I'm sure that Peter has probably already heard this, but I've not been around in a while. I don't get to use BIAB that much, as I don't get to play nearly as much as I used to, but I'm trying to spend more time playing to calm myself and reduce stress.

Okay, having said that, here's my pitch.

When BIAB was first developed so many years ago, it was seriously cutting edge, and blew most 'arranger keyboards' away with its capability. Today, however, even the more modest arranger keyboards usually have 8 tracks dedicated to backing tracks. Obviously, that's not for every style, but a lot of jazz, big band, swing, show tunes, cinematic tracks and such can easily use 8 tracks for their backing sound.

For most keyboards that I'm familiar with, Channel 9 is the bass, Channel 10, of course, is the drums, with my Korgs, Channel 11 has been for percussion in addition to the drums, and then 12-16 are for whatever tracks the style designer chooses.

I don't see why an upcoming version of Band In A Box could not be expanded to support a total of 8 channels of backing tracks. You don't have to use them, of course, but it would be nice to have styles, both MIDI and Real Tracks that support more than the current five tracks that BIAB offers.

Updating older styles shouldn't be that hard, and creating newer ones with 8 tracks of backing would just be a matter of course. Making newer real tracks might be interesting if you have to hire an entire string or a horn section, but in the end, I think it makes BIAB a better product.

The reason I also mentioned MIDI tracks is that the newer keyboards that are coming out have some very nice sounds to them. Are they 'as real as real instruments?' No, and they never will be, as there is always the human element involved, but the sounds on a new Korg PA4X far surpass my PA800 from 15 years ago, and maybe it's time that MIDI in BIAB made a resurgence. Eight backing tracks might just do that.

Anyway, just a suggestion, something for Peter and crew to think about. Get a new keyboard, Korg, Yamaha, Ketron, whatever, pull up a Cinematic, Big Band or a Swing style, and see what I mean.

Gary

By you having not been around recently, you may be interested to read these and other threads revolving around software programming changes that require additional regular mixer channels that act and look same way as existing channels do now. They are requests intended to make BIAB perform close to how recording is done in today's recording environments using modern methods. Here are some recent discussions posted in the Wish List Forum. Dr. Gannon is aware of these and commented positively regarding this popular request.

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=596442#Post596442
Select bars -> drag to DAW / Frozen Bars to DAW / re-arrange frozen sections in BIAB?

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=600974#Post600974
A Couple More Empty Tracks In Mixer ~ Please

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=593385#Post593385
Multiriffs, regenerations / Bar Freeze (Bar-by-bar regeneration) - THE MIXER!

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=594332#Post594332
my xmas wishes lol

In respect to your request for more backing tracks in BIAB Styles, you don't have to wait for the next version release or update that includes additional Mixer Channels to enjoy the benefit of having additional backing tracks to any style. BIAB styles have been capable of having as many as 70 instruments available and included in any style since at least 2014. Each BIAB Mixer Channel can have up to 10 RealTrack instruments per track. These instruments can be programmed to change every number of bars such as 2, 4, 8; change every Chorus; Change every part marker or manually programmed to change whenever and however you desire. Instruments can sound out simultaneously or consecutively and PG Music enhanced this feature both in the 2019 and 2020 versions, adding panning and volume automation and new styles among other things. Any Channel can only use one sound media type per channel. If a track contains a RealTrack, you can add 9 additional RealTracks to that channel. Sound media types cannot be mixed onto the tracks.

Another BIAB feature dating back to at least 2014 provides the BIAB Mixer to create Stem Mixes in a few easy steps:

. Arrange the mix,
. Export the mix to audio,
. Import the audio stem to the Audio Channel and
. Convert and move that audio stem mix to any BIAB Mixer Channel.

Dozens of Stems can be created and saved in minutes for use in any DAW. Stems can be created from every type of sound media BIAB recognizes or any combination of the various sound media types like MIDI, MIDI Super Tracks, Loops, RealTRacks, RealDrums, Samples, Pre-recorded Audio and Live Audio. Stems can be a single track with or without effects or VSTi's; a mix of two or more BIAB Channels that can be any combination of sound media types BIAB recognizes, midi, midi super tracks, loops, samples, RealTracks, RealDrums, Pre-recorded or live audio. Stems can also be created solely from within BIAB from previously mixed groups described above.

Charlie, as I said, I have NOT been around in a while. I've been homeless for the last couple of years, unemployed for the last four years, and not been very active with BIAB or PG Music for quite some time.
I realize that since I use a DAW, there are ways to achieve what I'm looking for without extra tracks, but I still believe, particularly in a live situation, or when you're recording backing tracks for live performance, that additional backing tracks may be desirable.

This is just a suggestion for Dr. Gannon, if he does anything with it, that's great, if not, we haven't lost anything, that's for sure.

Gary,
Mr.Gannon hinted earlier this month there might be possibility to add more tracks. My hopes are aimed at beautiful number "16"
P.S. Actually this is my biggest wish in BIAB

Lets hope it happens.