I'm using the Audiophile version, and the final audio quality generated by Band-in-a-Box is still just as poor as with the WMA files. The cause is surely not in the source files, but in the post-processing the software performs when creating the mix or applying time-shifting/transposition. This includes the élastique Pro V3 algorithm and the export settings.
Does anyone know the possible reasons and how to address them? Using élastique Pro V3 for any kind of tempo or pitch stretching can generate artifacts, even when working with high-quality WAV files, especially if there are significant pitch changes. Current algorithms aren't perfect, and acoustic pianos are particularly susceptible to digital degradation. Is it a problem that the audio regeneration is too fast? Are too many transients being created when transposing?
How far are you transposing the notes from their native position? Most likely you will incur artifacts when pitch shifting by anything more than a few semitones.
Also, what year Audiophile version are you using? There have been advances in the Elastique algorithms in the past couple of years.
Last edited by AudioTrack; 11/06/2512:03 PM. Reason: Add question about version.
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.
Try switching the RT piano out for a Midi Super Track (MST) Piano. You will then need to feed the right patch to play the piano but you may be surprised at the improved sound quality - I know I was.
Similar to Dr Dan, I usually use the MIDI transcript for the piano RealTracks I want with the Piano VSTi of my choice. I find the articulation much more pleasing to my ears in most cases.
Last edited by DC Ron; 11/06/2502:50 PM.
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
Here are some things that I would consider if I had the same issue.
First.... Check your Realtracks and Realdrum settings and make sure that the preferences point to the correct location for the Audiophile's audio files.
The Audiophile installation to a computer's hard drive usually installs the .wma files on the hard drive. This means that files in a computer's harddrive directories of \bb\Realtracks and \bb\Drums will most likely be .wma files. This was needed in the days when computer harddrives were not sufficiently large enough to fit all the audio .wav files. The envelope icons that I have used arrows to point to are used to navigate to the correctly located folders.
With my installation, I have .wma files on my computer's hard drive. I use these during the creation process of writing songs. When I move into the production of my song, I do the following.
Freeze all the tracks of my BIAB arrangement when I have the arrangement sounding the way I like it.
Plug in my Audiophile USB drive.
Change the directory location in Realtracks and Realdrums preferences to point to \bb\Realtracks and \bb\Drums on the USB drive.
Generate the song.
Second.... Check the Export Audio settings. BIAB's audio .wav files are 16 bit, 44.1 kHz (44100 Hz) audio files. By matching the export settings to BIAB's file format, the stage is set for exporting at the best quality.
In the Realtrack settings above, you can also find a setting for the output quality of stretching and shrinking the audio files. This is the setting for controlling the quality of Elastique's pitch shifting. For the best results with the BIAB (AUdiophile), this setting should be set to 'High".
Fourth.... Under Song Settings, overriding BIAB's default settings so that the program will always choose a non-transposed chord as the first option will also help create a better quality export.
Thanks Ray. There are a few things that need to be considered when working with the Audiophile edition and ensuring that its producing the best quality sound. I've also added the post to the 'Users Tips and Tricks' forum for future reference.
I endorse DC Ron's comment. Thanks Noel. Your input and attention to detail is second to none.
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.
Thank you so much for your help. I'll study it carefully. Before your suggestions, I was looking through the program's help and found this:
Accelerate RealTracks Generation:
This acceleration feature works automatically and uses CPU resources during playback. If you have a multi-core computer, you might not notice it, as it will use cores other than the main Band-in-a-Box thread. If you have an older computer, with limited memory, a slow hard drive, etc., or if you notice audio glitches during playback, you can disable this feature to reduce CPU usage. Tempo/Pitch Stretching Quality (Reduce on Slow Computers): This allows you to select the quality of the tempo and pitch stretching. You can select "High" if you have a fast computer, but you should select "Low" if you have a slow computer and hear dropouts during playback. Use +/- RealTracks for Generation: This option is usually disabled, but enable it if you have a slow computer. I tried selecting High stretching quality and it worked even worse, so I tried again with Low and the result improved dramatically. The setting is in a Realtracks/Settings dialog box and is easily overlooked, considering the radically dramatic effect it has on audio regeneration. Let me know what you think. Thanks again.
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.
![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=31463&filename=Realtrack preferences (2025).jpg)
![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=31462&filename=export audio settings (2025).jpg)
![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=31467&filename=Pitch shifting elastique realtracks (2025).jpg)
![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=31468&filename=avoid transposition (2025).jpg)
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean