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Announcing... Xtra Styles Contest - 4 prizes of $150

We recently introduced Xtra Styles PAKs for Band-in-a-Box - these are new RealStyles in four categories: Jazz, Country, Rock/Pop, and Singer/Songwriter. Now you could win a prize for submitting a song that you made using an Xtra Style! We have one prize for each category. The winners will receive a $150 USD coupon for a future Band-in-a-Box purchase.

Participating can be as easy as typing in chords to a song, choosing an Xtra style, pressing play, then saving as an audio file and uploading to SoundCloud.

Please read the contest rules below. The contest is open for submission until midnight September 30, 2016

Contest Rules

  • You must own Band-in-a-Box 2016 along with one or more of the Xtra Styles PAKs.
  • The song you submit must be your own original composition. As mentioned, this could be simply typing in chords to your song and pressing play, but you may also add additional instruments, solo, and/or melody.
  • Submit your song to the "Xtra Styles Contest" forum, before the deadline.

To submit a song:

1. Make a song using an Xtra Style. Your song can be entirely Band-in-a-Box tracks, or you can add anything you want to it (vocals, additional instruments, etc.)

2. Save the song as an audio file and upload to SoundCloud (or somewhere else, as long as it can be downloaded/played from a url).

3. Post a new message in this forum that contains (1) a link to your song, (2) the name of the style you used (e.g. _LIBERTY), and (3) the category (e.g. Singer-Songwriter).

Start a new thread for your song, rather than replying to an existing thread. It is a good idea to include the title of your song in your post title. Note: If you're not sure of the category, look for the style name in the 'RealTracks - Demos\Xtra Styles' folder (e.g. RealTracks - Demos\Xtra Styles\Singer-Songwriter\_LIBERTY Demo.sgu').

We will review the songs based on a combination of criteria, including:

  • good compositions / songwriting.
  • creativity / originality.
  • good use of Band-in-a-Box or RealBand.
  • overall quality.
  • haven't won other recent contests (not a requirement).
  • other contributions on the PG Music forum (not a requirement).
Posted By: Noel96 Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 08/23/16 07:56 PM
Andrew,

Regarding song submissions, are melodies that can be verified to be public domain also acceptable? (For example: JS Bach, Stephen Foster, Beethoven, folk songs, etc.)

Regards,
Noel
Posted By: PeterGannon Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 08/23/16 08:16 PM
Noel,
Yes.
Peter
Posted By: Noel96 Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 08/23/16 08:21 PM
Thanks, Peter.
Posted By: Joseph Land Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 08/24/16 10:42 AM
Peter:

Are we allowed to do any modifications on an individual track from the style or does it have to remain 100% as it came in the package. In other words, lets say the guitar track that came in the Xtra style I want to use just does not fit the song perfectly whereas a slightly different guitar track would fit it just fine. All the other tracks in that Xtra style would remain the same.

JCLAND
jcland,

If you're starting out with one of the 164 new RealStyles from the Xtra Styles PAK and make a few changes, that's fine! Just make sure to list the name of the style you used.

Better still, click on the [Memo] button in Band-in-a-Box, and paste the text from that into your Forum post with the song link.

Thanks,
Callie
Posted By: w Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 08/26/16 08:09 PM
INFO REQUIRED;

How do i setup the style picker to show the 164 new RealStyles from the Xtra Styles PAK on my Mac Band in a Box USB drive ?

Incidentally i do have/own those styles.


Sorry if this question is in the wrong forum ? If so please redirect the question to correct forum.



Posted By: sslechta Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 08/27/16 06:01 PM
Someone asked the same question in the Off Topic forum:

http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=362178#Post362178

Simply sort by the date column....
Originally Posted By: w
INFO REQUIRED;

How do i setup the style picker to show the 164 new RealStyles from the Xtra Styles PAK on my Mac Band in a Box USB drive ?



Hello W!

Sorting by date is a great option for now, as the 2016 Xtra Styles will be at the top of the list. You may also want to get in the habit of clicking on the "Set#" column heading, which groups together all the "Xtra PAK" style options. This will help when we release new styles with a more current date!

Attached picture StylePicker.png
Ok, this is going to sound like a really dumb question, but I am not sure what genre to attach to the song I have already posted, Long Distance Runner.

It is prog rock. It comes from the jazz Xtra styles, technically speaking, but I turned it into kind of a rock/jazz or jazz/rock fusion thing. Right now I have Genre: Progressive Rock/Jazz. Do I have to choose a narrower category or am I good?

smile

Also, I would assume you guys only want one posting per artist right, so as not to clog up the board?

Ok, that might have been two stupid questions.
Posted By: Noel96 Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 08/30/16 09:43 PM
Thanks for asking the questions, David. I have also wondered the same.

I've been thinking that since there are four categories of styles in the Xtra styles (namely: pop, rock, jazz, singer/songwriter), by 'genre' PG Music are meaning "What genre style did you use as the foundation for the submission" rather than the over-arching song genre.

I'm probably wrong, though. It will be good to get clarification.
Hi David,

The genre/category to post to would be the genre that the RealStyle used is included in. For your recent submission using the STARLIT.STY file, it would fall in the Jazz category.

The rules for this contest do not state that there is only 1 submission per person, so feel free to submit songs for each genre/category if you'd like!

Contest Rules:
-You must own Band-in-a-Box 2016 along with one or more of the Xtra Styles PAKs.
-The song you submit must be your own original composition. (This could be simply typing in chords to your song and pressing play, but you may also add additional instruments, solo, and/or melody.)

Thanks,
Callie
Posted By: jford Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 08/31/16 11:55 AM
Quote:
The song you submit must be your own original composition.


Although, Peter did clarify that a public domain song was acceptable.
Hey Callie,

I need to switch the category of Long Distance Runner to "Jazz" since that is the real styles folder it came from (Starlit Style), but it looks like edit has been turned off and I can't edit my post.

Can one of you guys make that entry category change for me?
Posted By: voxbox Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 09/18/16 12:51 AM
Originally Posted By: Alyssa - PG Music
Originally Posted By: w
INFO REQUIRED;

How do i setup the style picker to show the 164 new RealStyles from the Xtra Styles PAK on my Mac Band in a Box USB drive ?



Hello W!

Sorting by date is a great option for now, as the 2016 Xtra Styles will be at the top of the list. You may also want to get in the habit of clicking on the "Set#" column heading, which groups together all the "Xtra PAK" style options. This will help when we release new styles with a more current date!



Hello

CONFUSION

I purchased the 2016 Bonus 49PAK (49PAK-I) December 2015.

I executed this: To find out, look for the file _SANFRAN.STY in your main bb folder.

The file _SANFRAN.STY IS in my bb folder.

However when I sort styles by clicking on the "Set #" column, "Xtra PAK" does not display.

When I sort by date the latest year that is displayed is 2015. Since I purchased the 2016 Bonus 49PAK shouldn't there be 2016 dates displayed?

Any help will be appreciated.

Cheers!
Posted By: Noel96 Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 09/18/16 02:35 AM
voxbox,

Have you installed the latest update? The minimum update that's needed for the Xtra styles to work properly is build 437.

Once that update is installed, sorting by date will put the Xtra styles at the top. If you double-click, the styles will be at the bottom of the list because it will be sorted in reverse order.

Updates for Windows versions of BIAB are found at the below link.

http://www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm

Hope this helps,
Noel

Posted By: voxbox Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 09/18/16 11:42 AM
Originally Posted By: Noel96
voxbox,

Have you installed the latest update? The minimum update that's needed for the Xtra styles to work properly is build 437.

Once that update is installed, sorting by date will put the Xtra styles at the top. If you double-click, the styles will be at the bottom of the list because it will be sorted in reverse order.

Updates for Windows versions of BIAB are found at the below link.

http://www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm

Hope this helps,
Noel



Hi Noel,

My BIAB version is 437.

That's the first thing I checked.

I doubled clicked on DATE and the latest date is 2015/12. No "Xtra" is displayed under "SET #".

Hopefully I will get this sorted with all of your help:)

Thanks again for your assistance!!


Posted By: Noel96 Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 09/18/16 08:21 PM
Try this...

1. Rebuild the style list by clicking on either of the buttons on the lower left of Stylepicker.



2. Click on "Clear" (#1 on the image below).



3. Single-click on "Date" (#2 on image above) so that a a single asterisk is present next to date. This indicates that the sorting is from the most recent. (Double-clicking will give two asterisks and is not what is wanted.)

4. Scroll to the top of the style list.


Any luck? If not, re-install the Xtra Pak and work through steps 1 - 4 again.

Hopefully this will help.

Regards,
Noel
Posted By: voxbox Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 09/18/16 09:50 PM
Originally Posted By: Noel96
Try this...

1. Rebuild the style list by clicking on either of the buttons on the lower left of Stylepicker.



2. Click on "Clear" (#1 on the image below).



3. Single-click on "Date" (#2 on image above) so that a a single asterisk is present next to date. This indicates that the sorting is from the most recent. (Double-clicking will give two asterisks and is not what is wanted.)

4. Scroll to the top of the style list.


Any luck? If not, re-install the Xtra Pak and work through steps 1 - 4 again.

Hopefully this will help.

Regards,
Noel


I tried the above refresh/rebuild but got the same results.

PG Music says:

Note: The Xtra Styles use RealTracks from the Band-in-a-Box® 2016 UltraPlusPAK, EverythingPAK, or Audiophile Edition, and require Build 437 or higher.
A few styles use RealTracks from the 2016 49-PAK. Unsure if you already have the 49-PAK? To find out, look for the file _SANFRAN.STY in your main bb folder. The presence of this file indicates you have the 49-PAK.


I have the EverythingPAK Build 437.

I purchased the 49PAK December 2015 along with the 2016 BB upgrade. So according to the above I have the 49PAK installed because _SANFRAN.STY is in the BB folder.

Does the 49PAK contain Xtra Styles? If it does I don't see them in the Style Picker.

I have not purchased so I can't re-install the Xtra Pak.

Thanks again for your help!!
Posted By: Noel96 Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 09/19/16 03:42 AM
VB,

The EverythingPAK + the 49PAK you purchased will give you all you need. (The 49PAK you bought in 12/2015 is the same one that PG Music is referring to.)

Have you installed the 49Pak?

It's probably wise to back up a little...

When you bought the EverythingPAK, how did you install it? Did you install a fully working copy to your hard drive or do you run some of all of the program from the USB drive?

The 49PAK is optional and, because of this, it will not be automatically be installed as part of the EverythingPak. If you purchased the E/PAK as a USB drive, I suspect that the 49PAK is on that USB drive and awaiting installation.

If you bought the EverythingPAK and the 49PAK directly from PG Music, you should also be able to login into your sales account and have download access for those purchases. To do this, go to PG Music's webpage and login using "My Account" (as shown below).



From here you should be able to download the 49PAK if you bought it in December 2015. The link will be under "My Products".

If none of the above work, you need to contact PG Music. They will have a record of your purchases and will be able to organise things for you. They are very good at looking after customers in this way. You will not be double-charged for anything you've already bought.

Regards,
Noel
Hi
I am a newbie at this and don't know what I am doing.
I have a question. How many songs can I submit?

I am in the flood zone in the Baton Rouge, La. area. As I drove down street after street and saw how home after home had been destroyed I remembered a song I had written and all these homes were the pride and joy of families. Now all of the hand picked items that made this the perfect home sat on side of the road as trash.

I guest when I realized this it really touched my heart.
I went home reworked my song, added the xtra track and submitted it. I hope it will help us appreciate how nice it is to have a home to share with family and friends.
voxbox:

You've mentioned having the EverythingPAK and the 49-PAK purchased earlier this year, but did you also purchase the just-released Xtra Styles? The confusion could be that we are stating they use the RealTracks in the 2016 UltraPlusPAK, EverythingPAK, or Audiophile Edition, and 49-PAK - but the Xtra Styles are still an additional purchase: http://www.pgmusic.com/xtrastyles.php
(on sale until September 30th)
Hi William,

The rules for this contest do not state that there is only 1 submission per person, so feel free to submit songs for each genre/category if you'd like!
Posted By: Noel96 Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 09/19/16 05:46 PM
Originally Posted By: Callie - PG Music
voxbox:

You've mentioned having the EverythingPAK and the 49-PAK purchased earlier this year, but did you also purchase the just-released Xtra Styles? The confusion could be that we are stating they use the RealTracks in the 2016 UltraPlusPAK, EverythingPAK, or Audiophile Edition, and 49-PAK - but the Xtra Styles are still an additional purchase: http://www.pgmusic.com/xtrastyles.php
(on sale until September 30th)


Callie: Thanks for setting the record straight. It seems that I shot off on a tangent. I interpreted VB's posts as saying that he had the XtraPAK.

VB: Apologies for leading your astray. The XtraPAK was only released a month or so ago and is not part of your Christmas purchase.

Regards,
Noel
Posted By: voxbox Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 09/19/16 07:48 PM
Originally Posted By: Callie - PG Music
voxbox:

You've mentioned having the EverythingPAK and the 49-PAK purchased earlier this year, but did you also purchase the just-released Xtra Styles? The confusion could be that we are stating they use the RealTracks in the 2016 UltraPlusPAK, EverythingPAK, or Audiophile Edition, and 49-PAK - but the Xtra Styles are still an additional purchase: http://www.pgmusic.com/xtrastyles.php
(on sale until September 30th)


Hi Callie:)

Yes the wording is confusing! That's what I started to suspect but was not sure. I will purchase the Xtra styles. I thought I was losing my mind:) LOL

Cheers!
Posted By: voxbox Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 09/19/16 07:50 PM
Originally Posted By: Noel96
Originally Posted By: Callie - PG Music
voxbox:

You've mentioned having the EverythingPAK and the 49-PAK purchased earlier this year, but did you also purchase the just-released Xtra Styles? The confusion could be that we are stating they use the RealTracks in the 2016 UltraPlusPAK, EverythingPAK, or Audiophile Edition, and 49-PAK - but the Xtra Styles are still an additional purchase: http://www.pgmusic.com/xtrastyles.php
(on sale until September 30th)


Callie: Thanks for setting the record straight. It seems that I shot off on a tangent. I interpreted VB's posts as saying that he had the XtraPAK.

VB: Apologies for leading your astray. The XtraPAK was only released a month or so ago and is not part of your Christmas purchase.

Regards,
Noel


Thanks Noel for taking the time to help me. Greatly appreciated!!


Cheers!
Posted By: Island Soul Re: Xtra Styles Contest - Info and Rules - 10/03/16 09:25 AM
Dang I missed out on the Xtra Stlyes contest. I was also hoping a could get an uncompressed version of the Xtra Styles.
Islansoul - Since the Xtra Styles will trigger the RealTracks & RealDrums that you already have installed, there's no need to offer a special uncompressed version. If you have the Audiophile, it will trigger the uncompressed files for you.

Thanks,
Callie
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