User Guide

Chapter 4: The Main Screen

Main Screen Overview

The main screen gives direct access to the major features and program settings of Band-in-a-Box for ease and

convenience during a session. There are five different areas on the main screen.

1 →

2 →

3 →

4 →

5 →

The main screen of Band-in-a-Box with a new, blank song.

1. The Status Bar is used to show program running status messages and path names of the currently loaded song.

2. The Synth Window is the area between the Menu Bar and the Piano Keyboard where Instruments patches are

set and levels are adjusted. It also includes buttons for adding harmonies to the Melody, Thru, or Soloist parts.

3. The Tool Bar area under the Piano Keyboard has buttons for direct access to important program features and

menus. Hold the mouse cursor on any button to see a pop-up hint that describes its function.

4. The Title Window shares the Tool Bar area. In addition to the song title, it includes all the other settings for

the song such as its Key Signature, Tempo, and Chorus settings. To the right of the Title Window are two

floating, dockable toolbars that can be configured by the user.

5. The Chordsheet Area occupies the lower part of the screen. Chord changes for the song are typed into the

numbered bars (cells) in the sheet. “a” and “b” part markers are entered here to switch between the “a” and “b”

Band-in-a-Box substyles. Repeats and endings are also shown.

Personalizing the Main Screen

Band-in-a-Box gives you many options to personalize the main screen.

Screen Layout

The Chordsheet area (or Notation Screen) can be placed at the top of the screen if desired by selecting the “Put

Notation/Chords on Top” from the Window menu or by pressing Ctrl+T. (This is reversed by selecting the same

option.)