Chapter 2: Summary of New Features

We’ve added over 50 new features to Band-in-a-Box 2024, including...

New Tracks Window
This is similar to tracks window seen in most DAWs, allowing lossless data manipulation of tracks in a familiar environment for DAW users. It includes specific support for making loops and phrases from the RealTracks and RealDrums, so for example, you can select a RealTracks phrase and turn it into a loop.

New MultiPicker Library Window
This is a one-stop-shopping floating window to pick a style and/or any of the 8 track types (RealTracks, RealDrums, Loops, UserTracks, MIDI SuperTracks, Custom MIDITracks, MIDI Soloists, and Melodists). All pickers show a common interface with a similar look and functions for filters, searching, selection. It allows selection and generation of the whole or partial track. Demos, memos, and multi-column information are available for all. You can filter by genre, popular song titles, feel, instruments, and more.

New Chord Progression Builder
This shows you the best next chords at any point, in pop or jazz, and allows you to interactively create your own progression.

Enhanced Bar Settings
The bar settings now support all 24 tracks.
The Bar Settings dialog (F5) is now a floating (non-modal) dialog so can be kept on-screen while you are doing other things.

Enhanced Custom MIDITracks
There are now 829 custom MIDITracks you can use in a song. They can be easily chosen from a tab on the new MultiPicker Library window.
Audio demos are available that demonstrate how custom MIDITracks will sound.
Custom MIDITracks can be generated on any track for the whole track or a specified region.

Floating Windows Everywhere!
Legacy modal dialogs have been redone as non-modal floating windows so they can be used interactively with other functions. These include new floating windows for styles, RealTracks, RealDrums, Loops, UserTracks, MIDI SuperTracks, Custom MIDITracks, MIDI Soloists, Melodists, as well as F5 Bar Settings, Track Settings & Actions and Chord Options dialogs.

Partial Track Generation Now Available for Any Track Type
Partial track generation is now available for any track types including RealDrums, Loops, UserTracks, MIDI SuperTracks, and Custom MIDITracks.

Enhanced Filter by Popular Song Title
This now allows you to filter any of the track types by typing in a name of a popular song, and this will set filters for genre, feel (even/swing), tempo, and time signature.

Setting Favorites Available for All 8 Track Types
Previously, favorites were available for RealTracks and RealDrums only. Now, favorites are also available for Loops, UserTracks. MIDI SuperTracks, Custom MIDITracks, Melodists, and MIDI Soloists.

Filter by Style’s Feel, Genre, Tempo, etc. for Any Track Type
You can filter the list of any track type by feel, genre, tempo, and/or time signature of the current style.

Convenient Track Settings Panel Available
This is available for any track types in the MultiPicker Library window, allowing you to make track settings directly via a common interface.

Enhanced MIDI Soloists
The MIDI Soloist can be picked from a floating window with many new filters.
The MIDI Soloist can generate a solo on any track, not just the Soloist track, for the whole track or a specified region.
Audio demos are available for each of the 360 MIDI Soloists in different genres.

Enhanced Melodists
The Melodist can be picked from a floating window with many new filters.
The Melodist can generate a melody on any track, not just the Melody track, for the whole track or a specified region.
Audio demos are available for each of the 209 Melodists in different genres.

Rests, Shots, Holds Now Work for All Tracks
Previously, rests, shots, and holds worked for only 5 tracks (Bass, Piano, Drums, Guitar, and Strings), but now they work for any of the 24 tracks. They can be entered by keystrokes or in the Chord Options dialog.

Support for LyricLab
LyricLab is a third-party program from Joanne Cooper that generates lyrics and chords for songs. Now, the LyricLab text files can be imported into Band-in-a-Box where you can choose a style and generate melodies based on the song chords.

Better Data Validation in Data Input
This allows updating of settings as you type.

Hotkey Additions and Changes
F7 opens the new MultiPicker Library window. Previously, it opened the Track Settings and Actions dialog.
control+F7 opens the Track Settings and Actions dialog.
M return opens the new MultiPicker Library window. Previously, it opened the Set MicroChords dialog.
M M return opens the Set MicroChords dialog.
L L return lets you open a LyricLab file.

Updated Feature
The Feature Browser has been updated to include the latest 2024 features.

… and more!