Do I want to spend time trying to find my way around the new GUI and getting very frustrated whilst doing so? Probably not. IReal Pro & Quartet now provide the playalong function I need.
Unless there is an easy way to switch to the old-style, no upgrade for me. After 15 years, 2025 will be my final BIAB.
Honestly Clive, the new GUI is so straight forward to use, and the new, what I would call simplified user interface will make it so easy for old and new users alike.
Once you start using it I guarantee you will never want to go back to the old one.
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
Once you start using it I guarantee you will never want to go back to the old one.
This is the statement that says it all. If you could use the old GUI, you can use the new one, and it's actually easier. Everything just falls into place. It is functional, tailored, and makes the old GUI look like something that was actually difficult to use. Don't be put off, everything just falls into place and works, and it's now so flexible. Using it is a breeze.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
The more I use it, the more I like it. They have done a great job designing a GUI that integrates all the new features they have been adding for years into a single, cohesive, modern (it follows the standards used in other programs), well-thought-out, and well-implemented GUI.
As a result, BIAB is now much easier to use than ever, and the user experience has significantly improved.
I hope future updates continue in the same direction. Anyway, IMO, this is one of the best updates ever, so kudos to PG Music and all the team.
I use BIAB on both Windows and Mac. I took one look at the new GUI and knew I was going to have to install the Windows version on my Mac this year (until the Mac version comes out) because the new GUI is so good. I agree that this is one of the best updates ever (and I actually had no complaints about the old GUI).
Once you start using it I guarantee you will never want to go back to the old one.
This is the statement that says it all. If you could use the old GUI, you can use the new one, and it's actually easier. Everything just falls into place. It is functional, tailored, and makes the old GUI look like something that was actually difficult to use. Don't be put off, everything just falls into place and works, and it's now so flexible. Using it is a breeze.
Originally Posted by shlind
Yes, this new GUI will save you so much time and effort and it will be a very pleasant experience every time when using it
These two messages says it all. PGM did a fantastic job on this version. If anyone complains about PGM not listening to it customers should compare the messages on the wishlist forum to this upgrade.
Thank you very much PGM for listening and this fantastic upgrade.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Whether this GUI is "better" really depends on a number of factors including one's workflow and which BiaB features need to be accessed. Once I removed all the unnecessary-to-my-workflow icons from the top bar, I found I had a half empty top bar and a sidebar without utility (to my workflow). Truthfully, I'd rather have a more customizable top bar and no side bar at all. Or at least an option to hide the side bar (if it's there I missed it).
Not complaining about the GUI, it'll work fine. It's just not a gamechanger for me. But I'm me.
Everyone should buy the new version. Totally worth it.
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
Maybe we should get a thread goin: New UI Cry room. Most items will be resolved (explained), and smiling kids will run off to make new hits, others will continue to sit frowned, while we perform a happy puppet show... and eventually their tears will dry out too.
Hey skeptics!, PGM is very generous with "return policy". If you are debating with yourself whether to update or not, core program upgrade from last year is only $49. Try it before making negative assumptions. New UI is not flashy, but very clean and easy to work with. If I am not mistaken, return policy is 30 days (!)
I applaud PGM for not cutting corners and making this right! So far, it seems people responding positively to new UI. It works very well for what I do. I am sure there will be a bunch of minor issues that people will discover, but I have confidence, most will get resolved within next couple of patches.
Not complaining you're right it's neat and clean. My only "issue," as I mentioned elsewhere, is all my 35 years of using BIAB all (most) of my "mouse muscle memory" is gone as I have to re-find "stuff." Won't take myself a lot of my dwindling brain cells or effort to get use to new GUI however.
Although, I never saw what the issue was that caused all the....fuss over the old GUI.
I know a lot of folks think Stuido One is the bees knees but after 25'ish years of Cakewalk/Sonar (DOS V2 in '89 until a year before they went bust) S.O. menus, their contents, and windows are not as I would like or expect ditto Reaper.
Its like the context menus from the file Explorer in Win7 and Win 10 - they both had all the items in one right click. But Windows 11 "cleaned" that up so it takes a second right click on properties to unhide the rest of the context menu items. I immediately fixed that with a 3rd party utility as soon as I started using Win 11 now everyting in the context menu is just one right click away not two. Actully I fixed a lot of Win 11 GUI items - task bar, start menu, device manager, etc. etc. Just being new and clean doesn't always improve work flow.
Every tool, wrench, socket,... in my workshed is visible on peg boards - not one hidden behind the other.
Last edited by Larry Kehl; Yesterday at02:19 PM.
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
"Although, I never saw what the issue was that caused all the....fuss over the old GUI."
That's the thing. A philosophy of vocal long time users resisted progress, making PGM tread water by maintaining a balance between moving forward and cater to conservative voices. At the end you had a very capable software that was nearly impossible to break into- alienating newcomers. Mainly because features were implemented in a way to avoid conflict with selected few, and not what is best for the future of the software.
Some of solutions going forward included making BIAB more coherent and modular. Two major steps were taken: Bringing all creative content under one roof - Library, and UI that is modular and logical. Still whole bunch of known issues that kept BIAB anchored to the past left to resolve, but I feel now it's on the right path and hopefully will appeal to a much wider audience, without sacrificing core value.
Skeptic. I see lost opportunities. Sometimes a living room needs to be redecorated, this is still grannies parlour to millennials. Same fonts same Colors, same, win 95 look. Goodbye new younger customers. We seem this before, it’s a religion around. I have dabbled around in Access program and the database user interface screens can be dragged around at will. Yes this is better, but unless they are stuck in some kind of ancient coding language, should not take long. Yes there is a bit of recoding of buttons too, but also defining button attributes is not a big Deal. It is definitely more useable. The behind the scenes stuff like the complicated Preferences window still reaks of windows 95 coding. Throughout the application buttons and intereactions perform in an inconsistent way. The change key function for example occupies a huge amount of real estate when opened, whereas some buttons halve no visible icons. It’s been occurring to me, that a bar in BIAB chord window could be an incredible learning opportunity. One click on a bar line could bring a world of learning, such as rthe role of the chord, optional voicings, alternate possibilitie and of course basics, like what notes it is composed of. Boasically it’s a re jig not a rethink
So ZZ, just to clarify, you have upgraded to 2026, and have based your comments on your findings? Others are obviously keen to make comparisons based on real world experiences. Is this based on your own practical experiences, or presumptions based on others views and comments? Could you clarify?
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
My only "issue," as I mentioned elsewhere, is all my 35 years of using BIAB all (most) of my "mouse muscle memory" is gone as I have to re-find "stuff."
After 35 years of mouse muscle memory I still find myself looking for things I know are there but can't remember how to find them due to the utter mess that BIAB is. Although I have not upgraded yet, I probably will as from what I see so far this looks like a change that was a long time coming and may be worth the upgrade. At least I hope so.
Quote
Although, I never saw what the issue was that caused all the....fuss over the old GUI.
Same here really but the lack of customisation and the fact that every click led to another click and eventually a child window with more options and clicks made it a pain to use.
Quote
Its like the context menus from the file Explorer in Win7 and Win 10 - they both had all the items in one right click. But Windows 11 "cleaned" that up so it takes a second right click on properties to unhide the rest of the context menu items.
This is something that bugs me the most. Menu, sub-menu, more nested menus, it's just an absolute mess and like playing whac-a-mole for every action when it could easily be done with one simple mouse click or key stroke. I just don't understand the attraction for designers to make everything as difficult as possible. I know that everyone has different workflows, but regardless, why make something more difficult when it just isn't necessary. I don't "play" with any software I buy, everything for me is a job and I want that job to be as painless and quick as possible to do. I do a lot of repetitive tasks and this kind of design makes everything a nightmare.
Once I upgrade I am certain that I will find hundreds of things that make me shake my head in disbelief but if this new layout does what it looks like it is meant to do then that, at least, will be a massive improvement over the old layout, for me. I really hope it is. Everything behind the GUI will be the same old mess I'm sure but hopefully this is a step in the right direction for the start of PG tidying up the BIAB chaos and hopefully the next upgrade will concentrate on injecting some common sense into the rest of the software. A long way to go but I'm feeling ever so slightly hopeful for a change.
I purchased yesterday. No deep dive yet. Working on another project at the moment, in Cubase. Not much time. I am saying there is an improvement, but there could have been so much more. It’s still the old jalopy underneath.
ZeroZero, "old jalopy underneath" not quite. Views became independent, floating., modular.You can work in multiple windows simultaneously. Redone Piano Roll. As one forum guardian angel coined it a Synergy workflow.
New UI is a success! It happened because PGM listened and interacted with users. Perhaps this should be a model for the future. Users vote on importance of a feature, if PGM decides to implement it, they will gather opinions and suggestions on that item, like it did with UI and rolls it out with next version.
ZeroZero, "but there could have been so much more" Sure, if they had an army of coders. Given relatively small team, they done great! Don't forget that they are not just a software company, they are producers! They recorded hundreds of hours of content, worked with it to create Real track & Styles, etc.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
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Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows 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 60 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 Windows and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until December 31, 2025. 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 Windows packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49. Browse the full contents of each package and listen to demos here.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
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Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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