) them if he chooses.
Robert, while this is not exactly what you proposed, but I think is a more universal approach and should work for most what you are after:
All tabs dockable & un-dockable - floating. User defines which buttons to display in the tab of specific category or even if to display a certain tab at all. Add "Action" tab where user can make any buttons they want based on any existing shortcuts. Ability to save layout as "default" for multi screen setups.
Robert, while this is not exactly what you proposed, but I think is a more universal approach and should work for most what you are after:
All tabs dockable & un-dockable - floating. User defines which buttons to display in the tab of specific category or even if to display a certain tab at all. Add "Action" tab where user can make any buttons they want based on any existing shortcuts. Ability to save layout as "default" for multi screen setups.
Sounds, to me that you also use Reaper (or at least know how it works)? I guess, if you don't, it allows users to modify about everything!
It's really hard to explain everything I envision, so let's start with the toolbars and windows...!
After I upgrade to 2025, and check it out, I will have a better idea of what is missing.
No, not a Reaper guy. Just thinking logically. To be honest, there is not much that I would change in Minimalistic (front) GUI. I think overall layout design is OK. Few exceptions are the "Radio" bar (top thing) that you can't remove, but it was said to be considered to make the view optional, and pretty useless navigator when you get to about 100 bars. But that is another conversation Other than that, floating elements such as transport, tabbed toolbars and true customization > making user buttons based on existing shortcuts would be a very nice GUI feature. Or improving existing GUI, whatever you want to call it.
Minimalist is OK, but I also do not like that if you make the main screen wider, only the Radio bar widens, that's where another icon bar could be! Now if the if the transport could be combined to look more like this...See image...,.
I'm gonna hold off on commenting about the BiaB GUI until I checkout the up coming version 2025
Agreed. We don't know what 2025 might bring. Many improvements have been requested.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Well, I had BiaB for about 1 month now, and really giving it a run through. There is a lot that I like in this version and don't like as well. I want to keep this to the point and will not resort to stating how other DAW/Programs do things. I know that if someone tells me how is should be (Putting myself in the place of PG developers), I would probably not even consider it.
This is not considering a 1 monitor setup. I currently have a 4 monitor setup as follows: 1)1920x1200 set in portrait position @ 125% scale (this is my main monitor for my OS, as I need it be the main one) 2) 2560x1440 in landscape position @ 100% scale 3) 1920z1080 in landscape position @ 100% scale 4) 1920x1200 set in portrait position @ 150% scale
1st on the agenda, is how the some of the windows stay where you put them and some don't. Main window, Detached mixer & Guitar neck are the only ones that stay open and where you place them. Others windows (Settings type windows) I would like to have in a floating docker with tabs on the bottom that you could quickly change to.
1 Problem: Hover the mouse pointer over an any Icon or over text and right click and the resulting window opens in the wrong location or not at all. It only worked correctly if I place the main window on monitor #4. This results in getting very frustrated with BiaB, as I don't get anything or windows/menu is only partially shown. This in on Monitor #2, #'s 1 and 3 are the same, only #4 seamed to work correctly. (Add correction, also works correctly when window is max on Monitor 1 and not the others)
Robert
Last edited by robertw; 12/30/2405:11 PM. Reason: Trying to fix video and added some text on problem #1
Just clarifying: DAW Plugin Mode is rather old by now. Its function is to make BIAB a smaller window and keep it on top, so it doesn't get hidden when you also have a DAW open. You then do Drag 'n Drop of tracks into your DAW. Is that what you refer to?
If so, I requested they add an indicator when DAW Plugin Mode was in effect, and they did so, because people were losing track of whether it was on if they then forgot and maximized the window. I haven't actually heard this mode mentioned in years.
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; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Now I am confused. The DAW Plugin Mode is not the same thing as the BIAB Plugin. I was only trying to make sure we are all talking about the same thing.
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; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
when it comes to gui's...lots of users want it 'their way' which might be different from other users.
in industry we strived time and again to get user groups to agree amongst themselves how gui's should look without success in order to keep down the size of the code base....cos often we ended doing 'one offs' to keep a particular user or department happy.
i suspect if pg opened up the gui topic...like a town hall..to its user community like some developers do...given the above i doubt concensus could be reached.
the ideal of course is a totally flexible user configurable gui. but this has downsides also. we tried that and the exe we soon realised would balloon and the app with its already huge code base would be a maintenance nightmare.
in summary i dont think there is a solution to the gui conundrum. the developer is always on a hiding to nothing sadly....due to the many different user opinions.
there are things i would like in bb/rb but i keep on telling myself bb and rb are already large app exe's.
happy new year to all.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 12/31/2410:47 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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.
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.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.