Band in A Box Manual

Version 2009 for Windows
Copyright PG Music Inc.1989-2009. All rights reserved.
PG Music Inc. License Agreement

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THE INSTALLATION OF THIS SOFTWARE. USAGE OF THE SOFTWARE INDICATES
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TRADEMARKS
Band-in-a-Box, CopyMe, GuitarStar, JazzU, PG Music, PowerTracks Pro, RealBand,
RealDrums, and RealTracks are either the trademarks or registered trademarks of PG Music Inc.
in the United States, Canada, and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac, Panther, Power Mac, QuickTime, Tiger, and
TrueType are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
IBM is the registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Roland and
Roland Logo, EDIROL and EDIROL Logo, GS and GS Logo, are registered trademarks
and MIDI2 Logo, EDIROL Virtual Sound Canvas Multi Pack, VSC-MP1 are trademarks of
Roland Corporation. ASIO is a trademark and software of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Other brands and their products are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be noted as such.
PATENTS
Band-in-a-Box is protected under US Patent 5990407. The TC-Helicon Harmony feature in Bandin-a-Box and PowerTracks Pro Audio is protected under US Patents 5567901, 5641926, 5986198,
34583, 296.80.173.9, PI9603819.5, 0368046, 0750776, 6,046,395, and patents pending.
Printed in Canada
PG Music Inc. License Agreement
Table of Contents
PG MUSIC INC. LICENSE AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2: SUMMARY OF NEW FEATURES
Over 40 New Features
CHAPTER 3: QUICKSTART TUTORIAL

Using the New Features
8
8
CHAPTER 4: ABOUT REALTRACKS
18
CHAPTER 5: USING REALTRACKS
24
Assign RealTracks to Track Dialog
CHAPTER 6: OTHER NEW FEATURES
24
29
Melody Wizard
29
Notation Enhancements
30
Audio Chord Wizard Enhanced
31
PG MUSIC INC.
32
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
This documentation covers the new features in Band-in-a-Box
Version 2009 for Windows.
- Chapter 2 is a summary of the new features.
- Chapter 3 is a QuickStart Tutorial.
- Chapters 4 - 6 describe major new features.
Congratulations on your purchase of

Band-in-a-Box 2009 for Windows!
Over 40 new features, including RealCharts, enhanced

Audio Chord Wizard, Freeze Song, Melody Wizard and
more
Huge number of new RealTracks available 101(!) new
RealTracks bring the total available to over 170.
Upgrades include both Band-in-a-Box 2009 and
RealBand 2009 until December 31, 2008
Upgrades and First-Time purchases include a bonus
12-PAK with 12 great music programs and add-ons for
Band-in-a-Box until December 31, 2008
40 new features in Band-in-a-Box 2009 for Windows
Weve added a huge number of new RealTracks (101 more!),
and also a new MIDI styles disk #77 (UK Pop). Weve added
RealCharts notation and on-screen guitar display for many of
the RealTracks. This allows you to hear the audio performances,
and see/learn from the on-screen notation, tab, and on-screen guitar
fretboard. Weve enhanced the Audio Chord Wizard, the feature
that figures out chords from MP3, WMA and other audio files.
Weve enhanced the RealTracks, with improved arrangements
and sounds. And weve added artist information and bios for the
great artists performing in the RealTracks. Theres a Freeze Song
option that allows you to freeze and save a song arrangement so
that it plays back quickly without requiring regeneration of
RealTracks and other tracks. And the MIDI Wizard is improved,
with a Melody Wizard that allows you to trigger notes from the
Melody, including approach notes.
4
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Summary of New Features

Over 40 New Features
101 new RealTracks!
With the Band-in-a-Box 2008 release, there were 3 RealTracks, with 70
more introduced during 2008. Now, with Band-in-a-Box 2009 weve
added 101 more great RealTracks in Pop/ Rock/ Jazz/ Blues/Country and
Bluegrass styles.
- Pop/Rock has lots of great Rock/Pop guitars n bass (Dual Rock,
StoneZ, Dire, Strumming, Fingerpicking, and more)
- Country has great guitars, pedal steel, resophonic, slide, fiddle, banjo
and more.
- Blues has electric and resophonic guitars, bass, and harmonica.
- Jazz has Waltz (bass, piano, guitar), Freddie style guitar comping
(swing, ballad and waltz), and a WesComp guitar comping.
Note: There are even more RealTracks in production. Visit www.pgmusic.com to see
the latest releases.
RealCharts
Most RealTracks now display notation showing the notes that are being
played. Some Guitar RealTracks also show tab and an accurate on-screen
fretboard guitar display to show what is being played on guitar. The
RealCharts can be saved to MIDI file or Songs (MGU).
Chords may be edited in the Audio Chord Wizard. Part markers, chord
symbols, key signature, and tuning setting are saved in Band-in-a-Box,
and are passed back and forth to the Chord Wizard.
Artist Names and Bios for RealTracks
The RealTracks have been recorded by top studio musicians. Now the
artist names and bios are displayed for the RealTracks.
Freeze Song (for rapid playback)/UnFreeze Song
You can now freeze a songs arrangement. This converts the song to
audio data that plays on the audio track, while the other tracks are muted.
This insures that the song loads and plays quickly, without having to wait
for RealTracks to generate. This feature is useful for people who are
performing, or in other situations where you are happy with the
arrangement and dont want to wait for several RealTracks to generate.
Even a long song with multiple RealTracks can now playback in a few
seconds if you first freeze the arrangement.
Melody Wizard
The QWERTY (or MIDI keyboard) Wizard has been enhanced. Now, for
songs with melodies, there are QWERTY keys (Enter, \ , T, 6) that
trigger notes from the melody as the song is being played. Other keys
trigger 1-4 approach notes from below or above and can be recorded, to
humanize a stiff melody with better timing, and approach notes are also
useful for sight reading, rhythm practice or to perform. The Melody
Wizard works with harmonies.
- Melody notes: T, 6, Enter, \
- Same Melody note: 5
- Approach notes: QWER YUIO
- Octave set: 1, 2, 3
MIDI notes also work (if Preferences [Transpose] is set to Allow
Melody Wizard on THRU part).
- Octave set: E(40), F(41), G(43)
- Melody notes: F(53), G(55)
- Approach notes: B(47), C, D, E A, B, C, D(62)
RealTracks dialog is improved with additional information.
RealTracks Assign dialog has new columns with information for Stereo
status, Set number, RealCharts status, and artist name.
RealTracks dialog can now list styles and demo songs that use the
RealTracks. The songs or styles can be loaded in easily by menu, and
played within the dialog.
RealTracks improved arrangements
- Ability to have a delay in RealTracks track programmed into a style.
- Ability to have a delay in RealTracks track programmed into a song.
These allow you to make a song or style with a more laid-back feel
for a certain RealTracks for example.
- Better soloing and rhythm playing, which are influenced by the key
signature as well as the chords.
- Better playing of slash chords in some situations.
- Option for a Simpler arrangement on some RealTracks, which avoid
embellishments.
- Feature for fills, turnarounds, post fills and odd/even bars to be at the
right place.
6
- Better playing on the V chord, since it is usually played as a V7

chord. Options added to allow a RealTrack to treat the V7 chord as a V
(useful in rock styles), or to treat all 7th chords as major triads (useful in
blues).
- Improved handling of Caug, Cmaug, and C7+ chords.
- RealTracks, more fluid playing for complex (Jazz) chords like
C7b9b13.
- RealTracks shots improved.
Improved RealDrums
At certain tempos, when RealDrums are tempo-stretching, speeding up a
slower tempo is now favored more often, resulting in a better sounding
Drums track (threshold changed from 10% to 4%).
RealDrums made by you (or others) that are added by you to the
RealDrums folder now appear in the RealDrums Picker dialog.
Notation enhanced with patch names displayed on notation, lead sheet
and printout, e.g., 57 Trumpet.
StylePicker list enhanced, with separate categories for RealTracks
genres (Jazz, Pop, Country, Bluegrass, Blues), over 1,000 entries.
Save and Load custom preferences files, with your current settings
saved and restored. For example, you can have a preference that
remembers a certain group of songs, notation transpositions etc. Return
to Factory Settings now saves Preferences to disk, so that the settings can
be restored at any time.
MIDI/Audio Driver Setup Dialog Enhanced
Audio Settings button displays the MME/ASIO/ASIO Always On status.
Name of VST or DXi displayed.
Enhanced "Chords - Search and Replace" Functionality
Search and Replace can be used with Roman Numerals or numbers for
chord names. So you can replace the V chord with V7, or the 5m chord
with 5m7. Since these are remembered between songs, this feature is
useful if you are changing multiple songs.
Easy Entry of Section Text on Notation Window
Typing a backslash \ followed by any text puts that text at the
beginning of the current bar as a boxed section text message. E.g. \Hello
would put Hello in a boxed section text event.
Song Limit in Song picker increased from 10,000 to 25,000 songs.
.. and many more!
Chapter 3: QuickStart Tutorial

Using the New Features
101 new RealTracks
There were 3 RealTracks released with Band-in-a-Box 2008, and 70
more were introduced during 2008. With Band-in-a-Box 2009 weve
added 101 more great RealTracks in Pop/ Rock/ Jazz/ Blues/ Country
and Bluegrass styles.
- Pop/Rock has lots of great Rock/Pop guitars n bass (Dual Rock,
StoneZ, Dire, Strumming, Fingerpicking, and more.)
- Country has great guitars, pedal steel, resophonic, slide, fiddle, banjo
and more.
- Blues has electric and resophonic guitars, bass, and harmonica.
- Jazz has Waltz (bass, piano, guitar), Freddie style guitar comping
(swing, ballad and waltz), and a WesComp guitar comping.
To see which RealTracks you have, visit the (main menu) Opt. | What
add-ons do I have? dialog. This will list the RealTracks sets that you
have. There are 39 Sets of RealTracks, with each set having 4-5
RealTracks over 170 RealTracks in all.
Another way to examine which RealTracks you have is to visit the
Assign RealTracks to Track dialog. Right click on one of the
instrument names at the top of the screen (e.g., Guitar), and then choose
Add-Remove RealTracks. You can then click on the 9th column, called
Set #. This sorts the RealTracks by set #. Also, press Show
RealTracks that are Not Available (N/A.) This will list all available
RealTracks including ones that you dont have.
Note: There are even more RealTracks in production, visit www.pgmusic.com to see
the latest releases.
RealCharts
Most RealTracks now display notation, i.e. RealCharts, showing the
notes that are being played. Some Guitar RealTracks also show tablature
and an accurate on-screen fretboard guitar display to show what is being
played on guitar.
To see which instruments have RealCharts, visit the Assign RealTracks
to Tracks dialog and sort column 11, Chart. Instruments with an N
or Gt in this column have RealCharts.
8
- Instruments with Gt in the Chart column have RealCharts with

accurate guitar tab and on-screen guitar fretboard display.
- If the instrument is Acoustic Piano and there is an N in the Chart
column, the instrument has a Jazz piano RealChart.
- The various other instruments with an N (Pedal Steel, Slide Guitar,
Resophonic, Trumpet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax) have RealCharts in
standard notation.
At the top of the screen, if a track has RealTracks, but is
NOT a RealCharts track, then the track name is green.
Real Instrument charts: If a track has a RealChart, the track
name is green and underlined with a short line.
RealGuitar charts: If a track has RealChart, and is a guitar
track with accurate tab and on-screen guitar fretboard
display, then it is green and underlined with a long line.
RealCharts can be saved to MIDI files or Band-in-a-Box songs (MGU).
RealCharts are optional, and are selected in the RealTracks Settings
dialog. Use the RealTracks button or click on [RealTracks] in
the Preferences dialog.
; Show RealCharts notation from styles and songs will show

RealCharts that have been generated from styles or songs stored with
RealTracks.
; Show RealCharts notation for Soloists will show RealCharts that
have been generated from the Select Soloist dialog.
; Save RealCharts in MIDI files will save the RealChart to a MIDI
track so you can analyze it in other programs.
; Save RealCharts in BB Songs (MGU) will save the RealChart
MIDI information to the MGU file.
Chords may be edited in the Audio Chord Wizard. Part markers, chord
symbols, key signature, and tuning setting are saved in Band-in-a-Box,
and are passed back and forth to the Chord Wizard.
See documentation inside the Audio Chord Wizard program.
Artist Names and Bios for RealTracks

The RealTracks have been recorded by top studio musicians. Now the
artist names and bios are displayed for the RealTracks.
To see the artist names, open the Assign RealTracks to Tracks dialog
by right clicking on an instrument name (e.g., Piano) at the top of the
screen.
As you click on the various RealTracks, the Artist Bio window (top right
of the screen) displays the bio in a small window.
Click on that small window to display a large window where you can
read the entire bio easily.
10
Click on the More information here button for more information

about the Artist from the pgmusic.com web site.
Freeze Song (for rapid playback)/UnFreeze Song. You can now freeze
a songs arrangement. This converts the song to audio data that plays on
the audio track while the other tracks are muted. This insures that the
song loads and plays quickly without having to wait for RealTracks to
generate. This feature is useful for people who are performing, or in
other situations where you are happy with the arrangement and dont
want to wait for several RealTracks to generate. Even a long song with
multiple RealTracks can now playback in a few seconds if you first
freeze the arrangement.
To freeze a song choose the menu command Play | Freeze song
or right click on the Combo label for the same command.

When you freeze a song, the following happens:
- the current arrangement on the 5 instruments tracks (bass, drums,
piano, guitar, strings), melody, and soloist are rendered to a single
track (the Audio track).
The style is disabled,
which also mutes the 5 instrument tracks.
11
The Melody and Soloist tracks are disabled (you can

change this status in the File-Save with Patches
dialog box).
The Audio label color turns blue to indicate that the

Song is frozen, and the audio track contains the
arrangement.
Note: Freezing a song cannot be done on a song with an existing audio track. If you
have an audio track and freeze a song, the program will ask you if you want to
permanently erase the audio track, or cancel the operation.
If you want to generate a new arrangement, or change some chords, or

just prefer to work with the song in un-frozen state, choose Play |
UnFreeze song. (or right click on the Combo label at the top left of the
screen).
When you un-freeze a song, the following happens:
- The arrangement on the Audio track is erased.
- The style is enabled.
- The Melody and Soloist tracks are enabled.
- Pressing [Play] will generate the arrangement.
A song can be frozen and unfrozen repeatedly.
Melody Wizard
The QWERTY (or MIDI keyboard) Wizard has been enhanced. Now,
for songs with melodies, there are QWERTY keys (Enter, \ , T, 6) that
trigger 1-4 approach notes from below or above. Notes can be recorded,
to humanize a stiff melody with better timing, and approach notes are
also useful for sight reading, rhythm practice, or performance. Works
with harmonies.
- Octave set: E(40), F(41), G(43)
- Approach notes: B(47),C, D, E A, B, C, D(62)
12
To use the Melody Wizard, make sure the Keyboard Wizard

is enabled on the main screen.
This will also enable the MIDI Wizard on the QWERTY keys.
If you also want to use the Melody Wizard on MIDI notes, go to
Preferences [Transpose] and enable Allow Melody Wizard on THRU
part in the Settings for transposing songs when loaded or Do it
Now dialog.
*.MGU
Then, choose a song that has a Melody track.

Mute the Melody track by right clicking on the Melody
track (Alt+9).
Play the song.
ENTER or \
As you play the song, you can use the Enter key or the \
key (or T or 6 above the T) to play Melody notes.
W,E,R,T
These will be approach notes up to the melody. You can

start on any note.
Q,E,R,T
Starting on a Q instead of W will use wider voicings for

approach notes.
I,U,Y,T
These will be approach notes down to the melody. Start

on any note.
O,U,Y,T
Starting on an O instead of I will use wider voicings for

approach notes.
The RealTracks dialog is improved with additional information.

The Assign RealTracks to Track dialog has new columns with
information for Stereo status, Set number, RealCharts status, and artist
name.
The Set # Column ranges from 1 to 38. Each RealTracks set has 4-5
RealTracks
The Stereo Column displays Mn (Mono) or St (Stereo)
The RealCharts column displays N for RealNotation, and Gt for
RealGuitar charts. RealNotation charts show notation for the RealTracks,
and RealGuitar charts also show accurate Guitar tablature and on-screen
guitar display.
13
The Artist column displays the name of the Artist who performed on the
RealTracks. Note that there is an Artist Bio window, which enlarges if
you click on it.
The RealTracks dialog can now list styles and demo songs that use
the RealTracks.
The songs or styles can be loaded in easily by menu, and played within
the dialog.
Select a RealTrack, and then press the [Song
Demo] button, to see a list of song demos in
the \bb\RealTracks Demos folder. A menu
appears, and the song loads in when you
select the song.
Pressing the [Style Demo] button will display a menu of styles that use
the selected RealTracks, including styles that you dont have (which are
marked as N/A)
The loaded files can be played and stopped within the dialog.
RealTracks Improved Arrangements
- Ability to have a delay in RealTracks track programmed into a style.
- Ability to have a delay in RealTracks track programmed into a song.
These allow you to make a song or style with a more laid-back feel
for a certain RealTracks for example,
- Better soloing and rhythm playing, which are influenced by the key
signature as well as the chords.
- Better playing of slash chords in some situations.
14
- Option for a Simpler arrangement on some RealTracks, which avoid

embellishments.
- Feature for fills, turnarounds, post fills and odd/even bars to be at the
right place
- Better playing on the V chord, since it is usually played as a V7
chord. Options added to allow a RealTrack to treat the V7 chord as a V
(useful in rock styles), or to treat all 7th chords as major triads (useful in
blues)
- Improved handling of Caug, Cmaug, and C7+ chords
- RealTracks, more fluid playing for complex (Jazz) chords like
C7b9b13
- RealTracks shots improved.
Improved RealDrums at Certain Tempos
When RealDrums are tempo-stretching, they now favor the speeding up
a slower tempo more often, resulting in a better sounding Drums track.
(Threshold changed from 10% to 4%)
For example, if a song has a tempo of 150, and there are drum files
available at tempos of 130 and 160. The tempo of 160 would need to be
slowed by 6%, the tempo of 130 needs to speed up by 15%. Since the
slow down threshold is now 4%, the tempo of 130 will be chosen, and
will be tempo stretched up to 150
RealDrums made by you (or others) that are added by you to the
RealDrums folder now appear in the RealDrums Picker dialog.
This happens automatically. Any added folder will appear in the list in
the RealDrums Picker dialog.
Technical Tip: Some of the columns for added drum styles will have ? marks for
:<Time Signature>, <feel (even /swing)>, <8ths or 16ths>, <Genre1>, <Genre2>,
<Tempo Low> and <Tempo High>
You can supply this information by editing the file c:\bb\drumstyleinfo2.txt, and adding
a line like this, that fills in the fields as listed above. Make sure to save a backup of
this file, since PG Music updates might replace it.
BluesShuffle^=4,Sw,8,Blues,Rock,100,130
Display Patch Names in Notation

Patch names can be displayed in notation, lead sheet, and printout.
The patch number is displayed at any bar number that has a patch
change.
You can disable this option in the Notation Window Options with the
Display Patch names on notation setting.
15
StylePicker List enhanced with separate categories for RealTracks

genres (Jazz, Pop, Country, Bluegrass, Blues). Over 1,000 entries.
Save and Load custom preferences files with your current settings
saved and restored. For example, you can have a preference that
remembers a certain group of songs, notation transpositions, etc. The
Opt. | Return to Factory Settings menu command now saves preferences
to disk, so that the settings can be restored at any time.
Choose the menu item Opt. | Save Preferences As, or Options | Open
Preferences.
MIDI/Audio Driver Setup Dialog Enhanced
The [Audio Settings] button displays the current audio driver and status,
MME/ASIO/ASIO Always On.
The current DXi or VST synth name is displayed in the button that
launches the VST/DXi settings.
Search and Replace can be used with Roman numerals or numbers for
chord names. So you can replace the V chord with V7, or the 5m chord
to 5m7. Since these are remembered between songs, this feature is useful
if you are changing multiple songs.
16
Easy Entry of Section Text In Notation Window

beginning of the current bar as a boxed section text message. For
example, \Hello would put Hello in a boxed section text event.
Typing the \ launches the edit dialog for the section text.
Type the section text that you
want, such as Guitar Solo, and then press Enter.
This text can be entered once per bar. You can use this for section
headings, or even lyrics for a bar-by-bar basis.
Song limit in SongPicker increased from 10,000 to 25,000 songs.
.. and many more!
17
Chapter 4: About RealTracks

What are RealTracks?
PG Musics exclusive RealTracks are live recordings of top studio
musicians. These are not samples, but are full recordings, lasting from
1 to 8 bars at a time, playing along in perfect sync with the other Bandin-a-Box tracks. Since their introduction with Band-in-a-Box 2008, there
has been an explosion of RealTracks development, so that there are now
over 100 different instruments available, with many more in production.
Visit www.pgmusic.com to see the latest releases.
Every version of Band-in-a-Box includes a basic selection of RealTracks,
with many additional sets of instruments available in special PAKs and
as individual add-ons.
In addition to the large number of RealTracks sets available, there have
been many updates and enhancements to their application in Band-in-aBox.
RealTracks replace the MIDI track for an instrument, and can be
controlled just like the MIDI instrument (volume changes, muting etc.).
Best of all, they follow the chord progression that you have entered, so
that you hear an authentic audio accompaniment to your song.
Any Band-in-a-Box instrumental track can be converted to a RealTrack
by right-clicking on the track name and choosing Assign RealTracks
from the menu.
This launches the Assign RealTracks to Track dialog, where

RealTracks instruments are listed and assigned to Band-in-a-Box tracks.
See the following chapter for a complete description of this dialog.
18
Youll see that the track name for parts with RealTracks is colored green,
just as Drums changes to green when RealDrums are used.
This menu also has commands for regenerating the RealTrack (with the
same settings), and for saving it to a .WAV audio file.
Once a RealTrack has been generated you can freeze a songs
arrangement. This converts the song to audio data that plays on the
audio track, while the other tracks are muted.
Use the Play menu commands Freeze Song (to Audio Track) and UnFreeze Song to toggle this feature on and off.
Freeze Song ensures that the song loads and plays quickly, without
having to wait for RealTracks to generate. This feature is useful for
people who are performing, or in other situations where you are happy
with the arrangement and dont want to wait for several RealTracks to
generate. Even a long song with multiple RealTracks can now playback
in a few seconds if you first freeze the arrangement.
RealTracks can also be used in Band-in-a-Box styles, and there is a
special selection of RealTracks styles in the StylePicker dialog with all
Real instruments and no MIDI.
RealTracks can also be generated on the Soloist track.
Configuring RealTracks - RealTracks Settings Dialog
The RealTracks toolbar button opens the RealTracks Settings
dialog. This dialog is also available by pressing the
[RealTracks] button in the Preferences dialog.
19
The RealTracks Settings dialog allows you to Enable/Disable the

RealTracks feature.
RealCharts
Most RealTracks now display notation, i.e. RealCharts, showing the
notes that are being played. Some Guitar RealTracks also show tablature
and an accurate on-screen fretboard guitar display to show what is being
played on guitar.
To see which instruments have RealCharts, visit the Assign RealTracks
to Tracks dialog and sort column 11, Chart. Instruments with an N
or Gt in this column have RealCharts.
- Instruments with Gt in the Chart column have RealCharts with
accurate guitar tab and on-screen guitar fretboard display.
- If the instrument is Acoustic Piano and there is an N in the Chart
column, the instrument has a Jazz piano RealChart.
- The various other instruments with an N (Pedal Steel, Slide Guitar,
Resophonic, Trumpet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax) have RealCharts in
standard notation.
At the top of the screen, if a track has RealTracks, but is
NOT a RealCharts track, then the track name is green.
Real Instrument charts: If a track has a RealChart, the track
name is green and underlined with a short line.
RealGuitar charts: If a track has RealChart, and is a guitar
track with accurate tab and on-screen guitar fretboard
display, then it is green and underlined with a long line.
RealCharts can be saved to MIDI files or Band-in-a-Box songs (MGU).
RealCharts are optional, and are selected in the RealTracks Settings
dialog. Use the RealTracks button or click on [RealTracks] in
the Preferences dialog.
20
; Show RealCharts notation from styles and songs will show

RealCharts that have been generated from styles or songs stored with
RealTracks.
; Show RealCharts notation for Soloists will show RealCharts that
have been generated from the Select Soloist dialog.
; Save RealCharts in MIDI files will save the RealChart to a MIDI
track so you can analyze it in other programs.
; Save RealCharts in BB Songs (MGU) will save the RealChart
MIDI information to the MGU file.
RealTracks Folder
The RealTracks styles are stored in c:\bb\RealTracks (assuming that
c:\bb is your Band-in-a-Box folder).
You can choose an alternate location by pressing on the folder
button and picking an alternate folder. Then, click on the
[Update] button to confirm the new location.
You dont need to visit this folder when using RealTracks; it is used
internally by Band-in-a-Box, so you shouldnt add or remove files from
this RealTracks folder unless you know what youre doing.
21
Applying RealTracks Settings

You can apply an overall Volume
Adjust to the RealTracks. If they are too loud overall, try a Global
Volume Adjust of about -10 dB.
Allow soloing to crescendo can be applied
to some RealTracks to have the intensity of the solo building up, with the
flashiest part of the solos playing as the solo builds.
The [Demos] button displays a menu of song demos with RealTracks in

the bb\RealTracks Demos folder.
[Assign to Track] launches the Assign RealTracks to Track dialog,
where RealTracks instruments are listed and assigned to Band-in-a-Box
tracks.
Save the new settings you have made in this dialog by pressing the
[Update] button. Most changes will take effect the next time you press
[Play].
The installation routine for Band-in-a-Box usually installs (decompresses)
the audio files to WAV files. If you decided not to decompress them
during the installation, you can press the [Install] button to complete that
process by decompressing any WMA/MP3 files in the RealTracks folder
that do not have a .WAV file, or that have an older .WAV file.
The small button to the right of the [Install] button installs .WAV files
for a single folder. This will search the selected folder and find .WMA
files that can be expanded to .WAV files.
The [Archive] button will erase the .WAV files in the RealTracks folder
when there is a smaller .WMA file available. The .WAVs can be
restored at a later time by pressing the [Install] button.
The small button to the right of the [Archive] button archives .WAV
files for a single folder. This will search the selected folder and
find .WAV files that can be erased because a .WMA file with the same
name also exists. [Install] will restore the .WAV file.
22
[Defaults] sets RealTracks Settings back to default settings.

Press [OK] to make your selection and exit the RealTracks Settings
dialog.
Press [Cancel] to exit the RealTracks Settings dialog without making
any changes. To see the [Cancel] button, it may be necessary to
expand the window by maximizing it or dragging down the lower
border.
23
Chapter 5: Using RealTracks

There are many new RealTracks instruments available to use in Band-ina-Box, and there are several new features available for working with
them. Many are found in the Assign RealTracks to Tracks dialog.
Assign RealTracks to Track Dialog

This dialog assigns a RealTracks instrument to any of the Band-in-a-Box
instrumental tracks. It also shows any RealTracks that are assigned to
Band-in-a-Box tracks.
This dialog is launched by

1. Right-clicking on an instrument name at the top of the Band-in-a-Box
main screen and choosing Assign RealTracks in the menu.
24
- or 2. Press the [Assign to Track] button in the RealTracks Settings

dialog.
The dialog allows you to assign a specific RealTracks instruments to a

track in a song. It also displays the current RealTracks that are assigned
to each track.
RealTracks can either be assigned from the style or from the song. This
dialog allows you to assign the ones in the song.
Tip: RealTracks in styles are assigned in the StyleMaker. Press the [Misc.] button or
use the StyleMaker menu command Style | Misc. Settings to go to the Misc. Style
Settings dialog, then click on the [More] button for the More Settings dialog.
To use the dialog, first select the track that you want to assign. Then,
select the RealTracks that you want in the list below it.
The list can be sorted by clicking on any column heading. As well as
Name, Instrument, Type (Rhythm or Soloist), Feel (Even or Swing),
Tempo, Genre, and Number there are more columns with additional
information about each RealTrack instrument.
25
- The N/A column shows N/A for RealTracks that you have not
installed yet or havent purchased, if Show RealTracks that are N/A
is checked.
- Set is the number of the RealTracks set that includes the instrument.
- The Stereo column shows whether the instrument playback is stereo
or mono.
- Instruments with an N or Gt in the Chart column will display the
RealTrack in notation.
- The Artist column has the name of the musician playing on the
RealTrack instrument. See the Artist Bio box for information about
the player.
Memo field - This describes the currently selected RealTracks style,
and includes some useful tips, such as a suggested tempo range and
Band-in-a-Box styles to use it with.
Artist Bio - The RealTracks have been recorded by top studio
musicians. The artist names and bios are displayed for the RealTracks.
Double click here to view the full memo.
User comments - You can enter your own comments about any style in
this field. The comments are saved in RTUserMemos.txt
Use the song and style demos to audition
RealTracks.
The [Song Demo (MGU)] button will
display a list of songs in the bb\RealTracks
Demos folder that use the selected
RealTrack instrument. Click on the song name and then press the [Play]
button to hear it.
The [Style Demo (.STY)] button shows a list of styles that use the
currently highlighted RealTracks instrument. Clicking on a style name
will load the style into the current Band-in-a-Box song. Press [Play] to
hear your current song played with the RealTracks style that you want to
audition.
[Defaults] sets the dialog to default values.
[Settings] launches the RealTracks Settings dialog.
The [Save Style] button saves the current style, but with
RealTracks assigned to the style equal to the current songs RealTracks.
26
The volumes used in the style will match the volumes set on the main
screen in Band-in-a-Box (compared to a default of 90). For example, if
you set the bass volume to 40, the Style will be saved with a negative
decibel (dB) setting, so that it will playback at a quieter volume (when all
volumes are set to 90).
[Audition (WMA)] and [+] buttons play a short
WMA file demo of the currently selected RealTracks, without affecting
the currently loaded song in Band-in-a-Box. The [Audition WMA]
button plays a solo file, and the [+] button plays a file in context with a
band.
The [None] button sets the current track to no RealTracks
assigned for the song.
This sets all RealTracks for the song to None. It will also
optionally disable RealTracks present in the style for this song.
Select Disable
RealTracks for this track (Force this track to MIDI) if you want to have
no RealTracks instrument for this track, even if the style specifies a
RealTrack.
Since RealTracks are add-on purchases for
Band-in-a-Box, your version may not contain all RealTracks. Selecting
the Show RealTracks that are N/A checkbox will show you all
available RealTracks.
Tip: Opt. | What add-ons do I have? will tell you what RealTracks sets you have.
Some RealTracks have variations available,

such as the Acoustic Jazz Bass, which has variations that play in 2
only, in 4 only, or in 2and 4 (for a and b substyles). Normally
you will want to Show RealTracks Variations.
A filter is available. Type a filter
text, (e.g., bass) and press [Update]
and you will then see the list filtered to show only RealTracks that have
the word bass somewhere in the title, memo, genre, etc. Pressing [Show
All] will cancel the filter, and show all RealTracks again.
[Generate Track] will generate a RealTracks
instrument on the currently selected track.
27
This button will close the dialog, and assign the RealTracks
instrument to the current track. Then, when play is pressed, the
RealTrack will generate.
Once a RealTrack has been generated you can freeze a songs
arrangement. This converts the song to audio data that plays on the
audio track while the other tracks are muted.
Use the Play menu commands Freeze Song (to Audio Track) and UnFreeze Song to toggle this feature on and off.
This ensures that the song loads and plays quickly, without having to
wait for RealTracks to generate. This feature is useful for people who
are performing, or in other situations where you are happy with the
arrangement, and dont want to wait for several RealTracks to generate.
Even a long song with multiple RealTracks can now playback in a few
seconds if you first freeze the arrangement.
28
Chapter 6: Other New Features

Melody Wizard
The QWERTY (or MIDI keyboard) Wizard has been enhanced. Now, for
songs with melodies, there are QWERTY keys (Enter, \ , T, 6) that
trigger 1-4 approach notes from below or above. The notes can be
recorded, to humanize a stiff melody with better timing, and approach
notes also useful for sight reading, rhythm practice or to perform. Works
with harmonies
- Octave set: E(40), F(41), G(43)
- Approach notes: B(47), C, D, E A, B, C, D(62)
To use the Melody Wizard, make sure the Keyboard Wizard
is enabled on the main screen.
This will also enable the MIDI Wizard on the QWERTY keys.
If you also want to use the Melody Wizard on MIDI notes, go to
Preferences [Transpose] and enable Allow Melody Wizard on THRU
part in the Settings for transposing songs when loaded or Do it
Now dialog.
*.MGU
Then, choose a song that has a Melody track.

Mute the Melody track by right clicking on the Melody
track (Alt+9).
Play the song.
29
ENTER or \
As you play the song, you can use the Enter key or the \
key (or T or 6 above the T) to play Melody notes.
W,E,R,T
These will be approach notes up to the melody. You can start

on any note.
Q,E,R,T
Starting on a Q instead of W will use wider voicings for

approach notes.
I,U,Y,T
These will be approach notes down to the melody. Start on

any note.
O,U,Y,T
Starting on an O instead of I will use wider voicings for

approach notes.
Notation Enhancements
Display Patch Names on Notation
When this box is checked in the Notation Window Options, the patch
name for the track is displayed on the notation, lead sheet, and printout.
Easy Entry of Section Text on Notation Window

beginning of the current bar as a boxed section text message. For
example, \Hello would put Hello in a boxed section text event.
Typing \ launches the edit dialog for the section text.
Type the section text that you want, such as Guitar Solo, and then
press Enter.
30
This text can be entered once per bar. You can use this for section
headings, or even lyrics for a bar by bar basis.

Chords may be edited in the Audio Chord Wizard with a right mouse
click on the chord. When Edit Chord is selected, a highlight cell opens
at the chord location. Type in the name of the new chord using standard
Band-in-a-Box chord entry characters and press the Enter key to make
the edit.
Individual edits can be removed with
the Remove Chord Edit command, or
all edits in the song can be removed
with the Remove All Chord Edits
command.
Part markers, chord symbols, key signature, and tuning setting are saved
in Band-in-a-Box, and are passed back and forth to the Chord Wizard.
And more
Save and Load Custom Preferences files, with your current settings
saved and restored. Return to Factory Settings now saves Preferences
to disk, so that the settings can be restored at any time.
MIDI Driver Dialog Enhanced. The [Audio Settings] button displays
the MME/ASIO/ASIO Always On status. The name of the current VST
or DXi is displayed on the [VST/DXi Synth Settings] button.
Search and Replace can be used with Roman Numerals or numbers for
chord names, so you can replace the V chord with V7, or the 5m chord
with 5m7. Since these are remembered between songs, it is useful if you
are changing multiple songs.
31
PG Music Inc.
Band-in-a-Box
is protected by copyright and is the property of

PG Music Inc. and its licensors.
Copyright 1989-2009 PG Music Inc.
All rights reserved.
PG MUSIC INC.
29 Cadillac Avenue
Victoria, BC V8Z 1T3
Canada
Contacts:
E-mail: info@pgmusic.com
Phone: toll free in the United States and Canada
1-800-268-6272, 1-888-PG-MUSIC (746-8742),
Or 1-250-475-2874 (tolls apply)
Universal International Freephone Service:
Outside of the United States and Canada (where available).
+ 800-4PGMUSIC (800-4746-8742)
Fax: toll free in the United States and Canada
1-877-475-1444,
Or 1-250-475-2937 (tolls apply)
Technical Support:
Phone: toll free in the United States and Canada
1-866-9TECHPG (866-983-2474),
Or 1-250-475-2708 (tolls apply)
E-mail: support@pgmusic.com
Live Internet Chat: www.pgmusic.com
Be sure to visit the FAQ pages at www.pgmusic.com for information about known
troubleshooting issues as well as the latest technical support bulletins.
32
PG Music Inc.

Band in A Box Manual

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Version 2009 for Windows

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CHAPTER 2: SUMMARY OF NEW FEATURES

Over 40 New Features

CHAPTER 3: QUICKSTART TUTORIAL

CHAPTER 4: ABOUT REALTRACKS

CHAPTER 5: USING REALTRACKS

Assign RealTracks to Track Dialog

CHAPTER 6: OTHER NEW FEATURES

Audio Chord Wizard Enhanced

Congratulations on your purchase of

Over 40 new features, including RealCharts, enhanced

Chapter 2: Summary of New Features

Chapter 2: Summary of New Features

- Better playing on the V chord, since it is usually played as a V7

Chapter 3: QuickStart Tutorial

Chapter 3: QuickStart Tutorial

- Instruments with Gt in the Chart column have RealCharts with

; Show RealCharts notation from styles and songs will show

Artist Names and Bios for RealTracks

Chapter 3: QuickStart Tutorial

Click on the More information here button for more information

or right click on the Combo label for the same command.

The style is disabled,

which also mutes the 5 instrument tracks.

Chapter 3: QuickStart Tutorial

The Melody and Soloist tracks are disabled (you can

The Audio label color turns blue to indicate that the

If you want to generate a new arrangement, or change some chords, or

Chapter 3: QuickStart Tutorial

To use the Melody Wizard, make sure the Keyboard Wizard

Then, choose a song that has a Melody track.

These will be approach notes up to the melody. You can

Starting on a Q instead of W will use wider voicings for

These will be approach notes down to the melody. Start

Starting on an O instead of I will use wider voicings for

The RealTracks dialog is improved with additional information.

Chapter 3: QuickStart Tutorial

- Option for a Simpler arrangement on some RealTracks, which avoid

Display Patch Names in Notation

StylePicker List enhanced with separate categories for RealTracks

MIDI/Audio Driver Setup Dialog Enhanced

Chapter 3: QuickStart Tutorial

Easy Entry of Section Text In Notation Window

Chapter 3: QuickStart Tutorial

Chapter 4: About RealTracks

This launches the Assign RealTracks to Track dialog, where

Chapter 4: About RealTracks

Chapter 4: About RealTracks

The RealTracks Settings dialog allows you to Enable/Disable the

Chapter 4: About RealTracks

; Show RealCharts notation from styles and songs will show

Applying RealTracks Settings

The [Demos] button displays a menu of song demos with RealTracks in

Chapter 4: About RealTracks

[Defaults] sets RealTracks Settings back to default settings.

Chapter 4: About RealTracks

Chapter 5: Using RealTracks

Assign RealTracks to Track Dialog

This dialog is launched by

Chapter 5: Using RealTracks