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Here's a recently released video from an experienced recording engineer and live performer, who also runs the URM Academy YouTube channel. He's used ProTools for many years, during which he completely dismissed Reaper. His explanation of his migration to Reaper is well worth the 14 minute watch. It even has me thinking about "do I really need to spend 150 € per year on Studio Pro (One) and another 150 € per year on Bitwig?". I bought a v6-v7 Reaper license for $60 in December of 2019, and Reaper's still got some v7 legs (v7.61 the last time I checked).
Last edited by TheMaartian; 02/12/26 07:17 AM.
ThinkPad i9 32GB RAM 7TB SSD; Win11 Pro; RME Fireface UCX II; BiaB 2026 Ultra
Studio Pro 8; Tonalic Studio 1; Reaper v7; Bitwig Studio 6; Melodyne Studio 5
Gig Performer 5; NI S61 MK3; Focal Shape 65; Beyerdynamic DT 880 & 770
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Very interesting.
Thanx for sharing.
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Amen! I started out with ProTools back in the mid 90's. But after a few years, PT left me when they became equipment specific. At that time I found Reaper and have never looked back. I actually try not to advocate for Reaper here in this forum. I don't want to be one of those guys who just hypes a specific DAW and tell everyone how great their DAW is. So I don't want to be the one to tell you that Reap is the greatest, but, Reap is the greatest. 
Last edited by DrDan; 02/13/26 12:46 PM.
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Expert
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I started learning how to use a DAW more intently about 5 years ago and have moved between Cakewalk by Bandlab - Cakewalk Sonar - Reaper. I recently ditched Cakewalk because all their previous core plugins disappeared - it might be an issue at my end, but I am highly suspicious that I am being moved from their free tier into a subscription. Being a retiree, I am on a tight budget, so these were a good fit. As I’ve gone in deeper, I am finding Reaper has a lot of standard plugins that I don’t need to buy elsewhere - not sure if they’re top shelf quality but they do the job for me … - ReaTune - I use for manual pitch correction - don’t have to pay for Melodyne
- JS De-esser- just yesterday, I needed to de-ess for the first time, and Reaper has it!
- LUFS - Reaper’s render feature has click and LUFS monitoring built in, so when I have my first draft mix done, I do a dry/trial render to see where everything is.
- Stretch markers - for alignment of vocal and guitar phrasing
As I learn or become aware of new techniques or issues to address, I am finding Reaper usually has something on hand. Andrew
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I started learning how to use a DAW more intently about 5 years ago and have moved between Cakewalk by Bandlab - Cakewalk Sonar - Reaper. I recently ditched Cakewalk because all their previous core plugins disappeared - it might be an issue at my end, but I am highly suspicious that I am being moved from their free tier into a subscription. Being a retiree, I am on a tight budget, so these were a good fit. As I’ve gone in deeper, I am finding Reaper has a lot of standard plugins that I don’t need to buy elsewhere - not sure if they’re top shelf quality but they do the job for me … Andrew, I don't know if you've discovered Kenny Gioia yet or not. He has an amazing understanding of Reaper and a tonne of videos that explains his understanding. I use Reaper and find it excellent to work with. https://www.youtube.com/@REAPERMania/featured--Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Just me, but our forum host makes a DAW, so it seems a little awkward promoting another vendor's DAW here. I have tried the DAW you are referring to and I would argue that the forum host does NOT in fact have a DAW! Or, at least not one that could ever compete in the DAW industry!
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When listening to a song one can not tell if the song was recorded in a DAW or not. Every DAW has its pluses and minuses. So saying one DAW is better than another is just personal taste.
As far as posting information about DAWs on this site I think it is a good thing. For those whom want BiaB to become a full fledged DAW they can see what's out there. For PGM it might give them ideas to add to their products.
YMMV
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Just me, but our forum host makes a DAW, so it seems a little awkward promoting another vendor's DAW here. I have tried the DAW you are referring to and I would argue that the forum host does NOT in fact have a DAW! Or, at least not one that could ever compete in the DAW industry! Maybe. Lots of RealBand fans on this forum, just like Reaper fans. They're both devoted and passionate, aren't they? I used Reaper exclusively for about a week. Totally get the bells, whistles and "culture of customization" the influencer referenced. But Reaper is not much of a DAW for MY simple purposes either... Dang right. I'm old enough and been into computer music stuff since it pretty much started. I had cakewalk and what was it, Dr T I think, back when floppies were the common way to get data/applications.. I discovered PowerTracks early on (ver 3 maybe) and it brought me in to the fold. If you can't make a decent sounding song In PT/RB, the bells and whistles might as well be ornamental. They are basic serviceable DAWs and both do things no other software can natively with the generate options. Sure, I have used Reaper, actually have a license, but the end result can be indistinguishable between DAW A & B. One may be more fun for you, another for Joe over there by the coffee (he's making me nervous) but they both work.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Just me, but our forum host makes a DAW, so it seems a little awkward promoting another vendor's DAW here. I have tried the DAW you are referring to and I would argue that the forum host does NOT in fact have a DAW! Or, at least not one that could ever compete in the DAW industry! Maybe. Lots of RealBand fans on this forum It is a free included tool when you buy BIAB; they don't even try to sell it stand-alone, and for good reason! You'd be hard pressed to find many (any?) Realband users outside of the PGM universe! Why is that? How come Reaper fans or Ableton Live fans or BandLab fans or FL Studio fans or Reason fans or Logic Pro fans or Pro Tools fans aren't giving up their DAWs and flocking to Realband? I've tried it several times and concluded it is not even in the same class as the DAWs on the market.
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Just me, but our forum host makes a DAW, so it seems a little awkward promoting another vendor's DAW here. I have tried the DAW you are referring to and I would argue that the forum host does NOT in fact have a DAW! Or, at least not one that could ever compete in the DAW industry! Maybe. Lots of RealBand fans on this forum It is a free included tool when you buy BIAB; they don't even try to sell it stand-alone, and for good reason! You'd be hard pressed to find many (any?) Realband users outside of the PGM universe! Why is that? How come Reaper fans or Ableton Live fans or BandLab fans or FL Studio fans or Reason fans or Logic Pro fans or Pro Tools fans aren't giving up their DAWs and flocking to Realband? I've tried it several times and concluded it is not even in the same class as the DAWs on the market. That was one of the biggest loads of Gibberish I have seen here. They sell Powertracks separate. Realband is a merger of BiaB and Powertracks. Why aren't Reaper fans flocking to Pro Tools? Or FL Studio fans flocking to Reaper? straw man much?
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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daw vs daw...its like pc vs mac lol.
you can do great songs in any daw app these days imho.
I'm a Reaper user and also real band user and a band In A Box user.
I've used all three music apps on lots of songs.
Each has pluses and minuses.
Let me say real band does things that no other app I've seen does.
I use the strengths of each of the three apps.
I wonder how much the real band manual has been read by people who knock real band.... have they also gone through the extensive tips in real band ?
Yes real band has some quirks but if you're really willing to get stuck in it has some great unique features.
Om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 02/13/26 06:48 AM.
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.)
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That was one of the biggest loads of Gibberish I have seen here. Almost as big a load as the idea that Realband could ever compete in the DAW marketplace as a standalone product!
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Hey, I've deleted my posts, including the one where I said I was wrong. FWIW, nowhere in the deleted posts here was a statement that RealBand can compete as a standalone product. I only said our host makes it, and plenty of folks use it and like it. Or that's what I intended to say. No matter...
My sincere apologies to all for my offensive statements.
Still friends?
Last edited by DC Ron; 02/13/26 12:19 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?)
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My sincere apologies to all for my offensive statements.
Still friends? OK, I apologize as well as I am the resident Realband hater. If you use it and like it, all the more power to you! I would just advise any new BIAB user to at least try out other affordable DAW options in addition to trying out the free included one. Personally, after trying Realband every couple of years since I became a BIAB user 14 years ago, I have always found other DAWs to be superior.
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My sincere apologies to all for my offensive statements.
Still friends? OK, I apologize as well as I am the resident Realband hater. If you use it and like it, all the more power to you! I would just advise any new BIAB user to at least try out other affordable DAW options in addition to trying out the free included one. Personally, after trying Realband every couple of years since I became a BIAB user 14 years ago, I have always found other DAWs to be superior. Ha! I could never seriously use RealBand for music production either. It's amazing to me that so many do. But they do...
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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My sincere apologies to all for my offensive statements.
Still friends? OK, I apologize as well as I am the resident Realband hater. If you use it and like it, all the more power to you! I would just advise any new BIAB user to at least try out other affordable DAW options in addition to trying out the free included one. Personally, after trying Realband every couple of years since I became a BIAB user 14 years ago, I have always found other DAWs to be superior. Ha! I could never seriously use RealBand for music production either. It's amazing to me that so many do. But they do... I have tried to use Realband but I could not get use to its workflow, especially after using a number of other DAWs. Cakewalk, Presonus Studio One Pro, and now Fender Studio Pro as well as a few others always seemed easier for me to use, i.e. it fit my workflow BUT that is on me. I want to make music while I can and not try to learn a new DAW, especially when I have one I like and use now; that also includes not learning Reaper. Those whom use Realband took the time to learn all of its nuances and it works for their workflow. As I have said you can't tell what DAW, if one was even used, was used when listening to a song. YMMV
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Hey! I already admitted I use other products, I was just offended by someone saying PGMusic doesn't even offer a standalone DAW.
They do.
Like every other DAW; choose what works best for you for the need.
I have paid for other DAW licenses, so it's not like I am 'stuck' on RB, I just hate when people say "it's not a DAW" because it is.
So is Powertracks.
That argument is dumb, and I am no longer participating in it after this.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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John 3. heres what i find baffling and please excuse my stupidity. (recuperating from minor surgery.) you hate rb right ?? but why dont you hate bb even more ? given there there are features rb has that bb doesnt. for example... ..rb tracks view is choc full of features re handling audio/midi tracks compared to bb tracks view. (to be fair bb tracks view is new.) ..rb supports fractional tempos. ..odd time sigs support in rb. for example in rb tracks view a user can see visually every bars division...eg 6 or 8 or whatever. not in bb. ..rb handling of 48k projects. ..rb supports multi input sound interfaces. and i'm just getting started. for a complete list i posted a long list on these forums of when rb should be considered over bb....might be usefull for new users...and lurkers. https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=859949#Post859949some people have done over 80 songs in rb...can it really be that bad ?? now dont get me wrong...i like various aspects of bb. one major one being the blink of an eye genning. but then on the back end i have to wait a tad for track creation prior to dragging into reaps. while with rb the front end is a tad slower but i can drag tracks into reaper lickety split. frankly i love the combo of rb and reaper working together. also if rb is so bad why do some mac users request rb be available on the mac platform ? john i'm not trying to upset anyone but i'm just curious why the hate for rb over bb given the above ? happiness. om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 02/14/26 06:19 AM.
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.)
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The thing with RB is this. Yes it does things somewhat different than most other DAW packages. Some of that is due to the background of it coming from Powertracks. Which to me was a very similar package to what cakewalk was 15 years ago. While PT and RB have not been developed at the same rate as say a sonar or Reaper it is still very potent when utilized properly. Yes it should have the fancy tools the others do. But not one of the other products have the BiaB engine backing up a simple functional DAW.
Sure you can add the BiaB plugin to Reaper or Studio one and generate tracks but then the process moves on. With RB you can generate tracks and listen generate again, select a section and regen until you get what you want. Any section or the whole track or the whole song.
People say that you can’t comp vocal tracks WRONG! You can. You can’t use third party plugins WRONG! You can.
It simple does a very solid job. Yes it needs some refinements however it gets work done! Simply and with a flair. RTs, RD,s, loops, midi, all works great.
If you like the workflow elsewhere great then no worries. If you want to create in BiaB and move to multitrack recording and still have BiaB tools at your fingertips then you can right there in RB just open the .sgu file there and go to work.
Last edited by Rob Helms; 02/16/26 01:06 PM.
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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I want to add a couple things or maybe clarify a few things. 1. you can do anything in RB that just about any other product can do, it can de-ess, it can compress, it can EQ. It can use 3rd party plugins. 2. Reaper is a very powerful and streamlined, and yet complex DAW. I have had it since version 4. I use it and yet find it a pain to hunt down stuff and a joy to do simple tracking in. I have had Cakewalk/Sonar since the floppy home studio days. Used Sonic Foundries Acid pro versions 2, 3, 4. I have used Studio one versions 2, 3, and 4. Used Multitrackstudios (a powerful robust program.) used Harrison Mixbus and love it. Used Powertracks and RB both powertracks since version 3 RB since inception. I have tracked and mixed well over 150 songs. I have done head-to-head comparisons, i can't tell the difference when done. I have seen the value in each and seen that they are all good in many ways. Same results different roads.
To say that RB would not have a following if it was a separate product is silly. It is not, it is free and it is unique. It is also very capable. I used it exclusively for a while and back then it didn't have a real comping feature that was easy to use. That was the only reason i move to other programs. Now that it has that capability i and using it for almost every project. I do not miss anything the others have. I am able to start from scratch there. or start from BiaB and move over with three clicks. Is it better than Reaper. NO! is it less capable? NO!
It boils down to workflow, and familiarity. Bob is correct!
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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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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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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