Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you want to know more about Band-in-a-Box; however to better answer your question we need more information.
What software programs do you want to compare Band-in-a-Box against? There are very few intelligent automatic accompaniment software programs to compare against.
Both Musescore and Sibelius are excellent programs but I don't believe either are automatic accompaniment software. MuseScore, Sibelius and Finale are programs primarily intended to write, format and print music scores. Several forum users use one or more of these programs to print out professional quality music scores.
Band-in-a-Box includes scoring but the scoring capability is different and less sophisticated than these programs. Band-in-a-Box's strength is it has the capability to automatically create accompaniment tracks once the user selects a style, key, tempo and inputs chords.
Let me give you an extreme example. Note: I'm not saying anyone would ever want to create the example I'm about to give, just that a program user can if they want to.
Let's say a user wants to create a Heavy Rock version of the well known children's song, "ABC" or "Alphabet" song. We can do that and it will take just a few minutes, even if you can't read or write music.
First, use the StylePicker to see what Heavy Rock styles are available. There are 212 Heavy Rock styles to select from. Next decide if the time signature is 3/4 or 4/4. We'll use 4/4. Now select even (notes divided evenly throughout a bar or measure) or swing (notes staggered throughout the bar or measure) feel to the song and if the feel is 1/8th or 1/16 note based. I'm selecting 1/16. Another filter is tempo which will be 110 BPM. Do I want RealTracks and RealDrums audio created by top session musicians, SuperMidi which is a MIDI file created by the same musicians, third party audio loops, MIDI loops or MIDI tracks created on the fly by the program? Do you want to use a software VST or DX soft symth or external MIDI hardware sound module to play MIDI sounds when you use MIDI? I'm choosing RealTracks and RealDrums audio by top session musicians. I ended up with 15 styles that fit my filter criteria. Using the StylePicker I can demo each style and view what instruments will be loaded for each track if the style is selected. Also note that if I filled out the song structure before using the StylePicker I can demo using the song chord sheet.
I'll set the song structure for 1 chorus, leave the key at the default of "C" and start entering chords. Once I've entered all the chords, hit play and I'm finished!
One of the most interesting things is you can change the style, song key signature, chords or tempo and press the generate button and the program adjusts. A lot of programs can adjust when the content is MIDI but I don't know many that can with audio content.
The screen shot below shows the StylePicker screen.
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
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.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean