Creating midi backing tracks?

I will check it out, band-in-a-box is around $65 and Cakewalk is close to $100, and it looks like this could do a lot more than what I need. (The only question is whether I can figure out how to use it easily, which is where I failed with Jazz++. )

I've not used it (but my step-dad does), but I'm pretty sure Band in the Box will probably be the easiest to use...IIRC you pick a style and select chords/progression, and that's about it. With the midi stuff or notation software, you'll probably have to write out all the music, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but would require a little more work. I use both Lilypond (free) and Finale (not free) notation software to create midi files (which I usually then convert to wav). I've used Jazz++ in the past, but you either need to hook up a keyboard or be comfortable editing midi using track view, which I've done a lot of. I used to use Acid, and I use Reason on occasion. Still, if I needed to create easy backing tracks I'd probably check out BITB if I didn't already own any other software, but it's not free, and I've already got other software so I stick with what I've already got.

I've not used it (but my step-dad does), but I'm pretty sure Band in the Box will probably be the easiest to use.

From what I've looked at so far, what you say is absolutely true. I have downloaded Finale Notepad (free), and eval versions of Noteworthy and Band-In-a-Box.

In noteworthy, I have to put together the chords note by note and then repeat them for each beat, and then put together the notes for the base and drums. I didn't get far. But, it does have the benefit of making me learn notation more :-)

With Band-in-a-box, I could select a predefined rhytm pattern and just plunk down the chord names on a per-measure basis, and I have what I wanted. I still haven't decided to sprint the 70 bucks for it, but I am leaning in that direction..

(Jazz++ was totally out of my league..)