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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Mar 2018
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There so many great ideas voiced that my head spins. I can only imagine what PGM crew thinks  Realistically speaking, I expect between 20-30% of the items proposed done next year. Which would be great if they are done right. Looking into future, not just something to say: "you asked, we did it". Besides obvious things like proper wording and sorting of some menus - which is more of text correction and re-organizing rather than something new, there had been a few big items proposed that in my view should be considered first. #1 Panels. If these will be the building blocks for future tools & actions, very special attention should be given to design. I can't stress enough how important is to make them tabbed, and so these "tabs" could be separated and individual tools used as own entity. Resizable. Ideally "magnetic", so they could be docked left or right and minimized to thin strip. Done right, so there are no regrets down the road. When tools are transplanted they should be visually arranged to conform design, not just cutandpasted from existing pop ups. #2 Mixer redo. I think this discussion goes back a decade or so back? Many great suggestions had been made. I will only add something that likely wasn't mentioned. If it's in plans, it should be (mainly) vector, so it's not blurry on most of modern screens. #3 Preference menu. Something inline of what RobertW offered. His mock drawing speaks for itself. #4 More work completing Track view. Especially simple way for basic audio recording: Source select> Arm>Record no silly additional popups, questions, etc. This will take BIAB to another level, suitable for those who don't want to learn several software titles and would be able to make arrangement and record a few of their own tracks the easy way. #5 Chord View - Resolution. Microchords just don't work right. Concept has to be reimagined and integrated into Chord View input. I agree with Jeff, that 1/8 chord resolution should be enough. This should satisfy needs of ~ 90%+ of music makers (At least that is what AI says ) and if to narrow down to BIAB world, likely in 95% range. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It's unlikely somebody will entirely agree with my "priority" list, but I wonder what would be 5 specific things that you think PGM should start with. For example, my #1 i s mainly about panel design. There are approximately 12+ Tools and actions that could potentially be used as Panels. I would be perfectly happy if for 2026 they will transfer only 2 to get foot in the door. No matter which ones. This will give general idea of UI/Workflow. How well PGM understood the concept. How users will react.
Last edited by Rustyspoon#; 02/05/25 07:38 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 583
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 583 |
It looks fine/+1.
(But at some point they also need to fix an efficient search
concept, otherwise I would have nothing to work with in the new GUI/workflows)
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.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2015
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Besides obvious things like proper wording and sorting of some menus - which is more of text correction and re-organizing rather than something new, there had been a few big items proposed that in my view should be considered first. Even though it's obvious, that must be in the list, otherwise people focus on the numbers and the obvious loses precedence. I'd like to see the consistent context-specific right-click menus of every object. Personally I'd put that first or second. YMMV.
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
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,396
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Joined: Dec 2003
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OK I'll say it, rewrite the entire program and do it all. Now that that is out of my system I would rank your suggestions in this order:
"Besides obvious things like proper wording and sorting of some menus - which is more of text correction and re-organizing rather than something new, there had been a few big items proposed that in my view should be considered first." I would put this on the top of the list followed by
#1 - Panels - Which goes along with the above
#5 - Chord View
#3 - Preference menu
#4 - Track View
#2 - Mixer
Just my opinions and YMMV
A good summary Misha.
Love is grand.
Divorce is twenty grand!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,710
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Good List Misha. The editing capability of the Tracks view is my favorite idea. Recording as always seemed ticklish to me in BiaB. making it a bit more intuitive will really help. In line with panels having each scalable and as you mentioned magnetic would make for a more simplified workflow. The mixer has long needed a better setup. All this makes sense, but i still think that one of the most important things is fixing old issues and not getting too far ahead with 50 new things. How about 5 or 6 really cool things like being discussed in this thread and fixing a dozen or so. 255, time signatures, and a few more. Just my thoughts. One thing is that some of the upgrades being discussed here could potentially help some of the odler issues as well.
Side note the microchords to me as mentioned has never quite worked for me. every time i try them in a song project they just do not seem to fit right. (of course that may be me)
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2011
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My UX/UI list: (from over 250 UX/UI inputs, not a bug, gap or reliability list)
1) Consistency (Cursor behavior, Timeline clicks, Mouse Modifiers, Snap, Loop, Pan, Zoom, Scroll, Menu word choice) across ALL VIEWS.
2) Dock-able Panels, (Replace 90% of Dialog Windows).
3) Chords, Higher resolution in all views. editable Chord Track in Tracks View, consistently loop-able in ALL VIEWS
4) Menus: (Context Menus, pure next steps. Options: standard gear button next to all views, Smart last used, Consistent wording across ENTIRE APP)
5) Vector Graphics (Improved resolution, resizable)
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).
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,597
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,597 |
#1 Menu / GUI Reorganization and Simplification
I don't think this is obvious at all. Doing this job well would likely require a complete redesign of the user interface, as well as a serious rethink of how old and new features integrate with each other and can be displayed in a single, cohesive interface. It would also probably mean removing outdated features that no longer make sense in newer versions or simply don't work anymore—something programmers have historically resisted. Additionally, it would involve conducting extensive usability tests with newcomers who have a fresh perspective, rather than relying on feedback from long-time users who have grown accustomed to the program's quirks.
Simply put, the current GUI and menus are so bloated that even the most basic tasks (for example, loading the latest Realtrack you've tried) can become a nightmare if you don't use the program regularly. Try it for yourself!
#2 A Modern and Efficient Search Algorithm
Last edited by Cerio; 02/07/25 11:55 AM.
Latest BIAB version, latest build.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 583
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 583 |
#1 Menu / GUI Reorganization and Simplification
I don't think this is obvious at all. Doing this job well would likely require a complete redesign of the user interface, as well as a serious rethink of how old and new features integrate with each other and can be displayed in a single, cohesive interface. It would also probably mean removing outdated features that no longer make sense in newer versions or simply don't work anymore—something programmers have historically resisted. Additionally, it would involve conducting extensive usability tests with newcomers who have a fresh perspective, rather than relying on feedback from long-time users who have grown accustomed to the program's quirks.
Simply put, the current GUI and menus are so bloated that even the most basic tasks (for example, loading the latest Realtrack you've tried) can become a nightmare if you don't use the program regularly. Try it for yourself!
#2 A Modern and Efficient Search Algorithm *1.
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.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
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!
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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!
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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®.
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Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
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.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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