If I don't use Band in a Box every day, I end up spending more time searching for how to accomplish a particular task than I do using it to create music. I can open a program like EZKey or EZDrummer which I haven't used in months and drag in an intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, est., change the chords and tempo and other parameters and have a rough layout for a song within minutes without ever having to look anything up.
Sure I can type in a few chords, select a style, and create a song in Band in a Box in a few minutes too, but I usually get bogged down looking for how to do something and end up search the manual or the internet for it. I eventually figure it out and get back on track, and like the results, since the RealTracks and midi styles are pretty awesome.
It seems like the real estate on the screen could be better utilized if it had panels for styles, chords, chord progressions est that could be dragged into a much smaller arrangement window, instead of the program feeling like a spreadsheet heavily relying on keyboard input and memorization of shortcut keys and menu items.
+1 I agree (and many other users do to) that much more attention should be given to workflow.
Having said that, there have been significant improvements made in the past 2 years, especially in 2024. Specifically: non-modal workflow for certain often used tools, MTP (content) library - which is also non modal, and partial regeneration in Track View that doesn't require any dialogs. Just your selection and ears. Did you have time to explore these, or you have an older version?
I also use EZ tools and they are very well designed. Same with Kontakt and izotope stuff. And none of these are very similar in their GUIs but because they are fairly well designed you can mostly figure them out without the manual. As for BIAB I have given up on the manual because it is like searching for a needle in a haystack. I come here and get help from this generous community. Also, I have learned to use BIAB for only the most basic things, like generating instrument tracks from RealTracks, and then move as quickly as I can to my DAW for production.
My latest experience is now when testing out the new stem separation in BIAB 2025.
Stem separation was fairly easy and straight forward as such but then when it comes to use it in BIAB to generate music against it I need to make a Time Map with ACW.
I have managed to do this before at times after spending hours on it and looking through the manual and guidance from the forum. But this knowledge is nothing that sticks or that I remember now since I don’t use ACW in BIAB unless I really have to (and I don’t since I do most of my work outside BIAB in my DAW and other software).
So I tried to do the Time Mapping in ACW once again but gave up after one hour. I just don’t want to spend any more time on it (it is done automatically or by one single operation in other software). I know that I can figure it out again if I go back to my notes and check the guidance notes here on the forum but that will again take hours and I don’t want to be there.
The above is given just as an example. The new stem separation seems to work fine but falls more or less flat since the next step in the workflow - to set the time map - is very frustrating and time consuming (at least for for me).
BIAB 2026, Studio Pro 8, Song Master Pro, Win11 Home. i7-9700K CPU, 32GB, ESI MAYA44eX, ZOOM UAC-2, Guitar Pro 8, Transcribe, (EZKeys2, EZD3, SD3, EZBass, EZMix3) Amateur: fiddle, guitar, vocal, beginner on bass.
My latest experience is now when testing out the new stem separation in BIAB 2025.
Stem separation was fairly easy and straight forward as such but then when it comes to use it in BIAB to generate music against it I need to make a Time Map with ACW.
I have managed to do this before at times after spending hours on it and looking through the manual and guidance from the forum. But this knowledge is nothing that sticks or that I remember now since I don’t use ACW in BIAB unless I really have to (and I don’t since I do most of my work outside BIAB in my DAW and other software).
So I tried to do the Time Mapping in ACW once again but gave up after one hour. I just don’t want to spend any more time on it (it is done automatically or by one single operation in other software). I know that I can figure it out again if I go back to my notes and check the guidance notes here on the forum but that will again take hours and I don’t want to be there.
The above is given just as an example. The new stem separation seems to work fine but falls more or less flat since the next step in the workflow - to set the time map - is very frustrating and time consuming (at least for for me).
If there's an issue with syncing the stems in BIAB I found that it wasn't clear that the ACW in BIAB is a single track function. The ACW only works on the Audio Track. The Master stem is on the Audio Track and is used to sync with BIAB program. This action doesn't affect the split stems. The ACW requires the first bar of audio on the Audio Track to be determined and set by the user. This aligns the Master Track with BIAB Chord Sheet but none of the split stems are automatically aligned. Once the tempo map is created, all tracks follow the tempo map. The issue seems that the stems aren't aligned with the change made to the Master Track setting the first bar.
When you first play the split stems in BIAB, they all are aligned. It's creating the ACW tempo map process of attempting to do a multitrack function on a single track tool where the misalignment occurs.
The easy answer for Windows users is to split stems in RealBand. It is a total breeze because all of split tracks are aligned when imported and RB has the option to use the existing song when processing the ACW, so the tempo map will align all the tracks, BIAB and splits at once. RealBand can save the file as a Band in a Box file.
If the user is only planning to use the isolated vocals, This can be done in BIAB. It's easy to sync any single track automatically with the Master Track when the Master Track is processed by the ACW and then remove the Master Track leaving just the isolated vocal track. This process works with any split stem track. I used vocals as an example.
A lot of people have been strongly recommending improvements to workflow. It seems that many functions could be simplified and / or improved. Some have been, but there are still incredibly complex menus et. al. to try and navigate.
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've come to the conclusion this will never happen so I've given up on it. I love BIAB but it's just so unbearable to use. The only good (and necessary) thing that's happened in the last couple of years is partial regeneration, but this is still implemented badly for drums and still doesn't work on midi - two things that at the very least I was hoping to see for 2025. The new multipicker is a mess, I rarely use it and wish they would revert to the layout 2023 pickers. Too many things never get addressed. With DAW chord tracks, Toontrack, Ujam etc - I think BIAB is getting closer to having had its day and slowly dropping off the radar.
Lee, New picker is not a mess,. In a year I tracked only 3 negative "complaints". One of them is yours. Something to think about. Generally, it's received very well. It's one of very few significant steps toward a better workflow in years. Partial Regeneration is one of them too.
I do agree that in general they did way too little to address workflow, bugs and UI, Which had very strong support among most users.
Musicity. Not entirely true. BIAB can now almost instantaneously generate and play. Starts playback - with direct tracks- to- project placement within 2-3 seconds after clicking on a style, same near instant playback goes when picking individual RTs also very fast when you need to regenerate to accept different chord / make other changes. It's not like that in that in the plugin....yet.
Partial Regeneration and full library access is also not available in the plugin. It's making progress but still a long way from home.
I think in 2024 they solved "speed" in BIAB, utilizing multi CPU cores which I thought would never be possible. Function and speed are there. Three things they are failing are is workflow (the subject of this thread), many older bugs do not get addressed and UI that could be much better. This is a general consensus. I am just voicing it.
I've come to the conclusion this will never happen so I've given up on it. I love BIAB but it's just so unbearable to use. The only good (and necessary) thing that's happened in the last couple of years is partial regeneration, but this is still implemented badly for drums and still doesn't work on midi - two things that at the very least I was hoping to see for 2025. The new multipicker is a mess, I rarely use it and wish they would revert to the layout 2023 pickers. Too many things never get addressed. With DAW chord tracks, Toontrack, Ujam etc - I think BIAB is getting closer to having had its day and slowly dropping off the radar.
I do wish the company had listened more to users' requests to improve workflow and the user interface. There are so many areas that could have benefited to make this a smart and really 'go to' music software product. I guess time will tell.
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.
Lee, New picker is not a mess,. In a year I tracked only 3 negative "complaints". One of them is yours. Something to think about. Generally, it's received very well. It's one of very few significant steps toward a better workflow in years. Partial Regeneration is one of them too.
I do agree that in general they did way too little to address workflow, bugs and UI, Which had very strong support among most users.
Rusty, you and I have never agreed on this and that's fine, but it's all about opinion and workflow. As I've said before I just want simplicity, speed and few clicks as possible.
Without firing it up and reminding myself, just a few things off the top of my head:
1: It's non-jailed. So what? Unless you use two monitors you need to close it to get it out of the way as it's set to always on top. 2: Many items that were a simple click on the old picker are now nested behind yet more menus or settings buttons. 3: Type into the search without looking and find it didn't take what you typed as it tries to refresh with each keypress. 4: Trialing a realtrack writes it to the song instead of demoing it, forcing you to either revert or undo every try to get back to where you were if you don't like the result. 5: More non-intuitive and far more fiddly than the old picker. This has never been PG's strong-suit but it's worse than ever.
There's more than that but that's all I can remember at the moment.
The bottom line is, for me and my workflow (which is all about getting the job done quickly and easily), I can do what I want a lot faster in the normal pickers. Even quicker in the older pickers 2023 etc - and they were bad enough.
"but it's all about opinion and workflow" But it's also about statistics. Only very few people had something negative to say about it.
1) "It's non-jailed. So what? Unless you use two monitors you need to close it to get it out of the way as it's set to always on top." "So what" - because you never tried to understand benefits or explore, it will remain "So what". Before 2024 you could not even do anything unless you exit jailed picker window. So to me, this: "to get it out of the way" doesn't make any sense. If you need a shortcut to close it, ALT+F4 should do it. And yes, I use 2 monitors.
2) I think you identified one or two items that require more than one click and that supposedly ruin the feature for you to the point that you reject it.
3) Mine is superfast. No lag at all. Old computer?
4) Not true. There is an option to have a different behavior for demo audition on double click. Could be better, but option is there.
5) "More non-intuitive and far more fiddly than the old picker." I disagree entirely as no facts were presented. It is very stable and intuitive compared with bouquet of modal pickers that all looked and felt different like they were bolted on at different times for different reasons.. All content in one place now. More unified look. And yes, non modal. I can have it sitting on another screen and use it as needed.
............................................ With DAW chord tracks, Toontrack, Ujam etc - I think BIAB is getting closer to having had its day and slowly dropping off the radar.
That is definitely true on the MIDI side of BiaB. I think they are ahead on the RT side and that is what a lot of customers are using.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal". Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
............................................ With DAW chord tracks, Toontrack, Ujam etc - I think BIAB is getting closer to having had its day and slowly dropping off the radar.
That is definitely true on the MIDI side of BiaB. I think they are ahead on the RT side and that is what a lot of customers are using.
Although I don’t need to do it, I was impressed how you can now use VST3 plugins with the BIAB chord track. I think it will revive interest in further development of MIDI functions.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
If bbw4_64.exe is now using the same engine as bbw64.exe you have the same operation but if it's not having to decompress the wma and write into ram, it's just data like midi data, quick, and then you will find you can go to bar 255 in the plugin and it will play right away before Biab has got to generating it into ram. Partial Regeneration = Generate Selected Region (Plugin)
I don't just work on improving one thing like the Plugin, but have worked on and still do, improving Biab that's why you have so many things been added to it through suggestion with examples. How many Biab users are working on improving the Plugin and not just focusing on Biab ??
1) If bbw4_64.exe is now using the same engine as bbw64.exe you have the same operation but if it's not having to decompress the wma and write into ram, it's just data like midi data, quick, and then you will find you can go to bar 255 in the plugin and it will play right away before Biab has got to generating it into ram. 2) Partial Regeneration = Generate Selected Region (Plugin)
1) It is not keeping the backend in RAM. It loads the backend each time you do a generate for Instruction based generates. On my system it take ~ 4.5 second to load the backend and ~10 seconds to generate a typical style. This still makes it about 4X faster than 2024. BTW it also generates the Wave in the background so you can hear it quicker with the instruction tracks and still drag a wave at the same speed as it always took, which is equal to BBs speed of generating waves. 2) Partial Regeneration <> Generate Selected Region (Plugin) Partial Gen is still on the to do list according to Adar. It currently generates just a section of the track leaving it blank audio before and after and is no faster than it was in the past.
Reply to the OP, it was disappointing that PGM did not hear the very loud cry from the customers asking for improved workflow. This cry was drowned out by the sound of AI last year and so they felt that they needed to react to it at a higher priority. They will eventually get around to the workflow and reliability complaints.
Studio One (latest version), Win 11 23H2 , i9 -10940X 3.3 GHz, 32GB Mem, a 4K 40" monitor, PreSonus Studio Live III Console as interface/controller. secondarily test on Reaper, Cakewalk, and S1 on Surface Pro 3 Win 10 (latest versions).
Using the DAW Plugin the back end is closed after each generate but the Standalone Plugin the back end stays open. I think users need to get onboard with the Plugin as well and not just Biab, it should not be just left up to me and a few other to focus on it. The Plugin/Standalone is the future and so should be given as much, if not more support. I have shown it working with Reaper using the DAW Plugin or a single script to instantly transfer track data to Reaper from Biab better than it can with a normal other DAW rendering all the time to wav then dragging consolidated wav files that can't be edited. Being crossplattform it needs to have the generate code moved into it also, as I said so many times, if I can script scripts to generate tracks or RealDrum tracks in Reaper with zero wav generation surely Adar can do the same in the Plugin. I can't see the Plugin as any other way but the future as the old Biab is stuck in it's 6 months Win, 6 months Mac programming. The more users wake up and see this the better it will be.
I can't go back to the first few years of understanding I had of the products back in 2009 to fit in better now with other users still there. I have done many deep dives over the 16 years, I can't be expected to cancel all that, to not rock the boat and keep it in the past with basic understanding, I can't, I had to have a rest from it all due to ganging up BiaB White Paper Thread from a lot of other users because they didn't have the understanding.
<< I can open a program like EZKey or EZDrummer which I haven't used in months and drag in an intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, est., change the chords and tempo and other parameters and have a rough layout for a song within minutes without ever having to look anything up.>>
In BIAB: One can do the same thing by opening up a MutliStyle with 3 substyles and have a "rough layout of a song" instantly. One can open a PG demo and edit it and achieve the same, One can open a MIDI, txt, SGU, ABC or XML and achieve the same. BIAB can open with all of these different methods while providing RealTracks played by real musicians.
To make BIAB easier to use: Everything you've listed is done automatically in BIAB simply by using MultiStyles and arranging your song by changing Part Markers. I've attached screen shots of a PG MultiStyle with 14 substyles. A user can place any combination of these 14 substyle at any bar and repeat a substyle as many times as they want. Any combination, in any order, as many times as desired. That's a great and easy start to a rough song layout I think.
The demo opens with all of this completed. It would take hours to recreate this demo in any DAW including RealBand which doesn't recognize MultiStyles. MultiStyles are a flagship BIAB program feature only. But if you want a "rough layout for a song within minutes without ever having to look anything up" , give MultiStyles a try. My version has more than 1,000 PG Staff pre-made MultiStyle Styles. Any Style can be made into a MultiStyle in minutes.
Charlie, "you can". The issue is I figured out EZstuff in a matter of hours, this is not the case with BIAB. When you know the program inside out, which took you years, it's easy to fall under the spell that everyone should follow same steps. Software in recent years became much more intuitive, and people expect similar workflow across different titles.
OP title reads: "My only wish is to make Band in a Box easier to use." --- To PGM defense, it seems they are making progress on non-modal approach for Library and tools. They need one good update focusing on making GUI fully modular, where users can create their own "panels". Better sorted and worded menus. And of course change some graphics within those "panels" reflect more modern themes. Content is there, function is there, render / regeneration speed since 2024 is amazing. Perfect time to improve on ease of workflow & design.
Charlie, "you can". The issue is I figured out EZstuff in a matter of hours, this is not the case with BIAB. When you know the program inside out, which took you years, it's easy to fall under the spell that everyone should follow same steps. Software in recent years became much more intuitive, and people expect similar workflow across different titles.
OP title reads: "My only wish is to make Band in a Box easier to use." --- To PGM defense, it seems they are making progress on non-modal approach for Library and tools. They need one good update focusing on making GUI fully modular, where users can create their own "panels". Better sorted and worded menus. And of course change some graphics within those "panels" reflect more modern themes. Content is there, function is there, render / regeneration speed since 2024 is amazing. Perfect time to improve on ease of workflow & design.
That's also reflected in my statements a while back that people who've used a product for a long time learn to not do the things that cause problems newcomers.
Continuing to progress non-modal dialogs is good. Dockable and/or pinable/hideable panels would be a good progress further.
Some of those kinds of change fit into the class "By choice, I wouldn't start from here".
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Charlie, "you can". The issue is I figured out EZstuff in a matter of hours, this is not the case with BIAB. When you know the program inside out, which took you years, it's easy to fall under the spell that everyone should follow same steps. Software in recent years became much more intuitive, and people expect similar workflow across different titles.
OP title reads: "My only wish is to make Band in a Box easier to use." --- To PGM defense, it seems they are making progress on non-modal approach for Library and tools. They need one good update focusing on making GUI fully modular, where users can create their own "panels". Better sorted and worded menus. And of course change some graphics within those "panels" reflect more modern themes. Content is there, function is there, render / regeneration speed since 2024 is amazing. Perfect time to improve on ease of workflow & design.
My thoughts exactly.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal". Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Open that demo and play it. Then reconstruct it your way with software, red curser lines, and the tracks view of your favorite DAW. You will experience the difference between understanding audio generation and Post-generation editing. BIAB is not a DAW and while it is a marvelous tool for generating tracks for manipulation in a DAW, it's better at creating tracks internally that are as complex and of equal quality in minutes that takes hours to duplicate in a DAW. The demo proves it. More proof is 100% of songs, lessons, and demos by PG staff is finished as a BIAB SGU file. No cakewalk, Reaper, Logic, Pro-tools , EZ Drummer, or other EZstuff to be found. The DAW'sers are doing it backwards.
In BIAB, no need for a fully modular GUI, or need for users to create their own "panels". No need for better sorted or better worded menus. Learn how to use the program as it's designed rather than try to mold it into a post editing software program. It did not take me years to learn BIAB inside out because I learned it's purpose, it's design and I used Multi Track recording principles rather than back into DAW editing of exported tracks.
<< OP title reads: "My only wish is to make Band in a Box easier to use." >>
I don't think if the OP or you open that demo and then try to replicate it by backing into it manually generating multiple instrument tracks, comping them, manually arranging them in the tracks view of your DAW into that same arrangement, neither of you will come and post how much faster and easier EZ Keys or Reaper can make that same stereo final mix.
You, the OP or anyone else, regardless of experience with BIAB, can use that single demo as a template to create their own song, in their preferred, key, tempo and chord progression today all without years of struggling with menus, windows, cursers and such.
I think there is room for improvement as Rustyspoon has described.
Two quick points:
For my programming students’ final project, I required them to do a short report on the ‘any idiot test’. Take the next person walking down the hall, have them sit in front of your program with no manual or instruction, and watch what they do. It helps.
I pay close attention to the Beginner’s Forum here. The questions they ask tell you a lot about what we have forgotten it was like when we started. In my case, that’s over thirty years ago.
Wait, what? You need to use a comma to enter two chords in half of a spreadsheet cell? Then you use Shift+Enter to hear the chord on beat one or Tab to beat three but there’s no way to hear beat two? You’re kidding, right? Well, OK, I’m sure I would have thought of that. And it works out because anything you put in 3/4 in the right side of the spreadsheet cell isn’t played anyway. Got it.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
For my programming students’ final project, I required them to do a short report on the ‘any idiot test’. Take the next person walking down the hall, have them sit in front of your program with no manual or instruction, and watch what they do. It helps.
There are a couple of corollaries to that.
* Almost the worst people to try to do the "any idiot" activity are those who actrually worked on the design, because there's a natural tendency to test the things for which one has already seen the risk, but completely miss the "why would anyone do that?" behaviours.
* People who are clever and try to second-guess what might be possible can be equally disruptive to ones precious designs. (actually I welcome it ... better a slight embarrassement now than chaos after the product is released.)
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Charlie, All you are trying to prove is that BIAB works for you.
"In BIAB, no need for a fully modular GUI, or need for users to create their own "panels". No need for better sorted or better worded menus. Learn how to use the program as it's designed rather than try to mold it into a post editing software program."
Ever heard of the term "progress"? One of the reasons why BIAB is so slow to adopt to new realities is because some people are too attached to their own way of doing things, threatening not to upgrade, publicly dismissing new features that obviously make life easier for most, and pretty much don't care about the longevity of the software ignoring the simple fact that it depends on new customers and their expectations and their way of thinking.
PS....."I used Multi Track recording principles". Never heard of these
yes bb needs to progress...i do agree but at the same time i see what charlie is getting at.
my own major concern is from a software engineering technical viewpoint ie...will additional feature implementations result in a code base that is very difficult to maintain and will the added features result in bb not being useable on old clunky pc's that a lot of project studios still use.
i worry like in industry ive seen if more and more features will result in bb haveing probs running on old clunky pc's. so then users will complain that they are being forced into pricey new pc's etc. often this stuff is a catch 22 for a developer with a huge variety of users all over the world. whatever a dev does someone wont be happy.
personally i feel keeping bb to its core mission of auto accompany and adding fancy daw features to rb might be a valid alternative thinking about it. there are lots of added features i would like but i ask myself as many are daw features isnt rb a better vehicle ??
merry xmas.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 12/09/2401:36 PM.
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.)
Well at some point people have to buy new PCs just to keep up with time. Just compare it with other tech areas e.g. mobile phones etc.or many other software product companies. Mostly their latest products can't run efficiently on a ten year old PC with limited memory or disc or hardware. As a user I can't expect the latest software to be able to run efficiently or at all on a ten year old computer (compare it with other products e.g. Windows 11 it can't be installed on older PCs that don't live up to the requirements from MS).
BIAB 2026, Studio Pro 8, Song Master Pro, Win11 Home. i7-9700K CPU, 32GB, ESI MAYA44eX, ZOOM UAC-2, Guitar Pro 8, Transcribe, (EZKeys2, EZD3, SD3, EZBass, EZMix3) Amateur: fiddle, guitar, vocal, beginner on bass.
Reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where one of the group had just finished eating when he noticed a line of people waiting to get in the restaurant. I can't recall the exact line but it was something like "How in the world could these people be hungry? I couldn't eat another bite!"
Reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where one of the group had just finished eating when he noticed a line of people waiting to get in the restaurant. I can't recall the exact line but it was something like "How in the world could these people be hungry? I couldn't eat another bite!"
If anyone should feel insulted, it's OP, who merely wants "to make Band in a Box easier to use".
A_R, if you are reading this, please don't be discouraged by this little debate. You made valid points. Most (not all) people here want workflow improvements. Unfortunately progress is slow, but it's happening. A good number of suggestions from this forum section made into releases, despite systematic attempts by (very) few to diminish genuine, well articulated requests for the better.
... please don't be discouraged by this little debate. You made valid points.
Indeed.
This is a bit like learning to swim or learning ride a bicycle. Once you can do it, it's easy, but it's also easy to forget how hard it was when one first tried.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
'Well at some point people have to buy new PCs just to keep up with time.'
yep thats a very good point...however lets bear in mind respectfully...
..there are lots of very poor folks around the world that simply cant afford a new pc. ..pg could lose a lot of revenue if lots of people around the world cant run the music apps on their clunky pc's.
frankly i dont think there is a good solution to the conundrum. lets not forget mba 101...good ole Henry Ford who was successful by pumping out cars that the masses could afford.
i would love certain new features in both bb and rb.
in the past knowing that lots of people have clunky pc's ive suggested pg apps come with an 'early warning system'...just a simple message 'your pc is getting overloaded'. reason being ive seen lots of people new to music production sometimes not realise one cant keep on loading up oodles of tracks and plugins as things often get 'pear shaped'....or crash city. some plugins are very very demanding on pc resources for example.
i hope you find my comments balanced and fair.
we had the same probs in industry ie achieving a carefull balance tween a plethora of user needs and the realities of the market and what could be done in code.
merry xmas.
om
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.)
..there are lots of very poor folks around the world that simply cant afford a new pc
Off-topic here, now, bit when I retired a fileserver a while back, I offered it free to a group supplying (allegedly, at least) PCs to schools in Africa. They declined it because it wouldn't run the latest version of Windows.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
personally i feel keeping bb to its core mission of auto accompany and adding fancy daw features to rb might be a valid alternative thinking about it. there are lots of added features i would like but i ask myself as many are daw features isnt rb a better vehicle ??
merry xmas.
om
om, I completely agree with you.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal". Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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.
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(actually I welcome it ... better a slight embarrassement now than chaos after the product is released.)
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