Upgrade Manual

Chapter 1: Introduction
4
Chapter 1: Introduction
This documentation covers the new features in Band-in-a-Box Version 12.
9 Chapter 2 is a summary of the new features.
9 Chapter 3 is a Quick-Start Tutorial.
9 Chapters 4-12 and Appendix A describe the new features in detail.
The latest version of Band-in-a-Box adds 50 more features.
First off, you'll get the amazing new
“MIDI-file to Style Wizard,”
that
automatically converts a MIDI file (.MID) to a Band-in-a-Box Style (*.STY).
This wizard has plenty of options so you can quickly make your own simple to
advanced styles from a MIDI file without any knowledge of the StyleMaker
required!
Twice as many instruments!
We've added support for
General MIDI 2
standard (GM2)
. This
GM2 support adds 128 new instruments to Band-in-
a-Box styles and songs
, including
ukulele, mandolin, 12-string guitar plus
many new and improved piano, organ, guitar, brass, and string sounds
!
We've made many new styles using the new instruments, and include updated
versions of previous styles.
You'll be hearing the new instruments with
many of your new and existing styles
.
Note: The included Roland VSC3 synth supports the new GM2 instruments, as do
most newer modules/sound cards. If yours doesn't, a similar instrument from the
existing 128 General MIDI sounds will be substituted.
We've
enhanced the Guitar Window by adding fret display support for
other instruments, including mandolin, ukulele, and banjo
. You'll see
authentic chord voicings and melody display on the fretboard for all of these
new instruments. The StyleMaker has been enhanced with support for GM2
instruments, so you can make styles that use the new instruments and have
correct instrument voicings displayed on the fretboard. We've also added an
option for standard
guitar chord diagrams
to be included in the notation
display, leadsheet, and printout. Choose from
Folk, Pop, or Jazz Guitar
Chord Diagrams.
Bass players will now see bass tablature and
correctly displayed bass parts on
the new
bass fretboard.
The program’s
user interface has been enhanced
, with a
single dialog for all
program options and song settings
,
right mouse support
,
simplified menu,
additional
hot keys
and more.
All of the styles are enhanced!
We've improved and updated
EVERY
Band-
in-a-Box style that we’ve made with the newest StyleMaker features including
guitar and other fretted instrument voicings, consistent volume levels, edited