# Band-in-a-Box — user reviews > 114 indexed App Store user reviews of Band by PG Music Inc., rated 3.80/5 from 34 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/band-in-a-box/id397173717/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/band-in-a-box/id397173717.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 18 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 5 · 2★ 5 · 1★ 3 ## What do users think of Band? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🎵 Excellent for solo musicians and on-the-go practice - ☁️ iCloud integration for seamless file access across devices - 🎹 High-quality RealTracks and realistic accompaniment sounds - 📱 Convenient mobile access to BIAB songs from desktop - 🎯 Intuitive interface for chord entry and song creation - 🔗 Server-based architecture reduces storage requirements - 🎼 Good for arranging jazz standards and practice sessions - ✨ Significant improvement in new 2.0+ versions **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and instability issues - 💾 Critical file saving and loading failures - 🔧 Changes to songs don't apply to playback - 🎚️ Instrument adjustments and muting don't work - 🔌 Requires constant server/WiFi connection for functionality - 🎛️ Limited editing capabilities on mobile device - 📊 Poor voice leading in accompaniments - 🔄 Inconsistent notation generation - ⚠️ Lack of customer support and documentation - 🪟 Screen layout issues on iPhone devices - 🎵 RealTracks sound synthesized and poor quality - 🔐 Difficult setup process with IP address configuration - 📉 Abandoned development for Mac users - ⏸️ Playback sync issues with chord display **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes when saving songs - Changes to chords, styles, and form not applied to playback - Cannot generate RealTracks, only MIDI output - Notation feature shows whole bar rests instead of arrangements - Playback sync lag with chord display (2+ measures behind) - Cursor position out of range during playback - App freezes when touching song title area - Files not saving to local storage or Files app - Song data loss after updates - Instrument settings not persisting - Server connection failures and timeouts - Transpose function disappeared in recent updates - Style gets stuck and won't change - Inconsistent RealTracks generation - Pick server option missing in some versions - Screen controls hidden on iPhone due to notch design - App doesn't rotate to landscape mode **Most requested features** - Loop function for specific song segments - Transpose functionality for practice in all keys - Multiple chords per measure entry - Ability to change key automatically for transposing instruments - Mute individual instruments - Change instrument types (electric to acoustic) - Adjust instrument volume levels - Go To and Loop conductor features - Change number of choruses on mobile device - Landscape orientation support - Offline editing capabilities without server connection - Manual and comprehensive documentation - Export to email and messaging apps - Better Mac OS compatibility - Rotate portrait orientation 180 degrees - Standalone functionality without desktop BIAB required ## Newest reviews (16 of 114) ### 2/5 — Unintuitive *2026-05-14, version 2.0.6* I can’t get it to accept “Em7,A7” in one measure so I’m giving up (IPhone user) ### 2/5 — K *2025-10-02, version 2.0.6* Downloaded 2.0.6 ver . Will not play/ generate realtracks, only midi. The pick server option is missing. Would love to use , has many other useful features but the midi audio is a non starter. ### 2/5 — Really?? *2025-09-28, version 2.0.6* Unless I’m missing something, and I truly hope that I am, it is NOT possible to enter two chords (or more) into a measure. I find it hard to believe that they would release this without this most basic of chord entry options. I called PGMUSIC and received no help whatsoever. The person I spoke to had no answer and promised me a call back from someone familiar with the app. This never happened. So for now the app sits in a “waiting for updates” folder on my iPad. Please tell me that there is a way to do this and I will immediately update my review. Hoping for the best. ### 3/5 — Wanted to like it. *2025-09-07, version 2.0.5* So what it’s doing sounds good when you generate. Problem is, once it generates none of the instruments will adjust, or mute, you can’t change say the guitar (or any of the other instruments)from electric to acoustic ect. I know how to do it, but nothing happens when changes are made. Which kinda makes this un-usable. Needs an update to get the bugs out. ### 2/5 — Styles broken? *2025-08-27, version 2.0.5* It will constantly get stuck on a style and then not change what it’s playing even if I go in and change chords it will just play this sequence over and over ### 3/5 — Fools Ya! *2025-06-09, version 2.0.4* The demos of Real Instrument tracks are awesome! But don’t get too excited, because when you load them they sound nothing like the demo. The instrument quality sounds synthesized and the balances are poor. I have dabbled with BitB for years and it always comes up short. I thought Real Tracks finally made it useable, but it doesn’t. I suppose it’s good for quick ideas , because it’s pretty easy to use. But don’t count on using it to create anything you want to be proud of. Because it sounds pretty cheesy. ### 2/5 — Mr Dantzie *2025-05-17, version 2.0.3* Can bias include looping bars feature, and transposing facility for transposing instruments? Also to be able to change key automatically for practice purposes? ### 2/5 — Unstable *2025-04-28, version 2.0.3* This app is super promising but it lacks stability. I’d sometimes save your song and most of the time it appears to be working fine but not really saving the file anywhere (local/files app). There’s vast variety of great genres, great realistic accompaniment, but it’s frustrating how much time is wasted after losing all your work. ### 2/5 — Doesn’t save or load existing songs properly *2025-04-12, version 2.0.3* Just lost most of my song. When reloading it from the saved file, most of the chords beyond bar 40 are gone, total count gone, tempo gone. This is buggy AF. ### 3/5 — Notation has bugs/issues *2025-04-09, version 2.0.3* I am very happy with this app EXCEPT for the notation feature, it works very seldomly. Sometimes it’ll show the arrangement score, but most of the time regenerating only shows whole bar rests. This is my favourite feature as someone learning to make arrangements so PLEASE fix the inconsistency! ### 4/5 — How to *2025-03-12, version 2.0.3* Great app S a long time user on p.c. I find this a great partner on my iPad but need the manual and how do I get the paid version and some info on it ### 2/5 — Crashes During Saves *2025-02-04, version 2.0.1* Has a lot of promise, but seems very buggy. Unable to save songs. ### 3/5 — Keeps crashing when saving using files app… *2025-01-14, version 2.0.1* Songs are stuck inside app…tried on three devices…crashes when saved to files app…won’t export either…will import from files app from iCloud or iPad..won’t save to either. Frustrating. Not showing option under export to open in email or message either. Tried on several iPads and iPhones from newest os 18…back to Os 17 and 16…please advise. Will check back. App has enormous potential. ### 3/5 — Lost my song data, but it mostly works *2025-01-03, version 2.0.1* Current Version 2.0.2: Nice to see the upgraded app with more features, but not nice that my 1.6GB of Band-in-a-Box song song data stored on my device in the most recent 1.0.x version is not accessible from this new version. I was at least able to zip up the .SGU and .MGU files from my computer and import them to my iPad for use with the upgraded app. On the plus side, the display for songs in 3/4 and 9/8 time is now properly in sync with the music. On the down side, the cursor indicating which measure is being played is sometimes out of range of the display. I’ve had the upgraded app crash on me several times. Nevertheless, the app mostly works and can be a fun practice companion. ### 3/5 — Congratulation *2024-12-07, version 2.0.1* This is a great app , after so many delay for this new change and recreating a new format ( after that old Stone Age app we have it and but only was an icon on the iPad and not any more ) . Now It is good . I have already a little experiences with this , this as a software on the Windows OS , really this is a Giant , I couldn’t believe how was possible , why could this software have other old and bad form app for iOS . But now , yes the new change came on . Best regards Koohi ### 5/5 — Intuitive versatile app *2024-12-06, version 2.0.0* PG outdid itself with the release of this new IOS app version! Every BIAB user MUST try this product. All the essential features at your fingertips in a compact, user friendly interface. Beautiful graphics, high quality recordings, no bugs or crashes. Great job! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Can’t change style or form *2025-12-19, version 2.0.6* For some reason this product has gone from being a fantastic tool to complete rubbish. I have been a user of BIAB on Windows for a while and have found it to be a great songwriting aide. I recently downloaded the iOS version for my iPad a few months back and was happily using it until today when all of a sudden it has gone nuts. None of the changes I make to a file get applied to playback. No changes means chords, styles, form…nothing! The product has basically become useless. Such a pity…. ### 1/5 — Great for what it is, if not for the bugs *2025-06-17, version 2.0.5* When I first got this app I was delighted. A simple version of BIAB that can be used to jam over progressions. But the bugs ruin it. With the latest update, the ability to transpose has gone away. I use this function to practice improvising in every key. Not anymore, apparently. Of course I can just make songs for every key, but I shouldn’t have to. Even a free version of an app should do what it says it should. ### 1/5 — Keep Trying *2025-01-14, version 2.0.1* Quite simply, the app doesn’t work on my iPad. My SGU’s I loaded from my Mac play instruments that were not programmed in the songs and the volume for the instruments doesn’t work. This could be a great app, it just needs a lot more work. ### 1/5 — Thoroughly shameful *2025-01-01, version 2.0.1* One of the most crashy, buggy, pieces of junk you could possibly have the misfortune to come across. AVOID. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. IT DOES NOT WORK AND YOU WILL LOSE YOUR WORK. When it's fixed, I'll rereview. The Mac version is fine. ### 1/5 — No Mac *2024-10-20, version 1.2.2* Enter IP address for server. What does that mean? Again no Mac Well. I guess they don't know the answer. Otherwise they would answer. So far this app doesn't do anything. You have to have an IP address for some server. But it doesn't say what or where the server is. I guess I'll delete it again until they tell me. Both of their apps seem to have the same problem. I have some friends who know how to create iOS apps maybe they would like a referral. Different person Hello I have a Mac but what does having a Mac have to do with it. Asking me for a server IP is like asking a butterfly for a zip code But since they haven’t answered the first part of this question, they are not likely to answer me either. I think I’ll call band in a box and ask for help. ### 1/5 — Old, unsupported app *2024-08-05, version 1.2.2* I’ve been trying to get some use out of this App but struggling to get it to do anything. Part of the controls are covered by the indent at the top of an iPhone so I don’t knots what’s there but I can’t see anyway to load the songs I have or even to edit the screen that comes up. Totally useless in current format! ### 1/5 — Just a turd *2024-02-28* Could not get it working on the latest iPad ### 1/5 — iPhone *2023-11-27, version 1.2.2* Well the description says that this works on an iPhone but I was unable to see the controls due to the way the iPhone screen is designed. I couldn’t find any way to change the orientation to make the controls visible. I would have to say that this is a definite no go for the iPhone! ### 1/5 — Useless *2023-11-23, version 1.2.2* I have and enjoy using BIAB on my MacBook Pro. Insofar as I have been able to determine, the iPad version is totally useless. I cannot generate original scores with it, nor can I use existing scores from my MacBook Pro on it. ### 1/5 — Useless ditto *2023-11-09, version 1.2.2* Don’t bother. Ditto ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Thanks for great app *2026-03-07, version 2.0.6* This app is great. On my iPhone I can create or access iCloud music on the go with ease. No laptop no iPad. At home I can create on iPhone laptop or iPad. Save songs to iCloud. Access all my songs while I’m out on iPhone. This is great for my solo act. All I carry now are my saxophone Bose S1 and iPhone. BAM! ### 5/5 — Awesome App *2025-10-25, version 2.0.6* I have been a user of the PC version of BIAB for many years (from way back in the days of DOS). I like how they have set up the ios version with the server link to regenerate backing tracks. Took a bit of trial and error to get the hang of the workflow. Good job! ### 5/5 — Review *2025-10-18, version 2.0.6* Band in s Box is a wonderful song and performance app that lets you create your own music the way you want it. It lets you create a style for whatever genre you prefer and create a melody that you prefer. Whenever you type in your chords to be played in whatever key you wish you can generate a song style that you like and create your own song the way you want it. It’s fun and easy to use for your own personal taste in music. Have fun and enjoy. ### 5/5 — I need a Loop function *2025-07-11, version 2.0.5* If I want to practice a specific segment of an entire progression, I hope I could select the segment and press a Loop button to loop the section. Please add the function. ### 5/5 — hopeful *2025-04-19, version 2.0.3* with this new release, this BB version could actually be what I am interested in, though I just tried some realtracks and the voice leading in the accompaniments are as crazy as ever, they don't follow smooth voice leading. For now I leave five stars, these drums sound great. How usable will this app be to pros, as I am, will remain to be seen, but I am hopeful. Let's see how this one turns out. ### 5/5 — What I have been waiting for *2025-04-14, version 2.0.3* Long time user. Started in the 90’s on windows and moved to Mac @2015. All my files and the software maxed my storage so I had to run it on a thumb drive. As a lot of the program is on the server and I have a M1 iPad Pro this is the solution I was hoping for. Tried a sample of all my files and found no issues on day one. This is so much more convenient to use. Got a feeling this will be a subscription, which I hate. We shall see. ### 5/5 — Thanks for great app *2025-02-19* This app is great. On my iPhone I can create or access iCloud music on the go with ease. No laptop no iPad. At home I can create on iPhone laptop or iPad. Save songs to iCloud. Access all my songs while I’m out on iPhone. This is great for my solo act. All I carry now are my saxophone Bose S1 and iPhone. BAM! ### 5/5 — Two Thumbs Up! *2025-02-19, version 2.0.3* I was so excited to see there is a new version of this! The old app was good, but this new one has some great features- it’s amazing! ### 5/5 — Amazing to have this back! *2025-01-27, version 2.0.1* I’m so excited that this is available again! ### 5/5 — Brilliant App *2025-01-27, version 2.0.1* This app is very easy to use and great for arranging jazz standards to practice along with either using the real tracks or midi…. both sound fantastic….highly recommend👍 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*