March 31, 2017 Welcome to the PG Team Tyler!

We are pleased to say that we've added Tyler to our Customer Service Team!

You'll soon see him active here on our Forum, and may have already spoken to him on the phone or by email.

Welcome to the team Tyler!

Posted at 01:51 PM

March 31, 2017 Make Band-in-a-Box® POP with Customizable Color Schemes!

Band-in-a-Box® installs with an easy to view color combination that is customizable! For more information, choose your OS:
Windows
Macintosh

You can access additional Chord Display settings (font, color, layers, etc.) by clicking on the [Chord Display] button on the toolbar!

Posted at 11:12 AM

March 31, 2017 User Showcase Song - Missed The Message

What a wonderful example of the richness and diversity of American music traditions - gospel oriented pedal steel with roots in Florida African-American Pentecostal churches.

Guitar & Pedal Steel by Tom Adams
Vocal by Janice Merritt

Choir loops from Logic Pro 9
RealTracks in song: 1418:Bass, Electric, SouthernRock Ev16 085
RealTracks in song: 1602:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Pop16 Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: ~368:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 065
RealTracks in song: ~688:Organ, B3, Background Pop Ev 065
RealTracks in song: 1600:Guitar, High-Strung Acoustic, Rhythm Pop16ths Ev16 065
RealDrums: RealDrums in Song: NashvilleEven16^5-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

Posted at 09:33 AM

March 30, 2017 We'd Love Your Feedback - Driver Support

We are thinking of adding WASAPI driver support for the various programs. We're wondering if people use WASAPI drivers with other programs. And if they do:
-does it work well?
-what interface are they using? Is it multi-port and do the WASAPI drivers show up in stereo pairs (so that an 8-port interface would show up as 4 stereo inputs)

Join the conversation...

Posted at 10:31 AM

March 30, 2017 #TBT - Band-in-a-Box® Version 8 for Mac!

Can you believe it... the previous release of Band-in-a-Box® Version 8 for Mac was more than 18 years ago!

This version included some great new features, like the The Melodist and Melodist Maker, an added Guitar Tuner, the UNDO option (we all make mistakes...), Automatic Intros, and MORE!

Like the Guitar Fretboard Window... what a great addition! The release announcement described this as:
This is a window for Guitar and Bass Players! On-Screen fretboard displays any track on guitar or Bass. This is a similar window to the guitar window in PowerTracks Pro Audio but has many new features, such as auto-setting of correct positions, notes named on screen, auto-octave adjust to play in selected position, and sizable guitar fretboard. Guitar players will be able to "read-along" to a Melody/Solo simply by looking at the guitar fretboard. An easy, intuitive and fun way to learn guitar!

Learn more about what was released with Band-in-a-Box® Version 8 for Mac: www.pgmusic.com/pdfs/bbmac_version_8.pdf

Posted at 10:23 AM

March 30, 2017 User Showcase Song - Take A Chance On Me

This is Gospel tune that I wrote A while back, and though I have sung it in public many times this is the first attempt at recording it.

Let me say this to the masters at PG music. I have been using BIAB since Windows 3.1, and for many years I used it for demos to take into the studio with me. This new level that you have taken BIAB to has opened a lot of possibilities that were not there before. I take my hat off to all who have contributed to the new versions of BIAB and Real Band. I have three grandsons who are outstanding musicians and they all were blown away with what could be accomplished with these programs.

Posted at 10:04 AM

March 29, 2017 Share Your Band-in-a-Box® Thoughts!

We love hearing from Band-in-a-Box® users! There are a few different ways to share your thoughts on Band-in-a-Box®:

-Post your comments & provide a star-rating on our website
-Share your favorite features on our "My Favorite Things" Forum.
-Like us on Facebook and post your review there: https://www.facebook.com/pgmusicinc/

Of course, you can also contact us directly!

Some of the more recent feedback we've received includes:
"Best version yet, in my book! Absolutely love it!!!"
"Band-in-a-Box literally changed my musical life."
"Thanks PG Music, you have given musicians a new lease of life!"
"Band-in-a-Box is beyond belief and is a must to any musician or budding composer."
"As a song writer with no access to a live band this software suite has become invaluable to me!"

Posted at 12:15 PM

March 29, 2017 RealTracks Artist Jim Clark Performs!

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month & Poetry Appriation Month (April 2017), Jim Clark will be performing at The Norwalk Public Library for their "Old as New" - A Jazz & Poetry Collaboration event on Sunday, April 2nd!
The admission price? It's FREE! If you're in the area, be sure to stop by!

Jim has more than 50 RealTracks available in the following Sets:
RealTracks Set 176: R&B Horns
RealTracks Set 188: Slow Background Pop Horn Section
RealTracks Set 207: Funky Horns
RealTracks Set 236: Cocktail Jazz Horns!
RealTracks Set 264: Crooner Bossa Big Band!
RealTracks Set 265: Crooner Ballad Big Band!

Learn more about Jim Clark and listen to demos of his RealTracks when you visit his RealTracks Artist Bio page.

Posted at 11:06 AM

March 29, 2017 User Showcase Song - Dreams of Wine and Cherry Blossoms

It will be the season of cherry blossoms soon in Japan.
It will begin to bloom at the end of March and will be in full bloom at the beginning of April.
Cherry blossom seeing is held everywhere in Japan, and in the evening cherry blossoms are lighted up and we can enjoy them all the night.
Hundreds of cherry blossoms also are planted along the banks of the river flowing in my city, and I am looking forward to this season every year.

This is a song of such cherry blossom season.
It is one of the songs in the ballroom dancing CD that I had produced for a dance instructor a few years ago.
It is written to be able to dance at the tempo of Viennese Waltz.

Title: 酔桜Dream (Translation: Dreams of wine and cherry blossoms)
Vocal: Natsuki Yoshikawa, our local female jazz vocalist

Style is _JWALTZG.STY
RealTracks in style: ~546:Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Waltz Sw 140
RealTracks in song: ~552:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Jazz Waltz Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~549:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Jazz Waltz Sw 140
RealDrums: RealDrums in Style: JazzBrushesWaltz: a: Brushes b: Snare, Ride
Piano Solo generated with Jazz Waltz Piano(6)(MIDI) played by Steinberg The Grand
Additional Accordion (Kontakt) and 4 part Strings (EastWest Symphonic Orchestra) scored by me

Posted at 09:27 AM

March 28, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2016 for Mac - Chord Sheet Enhancements!

The Chord Sheet has been enhanced with the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2016 for Mac, including the highly requested feature to see the chord where you are typing it! (with older version you would only see your chord entry appear in the Chord Sheet once you hit the return key)

Watch Tobin highlight this feature here: http://www.pgmusic.com/?vid=_eqADUKt71A&t=79

Posted at 01:43 PM

March 28, 2017 User Showcase Song - The Age of the Crickets

Here's another country music that I made just after listening at these real tracks.

Style is _WORKIN1.STY (Workin' Man)

the band:
Me and my Telecaster

RealTracks in style: 379:Bass, Electric, Country DoubleTime Ev 088
RealTracks in style: 411:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Train Pickin' Ev 130
RealTracks in style: 378:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming DoubleTime Ev 088
RealTracks in song: 601:Fiddle, Soloist Train Ev 130
RealDrums in style: NashTrainEv16^1-a:Sticks Snare , b:Sticks Snare 16th

I hope you like it!
Thanks for your appreciated comments

Posted at 10:07 AM

March 28, 2017 RealBand 2017 Build 6 Update Available!

A new RealBand 2017 patch update is ready, and can be downloaded here: www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#2017_6

Summary of Changes for Build 6 (Mar 27, 2017):
Fixed: RealTracks generation failed in certain cases with build 5, if using MME drivers and 'Output Always On' was selected.

What else was new in build 5?
Summary of Changes for Build 5 (released Mar 15, 2017):
Fixed: Improved support for the Vielklang VST instant harmonies plugin.
Added: Always on MME added (checkbox setting).
Added: Drag and drop from the drop station to VSTi plugins that support this, is now implemented
Added: In the PDF manual, clicking on the Bookmarks navigation pane, Table of Contents, or Index will jump to the corresponding page. (Note: To use the navigational elements, you need to open the PDF manual in Adobe Reader.)
Improved: Much faster initialization of accompaniment functions (e.g. StylePicker and RealTracks Picker).
Fixed: The time location of time-based VSTi plugins was being continually advanced when RB was stopped. This has been fixed so that the VSTi time location now gets set to RB's current time location when playback is not happening.

Posted at 08:36 AM

March 27, 2017 Endorsing Artist Terry Fernihough's Number One Hit!

Our newest Endorsing Artist Terry Fernihough is the writer of I'll Bring the Party, a number one hit on the Canadian National Aboriginal Countdown! Listen here...

Learn more about Terry here.

Review all our Endorsing Artists when you visit www.pgmusic.com/endorsers.php.

Posted at 02:23 PM

March 27, 2017 We Have A WINNER! The Band-in-a-Box® Giveaway Continues...

We're are excited to be offering a Band-in-a-Box® Giveaway from March 20, 2017 to April 9, 2017, with one Band-in-a-Box® EverythingPAK prize awarded each week!

Our first random draw for a winner took place today - there were more than 1,000 entries! Congratulations Doug!

There's still two more prizes to be won! Click here for your chance to win!

Contest rules

Posted at 01:57 PM

March 27, 2017 User Showcase Song - Reminiscence

This is my new song which is a classical and orchestral work. It has a calm and soothing melody with beautiful sounds. It comprises five parts and five different instruments I chose carefully play them in turn.
As usual, my wife helped me a lot in deciding its title. She said it gave her an impression as if she were recollecting fond memories of her days gone by.

It took me longer time than usual because I had rebuilt the part of melody and done a lot of fine tuning work. Frankly I am satisfied with the result.

********** Summary ************

Key: Gm Tempo: 85 Length: 5m46s
Style: ARPORK34.STY (Orchestral Arpeggio 3/4) (MIDI type)
Instruments:
[Acoustic String Bass] Basses Long Bows (Rapture Pro)
[Acoustic Piano]
Grand Concert Piano (RAPTURE PRO)
Full Strings Pizzicato (D-PRO)
Full Strings Short Bows (D-PRO)
[Slow Strings] Full Strings (small) (D-PRO)
[Melody1] Grand Concert Piano (RAPTURE PRO)
[Melody2] RGC Oboe In The Venue (D-PRO)
[Melody3] Small Violin Section (RAPTURE PRO)
[Melody4] RGC Clarinet In The Venue (D-PRO)
[Melody5] Full Strings Long & Short Bows (D-PRO)

Posted at 01:34 PM

March 24, 2017 User Showcase Song - I've Got You

Here is one we wrote a while ago.
An upbeat set of lyrics lead that are possibly a little more topical now than when written.
Vocal & Lyric – Leon
I played some guitar and sang a little.

The Band
RealTracks in style: ~1433:Bass, Electric, JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: ~1437:Piano, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110
RealTracks in style: 633:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanMuted Ev 120 (A:sync)
RealTracks in style: 2110:Horn Section, Background, R&B Ev16 110
RealTracks in song: 2635:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountryBluesRockHigh Ev 110
RealDrums in Song: RockEven8: a: Snare, HiHat b: Snare busy, HiHat

Posted at 09:46 AM

March 24, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2017 Build 462 Update Available!

Band-in-a-Box® 2017 for Windows users can download the latest free patch update, Build 462, here: www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#462

Summary of changes:
Improved: Many electric guitar styles, when using the DI versions, would have very loud shots and holds. These are now balanced.
Fixed: Using CTRL+V to paste notes in the piano roll would cause the notes to be pasted twice.
Fixed: Some menu items were showing the wrong captions.
Fixed: Checking "Set Audio Master (Base) Tempo to" in the Import Audio File dialog was not working.
Fixed: It was not possible to specify a chorus when using the "L" code word in the chord sheet, because the second comma would trigger chord entry. (eg "L8,12,2").
Fixed: The font size for the large patches in the mixer would not change when resizing the window.

Posted at 09:42 AM

March 24, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® & RealBand 2017 한국어 버전 (Korean)

80가지 이상의 새로운 기능과 놀라운 콘텐츠 콜렉션을 추가했으며 새로운 내용에는 202가지 실제트랙, 34가지 미디 슈퍼트랙, 악기 연구, 12-키 실제트랙, Hi-Q 기타 노테이션, 재발견된 실제트랙/미디 슈퍼트랙 스타일, 새로운 신디사이저 (sforzando), 120 가지 이상 새로운 실제스타일을 포함합니다! 우리는 202 가지 새로운 실제트랙을 추가했으며, 과거의 101가지의 두 배입니다! 12-키 Hi-Q 기타 탭이 있는 새로운 악기 연구 세트가 있습니다. 이전의 일부 실제트랙은 정확도를 향상시키기 위해 다시 마스터되었습니다. 우리는 또한 새로운 RealTracks 및 Loops를 사용하는 120가지 이상의 새로운 실제스타일을 가지고 있습니다. 여기에 훌륭한 크루너 보사, 크루너 발라드, 브렌트/마이크 블루스, 하와이안, 멕시칸, 페루, 파워 트리오, 하우스, 힙합, 랩, 켈트 하프, 레트로 60년대 등 여러 가지를 포함합니다.

www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=win&lang=ko

Posted at 09:39 AM

March 23, 2017 Customers LOVE the Celtic Guitar Video Master Class Series!

The newest addition to our Master Class Series is the Celtic Guitar Video Master Class Series, featuring world-class Celtic guitarist (and RealTracks Artist) Quinn Bachand, and it's a HIT!

Watch the trailer: www.pgmusic.com/?vid=aNe-illEYf0

There are 3 volumes available, each about an hour long. Purchase each volume for $19, or grab all three for just $49! Quinn covers techniques, chord theory, voicings and walks you through 17 "must-know" tunes. This is for the beginner-advanced guitarist, and covers Celtic guitar styles (some folk and old-time covered as well).

Learn more about the Celtic Guitar Video Master Class Series: www.pgmusic.com/celticguitarmasterclass.htm

Mac users: www.pgmusic.com/celticguitarmasterclass.mac.htm

Posted at 10:08 AM

March 23, 2017 User Showcase Song - Rock Steady

Spring has sprung,
Another song to be sung
Hope you like it
Thanks for listening and commenting

Song summary:
Bass 2260
Drums Funky Groove 60s
Piano 2157 Vintage
Guitar 2634
Guitar me

Posted at 09:11 AM

March 23, 2017 RealTracks Update for Band-in-a-Box® 2017 for Windows!

If you're using Band-in-a-Box® 2017 for Windows, check out the latest update patch we have just released for RealTracks! Patch info - click here.

This is a cumulative patch that includes updates for RealTracks released with Band-in-a-Box® 2017, and updates/additions to the Shots and Holds library.

If you only want the newest updates since the last patch issued Feb 23 2017, there's a smaller patch you can download here.

Summary of changes:
Fixed / Improved / Added - Entire Library of regular and Direct Input Shots and Holds has been re-tested, and there have been many fixes. This includes adding new Shots and Holds for instruments that previously didn't have them, reassigning instruments to more appropriate Shots and Holds, improving volume levels and offsets, and fixing some issues with incorrect chords.
Fixed - Many electric guitar styles, when using the DI versions, would have very loud shots and holds. These are now balanced.
Fixed - Notation for all songs from 'Artist Performance Set 3 - Celtic Fiddle Tunes' is much more accurate.
Fixed - Some Waltz style RealDrums were not playing correctly. The kick drum should always play before the snare.
Fixed - Endings for Piano, Acoustic, HeldChords 060
Fixed - Minor seventh chords on Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBalladClean Ev 085
Fixed - _SONGBRD style mistakenly had an extra acoustic guitar on the soloist track.
Fixed - Misc typos in the RealTracks Picker.

Posted at 08:41 AM

March 22, 2017 YouTube Find - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Our latest "Band-in-a-Box" search on YouTube resulted in finding a great video shared today, using Band-in-a-Box as accompaniment for some nice piano playing!

Click here to watch & listen.

Great job jazzutako!

Posted at 02:12 PM

March 22, 2017 User Showcase Song - Two to Tango

This is just a short Tango based on the TangoTr.sty. I used the ideas and developed this in Finale 2014.5 then recorded the clarinet (me) playing and set the accompaniment to Addictive Drums 2, Garritan Steinway (Intimate D) and Jazz and Big Band Jazz fretted Bass.

It is very short but I enjoyed working it out and recording/mixing it.

Enjoy!
AND NO it is not a TuTu Tango!

Posted at 01:01 PM

March 21, 2017 Enter to WIN 1 of 3 Band-in-a-Box® EverythingPAKs!

We're giving away 1 Band-in-a-Box® EverythingPAK per week until April 10, 2017!

Click here for your chance to win!

(Weekly winners are selected on or about noon PST, March 27, 2017, April 3, 2017, and April 10, 2017.)

Contest rules

Posted at 02:23 PM

March 21, 2017 User Showcase Song - Love Eternally

Sorry it's been such a long time since I've been in the Forum. Too much real life going on if you know what I mean. I hope everyone is having a great St Patrick's Day!
It's been almost 9 months since I posted our last song and almost 30 years since I wrote a song specifically for my wife. I've been reluctant to do so since the first song I wrote for her (Eve's Song) has always been my "signature" song so to speak. I really needed my best effort to have another song just for her.
So here it is. "Love Eternally" We hope you like it.

StringsCustom Synth is Hi-Q 050 01 Strings, Ensemble, Movie SampleTank.tgs
Style MIDI Instruments are : Slow Strings (50),
RealTracks in style: ~~519:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 887:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment FolkPopPrairie Ev 100
RealTracks in style: ~896:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Rhythm FolkRock Ev 100
RealDrums in style: NashvilleBrushesCountryPopEv16: a: Sidestick, Brushes b: Brushes

I played the lead in midi using the GM midi bandoneon patch

Posted at 11:20 AM

March 21, 2017 PowerTracks Pro Audio 2017 Build 3 Patch Update Available!

PowerTracks Pro Audio 2017 users can download a new patch update here!

Summary of changes with Build 3:
Added: Always on MME added (checkbox setting).
Added: Drag and drop from the drop station to VSTI plugins, that support this, is now implemented
Added (build 2): Localization support.
Fixed: a few miscellaneous minor localization and help-topic link issues.
Fixed: FX button now correctly turns blue if MIDI track is actually using a VSTi or DXi synth.
Fixed: Improved support for the Vielklang VST instant harmonies plugin.
Fixed: Program title was changed to 'file converter' if a conversion needed to be done such as after recording (this affected the title shown when alt-tabbing or hovering over the icon on the task bar, etc.).
Fixed: Saving to XML would result in the timing being wrong, if the song's PPQ was not 120.
Fixed: the choose note dialog in Notation Window had garbled text.
Fixed: The time location of time-based VSTi plugins was being continually advanced when RB was stopped. This has been fixed so that the VSTi time location now gets set to PT's current time location when playback is not happening.
Fixed: when drawing a slur in the situation of notes being extremely close together, program could potentially slow down or freeze.
Fixed (build 2): Code 740 error could happen after installation finished when launching program.
Fixed (build 2): Installer didn't show destination directory if PT was already installed.

Posted at 08:22 AM

March 20, 2017 User Showcase Song - Sunrise in California

Here's a folk song I wrote some years ago, and finally got around to recording.

This is called Sunrise In California.

All BIAB Tracks:
Style: REUNION.STY
1433: Bass, Electric, JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110
2334: String Quartet, Rhythm PopChamber Ev 085
2552: Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev16 075
1761: Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths Ev16
1118: Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Strummed Ev 085
1947: Mandolin, Rhythm PopModernGrooveAndy Ev16
RealDrums: NashvilleBrushesBalladPush Ev16
Nectar Patch: Folk Reinforcement
Recorded and mixed in GarageBand

Posted at 01:04 PM

March 17, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® Bootup Times - Join the Conversation!

With Band-in-a-Box® Build 461 for Windows (released March 15th) we improved the bootup time - it's now 2-3x faster!!!

We want to hear about your experience with this latest improvement - join the conversation on the forum thread Faster bootup times ... post your results! ... may the fastest PC win!

Posted at 02:26 PM

March 17, 2017 User Showcase Song - Spokes in a Wheel

This is a song I wrote in 2005 but just now got it put together. It's about helping others. I was reminded by a person at my church one day that we are like spokes in a wheel , which help carry the load. When some of the spokes are missing it makes it more of a burden for the rest. I thought, that needs to be a song. So here it is. I truly hope it's a blessing to someone. Thanks for listening and please comment. Lyrics are in the YouTube video. Torrey.

BIAB
Piano 2763 Acoustic Rhythm Country Blues RockMike EV 110
Piano 1275 Acoustic Rhythm Pop Uplift Held EV 16
Me
Vocals
Guitars
Bass
Synth
Third Party
Drums (As a side note-I prefer the sound of the RealDrums, I don't think there's a better sound out there. But I had to use these on this track to fit the many pushes in the track.)

Posted at 02:24 PM

March 16, 2017 User Showcase Song - Pickup Truck Cowboy

A song about an old cowboy.

"Pickup Truck Cowboy"

©2011 Robert Randall Burke

Posted at 07:39 AM

March 16, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2017 Build 461 Update Available!

There's a brand new patch update available for Band-in-a-Box® 2017 for Windows!

Summary of changes for Build 461:
Improved: Buttons added to stylepicker, and titles to add song to databse (launches forum request).
Improved: Drum Count-ins now work for Double-Time or Half-Time drums (note that the count-in will be MIDI in this case).
Improved: Log of bootup times is made if you set this option in edit-prefs.
Improved: Much faster bootups. 2-3x faster! (note: fast bootups will start after you've booted up about 3 times and will stay fast).
Improved: Scroll to top button [^] has been added to StylePicker.
Improved: Styles can now be made with multiple drum tracks. A button has been added to stylemaker.
Improved: The Bar Settings dialog report shows new track names.
Improved: Warning messages about songs with both multidrums on drums track and multiple drums tracks.
Fixed: Drag and drop of the audio track would not include tempo stretching, transposing, acidizing, or normalizing.
Fixed: Songs with frozen RealDrums might freeze or crash Band-in-a-Box when playback is started.
Fixed: Songs with frozen RealDrums would play a count-in even if "Audible Lead-In" was disabled.
Fixed: The RealDrums Picker dialog would crash on exiting if the Multiple RealDrums dialog had previously been opened. This bug only effected non-English versions.

Band-in-a-Box 2017 users can download this patch update here.

Posted at 07:34 AM

March 16, 2017 RealBand 2017 Build 5 Update Available!

Update March 27, 2017: This patch was pulled from our Support page due to reported bugs. Stay tuned for a new update.

There's a new patch available for RealBand 2017!

Summary of changes for Build 5:
Added: Always on MME added (checkbox setting).
Added: Drag and drop from the drop station to VSTi plugins that support this, is now implemented
Added: In the PDF manual, clicking on the Bookmarks navigation pane, Table of Contents, or Index will jump to the corresponding page. (Note: To use the navigational elements, you need to open the PDF manual in Adobe Reader.)
Improved: Much faster initialization of accompaniment functions (e.g. StylePicker and RealTracks Picker).
Fixed: The time location of time-based VSTi plugins was being continually advanced when RB was stopped. This has been fixed so that the VSTi time location now gets set to RB's current time location when playback is not happening.

Posted at 07:33 AM

March 15, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2016 for Mac Review!

Keith White from MacWorld Australia is always happy to get his hands on Band-in-a-Box and put his thoughts to paper! In his latest review of Version 2016, Keith says:

The new RealTracks include big band jazz with a nine-part horn section as well as exciting new additions to rockabilly, surf rock, country, folk and funk styles, many featuring top professionals cutting their chops. It’s really like having your own studio band!

See Keith's full review here.

Thanks Keith!

Posted at 02:26 PM

March 15, 2017 RealTracks Artist Tim Kliphuis Upcoming Shows!

The Tim Kliphuis Trio performs this weekend! For those of you that live in the United Kingdom, there are quite a few chances to watch the Trio in action:
Fri, Mar 17: Thringstone House (Thringstone, Leicestershire)
Sat, Mar 18: Calver Village Hall (Calver, Hope Valley, Derbyshire)
Sun, Mar 19: West Hallam Village Hall (West Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire)

To review more upcoming performances (and there are a lot), visit www.timkliphuis.com/

Of course, you can hear Tim Kliphuis perform with the click of your mouse when you choose to play one of his RealTracks! You'll find Tim's contributions in:
RealTracks Set 109: Gypsy Jazz - Fast Swing
RealTracks Set 110: Gypsy Jazz – Ballad
RealTracks Set 128: Gypsy Jazz Latin
RealTracks Set 129: Gypsy Jazz Waltz

Learn more about Tim when you visit his RealTracks Artist Bio page.

Posted at 01:51 PM

March 15, 2017 User Showcase Song - A New Page

This song was inspired by a strong feeling experienced during a Sunday walk about a new opportunity life has given. My lyrics are usually quite melancholy, but I hope this one brings more positive feelings, despite some of the clichés of the genre. Thanks to Miira for the touching interpretation of my vision, without her dedication to my music I wouldn't have made this song.

RealDrums: Soul70sEv16
RealTracks:
Electric Bass #700
Acoustic Guitar #2051
Electric Guitar #1762, #2650, #542
Acoustic Piano #1006
Organ #689
Electro Flute #2364
MIDI: Cello (ST3) & Strings (GPO4) from style STR_QT44
Additional MIDI: Winds (IO), Shevannai ElvenKingdom
Vocals: Miira
Mixed in Adobe Audition 2017.

Posted at 09:52 AM

March 14, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® Beginners Forum!

Our newer Beginners Forum is a HIT!

This special forum was created just before the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2017 for Windows, and is ideal place for new Band-in-a-Box users (both Windows and Mac) to discuss Band-in-a-Box or music tech in general!

If you haven't checked it out yet, click here to join the conversation!

Posted at 12:50 PM

March 14, 2017 RealBand Tips! #TipTuesday

With every release of a new version of RealBand there are up to 50 new features added... keeping track of all the best ways to utilize these features can be tricky! Fortunately, RealBand offers a "Tip of the Day" feature to make sure you get the most out of your RealBand experience! If you're not seeing your "Tip of the Day" when you open RealBand, you can access it from the Help menu.

A few handy tips this feature offers include:
-You can render an audio track as ACID Loop and save it to the Loops folder. Go to to menu Render | Export ACID Loop - Highlighted section or entire track to WAV in Loops Folder.
-Do you want to get rid of multiple tempo changes from the song? The Tempo dialog has an option to wipe out all the existing tempos.
-Edit | Tracks submenu is also found in the Tracks Window right-click menu.
-The styles list can be exported to a spreadsheet. Press the [Copy List] button in StylePicker window, copy all in Notepad, and paste it into an Excel file.
-In the Notation window, you can easily change bars per line. Press the [Bars] button on the Notation window toolbar to set the number of bars per line to a different value.

...and more! There are more than 240 tips offered with this feature!

Posted at 12:21 PM

March 14, 2017 User Showcase Song - Where Did You Go My Pretty Mandy

One of my solo projects created with the new 2017 version:
The ego versus the alter ego......

Rob

Style is ZZJAZZ.STY (it was initially but I edited everything manually with this one)

RealTracks:
2426:Bass, Acoustic, RockabillySlowSwing Sw 085
887:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment FolkPopPrairie Ev 100
2779:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm SongwriterSwingBalladBrent Sw16 065
2448:Guitar, Electric, Background, PopDreamyBrent Ev 085
2667:Pedal Steel, Background DreamySingleNote Ev 075
RealDrums:
BrushesFolk16ths: a: Brushes b: Brushes Tap

Posted at 08:48 AM

March 13, 2017 Вышли Band-in-a-Box® 2017 и RealBand 2017 на русском языке

(Band-in-a-Box® 2017 for Windows now available in Russian!)

Мы хорошо потрудились и добавили в Band-in-a-Box® более 80 новых функций и изумительную коллекцию нового контента, включая 202 новых стиля RealTracks, 34 новых стиля MIDI SuperTracks, новые инструментальные этюды (Instrumental Studies), стили RealTracks, записанные во всех 12 тональностях, Hi-Q (высококачественную) гитарную нотацию, "заново открытые" стили RealTracks/MIDI SuperTracks, новый синтезатор ("sforzando") и более 120 новых стилей RealStyles!
www.bandinabox.com/bb.new.php?os=win&lang=ru

Posted at 11:10 AM

March 13, 2017 User Showcase Song - Fair Land

An attempt at joy and lightness.
Comments and criticisms welcome.
Tried to include bars and chords that are not too dependent on formatting
hoping you will play and sing along. Cheers.

Drums - Rock even 8
Guitar - RT2422 baritone
Organ - RT1155 - 2619 - 671

Posted at 10:17 AM

March 10, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2017 Dansk er klar!

Vi har haft travlt, og har tilføjet mere end 80 nye funktioner og en imponerende samling af nyt indhold bl.a. 202 RealTracks, 34 MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, 12-tonearters RealTracks, Hi-Q Guitar notation, genopdagede RealTracks/MIDI SuperTracks stilarter, en ny synthesizer (sforzando) og mere end 120 nye RealStyles!

www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=win&lang=da

Posted at 02:21 PM

March 10, 2017 Updated Hours of Operation

As of March 12 we are updating our Hours of Operation to:

Customer Service & Sales:
Monday - Friday: 6:00AM to 7:00PM PST (GMT -8)
Saturday: 8:00AM to 5:00PM PST (GMT -8)
Sunday & Holidays: 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8)

Contact info:
Tel: 1-800-268-6272 or 1-888-PGMUSIC (Within USA and Canada)
Tel: + 800-4746-8742 (Outside USA and Canada where International Freephone service is available)
sales@pgmusic.com

Technical Support:
Monday - Friday: 10:00AM to 5:00PM PST (GMT -8)

Contact info:
Tel: 1-866-983-2474 or 250-475-2708
support@pgmusic.com

Additional contact information for PG Music Inc. is available at www.pgmusic.com/contact.htm.

Posted at 01:47 PM

March 10, 2017 User Showcase Song - The AdderStane Prophecy Song

I thought you might like to hear my book trailer I created for my debut novel - I used mainly BB 2016 and a vocal recorded on Nuendo with a little rverb. Can't remember all settings on BB but all the tracks apart from vocals were real styles.

Posted at 01:13 PM

March 09, 2017 Have Your Order Shipped on a Flash Drive!

Our USB Flash Drive delivery option isn't limited to just your Band-in-a-Box® purchases... now when you order ANY PG Music product that would normally ship on DVD you can choose to have your installation files shipped to you on a USB Flash Drive instead!

For just $10 more, you'll receive a 32 GB USB Flash Drive that conveniently includes all the installation files for your purchase - we'll also throw in a free Band-in-a-Box® keychain with your Flash Drive order!

When placing your order online, the shopping cart will prompt you to select this option before you enter your payment information. Ordering over the phone? Just mention this preferred method for delivery type!

Posted at 01:38 PM

March 09, 2017 #TBT - Band-in-a-Box® 2004 for Windows!

Since it's Thursday, let's honor the #TBT trend and take a look way back to Band-in-a-Box® 2004!

Some of the new features released with this version included:
-All New 32-bit Program Engine
-DirectX Instrument Synthesizer (DXi plug-in) Support
-Amazing Audio Vocal Harmony routines: You can apply a harmony to the audio part!
-Load a MIDI file into Band-in-a-Box using a single keystroke
-New "Hybrid Styles" feature that allows you to play and create a style that has instruments from up to five different styles!
-Transpose Each Chorus
....and more!

A detailed list for the 2004 New Features can be found here: www.pgmusic.com/pdfs/bbwin_version_2004.pdf

Check out the Band-in-a-Box® 2004 for Windows New Features video, narrated by Peter Gannon: www.pgmusic.com/?vid=QsMA7X-kHvM.

Posted at 01:15 PM

March 09, 2017 User Showcase Song - A Hole The Size Of Texas

Four years ago Tom Adams and I co-wrote a song which, by coincidence, was posted on my birthday.
But the BIGGER coincidence was... it was Tom's birthday, too.
So, I have made it a "tradition".
A few weeks ago, I realized birthdays were approoaching.
So I wrote a song.
Figured I was giving Tom plenty of time to add a solo guitar track to it, since he's been busy lately.
He didn't need the time...2 hours later, he sent 2 guitar tracks - 1 electric, 1 acoustic.

Our birthday is actually March 4th (Saturday).
But, I'll be in Key West, celebrating, so it will be difficult to post.
Celebrating. Heavy. It's Key West.
So this is a few days early.

Tom - Happy! Birthday!, bro.

-------
The Players:
RealTracks in style: 366:Bass, Electric, Country Ev 065
RealTracks in style: ~~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2780:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Songwriter8thsBrent Ev 085
RealDrums in Song: DrivingPop8ths^02-a:Kick, b:HiHat, QuarterKick

Tom Adams - Acoustic fills and electric lead

Posted at 01:03 PM

March 08, 2017 YouTube Find - Band In The Box

Check it out - another great YouTube find! Click here to watch & listen.

If you visit the YouTube channel for jeffbluesy, you'll see that this isn't the only one created with the help of Band-in-a-Box!

Posted at 12:58 PM

March 08, 2017 User Showcase Song - Road, River & Rail

An old song written when I "discovered" country.
Listens and constructive comments appreciated!

Key=G , Tempo 105, Length (m:s)=3:43
No intro. 94 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 94. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,
Style is _TAILG8.STY (Tailgate Southern Rock w Banjo)

RealTracks in style: 1417:Bass, Electric, RootsRock Ev 100
RealTracks in style: 638:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm RootsRockTremolo Ev 100
RealTracks in style: 802:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SouthernSnappyGritty Ev 090 (B:8ths)
RealTracks in style: ~589:Banjo, Bluegrass Doc Ev 100 (Rhythm)
RealDrums in style: BluesRockSlowEv^2-a:SideStick , b:Snare, HiHat
RT 602 Harmonica Soloist Train

Posted at 12:34 PM

March 07, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2017 för Windows nu på svenska!

Det finns över 80 spännande nya funktioner i Band-in-a-Box^® 2017! Huvudskärmen GUI har gjorts om med en ny mindre text, konfigureringsbara verktygsfält, ett gränssnitt med flikar, ett progress fält, med mera. RealTracks låter bättre än någonson med förbättrad utsträckning/transponeringskvalitét (Elastique 3), bättre frasövergångar, och Naturliga Arrangemang. Det finns många RealDrums förbättringar innefattande Halv/Dubbel/Triple tempo, Multiple Trum/Percussion/Loopar på ett Trumspår, med mera. Vi har lagt till nya "Woodshedding" RealTracks så kallade 12-Key Guitar RealTracks från Brent Mason som spelas i 12 tonarter med Hi-Q (precis) Tab/Notation som är idealisk för att studera och lära in. Audioredigering förbättrad med anpassad Tempoutsträckning. En nytt sforzando SFZ Synth är inkluderad. Notation är förbättrad med en snabb notation inmatning för gitarr och piano och en stor gul tidslinje. Och mycket mera!

www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=win&lang=sv

Posted at 10:30 AM

March 07, 2017 RealTracks Artist Jeff Lorber - Sneak Peak!

We came across this article today, which shares an advanced single from Jeff Lorber's new album Prototype being released later this month... have a listen!
Jeff Lorber - Hyperdrive

Learn more about RealTracks Artist Jeff Lorber & listen to his RealTracks demos here.

Posted at 10:26 AM

March 07, 2017 User Showcase Song - African Joy

This little sketch which recently won me the competition on votes.
This song was inspired and is dedicated to a work colleague, Douglas Mokoena, who shared some of his childhood memories as a cattle herder.

Style is WRLDROK2.STY (World Beat 2 - South African Dan)
Style MIDI Instruments are : Kalimba (109),
RealTracks in song: ~2580:Bass, Synth,
RnBModernSub Ev16 100
Acoustic guitar recorded
Telecaster recorded

Cattle, sheep with compliments of local feeding pens and bird recordings done on various outings with a friend's tascam field recorder

BIAB tracks transported and guitars recorded in Reaper

Posted at 08:15 AM

March 07, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2017 Build 460 Update Available!

If you are a Band-in-a-Box® 2017 for Windows user, there's a new Update Patch you can download (Build 460) here!

Summary of changes for Build 460:
Updated: Help file and manuals.
Fixed: The "NEW in 2016" menu item and in StylePicker should say "NEW in 2017".
Fixed: It was not possible to set a custom folder for RealTracks.
Fixed: Record from any bar would open the record dialog instead of letting the user choose a bar to record from.
Fixed: Record from any bar did not have a hot key (it is now Ctrl+Alt+R).
Fixed: RealTracks that were "Half-Time" were displaying as "Double-Time" on the mixer, and vice versa.

Posted at 08:12 AM

March 06, 2017 User Tip - Simple Choir Backing...

Our Tips & Tricks forum is an ideal place to visit and take a peak at some of the technical tips & tricks other Band-in-a-Box users have shared.

A great example is the recently posted Simple Choir Backing in Biab Win Mac (RB, DAW) topic by forum user Pipeline - Check it out!

Posted at 02:41 PM

March 06, 2017 User Showcase Song - Nowhere Can You Be Seen

My First BIAB song!

My friend (Chris Noble) had began to write a poem which he gave to me for some help. I knew he liked country music and after a few alterations and the addition of 3 easy chords I came up with 'Nowhere Can You Be Seen'
I placed the chords in BIAB and chose the style i liked best fitted with the way I I had in mind.
Although still finding my way around BIAB/RB I hope you will enjoy it as much as he did.

Title: Fiddle Soloist CountryShuffleRob Sw 120 Demo
File:_FIDSHUF Demo (ALL REALTRACKS-Fiddle,Shuffle,Medium w Band).SGU

Mxcraft 7 for mixing levels and Mastering (I use that term loosely, Its an another art all initself and Im still learning) slight compression and plate reverb
Audacity for final output to MP3
PS Forgot to mention my new Rode NT1 condensor mic

Posted at 02:07 PM

March 06, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2017 Nederlandse versie!

Er zijn meer dan 80 opwindende nieuwe functies in Band-in-a-Box® 2017! De Hoofdscherm GUI is opnieuw ontworpen met een nieuwe kleinere voetafdruk, instelbare gereedschapsbalken, een tabbed interface, een voortgangsbalk en meer.

www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=win&lang=nl

Posted at 11:24 AM

March 03, 2017 User Showcase Song - Legs Painted On

Here is my latest effort: a southern-rock-style number with lyrics by a singer who's more impressed with his life than maybe he should be.

_RKMDBM1.STY style
Real Drums: NashvilleEven8^8-HiHatO,Ride
bridge fill drums from MP Power Drum Kit 2
Real Tracks: Bass, 388
bridge bass: mine
Guitar 1, 1169
Guitar 2, 496
Guitar 3, 502
Vocals and organ: me

Reaverb reverb

Posted at 09:02 AM

March 03, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2017 en Français!

Nous avons jusqu'à présent été très occupés à créer 80 nouvelles fonctions ainsi qu'une multitude de nouveaux contenus à savoir: 202 RealTracks, 34 SuperTracks MIDI, des Etudes d'instruments, des RealTracks dans les 12 tonalités, la Notation Hi-Q pour guitare, une Redécouverte de Styles RealTracks/SuperTracks MIDI, un nouveau synthétiseur (sforzando) et quelques 120 nouveaux RealStyles! Nous avons ajouté 202 nouvelles RealTracks, doublant ainsi les 101 que nous avions sorties dans le passé!

Et bien d’autres!

Posted at 08:54 AM

March 03, 2017 Band-in-a-Box® 2017 em Português!

O Band-in-a-Box® 2017 para Windows® está aqui!

Estivemos ocupados e adicionamos mais de 80 novas funções e uma coleção incrível de novos conteúdos, incluindo 202 RealTracks, 34 MIDI SuperTracks, Estudos Instrumentais, RealTracks em 12 Tonalidades, Notação Hi-Q da Guitarra, Estilos RealTracks/MIDI SuperTracks redescobertos, um novo sintetizador (sforzando), e mais de 120 novos RealStyles!

E muito mais!

Posted at 08:47 AM

March 01, 2017 My Favorite Band-in-a-Box® Things - RealTracks

Our Forums are very active - and there are many rooms available to post your questions, suggestions, opinions, etc. to!

Like our My Favorite Things forum, where you can post & discuss your favorite features in Band-in-a-Box® and RealBand!

Forum user Islansoul recently posted to one of their favorite features to this forum, How great the Real Tracks Integrate With Each Other:
One of my favorite styles to use in BIAB is the blank style because as name implies. it is completely blank. Because of this, I like to mix a bunch a different Real Tracks together of different styles to create a unique backing track. I did a backing track of Under the Sea where I used the Banjo, ClawHammer, Rhythm Oldtime Ev16 110 with the Bass, Baby, Guarjira Ev 120, Real Drum Salsa Bachata, and somefunk horn real Real Tracks durring the chorus. It sounded amazing when I played it at a gig.

Thanks for the great feedback!

Posted at 02:10 PM

March 01, 2017 E9 Pedal Steel Basics Lesson with Troy Brenningmeyer (YouTube Star)!

It's not uncommon to hear Band-in-a-Box® backing tracks in "how to play" videos (guitar, piano, pedal steel, etc.) found online!

Like "YouTube Star" Troy Brenningmeyer! Check out this E9 Pedal Steel Basics lesson: www.pgmusic.com/?vid=hW5wQaowdfY

Do you offer instrument lessons on YouTube using Band-in-a-Box® backing tracks? Reach out to us at marketing@pgmusic.com to discuss becoming a Band-in-a-Box YouTube Star!

Posted at 01:25 PM

March 01, 2017 User Showcase Song - Harry's Song

Greetings all.
Here is a new jazz track,I wrote it last night using a basic jazz trio section,with me playing the melody,I think it's turned out well.

Posted at 12:17 PM