I just upgraded from 2018 -> 2021 (Windows 10). Kicking the tires on some of the new features (and some old ones that I never tried in 2018). One feature I'm trying (or at least acknowledging) for the first time is the sforzando Hi-Q instruments. I may have been using these in 2018 without knowing it... but for some reason now in 2021 Hi-Q instruments are silent and I get the subject line error in the lower right corner when I try to select other Hi-Q instruments.
I've tried several permutations of midi driver settings and no combination of options seems to work.
Any suggestions for further troubleshooting are appreciated.
Can you please load a style with a MIDISuperTrack (MST). In Stylepicker, these styles will start with M_
1. the track that contains the MST should be blue (like "Piano" on the image below) -- Is this correct?
2. If you click on the "Plugins" tab of the Mixer (#1, image below), you should see something like "Sforzando" or "Plogue" listed in the left most of four plugin locations (#2 on image). The other three plugin locations will have "none". Do you get this?
Lastly... Under "Help | About Band In A Box" can you doublecheck that update #818 is installed. It will be in brackets following the version of program.
If it's not #818, visit the link below, download the update and manually install it. Just doublecheck that the directory paths are correct when you get to that part of the installation.
Thank you for the quick response. It seems to be working now but I'm not sure why... I haven't changed anything. Here are the answers to your feedback but at this point it might be for academic purposes only.
I'm using M_BZ128.STY
1) The Piano row in the mixer is blue (1886:Piano, Solo-Accompaniment Bluesy 12-8John Sw 060) and the Bass and Drums are yellow.
2) The Piano line of my Plugins tab looks just like yours and all the others say ->[Default Synth]:None
I do have 818 update installed.
Thanks again for the suggestions. I'll start by checking these things if it stops working again.
Thank you for the feedback. I checked everything in your message and confirmed that everything lines up with your suggestions ie...
- Style = M_BZ128P.STY - Piano track is blue (1799:Piano, Rhythm...) - Piano Plugin is Plogue Art et Technologie... - Update 818 is installed
The good news is that somehow it started working ie... I can now hear the Hi-Q piano playing (even though I haven't changed anything).
The ??? news is that still get a YELLOW pop up at the bottom right when I open BIAB with error message "Could not load Hi-Q Patch. BIAB instruments might not be installed."
I'm not sure how/why it has started working or why I'm still getting the error notification. If it stops working again I will check the things you've mentioned first.
The ??? news is that still get a YELLOW pop up at the bottom right when I open BIAB with error message "Could not load Hi-Q Patch. BIAB instruments might not be installed."
Did you install the "HiQ instruments for Sforzando"?
I installed every option that the bandinabox_realband_2021_pro.exe installer presented when I ran it. Does installing the "HiQ instruments for Sforzando" require an additional/separate installation step?
I now see what you're talking about and found the additional files available in My Account / My Products. I also see that the Download/Install Manager in Utilities appears to have skipped the installation of those instruments.
I'm sure this will fix it. Thank you for the help.
That did indeed help. That particular YELLOW error box message no longer shows up. I have another question regarding other YELLOW error box messages for other files that appear to be missing but I will mark POST as resolved and start a new thread.
Where are the sforzando plugins supposed to be installed? I went with the default setting - C:\Program Files\PG Music Inc\Band-in-a-Box Sounds but they do not appear in the midi audio drivers set up nor in the add plugins in the mixer. When I search the band in a box directory (scan for pluins in a specific directory) for them they are not found. This is the latest biab on windows 10. Thanks.
I have the same problem I want to listen to MIDI Super Tracks and get a better sound so I guess Sforzando is what I need but there is nothing about this in the manual the Real Tracks are great but sometimes you simply want something else and choose your own sound please, please dont forget us MIDI users I think I have every Real Track available since I buy even the 49 packs but MIDI is far from dead thanks
Bernard Rasson
BIAB Audiophile 2021, BIAB Megapak 2015 (for midi-only projects), Cakewalk, Roland XV-5080, Roland Fantom XR, Aria AC60 Nylon Strings Guitar, Almansa Spanish Guitar, Fender Stratocaster Japan, two laptops Je parle français
If you want to install Sforzando, and if you purchased BIAB on a USB drive, the installer can be found on the USB drive under \PGMusic\Installers
If you didn't get BIAB on a USB drive, go to PG Music's homepage (not the forum home page), log-in into your sales account, go to My Products and see if the Sforzando installer can be downloaded from there.
Lastly, if neither of the above work, click on the blue icon on the lower right of the screen (a square with a white speech bubble in it) and you'll be able to chat in realtime to PG Music staff.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows® Today!
If you’ve already purchased Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®, great news—a new update is now available! This update introduces a handy new feature: a vertical cursor in the Tracks window that shows the current location across all tracks, and more.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator
With Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®, we've introduced an exciting new feature: the AI Lyrics Generator! In this video, Tobin guides you step-by-step on how to make the most of this new tool.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator video.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins
Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows® now includes support for VST3 plugins, bringing even more creative possibilities to your music production. Join Simon as he guides you through the process in this easy-to-follow demonstration!
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins
Video: Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows: Using The BB Stem Splitter!
In this video, Tobin provides a crash course on using the new BB Stem Splitter feature included in Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®. During this process he also uses the Audio Chord Wizard (ACW) and the new Equalize Tempo feature.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using the BB Stem Splitter
Check out the forum post for some optional Tips & Tricks!
Congrats to Misha (Rustyspoon)…downloaded/installed a full Audiophile 2025!
Breaking News!
We’re thrilled to announce that Rustyspoon has made PG history as the very first person to successfully complete the download and install of the full Band-in-a-Box 2025 Windows Audiophile Edition (with FLAC files)—a whopping 610GB of data!
A big shoutout to Rustyspoon for stepping up to be our test "elf!"
With the launch of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows, we're adding new videos to our YouTube channel. We'll also share them here once they are published so you can easily find all the Band-in-a-Box® 2025 and new Add-on videos in one place!
Whether it's a summary of the new features, demonstrations of the 202 new RealTracks, new XPro Styles PAK 8, or Xtra Styles PAKs 18, information on the 2025 49-PAK, or detailed tutorials for other Band-in-a-Box® 2025 features, we have you covered!
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows 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 with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until December 31, 2024! 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 Windows 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!
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.