being a cheapskate i'm trying to put off buying a new pc as long as possible. my C drive is not at bursting point yet and i know i need a certain percentage free for windows 10 to run smoothly.

but how may gigs will i need - as estimated based on previous years - for 2022?

2021 Plus Pak for all new RTs was 7 Gig

Audiophile version or regular? The audiophile drive is 2 TB, of which about 1.6 was used, and most of that is for RealTracks. I can check and be more detailed if needed.

Regular tracks is what I will be downloading and 7 gig will be fine

The 2021 PlusPAK, which includes all the new Realtracks plus the 2021 program is an 11gb download:

https://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.packages.pluspak.htm

Part of that will be files that overwrite the previous program/plugin/etc but most will be the Realtracks. In addition, there needs to be some space for the downloaded files PLUS the files once installed, so I'd factor for ~22gb to give you some wiggle room.

Once everything is installed and install files deleted, MusicStudent is probably correct around 7gb, though I'd factor for more.

i can easily find 22 GB and after installation will still have enough free on the C drive to work comfortably

thanks Simon

Anytime Bob, that's what I'm here for!

There's nothing to stop you putting BiaB on an additional disc, whether USB or internal. For USB, you'll likely need a USB 3.x port on the PC (the ones with the blue tab inside).

Adding a disc inside a desktop machine is usually pretty easy.

Laptops can be less easy, but...
I have a fairly old ASUS notepad that was feeling slow and had pretty much run out of disc space. I replaced the old disc with a new 1TB Samsung EVO SSD, which has breathed a huge amount of new life into the old dog. (It was the notepad I was using when I bought BiaB 2013; dual-core Celeron IIRC).

Bob...all.
if i had the budget i would buy a new desktop with a threadripper processor..(i also like for less money simons intel 11400 idea. just saw a system for 600 buks.)
and slap in it 2 fast ssd's with 32 gigs ram.
one ssd for windows and one for recording projects.

the problem with useing laptops is they are limited
often to one internal ssd, as i found out recently looking for a new laptop for my wife.

i agree with the microsoft project mgr who has a recording studio that desktops are far more flexible,
and offer more expansion possibilities.

bob , before making your next pc buying decision also look at the builders of custom pc's for recording studios....eg adk, purrfect audio, silent pc etc etc.
yes they are 2k or so...but you literally turn the key and away you go. they even install the audio interface etc. their laptops also can have multiple internal ssd's.
i drool when i see those custom built pc's.
blinking fast with huge dsp power...and big trak and
plug in counts.

om

well not a problem any more. the old pc died and i now have a 1 terrabyte ssd and i'm not loading much other than BIAB and RB.

running windows 11 on an Intel core i5 10th gen Comet Lake 6 core processor. i must admit i don't understand the processor spec but the brief to the builder was 'i don't need blistering gaming performance but quite quick would be nice.'

and so it has proven with a relatively inexpensive cpu.

Bob.
if no hassles then your pc guy knows his stuff.
nothing wrong with i5...as long as one dont go plug in crazy with high cpu useage plug ins.
one of my systems here is a i5 refurb/ssd.
its a champ.

one of my ways of knowing a song idea of mine sucks is if i need too many traks and too many plug ins.
an old la producer i met once said its putting lipstick on a pig..lol.

bob is your pc desktop or laptop.

if you have a desktop...put win on one ssd.
and install a second ssd to record to.

where people sometimes encounter probs is they got the kitchen sink running off one drive.
ie win, the net, recording, sample libraries..
and bingo the whole house of cards comes crashing down
at some point as they add more apps and processes.

tis like filling a bath tub of water, sooner or later overflow. ive found giving win its own drive (not a partition) and useing a second drive for recording duties
on big projects keeps things copacetic.

best
om