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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6 |
Help.
I'm becoming reacquainted with BiaB after not having used for a long time. Just upgraded to BiaB 2025 Pro. I am having a hard time creating, saving, and reusing custom styles. I've tried several workflows, all failed. Trying to create a style using RealTracks for bass, piano, guitar, and drums along with some sort of Click Track.
I tried starting with the MetronM2 style which puts a Midi Click on the Drum Track. I then go into the mixer and add the RTs that I want for bass, piano, and guitar. For the drum track, I select RealDrums for the Strings or Utility 1 Tracks. That workflow gives me exactly the style I want to use. Aiming to have Bass 2903, Piano 1542, Guitar 406, and NashvilleBrushesCountryPopEv16 as the RTs/RDs along with the click.
I've tried saving the current song as a Style and have also tried Editing the Current Style and then Saving As without doing any editing. Both create STY files in the BB/Styles folder but when I try to use those styles in the Multipicker, the styles that load aren't what I saved - seems to be only the Midi Click Track.
I've also tried opening the multipicker, selecting MetronM2 and then selecting/adding the RTs and RDs to the track at the bottom of Styles window and then saving as .STY. That says it is saving a variation on MetronM2 but it isn't clear where it is saving it, it isn't recallable, and the MetronM2 file in the Styles folder doesn't seem to be modified based on the date modified field.
I've tried rebuilding the styles list several times through the process.
I was able to build a style that I seem to be able to reuse if I only use RTs/RDs.
I've scoured the manual, Youtube tutorials and other sources. I'm unable to find much guidance.
I love the sound but the workflow has become frustrating. Any suggestions?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,105
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,105 |
I'm not sure if this helps, as it a very dated video, but the concept may be the same. This is one I found in the archives:
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,047
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,047 |
I believe the issue is trying to use RealDrums on a track beside the legacy Drums track using a style where the click is the only instrument and that instrument occupies the Drums track.
What I would try is load a BLANK style to provide bpm, time signature and feel.
Navigate to File > Stylemaker > Make A Hybrid Style.
Select Strings from the choices offered.
Select the .STY button to open the original StylePicker or Choose ... to open a Windows File Explorer window since you know you want style MetronM2 and where it is located.
Select the drums from MetronM2. (Note the midi drum track from MetronM2 should populate the Strings track you selected above).
Fill the textbox and select the OK- (Re) Generate style with name --- button to name this style.
Select File > New.
Load the style you created above. The click track should be on the Strings track.
Load NashvilleBrushesCountryPopEv16 to the Drums track.
Load Bass 2903 to the Bass track.
Load Piano 1542 to the Piano track.
Load Guitar 406 to the Guitar track.
Save this style under a new name. Hopefully this will be your new custom style.
Band-in-a-Box treats drums differently from other instruments. In most cases it really expects a single instance of RealDrums to be on the Drums track. I think trying to use RealDrums on a track other than the drum track inside a midi only style is why you're having issues.
Help files indicate a Hybrid style is also a midi only style. But Band-in-a-Box doesn't mind substituting RealDrums for midi drums. So I think moving the click track to the Strings track and placing the RealDrums on the Drums track SHOULD work.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,845
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,845 |
Hi -
After you select the instruments for your track, go to File | StyleMaker | Save current song as style. Type a filename that is 8 characters or fewer (e.g. CUSTOM.STY). This style won't automatically show up in the StylePicker because Band-in-a-Box doesn't know about it. Load it in via F9 or File | Load Style Special | Load style from disk).
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6 |
Jim,
Thanks for the suggestions. This is not working for me. First, when I try to make the Hybrid style as you suggest, I can select Strings as the destination but there is no place to select the Drum track from the MetronM2 style. When I accept the defaults and follow the rest of the discussions, I inexplicably get instruments assigned to the Melody and Soloist tracks (Acoustic Piano and Trumpet respectively) but nothing plays from them.
Not sure what I am doing wrong.
Mike
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6 |
Andrew,
That is still not working for me. That method saves the bass, piano, click and guitar but it doesn't save the Real Drums I add to a Utility Track
Mike
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6 |
Andrew, It is working better if I put the Real Drum track into the Strings section instead of a Utility track. The style though isn't saving the tempo properly. Also, for some reason, it is setting the style as SW8 even though it should be even 8ths.
I also found that I had to create a new name for the style in order for the Load from Disk function to work properly.
Thanks for the help.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,845
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,845 |
It is working better if I put the Real Drum track into the Strings section instead of a Utility track In my testing I can add a RD and/or RT to any Utility track, and it saves in the style and seems to work as expected. So I'm not sure what would cause it not to work. Styles do support Utility tracks. Having said that, it may be best to use the 'regular' tracks if they are available, and use the Utility tracks for your style only if needed. The style though isn't saving the tempo properly Styles don't save tempo. it is setting the style as SW8 even though it should be even 8ths. Try to start with an existing style that has a similar feel/genre, then add the custom tracks and save the style. Use a new name for the style, one that doesn't already exist (check the bb Styles folder) You can open the StyleMaker to access some additional settings (Ctrl+shift+F9). Click the MISC button and you can change the Resolution (Ev/Sw) - then save the style and reload it. Probably the only other settings in the StyleMaker that you would be interested in are in the Misc dialog > [Styles, Memos etc.] button - this has additional settings that affect the display in the StylePicker. Note that to get the style to display in the StylePicker, you would need to do a 'Slow' rebuild in that dialog.
Last edited by Andrew - PG Music; 02/20/25 11:12 AM.
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 6 |
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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 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
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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.
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- 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
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- 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
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
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Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
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Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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