New BIAB user, first post, please have mercy if my questions are laughable.
After entering a few songs from the Real Book to practice with I began to wonder about key changes. Does BIAB AI recognize these changes on its own and act accordingly or must I alert the program to them? And is this possible?
If so please let me know. You don't have to define the procedure if its doable. Just let me know that it is and I'll figure it out.
Yes, you can (and should) set the initial key signature on the main chord sheet, and yes, using F5, you can change it at any measure.
I’m not entirely sure how the program’s AI uses this but I do know it makes a major difference in notation. When you enter notation, the key signature determines the enharmonic spelling of a note (for example, is it G# or Ab). Some folks never change the key signature from the default key of C and the program plays a song with any chords. Whether or not it plays it ‘better’ using the right key signature, I really don’t know. I just write it correctly anyway.
Does that help?
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Select the bar that you wish to change the key signature, press function key <F5> and you are presented with a list of options that you can adjust from that point forward for the song.
BIAB & RB2025 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
Thanks guys for the welcome and the advice. That F5 key tip is appreciated. I always make sure I set the proper initial key for the chord sheet.
The thing I'm getting at is that though jazz lead sheets give you the key that the song starts in, they don't show the key changes that often occur within the tune.
With analysis of the chords a musician can figure out where these key changes happen and use the F5 function to insert the changes. It's a chore but it can be done.
What I'm really asking is whether BIAB is doing this chore on its own when you press Generate.
First, it is normal that a jazz song does not use frequent key changes. It’s expected that there may be frequent modulations. The bridge key may change but not elsewhere.
Increasingly, I see more complicated compositions just written in C concert, with no attempt to reduce the accidentals by key signatures.
As my earlier reply indicated, I don’t know if it makes a difference for you to enter frequent key signatures in BIAB. The program does use AI but it’s proprietary how it works. We are pretty sure it has a ‘look ahead’ capability to see the possible key change just from the chord progression.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Hello Scott1578, Welcome to the forum and to Band-in-a-Box or BiaB for short.
BiaB relies on the selected style for much of the arrangement feel of a song similar in manner to the way a musician will feel his or her way through a song the first time they are playing an unfamiliar song. Additionally BiaB uses artificial intelligence and a look ahead feature to better interpret the chord sheet. Last there has been some observational feedback from users that midi data in the Melody and/or Soloist tracks is read by the program and used to influence how the BiaB program interprets a chord chart.
Thanks for that Matt. I think there is some general confusion amongst musicians about what constitutes a true key change. Some think any modulation can be considered a change of key. But I think after reading your comment this isn't necessarily so. Ha ha, you've got me scouring the internet for knowledge on the subject. To date I can't find a dispute to your argument.
Also thanks for the reassurance that BIAB AI looks ahead and I don't have to worry if it will get things mostly right. It's a load off my mind to know that I can just enter my lead sheets and go with it.
Thanks for the welcome and the reply. You pretty much echoed Matt's response to my questions. And I take that from yours's and Matt's considerable number of "tweets" that you both understand the program very well. So I trust in what you say. It puts me at ease.
Thanks for that Matt. I think there is some general confusion amongst musicians about what constitutes a true key change. Some think any modulation can be considered a change of key. But I think after reading your comment this isn't necessarily so. Ha ha, you've got me scouring the internet for knowledge on the subject. To date I can't find a dispute to your argument.
Also thanks for the reassurance that BIAB AI looks ahead and I don't have to worry if it will get things mostly right. It's a load off my mind to know that I can just enter my lead sheets and go with it.
Don't give up so easily. I may not be correct about it making no difference in BIAB whether you set many key changes or not. This really merits further testing.
As for those who would consider any modulation a change of key, I do understand. I think this stems from the way jazz theory is taught now, with an emphasis on scales and modes. "In my day" - the early 1960s - we learned it more organically.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Well if you've been playing since the 60's and you think BIAB is doing a decent job at interpreting the changes, that's good enough for me By the way I love the jazz that came out of the 60's and I agree it sounds very organic.
As for needed further testing you may be right, but it's not gonna be done by me. I don't want to work. I just want to to bang on the drum all day
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll also keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
From overviews of new features and walkthroughs of the 202 new RealTracks, to highlights of XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAKs 18, the 2025 49-PAK, and in-depth tutorials — you’ll find everything you need to explore what’s new in Band-in-a-Box® 2025.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until July 31, 2025! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Mac 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.
If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us directly—we’re here to help!
Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.
Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music
Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:
Band-in-a-Box 2025 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Die deutsche Version Band-in-a-Box® 2025 für Windows ist ab sofort verfügbar!
Alle die bereits die englische Version von Band-in-a-Box und RealBand 2024 installiert haben, finden hier die Installationsdateien für das Sprachenupdate:
Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!
Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.
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