Yes, I write melodies using the piano roll window. Will often create a melody in Band in a box, port it over to my DAW (Logic Pro 11). After so many years, I find it faster to rewrite/spruce up the BIAB melody on a piano roll.. You can copy melody phrases to a different section and make subtle changes to accommodate the current chords. Now I can do it without any assistance. Years ago, I would do a BIAB version of the song with the 'hymn' style. and export that MIDI into Logic. The notes in this MIDI file are blocked out for the full chord length. I copy the chords and paste them several octaves higher and lower than the original position. I mute and shorten them. and display these and the current BIAB melody. This makes it easier to know which important notes to put on one current chord note.
You can add passing tones, I often do them on the 'ands' of notes in 8ths or 16ths. Make them shorter and lower the velocity so they don't get so much attention. You can also move the melody notes to 6th, 7th, 9ths, 13, diminished for extra spice occasionally.. After a while, it becomes 2nd nature. After many years of playing, I don't bother with the guide reference notes. My ear/hand puts the note in the right place. The vast majority of the time I get it right. Sometimes I have to slide the note around.
Now also it is a good time to fool around with syncopation. Slide some notes forward backward to make the melody more interesting.
A great tip I discovered, was an old John Lennon work cassette. He woujld take the powerpoint or important notes in a 6 or 8 note melody, and sing that note in all musically available intervals.. Some of the examples he worked on, ending up in some of this best hits. Sometimes you want to move the important melody note higher. There are 'power positions' for certain notes, you want to experiment where you place them on the scale. Hope this helps
Thanks Mark! There’s some interesting ideas in your post. I am a guitarist teaching myself keys so I can add a riff or lick here or there in my songs. I usually have a go at playing a section on keys, then I go to the piano roll in my DAW to tidy it up, which usually involves time-shifting the odd note or removing errant key touches, then as you say, copying the section to other parts.
I hadn’t heard the Lennon PowerPoint story before, but sounds like a useful tool to look for a nice touch to a melody. It fits with advice I’ve read elsewhere about distinctive melodies containing more interval jumps/drops - a distinction between McCartney and Lennon - the former’s melodies using more interval jumps while the latter tended to use melodies with minimal interval movement underpinned by harmonic development with chord progressions (generalisations but some truth to it).
< "Playable Real Tracks" can be used for segments within the RealTrack, but that's really intended for small treaks ... >
I've found these small tweaks to be as authentic as editing with Melodyne and much faster. In the mix, Playable Real Tracks, done correctly, could be used in a commercial recording. In many cases, the edited notes are sampled during the original session RealTracks recordings by the actual session musician with the actual session instruments in the same recording environment with the same instrument settings. For the RealTracks that haven't yet had the actual instrument sampled, PG staff have researched and selected the best match sample for that track instrument.
Also note that PRT sound plug-ins can be changed from the PRT assigned sound. RealCharts can be edited, overwritten with any midi data transcription and played with the PRT samples or changed to another VST.
Playable RealTracks are more powerful and versatile than seems to be recognized in recent discussions here in the forum.
Attached screenshot shows the Playable RealTrack guitar data using CoyoteWT organ sound.
Here's a link showing PG Music staff demonstrating the Playable RealTrack concept back on 05/11/2011.
The update in 2022 to Playable RealTracks allows the editing to be on a single track in the Mixer. While this doesn't completely allow total editing of RealTracks creating custom phrasing of a RealTrack, there are many, many instances amazing results can be obtained for those that understand audio and midi programming and editing.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll also keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
From overviews of new features and walkthroughs of the 202 new RealTracks, to highlights of XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAKs 18, the 2025 49-PAK, and in-depth tutorials — you’ll find everything you need to explore what’s new in Band-in-a-Box® 2025.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until July 31, 2025! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Mac 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.
If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us directly—we’re here to help!
Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.
Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music
Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:
Band-in-a-Box 2025 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Die deutsche Version Band-in-a-Box® 2025 für Windows ist ab sofort verfügbar!
Alle die bereits die englische Version von Band-in-a-Box und RealBand 2024 installiert haben, finden hier die Installationsdateien für das Sprachenupdate:
Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!
Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.
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