Sales FAQ:
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Last updated:  Tuesday, 20 December 2011

1. How can I order from PG Music?
2. Do you have any product demos available?
3. Is it true that you offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of your products?
4. What shipping methods do you offer? Is there a download-only option?
5. Are all of your products available for download (electronic delivery)?
6. Do you ship overseas?
7. If I choose to download the program, do I still get shipped a hard copy of the software and documentation?
8. What is Band-in-a-Box?
9. What are the differences between RealBand, Band-in-a-Box, and PowerTracks Pro Audio?
10. What new features are there in the latest version of Band-in-a-Box for Windows?
11. What new features are there in the latest version of Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh?
12. What is the difference between Band-in-a-Box Pro and the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK?
13. What is the difference between the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK, UltraPlusPAK, and EverythingPAK? (Windows)
14. What is the difference between the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK, UltraPAK, and UltraPlusPAK? (Macintosh)
15. Do you offer upgrades from previous versions of Band-in-a-Box?
16. Can I upgrade from Band-in-a-Box Pro to the MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPlusPAK, or EverythingPAK?
17. If I purchased the last MegaPAK/UltraPAK/UltraPlusPAK/EverythingPAK version, do I need to order the new MegaPAK/UltraPAK/UltraPlusPAK/EverythingPAK Upgrade?
18. I purchased Band-in-a-Box for Mac/Atari and now I want to run it on a PC. Is there a "crossgrade" that I can purchase?
19. I purchased Band-in-a-Box for Windows, and I now want to run it on a Mac. Is there a "crossgrade" that I can purchase?
20. What is RealBand?
21. How do I get RealBand?
22. Can I load my Band-in-a-Box and PowerTracks Pro Audio files into RealBand?
23. Are songs that I create with Band-in-a-Box or RealBand copyrighted?
24. How do I know if Band-in-a-Box will be able to create an accompaniment in my style of interest?
25. I hate installing programs, and just want to plug and play. I also want the best Band-in-a-Box and RealBand version that you have, with everything pre-installed.
26. What is the difference between the Band-in-a-Box and RealBand EverythingPAK and the PG Music OmniPAK for Windows?
27. What is PowerTracks Pro Audio?
28. What new features are there in the latest version of PowerTracks Pro Audio?
29. 29. What is the difference between PowerTracks Pro Audio, the PowerTracks Pro Audio PowerPAK and the PowerTracks Pro Audio MultiPAK? What are the MultiTracks?
30. What is the Roland VSC?
31. What are the recommended system requirements for your products?
32. Do you offer technical support after I purchase the program?
33. Why is the price of your products so low?
34. Are your prices in US dollars?
35. Do I need to be a musician to use your products?
36. Do you offer special academic pricing for school systems?
37. Is it safe to use a credit card over the internet?
38. Are your products available from any local dealers?
39. How can I register my software?
40. I placed an order, but didn't receive an email confirmation.
41. Can I purchase a complete User's Guide for my program?
42. What types of files can Band-in-a-Box and PowerTracks Pro Audio songs be saved as?
43. Can I view music notation and print out lead sheets with Band-in-a-Box?
44. Can I burn audio CD's containing my Band-in-a-Box, RealBand, or PowerTracks Pro Audio compositions?
45. Do any of your products convert audio files to midi?
46. I just placed an order, but I am unable to download the software. What should I do? (Windows products)
47. I just placed an order, but I am unable to download the software. What should I do? (Macintosh products)
48. Why can't I play the videos on your website?
49. I placed an order for the Roland VSC but your site won't let me download it.
50. What languages are your programs available in?
51. Can I purchase the English Band-in-a-Box 2010 upgrade if I have a previous localized (non-English language) Band-in-a-Box version.
52. Is Band-in-a-Box compatible with PowerPC and Intel Macs?
53. Can I use the Windows version of Band-in-a-Box and other Windows products on an Intel-based Mac?
54. When I try to install the program I get a message that the "setup files are corrupted".
55. Common pre-sales questions about RealDrums and RealTracks.
56. What are RealCombos?
57. What is the difference between the "AudioPhile" editions of Band-in-a-Box, and the regular Band-in-a-Box packages?
58. When I try to place an order, it asks me to log into my account. What should I do?
59. Is the latest version of Band-in-a-Box backwards compatible with songs and styles from older versions?

1. How can I order from PG Music?

There are several ways to order from PG Music Inc.

You can place your order online using VISA, MasterCard, or American Express or PayPal. Software is available for immediate download if you order this way. After you place your order, you will receive an email with a link to the download page for your order. Orders can also be paced by calling us 24 hours a day at 1-800-268-6272 or 1-888-PGMUSIC (toll-free in the USA and Canada), 800-4746-8742* (toll-free outside of the USA and Canada), or 250-475-2874 (direct). You can also fax your order to 1-877-475-1444 or 250-475-2937. We have a printable order form that you can use.

Purchase Orders can be faxed to 250-475-2946, or emailed to marketing@pgmusic.com.

If you do not have a credit card, you may also pay by bank wire transfer or US Cheque or Money Order. If you have any questions about the payment method, please contact one of our customer service representatives by phone, by email at sales@pgmusic.com, or via our Live Online Chat.

*Where Universal International Freephone service is available. View International Access Codes.

2. Do you have any product demos available?

We don't have demo programs for Band-in-a-Box and RealBand available for download currently since the programs are quite large with all the RealTracks and RealDrums, however we do have a 30 day money-back guarantee on all of our products. You can watch our video demonstrations at our Band-in-a-Box for Windows and Band-in-a-Box for Mac demo pages. You can also listen to hundreds of audio demos of Band-in-a-Box at our RealTracks pages ( Windows | Mac ), and Band-in-a-Box Add-ons pages ( Windows | Mac ). There are other videos available here.

3. Is it true that you offer a 30-day money back guarantee on your products?

Yes! We offer an unconditional 30-day money back guarantee on all products purchased directly from us. If for any reason you decide that the product is not for you, we will refund you the purchase price of the item.

4. What shipping methods do you offer? Is there a download-only option?

We offer standard shipping in conjunction with the free instant electronic delivery. If you prefer not to have anything shipped to you, select 'electronic delivery' (this option will be available unless you are ordering a hardware product). If you would like a physical copy of your order shipped, choose your preferred shipping method. You will still be able to download the software. We provide two methods of shipping: Postal shipping, and Courier Shipping. Our standard courier is United Parcel Service (UPS). Note: If delivery is to a PO Box or to a US military address, shipping by UPS is not available.

Hard drive versions of Band-in-a-Box: Some of the larger Band-in-a-Box and RealBand packages are shipped via UPS on a USB hard drive. If you order online you'll be able to download the main Band-in-a-Box program, however the RealTracks files are not available for download by default. This is because most people wouldn't want to download over 80GB of files, and UPS shipping is very fast. However you can contact us if you DO want to download some of these files while waiting for your hard drive to arrive.

Software Shipping Charges - USA/Canada

Postal Orders - $5 US - Delivery in 7-14 days (Longer times during peak seasons)

UPS Express - $15 US - Delivery next business day

Software Shipping Charges - Outside USA/Canada (International)

Postal Orders - $10 US - Delivery in 7-14 days (Longer times during peak seasons)

UPS Express - $20 US - Delivery within 3 business days

Hard Drive Shipping Charges - USA/Canada

UPS Express - $15 US - Delivery within 2-5 business days

Hard Drive Shipping Charges - Outside USA/Canada (International)

UPS Express - $25 US - Delivery within 2-7 business days

Hardware Shipping Charges - USA/Canada. Note: All hardware products are shipped by Courier.

UPS Standard (Canada only) - $10 US - Delivery within 10 business days

UPS Express - $15 US * - Delivery next business day (*Note: TC Helicon Voiceworks costs $25.00 for UPS Express delivery)

Hardware Shipping Charges - Outside USA/Canada (International)

UPS Express - $25 US*- Delivery in 3 to 5 business days (*Note: TC Helicon Voiceworks costs $50.00 for UPS Express delivery)

5. Are all of your products available for download (electronic delivery)?

Yes, PG Music software is available for immediate download when you order online, and you will have the option of downloading your software even if you choose a physical shipping method. The Audiophile version is the one exception - it is only available on hard drive due to the large size of the uncompressed audio files. Also, third party software, such as Finale, is not available for download.

6. Do you ship overseas?

Yes, we can ship anywhere in the world that is served by post or an international carrier.

7. If I choose to download the program, will I still get shipped a hard copy of the software and documentation?

If you would like to receive a physical copy of the software and printed documentation, just choose one of the shipping options available, and not electronic delivery. You will still be able to download the program, but you will also receive your order by the shipping method you selected.

8. What is Band-in-a-Box?

Band-in-a-Box is an intelligent automatic accompaniment program. You can hear and play along to many song ideas and go from "nothing" to "something" in a very short period of time with Band-in-a-Box as your "on demand" backup band. Just type in the chords for any song using standard chord symbols (like C, Fm7 or C13b9), choose the style you'd like, and Band-in-a-Box does the rest. Band-in-a-Box automatically generates a complete professional quality arrangement of piano, bass, drums, guitar and strings in a wide variety of styles.

9. What are the differences between RealBand, Band-in-a-Box, and PowerTracks Pro Audio?

Band-in-a-Box is an intelligent automatic accompaniment and arranging program, which means that you can go from nothing to complete song arrangements in as little as a few seconds. Simply enter chords to a song, choose a style of music, and Band-in-a-Box generates a full band arrangement complete with Bass, Piano, Drums, Guitar, Strings, and more.

Band-in-a-Box can generate MIDI tracks, which are played through a MIDI synthesizer and displayed in notation, and it can also generate RealTracks and RealDrums, which are intelligently compiled from audio recordings of musicians playing real instruments.

Band-in-a-Box has many other amazing intelligent features such as automatic Harmonies, Ear training modules, the Soloist (which generates professional quality solos over any chord progression), and the Melodist (which can create entire original songs from scratch with Chords, Melodies, Intros, and Solos).

PowerTracks Pro Audio is a professional, fully featured, 48 track digital audio and MIDI sequencer. This program allows you to assemble music layer by layer and track by track using MIDI or digital audio, or a combination of the two. Unlike Band-in-a-Box, PowerTracks Pro Audio does not generate any music for you. Instead, it gives you complete control and flexibility to record, edit, mix, and master your music.

You can start from "scratch", recording your MIDI tracks or step-inputting them, and recording digital audio tracks. Or you can work from existing audio and MIDI files that you have imported into the program for further processing. Many people have used Band-in-a-Box in conjunction with PowerTracks, by exporting songs from Band-in-a-Box as MIDI or wave files then importing these files into PowerTracks.

RealBand combines many of the features from PowerTracks Pro Audio and Band-in-a-Box into an all-in-one sequencing program with automatic accompaniment.

As with Band-in-a-Box, you can type in chords to a song, choose a style of music, and it will generate a complete band arrangement that can include MIDI tracks, RealTracks, and RealDrums. Band-in-a-Box and RealBand are compatible with all the same song and style formats, so any style that you use in Band-in-a-Box can also be used in RealBand. Unlike Band-in-a-Box, RealBand does not have many of the additional "intelligent" features, such as the Soloist, Melodist, Harmonist, Vocal Harmonizer, Chord Substitution Wizard, and automatic Melody Embellisher. Developing song ideas and using the program as a educational or practice tool are easier to do and more suited to Band-in-a-Box.

As with PowerTracks, you have complete control over recording and editing your music track by track, as well as mixing and mastering using full-featured Tracks and Mixer Windows. You can 'freeze' your "BB" (Band-in-a-Box) generated tracks then fine-tune them, you can re-generate each track individually or re-generate a range of bars. You can layer as many additional MIDI or audio tracks as you want. You can assign any combination of DX/VST effects to individual tracks, aux busses, or the main output. You can assign different DXi/VSTi synthesizers to individual MIDI tracks. You can merge all your tracks to a single stereo wave file or compressed audio format and burn an audio CD. And you can do ALL of this without ever leaving RealBand!

The latest versions of both Band-in-a-Box and RealBand are included in any Band-in-a-Box first-time purchase or upgrade!

Here is a comparison of some of the features in Band-in-a-Box, RealBand, and PowerTracks Pro Audio.

Feature description	Band-in-a-Box	RealBand	PowerTracks
Intelligent Automatic arrangements using BB (Band-in-a-Box) styles			x
Re-generate a specific range of bars of a BB track	x		na
Re-generate one "BB" track at a time.	x		na
"Freeze" and edit BB generated tracks, save your edits.	x		na
RealTracks support			x
RealDrums support
MIDI recording and editing	2 tracks only	48 tracks	48 tracks
Multi-track digital Audio recording and editing	1 track only, basic editing
Load and play MGU and SGU (Band-in-a-Box song) files			x
DXi and VSTi support
Includes Coyote WaveTable DXi synth			x
Multiple DXi/VSTi synths can be used a single song	x
14 PG DirectX audio effects included
TC Helicon audio/vocal harmonizer		only if you have PowerTracks
Audio Chord Wizard (chords from MP3)
On-screen Guitar and Piano
Powerful and full-featured multi-track Mixer Window	x
Full featured Tracks Window with track overview panels	x
Notation and Lead Sheet windows
Automatic Melody and Solo harmonization		x	x
Soloist (Auto-generate original solos)		x	x
Melodist (Auto-generate original chords, melodies, and complete songs)		x	x
Re-harmonist (Auto-create a chord progression for your melody)		x	x
Automatic Melody embellisher		x	x
StyleMaker		x	x
Hybrid Style Wizard		x	x
Ear Training module and educational music arcade games		x	x
Automatic Soundtrack generator		x	x
Chord Substitution Wizard		x	x
Big lyrics window
Graphical MIDI "Piano Roll" editing window
Merge song to stereo wave file and burn a CD
Display song forms using repeats and 1st/2nd endings		x	x
Practice Window for learning and practicing your instrument		x	x
Software Guitar Tuner
Guitarist (Auto-create original guitar chord solos)		x	x

10. What new features are there in the latest version of Band-in-a-Box for Windows?

With each version upgrade, we add many great new features. With Band-in-a-Box 2012 we've added VST synth support for each track, so you can have multiple synths playing on your songs. You can also use VST Audio Plug-ins (reverb, delay etc.) on each track. Customize over 150 of the Guitar based RealTracks with the new Guitar Amp Simulator (AmpliTube CS). We include "Direct Input" (clean signal) Guitar RealTracks for these, so all of the added effects come from the Guitar Amp Simulator. We've added "Loops" support, so you can add your own, or 3rd party loops to any Band-in-a-Box track.

See all the new features in Band-in-a-Box 2012

For the previous version, Band-in-a-Box 2011.5, we added a new floating Mixer Window, allowing you to quickly set volumes, panning, reverb, tone and patches. There's a new "BB Remote" app for your iPhone®, which can be used as a remote control for the desktop version of Band-in-a-Box 2011.5! We added 101 NEW RealTracks in sets 122-136, including: 70's Soul, Celtic Hornpipes & Slipjigs, Crossover Pop, Gypsy Jazz, Jazz Piano and Organ, Brent Mason Country soloing, Praise & Worship, and much more!

See all the new features in Band-in-a-Box 2011.5

For Band-in-a-Box 2011, we added over 50 new features, including big improvements to the sounds of the RealTracks so that they sound more natural over a much wider range of tempos, using the elastique Pro V2 time stretching engine by zplane.development. These improvements are built-in, so there's nothing you need to do to get it working. Your existing songs will just sound better automatically! Also, we made Android and iPhone® versions of Band-in-a-Box, which connect to your Windows desktop version of Band-in-a-Box 2011 and allows you to generate, play, and save songs on your iPhone®, iPod touch®, iPad™, or Android phone - with the same high quality RealTracks sound! 101 new RealTracks since July 2010, including: Gypsy Jazz, Celtic Jigs & Reels, Calypso, Praise & Worship, Reggae, Brent Mason Guitar, and so much more! See all the new features in Band-in-a-Box 2011

In Band-in-a-Box 2010, we added a new "Plug-in" mode, allowing you to simply Drag-n-Drop tracks between Band-in-a-Box and your favorite sequencer (RealBand, Sonar, Reaper, ProTools, FL-Studio, Nuendo and more). RealTracks generation time was improved, typically 3X faster. RealTracks support for Shots, Holds, and Pushes was added. Endings are improved, and RealTracks endings are now 4 bars long, giving time for the natural decay of the instruments. Individual MIDI or RealTracks can be frozen, so the arrangements can be saved and fixed, and will replay quickly without need for regeneration.

In Band-in-a-Box 2009 - we added 101 NEW RealTracks instruments. We also added RealCharts, which means that most RealTracks now display notation showing the notes that are being played. Some Guitar RealTracks also show tab, and accurate on-screen fretboard guitar display to show what is being played on guitar. The RealCharts can be saved to MIDI file or Songs (MGU). The Audio Chord Wizard was enhanced. Chords may be edited in the Audio Chord Wizard. Part markers, chord symbols, key signature, and tuning setting are saved in Band-in-a-Box, and are passed back and forth to the Chord Wizard.

In Band-in-a-Box 2008 we added RealTracks! There are many Real instruments available, including Real Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Sax, Pedal Steel, Resonator Guitar, Fiddle, Harmonica, and Mandolin to name a few. These tracks can replace the MIDI track in any style, and can be controlled just like the MIDI instrument (volume changes, muting etc.). Best of all, they follow the chord progression that you have entered, so that you hear an authentic audio accompaniment to your song. These are not "samples", but are full recordings, lasting from 1 to 8 bars at a time, playing along in perfect sync with the other Band-in-a-Box tracks. RealTracks can be built in to the style, and would replace either the bass, guitar, piano, or strings part, or they can be generated to the Soloist (or Melody) track using the Soloist feature.

In Band-in-a-Box 2007 we added real audio drums to Band-in-a-Box! RealDrums can replace the MIDI Drum track with real recordings of top studio Jazz/Rock/Country drummers. These are not "samples," but are full recordings, lasting from 1 to 8 bars, playing along in perfect sync with the other Band-in-a-Box tracks. For example, choose a brushes style, and you will now hear lush Jazz brushes. The results are dramatically better than MIDI. We also added an amazing Audio Chord Wizard.

For Band-in-a-Box 2006 we added live intelligent lopping/playback controls, allowing you to move around to sections of the sing with a single keystroke on a QWERTY or MIDI keyboard. This is great when jamming or performing live. We added ASIO and VSTi support.

For Band-in-a-Box 2005 we added a new fully-featured Piano Roll Window, similar to the type found in many sequencer programs. This allows you to edit the Melody or Soloist tracks with greater ease and precision.

For Band-in-a-Box 2004 we rebuilt the program with a 32-bit-clean engine, and enhanced the User Interface with improved menus, floating/dockable toolbars, and more. We also added support for DirectX synthesizers (DXi Instruments), added amazing Audio Vocal Harmony routines, and added support for Repeats/1st/2nd Endings/Codas.

11. What new features are there in the latest version of Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh?

With each version upgrade, we add many exciting new features. For Band-in-a-Box 2011.5, we've added a "Same-But-Different" feature, which ensures that, if you have 2 (or more) of the same RealTracks on different tracks, they will never play the same thing at the same time. There is support for Pedal Bass RealTracks. We've added 101 NEW RealTracks in sets 122-136, including: 70's Soul, Celtic Hornpipes & Slipjigs, Crossover Pop, Gypsy Jazz, Jazz Piano and Organ, Brent Mason Country soloing, Praise & Worship, and much more!

For Band-in-a-Box 2011, we made big improvements to the sounds of the RealTracks so that they sound more natural over a much wider range of tempos, using the elastique Pro V2 time stretching engine by zplane.development. These improvements are built-in, so there's nothing you need to do to get it working. Your existing songs will just sound better automatically!. We added a new Mixer window, allowing you to quickly set volumes, panning, reverb, tone and patches. The Mixer floats on top of the current window, so you can place it wherever it's convenient to make quick and easy adjustments to your Band-in-a-Box track settings. Enhanced RealTracks, so that you can now have RealTracks style changes within a song, generate RealTracks Soloist Medleys. Plus, 101 new RealTracks since July 2010, including: Gypsy Jazz, Celtic Jigs & Reels, Calypso, Praise & Worship, Reggae, Brent Mason Guitar, and so much more!

In Band-in-a-Box 2010, we added 101 RealTracks instruments. We also added RealCharts, which means that most RealTracks display notation showing the notes that are being played. Some Guitar RealTracks also show tab, and accurate on-screen fretboard guitar display to show what is being played on guitar. The RealCharts can be saved to MIDI file or Songs (MGU). The Audio Chord Wizard was enhanced. Chords may be edited in the Audio Chord Wizard. Part markers, chord symbols, key signature, and tuning setting are saved in Band-in-a-Box, and are passed back and forth to the Chord Wizard.

For Band-in-a-Box 2009, we added major new features like RealDrums, RealTracks, and the Audio Chord Wizard....

• RealTracks. We've added additional "Real" instruments, including guitars, piano, bass, saxes, trumpet, trombone, pedal steel, fiddle, banjo, mandolin and many more. These tracks replace the MIDI track for that instrument, and can be controlled just like the MIDI instrument (volume changes, muting etc.). Best of all, they follow the chord progression that you have entered, so that you hear an authentic audio accompaniment to your song.

• RealDrums. RealDrums replace the MIDI Drum track with real recordings of top studio Jazz/Rock/Country drummers. These are not "samples," but are full recordings, lasting from 1 to 8 bars at a time, playing along in perfect sync with the other Band-in-a-Box tracks.

• RealCharts. Many RealTracks can also display notation showing the notes that are being played.

• Audio Chord Wizard. This is one of the all-time most requested features for Band-in-a-Box! The Audio Chord Wizard is the amazing feature that automatically figures out the chords from MP4 files (or other audio files like AIFF, M4A, and audio CD etc.).

• "Direct-to-Disk" Audio Rendering. Audio rendering means converting a song to audio format, usually to an AIFF, M4A or other audio file.

Visit our main Band-in-a-Box page to learn more about the latest new features.

12. What is the difference between Band-in-a-Box Pro and the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK?

Windows:

The Pro and MegaPAK include the same Band-in-a-Box and RealBand program engines, however the MegaPAK includes many more Styles, Soloists, Melodists, RealTracks, and RealDrums. Whereas the Pro version comes with about 200 (MIDI) styles, the MegaPAK comes with about 2000 (MIDI) styles!

Specifically, Band-in-a-Box Pro comes with a basic 'starter' set of Styles, Soloists, Melodists, RealDrums, and RealTracks: It includes MIDI Style Sets 0-3, Soloist Set 1, Melodist Set 1, plus the Pro RealCombos (Over 20 RealTracks, in 6 Bands). RealCombos are full bands of RealTracks and RealDrums instruments (no MIDI) in the same style. For example, the Jazz Swing 140 RealCombo includes 5 Real Instruments (Bass, Piano, Guitar, Sax, and Drums) that play at a medium swing tempo. Essentially, RealCombos allow you to hear *some* full bands of RealTracks without having to get the largest Band-in-a-Box package.

The Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK includes everything that the Pro version has plus a lot more. It includes all of the currently available (MIDI) Style Sets, Soloist Sets (except for the Artist Soloist Series), and Melodist Sets. It also includes the MegaPAK RealCombos (Over 160 RealTracks, in 36 Bands).

Visit our Band-in-a-Box Add-ons page for a complete list of available add-ons. Visit our Band-in-a-Box page to see comparisons of the different Band-in-a-Box and RealBand packages.

Macintosh:

The Pro and MegaPAK include the same Band-in-a-Box program engine, however the MegaPAK includes many more Styles, Soloists, Melodists, RealTracks, and RealDrums. Whereas the Pro version comes with about 200 (MIDI) styles, the MegaPAK comes with about 2000 (MIDI) styles!

Specifically, Band-in-a-Box Pro comes with a basic 'starter' set of Styles, Soloists, Melodists, RealDrums, and RealTracks: It includes Style Sets 0-3, Soloist Set 1, Melodist Set 1, plus the Pro RealCombos. The MegaPAK includes all of the currently available Style Sets, Soloist Sets (except for the Artist Soloist Series), and Melodist Sets. It also includes the MegaPAK RealCombos.

Visit our Band-in-a-Box Add-ons page for a complete list of available add-ons. Visit our Band-in-a-Box page to see comparisons of the different Band-in-a-Box and RealBand packages.

13. What is the difference between the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK, UltraPlusPAK, and EverythingPAK? (Windows)

All of these packages include the latest version of Band-in-a-Box. The MegaPAK includes the MegaPAK RealCombos, all of the Styles Sets 0-77, Soloist Sets 1-11 & 16-20, and all the Melodist Sets 1-8.

The UltraPlusPAK includes all of the things that the MegaPAK has, PLUS ALL of the currently available RealDrums and RealTracks Sets

The EverythingPAK includes all the UltraPlusPAK contents, and adds the Andy Laverne Soloist Series, the Songs & Lessons PAK, and The Video Tutorial PAK

Visit our Band-in-a-Box with RealBand page to see comparisons of the different packages.

14. What is the difference between the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK, UltraPlusPAK, and EverythingPAK? (Macintosh)

All of these packages include the latest version of Band-in-a-Box. The MegaPAK includes the MegaPAK RealCombos, all of the Styles Sets 0-77, Soloist Sets 1-11 & 16-20, and all the Melodist Sets 1-8.

The UltraPlusPAK includes all of the things that the MegaPAK has, PLUS ALL of the currently available RealDrums and RealTracks Sets

The EverythingPAK includes all the UltraPlusPAK contents, and adds the Andy Laverne Soloist Series, the Songs & Lessons PAK, and The Video Tutorial PAK

Visit our Band-in-a-Box to see comparisons of the different packages.

15. Do you offer upgrades from previous versions of Band-in-a-Box?

Yes, you can upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box from any previous version. See Windows or Macintosh for more details.

16. Can I upgrade from Band-in-a-Box Pro to the MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPlusPAK, or EverythingPAK?

Yes, you can upgrade to the latest Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPlusPAK, or EverythingPAK from ANY version of Band-in-a-Box including the current version. To order, or for more information, click here for Windows or click here for Macintosh.

17. If I purchased the last MegaPAK/UltraPAK/UltraPlusPAK/EverythingPAK version, do I need to order the new MegaPAK/UltraPAK/UltraPlusPAK/EverythingPAK Upgrade?

You don't need to, but we have special low pricing on these upgrade paths. They are a much better deal than a regular upgrade. If you purchase the UltraPlus or EverythingPAK upgrade, you will keep yourself up-to-date with all the latest Styles, RealDrums, RealTracks, Soloists, and Melodists available. If you only purchase the regular upgrade, you will still retain the add-ons (styles etc.) you got with your previous purchase, but you won't get all the new ones. Visit our Band-in-a-Box for Windows or Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh page to compare the upgrade packages.

18. I purchased Band-in-a-Box for Mac/Atari and now I want to run it on a PC. Is there a "crossgrade" that I can purchase?

Yes, you can crossgrade from any Mac/Atari version of Band-in-a-Box to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box for Windows. You can choose any of the upgrades "from 2008 or earlier".

To order, or for more information, click here.

19. I purchased Band-in-a-Box for Windows, and I now want to run it on a Mac. Is there a "crossgrade" that I can purchase?

Yes, you can crossgrade from any PC version of Band-in-a-Box to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh for a much lower price than a first-time purchase.

To order, or for more information, click here and look for the row labelled "Upgrade from 11 or earlier or crossgrade".

20. What is RealBand?

RealBand is a fully-featured and powerful music arranging, sequencing, and digital recording program. RealBand combines the most popular features from PG Music's PowerTracks Pro Audio and Band-in-a-Box programs into an all-in-one sequencing program with automatic accompaniment.

With RealBand you can create an arrangement with Band-in-a-Box tracks by typing in the chords and choosing a style. You can add RealTracks and RealDrums that follow the chord changes, add your own audio or MIDI tracks, and then edit and produce the finished song without ever leaving the program!

A great way to learn more about RealBand is to watch the RealBand videos.

21. How do I get RealBand?

All Band-in-a-Box packages include the latest version of RealBand. Click here or visit our Band-in-a-Box and RealBand ordering page to learn about the differences between the packages.

Note that if you want the most RealDrums and RealTracks, the UltraPlusPAK or EverythingPAK are the best packages to purchase.

22. Can I load my Band-in-a-Box and PowerTracks Pro Audio files into RealBand?

Yes, you can load your Band-in-a-Box and PowerTracks Pro Audio files directly into RealBand. This includes Band-in-a-Box song files (.SGU, .MGU, .MGX) and PowerTracks sequence files (.SEQ). Many other MIDI and audio file types are supported, including .MID, .KAR, .MP3, .WMA, and .WAV.

23. Are songs that I create with Band-in-a-Box or RealBand copyrighted?

The arrangements made by Band-in-a-Box and RealBand are yours, and your songs may be used freely as long as they don't infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.

24. How do I know if Band-in-a-Box will be able to create an accompaniment in my style of interest?

Well over a thousand styles are currently avilable for Band-in-a-Box, ranging from Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Country, and Classical, to many different world styles. So, chances are that you will be able to find a suitable style. You can browse through all of our styles and listen to audio demos at our Band-in-a-Box Add-ons page.

25. I hate installing programs, and just want to plug and play. I also want the best Band-in-a-Box and RealBand version that you have, with everything pre-installed.

Windows:

The Band-in-a-Box and RealBand UltraPlusPAK and EverythingPAK come pre-installed on a portable USB hard drive by default. Both of these include the latest versions of Band-in-a-Box and RealBand, as well as all the currently available MIDI Styles, Soloists, Melodists, RealDrums Sets, and RealTracks Sets. The EverythingPAK has all of the additional Band-in-a-Box add-ons in the Songs and Lessons PAK. You can run the programs directly from the hard drive, without installing them on your computer. Just plug in the drive and you're ready to play! You still have the option of installing the program to your computer hard drive if you would rather run the programs from there.

We also have the EverythingPAK "Audiophile" edition. This is a very large capacity 3.5" hard drive which has all the same contents as the UltraPAK hard drive, but ALSO has all of the RealTracks and RealDrums audio files in their original uncompressed WAV file format. This means that the highest sound quality of the RealTracks and RealDrums is preserved.

Macintosh:

We have versions of the Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK and UltraPlusPAK that come pre-installed on a portable 2.5" USB hard drive. You can run the programs directly from the hard drive, without installing them on your computer. Just plug in the drive and you're ready to play! You still have the option of copying the files to your Macintosh hard drive if you would prefer to have everything installed there, or you can run the Band-in-a-Box program from your Macintosh hard drive, but leave the large RealDrums and RealTracks audio files on the external USB hard drive.

We also have the UltraPlusPAK "Audiophile" edition. This is a very large hard drive which has all the same contents as the UltraPluPAK hard drive, but ALSO has all of the RealTracks and RealDrums audio files in their original uncompressed audio file format (AIFF). This means that the highest sound quality of the RealTracks and RealDrums is preserved.

Visit our Band-in-a-Box for Mac ordering page to see a chart with comparisons of the different Band-in-a-Box packages.

26. What is the difference between the Band-in-a-Box and RealBand EverythingPAK and the PG Music OmniPAK for Windows?

The EverythingPAK includes all of the currently available Style Sets, Soloist Sets (except for the Jeff Lorber Artist series), and Melodist Sets. It also includes all RealDrums Sets, RealTracks Sets, the Video Tutorial PAK, and the 'Songs and Lessons' PAK for Band-in-a-Box.

The PG Music OmniPAK includes ALL of the software that we currently have available, except for the Oscar Peterson Multimedia CD, and third party software. The OmniPAK is shipped on a portable 2.5" USB hard drive with all programs pre-installed.

27. What is PowerTracks Pro Audio?

PowerTracks Pro Audio is a professional, fully featured, 48 track digital audio and MIDI sequencer for Windows. This program allows you to assemble music layer by layer and track by track using MIDI or digital audio, or a combination of the two.

28. What new features are there in the latest version of PowerTracks Pro Audio?

With each version upgrade, we add many great new features. In the latest version, PowerTracks Pro Audio 2011, we've made big improvements to the sound of the audio tracks with a new élastique Pro V2 time stretching and pitch transposition engine so that they sound more natural over a much (3x) wider range of tempos. There are new MIDI and audio transpose options for key signature changes, replacing the previous Yes/No dialog for MIDI transpose. Tempo changes are easier too, with improved audio time stretching from the new élastique Pro V2 time stretching and pitch transposition engine. Learn more about all of the new features in PowerTracks Pro Audio 2010.

In the previous version, PowerTracks Pro Audio 2010, we added a Conductor mode with over 80 functions, giving you full control over live performances; a Plug-in mode to drag n' drop files to another sequencer/DAW or to Windows Explorer; Audio Chord Wizard enhancements; and automatic tempo mapping for MIDI performances recorded in free-time.

In PowerTracks Pro Audio 12, we added the Audio Chord Wizard, an extremely powerful feature that automatically finds chord symbols (C, Fm7 etc.) by analyzing the audio content of a song (MP3/WAV/WMA or CD-audio file). We've also added real audio drums ("RealDrums") to PowerTracks! This allows you to instantly create original audio drum tracks that are derived from real recordings of top studio Jazz/Rock/Country drummers. These are not "samples," but are full recordings that consist of drum patterns lasting from 1 to 8 bars. RealDrums tracks that you generate play along in perfect sync with the other tracks! We've also added support for floating point tempos such as 120.514 BPM, a feature to split MIDI drums into multiple tracks automatically, and a feature that automatically backs up your .SEQ files.

In PowerTracks Pro Audio 11,  we added over 30 new features, including VST plug-in and VSTi softsynth support, a newly designed Mixer Window with individual track meters, a total of 8 Auxiliary buses, and ASIO Input monitoring for "wet" or "dry" recording.

In PowerTracks Pro Audio 10, we added ASIO support, a fully featured Piano Roll window, time stretch and pitch change for audio tracks, drag and drop audio editing, and 3 new DirectX Plug-ins (PG Vinyl, PG RTA, PG Vocal Remover).

29. What is the difference between PowerTracks Pro Audio, the PowerTracks Pro Audio PowerPAK and the PowerTracks Pro Audio MultiPAK? What are the MultiTracks?

All PowerTracks purchases include the latest version of PowerTracks. The PowerTracks Pro Audio package also includes RealDrums Sets 1-3. The PowerTracks PowerPAK adds RealDrums Sets 1-10; the PowerTracks MultiPAK includes all our RealDrums Sets 1-29, as well as MultiTracks Volume 1&2.

Each MultiTracks volume contains 30 original jazz, blues, and rock songs recorded by top studio musicians. The songs are provided in "multi-track" audio format, so when you open them with PowerTracks, you will see each instrument on a separate track.

30. What is the Roland VSC?

The Roland VSC (Virtual Sound Canvas) is a software synthesizer based on Roland's highly successful external Sound Canvas synthesizers. Basically, the VSC allows you to listen to high quality sounds without having to use any external sound sources. You can use it as your MIDI sound source with Band-in-a-Box, RealBand and other PG Music applications. It can be used with any host that support DXi or VSTi plugins. It is not compatible with 64-bit operating systems. It can be installed on Windows Vista and 7 32-bit, if you set the installer compatibility mode to Windows XP. For 64-bit operating systems, the Coyote WaveTable synth (included with Band-in-a-Box and RealBand) is a good alternative.

31. What are the recommended system requirements for your products?

Windows:

Band-in-a-Box runs on Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7 (32bit or 64bit), and requires a minimum of 256MB available RAM. Basic MIDI features require a less powerful computer than the latest RealTracks features. For best performance, we recommend a fairly up-to-date computer with Windows XP or higher, a fast processor, and at least 1GB RAM. Without RealDrums or RealTracks, you need a minimum of about 500MB of free hard disk space. More hard disk space is required for the RealTracks and RealDrums, about 100 MB for each RealDrums Set and 1 GB for each RealTracks Set. A full install of the PRO version (including RealTracs/Drums) requires about 6 GB. A full install of the MEGAPAK version requires about 11 GB. The UltraPlus and EverythingPAK are about 60 GB total and are therefore usually shipped "pre-installed" on a USB hard drive. You can run the program directly from the hard drive or install on your computer.

A MIDI sound source is required. This could be a sound card, a MIDI keyboard, MIDI sound module, or software synthesizer. We include a software synthesizer (Roland VSC-DXi) with Band-in-a-Box that is compatible with 32-bit operating systems. There are other software synths available that are compatible with 64-bit operating systems, such as the ForteDXi and TTS-1.

To get the best performance from PowerTracks Pro Audio, you will want a fairly up-to-date computer. PowerTracks Pro Audio runs on Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7 (Windows XP/Vista/7 recommended for best performance), and requires a Pentium class (or better) processor, a minimum of 128MB of available RAM and at least 100 MB free on the hard drive for the base program. More hard disk space is required for RealDrums Sets, about 100 MB per set.

Most of our other programs run on Windows 98SE/NT/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7 and require a Pentium class (or better) processor, and a minimum of 64MB of available RAM. Please see the individual product pages for the specific requirements of each product.

Macintosh

Our most recent version of Band-in-a-Box is designed for Intel-based computers, which should all exceed the minimum requirements. We also have older versions of the program available for PowerPC based OSX systems, and even OS9 systems. The system requirements for the latest version of Band-in-a-Box are:

• Mac OS X 10.4 or later
• Intel Processor
• 512 MB RAM
• About 500 MB free hard disk space to install the Band-in-a-Box program, MIDI styles, Soloists, Melodists, and Lessons.
• Additional hard disk space is required for RealTracks (about 1 GB per set) and RealDrums (about 100 MB per set), unless you get the hard drive version of the program.
• 1024x768 minimum screen resolution strongly recommended.
• DVD-ROM drive (if installing from disc)
• Available USB port (if using Band-in-a-Box on an external USB hard drive).
• An external MIDI sound source is not required, since Band-in-a-Box can use the Mac's built-in sounds automatically. However you can also use an external MIDI keyboard or sound module if you wish.

There are a few older legacy programs such as the Pianist series and Master Solos that only run in Classic (OS 9 or earlier). Please see the individual product pages for the specific requirements.

32. Do you offer technical support after I purchase the program?

Yes. We offer extensive technical support for all PG Music Inc. products. All technical support is free and unlimited for registered customers. You can e-mail us, use our Live Online Chat, or phone us toll-free (from most countries). Please visit our Support Page for more details and contact information.

33. Why is the price of your products so low?

Peter Gannon, the president and founder of PG Music Inc., states that he set out "..to create software that I would want to purchase and use myself." To this end, we strive to create quality software that is affordable and fun to use, while performing at a professional level. One of our goals is to give you, the customer, more than you ever expected when you purchased the program.

34. Are your prices in US dollars?

Yes, all of our prices are shown in US dollars.

35. Do I need to be a musician to use your products?

No! Our products can be used by anyone, regardless of their musical ability. Although we have many satisfied customers who are professional or amateur musicians and educators, you don't have to be a musician to use or enjoy our products.

36. Do you offer special academic pricing for school systems?

We offer Site License purchase options available to schools and other educational institutions who are interested in purchasing 5 or more copies of Band-in-a-Box for one location (like a computer or music lab). You can request more information by emailing marketing@pgmusic.com

At this time, we do not offer an academic/educational discount on individual purchases of our software.

37. Is it safe to use a credit card over the internet?

Every modern browser, including Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer comes with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption technology. This allows information that you pass to our servers to be encrypted during transmission, without you having to set up anything special. The most common SSL encryption formats are 40-bit and 128-bit, both of which are extremely secure. We also have installed a digital security certificate on our servers, which certify that we are who we say we are when you're connected.

38. Are your products available from any local dealers?

Yes, our products are represented by dealers worldwide. Click here for a complete list of our distributors.

39. How can I register my software?

We have an Online Registration Form. Note: If you purchased your software directly from us, you are automatically registered.

40. I placed an order, but didn't receive an email confirmation.

The email confirmation is sent out the moment your order is processed. First, check your email program's "spam" or "junk" folder; the email could have been sent there. If not, you may have entered an incorrect email address into the order form, or (rarely) your ISP has blocked the email. Please contact us if you can't find the email.

41. Can I purchase a complete User's Guide for my program?

A complete User's Guide is included with any first-time purchase of Band-in-a-Box, PowerTracks Pro Audio, and most other products. If you lose or damage your manual, you can purchase a replacement manual for $10 US plus shipping. Full PDF manuals for Band-in-a-Box, RealBand, and PowerTracks are also included with each of those programs.

42. What types of files can Band-in-a-Box and PowerTracks Pro Audio songs be saved as?

Band-in-a-Box saves files in its proprietary formats (.SGU, .MGU, .STY, etc.). You can also save your songs in the Standard MIDI File (SMF) Format (.MID - type 0 or type 1), .KAR format (Karaoke File Format), or convert your songs to .WAV files and a variety of compressed audio formats such as .MP3 and .WMA.

PowerTracks Pro Audio saves songs in its proprietary format (.SEQ), which includes both Audio and MIDI data, as well as mixer settings, text comments, and other information about your song. You can also save songs as Type 0 or Type 1 Standard MIDI Files (.MID), Karaoke files (.KAR), .WAV files, and a variety of compressed audio files, such as .MP3. You can import any of the file types above into the program.

43. Can I view music notation and print out lead sheets with Band-in-a-Box?

Yes, you can view and print out the musical notation for any of the tracks that Band-in-a-Box generates (piano, bass, guitar, etc.), as well as tracks that you input. It is easy to customize and print out excellent quality lead sheets with chords, melody, and lyrics.

44. Can I burn audio CD's containing my Band-in-a-Box, RealBand, or PowerTracks Pro Audio compositions?

Windows: Yes, as long as your computer is equipped with a CD burner. In fact, you can create an audio CD without ever having to exit the program!

45. Do any of your products convert audio files to midi?

PowerTracks Pro Audio comes equipped with a Pitch to MIDI conversion tool, and this will convert monophonic .wav files into MIDI. A trumpet, saxophone, or single human voice would be a good candidate for this type of process, whereas a guitar chord (multiple notes) would not. For polyphonic audio files (more than one instrument) the technology needed to convert an audio file to MIDI note-for-note is not available. However, the latest versions of both Band-in-a-Box for Windows and PowerTracks Pro Audio do include a new Audio Chord Wizard, which will automatically figure out the chords from any MP3, WAV, or WMA (Windows Media) audio file and display them!

46. I just placed an order, but I am unable to download the software. What should I do? (Windows products)

If you purchased a downloadable software program from us, you will receive an email with a link to your download page.

When you click on one of your download links, you may be asked whether you want to 'Run' or 'Save the file to disk'. You should choose the option to 'Save' the file to disk.

If you did not get an email with a link to your download page

• You may have typed in the wrong email address into your order form. If so, please contact us to correct this.
• Your email program may have a utility that filters out possible junk emails and puts them in a separate mailbox. Check to see if you have a 'Bulk' or 'Junk' folder, for example.

If the download is working, but it is taking too long and you would rather have the product shipped, don't hesitate to contact us.

Most download links expire after 7 days. You should be able to get to your download page simply by clicking on the link in your email. If nothing happens when you click on the link in your email, right-click on the link and select 'copy shortcut', then paste it into the address bar of your internet browser window and press <Enter>. If a file is showing as "unavailable" in your download page, that means the link has expired. Contact us if you have not yet been able to download that file.

Note that if your order contains multiple files, it is usually best to download one file at a time. If your order contains alot of RealTracks files, please note that these files are very large; you will need a very reliable high speed internet connection to be able to download these files, and you should download one at a time. If you are having the order shipped, note that you could download only the main Band-in-a-Box application and use it without the RealTracks until you receive the hard copy. If downloading many RealTracks files, make sure you have enough hard disk space to store all the downloaded installer files (estimate 1 GB per file). If you get a corrupt file message after downloading this usually means that your internet connection was interrupted partway through the download and the file you have is incomplete.

Those are just some general tips - here is some more detailed troubleshooting information:

• Some files are very large, for example the RealTracks files, so these can take some time to download. Download speeds vary greatly depending on the type of internet connection, traffic, and many other factors. A 1 GB file can be downloaded in 30-45 min with a fairly fast broadband connection. Ideally, you should download these files one at a time; in general, it will not be faster to download more than one file at the same time. Downloading more than one file at a time takes longer for each file, increasing the chance of losing the connection to the server at some point (for whatever reason). This results in an incomplete (corrupt) file and the need to download the file again.
• If the download starts but doesn't complete, or you get a message that the file is corrupt when you try to run it after downloading, this most likely means that your connection to the server was lost and the file wasn't downloaded completely. Delete this file, and try the download again. If the file seems to download really fast when you try again, you will need to delete your internet browser's cache first.
• Cached files can be a source of confusion. If a download fails and you try to download the same file again, your browser will often use a cached file rather than downloading the file a second time. When this happens, it can appear that you downloaded the same corrupt file twice. You should be able to solve this by deleting your browser cache (temporary internet files). There is an options window in most browsers that allows you to do this.
• Some anti-virus programs and firewalls can cause various problems downloading some files. It is not normally obvious what is causing the problem. Some symptoms might include downloads stopping halfway, receiving a file that is "0 bytes", file extensions being changed, or the file being 'quarantined'. You may need to disable the software or adjust a setting before you start the download. If you are connected to a local area network, you may have to contact your network administrator about this.
• Your internet browser security settings may be set too high. In Internet Explorer, these settings are found in Tools | Internet Options. Other browsers have similar settings.
• Try using a different internet browser.
• Download managers may help, especially if your order contains many download links. A utility that will automatically download all the files on a page one at a time is helpful. For example, if you use the Firefox web browser, there are free plugins like 'Downthemall', which will allow you to download all links on one page. Remember to set max concurrent downloads = 1 in the Preferences. Note that a particular download manager may also be the CAUSE of the problem, and you may want to try disabling it or otherwise downloading the file without it.
• If clicking on the [download] button doesn't seem to work, try right-clicking on the link and selecting 'Save Target As'.
• Your internet service provider may have a bandwidth limit which you may have exceeded. Try downloading a smaller file to see if this might be the problem, or contact your ISP to find out more.
• If when you click on a link, you get a "page cannot be displayed", or some another html error page (but other web pages work fine for you), the problem may be at our end. Please contact us so we can look into it.
• The download may be slow due to internet congestion, time of day, or a router being busy. If all else fails, you may want to wait for a while and try the download later.

There are a wide variety of factors that can affect downloads, including your computer software and hardware, the connection to your internet service provider, internet traffic, and distance from the server. Due to factors beyond our control, we can't guarantee the downloads to work for everyone. As long as you have selected a physical shipping method (and not electronic delivery only) you will be receiving your order in the mail. If you have chosen download-only (electronic delivery) and are unable to download your software, please contact us to have it shipped.

If you are having a problem not covered here, or you don't think the download is working properly because of a problem at our end, feel free to contact us and we'll look into it.

47. I just placed an order, but I am unable to download the software. What should I do? (Macintosh products)

All PG Music software is available for immediate download. The only exceptions are some third party software products, and the AudioPhile hard drive RealTracks and RealDrums files, since they are over 400GB.

If you purchased a downloadable software program from us, you will receive an email with a link to your download page.

Most download links expire after 7 days. You should be able to get to your download page simply by clicking on the link in your email. If nothing happens when you click on the link in your email, right-click on the link and select 'copy shortcut', then paste it into the address bar of your internet browser window and press <Enter>. If a file is showing as "unavailable" in your download page, that means the link has expired. Contact us if you have not yet been able to download that file.

Note that if your order contains multiple files, it is usually best to download one file at a time. If your order contains alot of RealTracks files, please note that these files are very large; you will need a very reliable high speed internet connection to be able to download these files, and you should download one at a time. If you are having the order shipped, note that you could download only the main Band-in-a-Box application and use it without the RealTracks until you receive the hard copy. If downloading many RealTracks files, make sure you have enough hard disk space to store all the downloaded files (estimate 1 GB per file).

Depending on your web browser and settings, the file may be automatically downloaded to a folder on your computer without prompting you for a location to save the file. The default for the Safari web browser is normally the 'Downloads' folder in your Home folder. For example, if your User account is 'MyUserName', then the download will be placed in \Users\MyUserName\Downloads. In Safari, you can change this setting if you want, by going to Safari | Preferences | General ('save downloaded files to'). In Firefox, the setting is in Firefox | Preferences ('Save files to').

If the download doesn't seem to work when you click on it, try control-clicking on the link and selecting 'download linked file' or 'download link to disk'. In Safari, go to the Window menu and click on Downloads to take a look at currently downloading files.

If you did not get an email with a link to your download page

• You may have typed in the wrong email address into your order form. If so, please contact us to correct this.
• Your email program may have a utility that filters out possible junk emails and puts them in a separate mailbox. Check to see if you have a 'Bulk' or 'Junk' folder, for example.

Downloads are provided as either .dmg or .zip files (or occasionally .sit).

.dmg files: These are "Disk Images". When you double-click on a downloaded dmg file, the image will be 'mounted' on your desktop. Open this up, and you will find all the files necessary to install the program - installation packages, readme files etc. Most products are installed by double-clicking on the installation package and following the on-screen instructions. You can unmount the disk image when the installation is complete, either by dragging it to the 'trash' (eject icon), or by clicking on it and pressing command-E. Note that this will not delete the files from your computer, the dmg file will still be there.

.zip files: Some products are provided as .zip files. Mac OS 10.3 and later have the built-in ability to extract .zip files - you just need to double-click on them. If that is not working for you, control-click on the file, point to 'Open With', and select 'BOMArchive Helper'. Once extracted, the installer package should be found in the same location as the .zip file - double-click on this and follow the on-screen instructions.

.sit files: Only a limited number of products intended for older operating systems are provided as .sit compressed files. To extract these, use the program Stuffit Expander. As with .zip files, you should simply need to double-click on the file to expand it. Alternatively, open Stuffit Expander and drag the .sit file to it manually. Stuffit Expander program is pre-installed on older Macs, but is not including on newer Macs. A free version can be downloaded from http://www.stuffit.com.

If the download is working, but it is taking too long and you would rather have the product shipped, don't hesitate to contact us.

Below are some additional troublshooting tips, if you are having trouble downloading or it is taking too long:

• Some files are very large, for example the RealTracks files, so these can take some time to download. Download speeds vary greatly depending on the type of internet connection, traffic, and many other factors. A 1 GB file can be downloaded in 30-45 min with a fairly fast broadband connection. Ideally, you should download these files one at a time; in general, it will not be faster to download more than one file at the same time. Downloading more than one file at a time takes longer for each file, increasing the chance of losing the connection to the server at some point (for whatever reason). This results in an incomplete (corrupt) file and the need to download the file again.
• If the download starts but doesn't complete, or you get a message that the file is corrupt when you try to run it after downloading, this most likely means that your connection to the server was lost and the file wasn't downloaded completely. For incomplete disk images (dmg), the message may be similar to this: "The following disk images failed to mount....Reason: no mountable file systems". Delete this file, and try the download again. If the file seems to download really fast when you try again, you will need to delete your internet browser's cache first. In Safari this can be done by going to the Safari menu and selecting 'Empty Cache'. In Firefox, you would 'Clear Private Data' in the Firefox preferences.
• Cached files can be a source of confusion. If a download fails and you try to download the same file again, your browser will often use a cached file rather than downloading the file a second time. When this happens, it can appear that you downloaded the same corrupt file twice. You should be able to solve this by deleting your browser cache (temporary internet files). Your browser should have a preference or menu item to do this, as explained in the previous tip.
• Download managers may help, especially if your order contains many download links. A utility that will automatically download all the files on a page one at a time is helpful. For example, if you use the Firefox web browser, there are free plugins like 'Downthemall', which will allow you to download all links on one page. To add plugins, go to Tools-Addons-Get Plugins, and search/install the plugin. The details will vary depending on browser/plugin/version, but you may be able to highlight all the links on your download page, then go to Tools menu | .. | .. , choose your 'save files in' location, and press Start. Remember to set max concurrent downloads = 1 in the Preferences. Note that a particular download manager may also be the CAUSE of the problem, and you may want to try disabling it or otherwise downloading the file without it.
• If clicking on the [download] button doesn't seem to work, try right-clicking on the link and selecting 'download linked file' or 'download link to disk'. This would also help if you are getting a text page with gibberish when you click on the link.
• Try using a different internet browser.
• Some anti-virus programs and firewalls can cause various problems downloading some files. It is not normally obvious what is causing the problem. Some symptoms might include downloads stopping halfway, receiving a file that is "0 bytes", file extensions being changed, or the file being 'quarantined'. You may need to disable the software or adjust a setting before you start the download. If you are connected to a local area network, you may have to contact your network administrator about this.
• Your internet service provider may have a bandwidth limit which you may have exceeded. Try downloading a smaller file to see if this might be the problem, or contact your ISP to find out more.
• If when you click on a link, you get a "page cannot be displayed", or some another html error page (but other web pages work fine for you), the problem may be at our end. Please contact us so we can look into it.
• The download may be slow due to internet congestion, time of day, or a router being busy. If all else fails, you may want to wait for a while and try the download later.

There are a wide variety of factors that can affect downloads, including your computer software and hardware, the connection to your internet service provider, internet traffic, and distance from the server. Due to factors beyond our control, we can't guarantee the downloads to work for everyone. As long as you have selected a physical shipping method (and not electronic delivery only) you will be receiving your order in the mail. If you have chosen download-only (electronic delivery) and are unable to download your software, please contact us to have it shipped.

If you are having a problem not covered here, or you don't think the download is working properly because of a problem at our end, feel free to contact us and we'll look into it.

48. Why can't I play the videos on your website?

Windows

Some of our recent videos use Flash, so if you can watch YouTube videos you should be able to watch the videos on our site. If not, you may not have Flash installed on your computer, or perhaps the version you have is too old. The latest version can be downloaded from the Adobe home page.

Some of our other videos are streaming WMV (Windows Media Video) files or .AVI downloads. If you are having trouble playing these (if you can hear the video but not see it), your computer may be missing a codec needed by the video. Some of our videos use the TechSmith Screen Capture Codec (TSCC). Click here to download the TSCC codec.

If you are still having trouble playing WMV files, you might try reinstalling the latest version of Windows Media Player for your operating system, or looking at some of the settings in Windows Media Player in Tools-Options. Or, you might have a Firewall that is preventing the file from being streamed.

Macintosh

Most of our recent videos applicable to Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh use Flash, so if you can watch YouTube videos you should be able to watch the videos on our site. If not, you may not have Flash installed on your computer, or perhaps the version you have is too old. The latest version can be downloaded from the Adobe home page.

Some of our older videos are not Flash videos. If you are having trouble with these ones - for example if Quicktime gives you an error message, or if you can hear the video play but you can't see it:

If you downloaded an .AVI file, you should be able to play the file with Quicktime. For many of these videos we used the TechSmith Ensharpen video encoder. The EnSharpen Decoder must be installed on your computer to play the videos properly. This file is available for download from http://www.techsmith.com/download/codecs.asp.

Some of the videos on our website are only available in streaming WMV format, and are not specifically intended for the Macintosh version of our program. But if you want, you may be able to play these with Windows Media Player for Macintosh.

49. I placed an order for the Roland VSC but your site won't let me download it.

The Roland VSC is only sold with the purchase of any additional PG Music Inc. product(s) of $29 or more. We cannot sell the VSC alone. Once we have checked your order to confirm that it includes another product, we will send you an email with the download link. This usually happens within 24 hours. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

50. What languages are your programs available in?

Windows:

We currently have language support for the latest version of Band-in-a-Box for Windows in over ten different languages, including Dutch, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Danish, Polish, Spanish, Korean, Swedish, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Russian.

You can purchase Band-in-a-Box in any of these languages from their individual pages. Click on one of the languages above or go to the PG Music home page and click on one of the flags along the top of the page.

If you have already purchased the latest version of Band-in-a-Box in English and would like a different language, please contact us.

Macintosh:

Band-in-a-Box 2011 for Mac is currently available in French and German. Other translations may be completed in the future. To find out if it is available in your language, please contact us, check our international language pages at www.band-in-a-box.com, or click on one of the flags on the PG Music home page.

We currently have French and German language support for Band-in-a-Box 12 (older PowerPC version).

If you have already purchased the latest version of Band-in-a-Box in English and would like a different language, please contact us.

51. Can I purchase the English Band-in-a-Box 2011 upgrade if I have a previous localized (non-English language) Band-in-a-Box version. (Windows)

Yes, if you have purchased a localized version of Band-in-a-Box for Windows previously (French, Dutch, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Danish, Polish, Swedish, Russian, Simplified or Traditional Chinese, or Korean) and version 2011 is not yet available in your language, you can still upgrade to Band-in-a-Box 2011 (English). You should install the upgrade into your existing Band-in-a-Box folder (C:\bb by default). Band-in-a-Box will still be in your preferred language after you install the upgrade, with the exception of some of the new features in Band-in-a-Box 2011 if they have not been translated yet. You will be eligible to receive the complete translation for Band-in-a-Box 2011 at no extra charge when it is available in your language.

You would also be eligible to receive the completed translation of the Macintosh version, however your 2011 program would be entirely in English until the translated version is ready.

52. Is Band-in-a-Box compatible with PowerPC and Intel Macs?

The latest version of Band-in-a-Box is designed for Intel-based Macs, and does not run on PowerPC-based systems. However, we have older versions of the program available for PowerPC based OSX systems, and even OS9 systems.

53. Can I use the Windows version of Band-in-a-Box and other Windows products on an Intel-based Mac?

We tested Band-in-a-Box 2007 for Windows on an Intel-based iMac (512 MB RAM, 2.0 GHz processor) that had Windows XP Home Service Pack 2 installed on an NTFS formatted partition. We also tested many other PG Music products, including PowerTracks Pro Audio 10, the Video Guitar Lesson series, GuitarStar, Master Class programs such as the Jazz Guitar Master Class, Multimedia Performance programs such as the Bach Chorales and Rock Guitarist, Master Solo products such as the Master Jazz Guitar Solos, and NoteMatch. In addition, we tested the use of the Roland VSC-3, Roland VSC-DXi, and Coyote ForteDXi software synths with Band-in-a-Box and PowerTracks Pro Audio, and tested MIDI recording and playback through an external (hardware) MIDI device.

We did not encounter any problems with any of the programs that we tested. There were no problems with playback, and all of the features that we tested worked exactly as they do on a PC with Windows XP. In fact, in some cases we experienced better performance on the Intel Mac than on a PC with similar specs.

54. When I try to install the program I get a message that the "setup files are corrupted".

This normally occurs with downloaded programs. This error may occur when double-clicking on an installer that was downloaded from our site. It means that the setup file is the wrong size or the file failed a CRC (cyclic redundancy check). Most likely something went wrong when you were downloading the file, for example your internet connection may have been lost. Delete the file that you downloaded and try the download again. Note that your browser may have cached the old (corrupt) file, so to be sure, before downloading the file again delete your internet browser's cache. Then, right-click on the download link and select Save As. If the download seems to happen very fast the second time, that's an indication that it's still the old file.

55. Common pre-sales questions about RealDrums and RealTracks.

• Will the RealTracks or RealDrums track play at any tempo that I choose? Yes - the RealDrums track will play in perfect sync with the rest of your tracks at any tempo you select in Band-in-a-Box. In addition, the drummer will change the way it plays based ONLY on the tempo that the song is played at, like a human drummer would. Each RealTracks instrument has an ideal tempo that it sounds best at, but it will automatically play in sync with your song at any tempo you choose. You can even change the tempo on-the-fly (while the song is playing). For the most common instruments (for example basic guitar strumming), there are a wide range of RealTracks available at different tempos.
• Can I replace any MIDI track with a RealTracks instrument? Yes, you can replace any MIDI track in any Band-in-a-Box song or style with the RealTracks instrument of your choice. You can have any combination of MIDI and RealTracks in your song.
• Will RealDrums only work with new RealDrums styles, or can I use RealDrums with older/existing styles? There are specific "styles with RealDrums" included with the program, but you can also have Band-in-a-Box replace the MIDI drum track in ANY of your existing and older styles, with RealDrums. This will add new life and realism to songs that you have already composed. There is a RealDrums settings dialog that allows you to specify how often you want RealDrums to replace the standard MIDI drum track.
• Are RealTracks and Drums included when I save my song as a MIDI file for editing in another program? The RealTracks and RealDrums won't be part of the MIDI file because they are audio (not MIDI), however Band-in-a-Box will automatically save a wave file containing the audio tracks, and this can easily be imported into your audio and MIDI sequencer (for example PowerTracks Pro Audio) along with the MIDI file.
• Will I still hear RealTracks if I play Band-in-a-Box through an external MIDI synth/sound module? Because the RealTracks are audio (not MIDI), they are not transmitted to an external hardware synthesizer via MIDI cables. The RealTracks will still be played through your computer's sound card, and you can mix the output from your sound card with the output of your sound module using audio cables.
• I often render my songs to wave/MP3/WMA. Will the RealTracks be in my rendered wave files? Yes, the RealTracks are automatically merged into the rendered wave file.

56. What are RealCombos? (Windows)

RealCombos are included in the Pro and MegaPAK packages, because those packages don't have the complete set of currently available RealTracks instruments. Essentially, RealCombos allow you to hear SOME full bands of RealTracks without having to get the largest Band-in-a-Box package. For example, the "Jazz Swing 140" RealCombo includes 5 instruments (Bass, Piano, Guitar, Sax, and Drums) from various RealTracks Sets that all play at a medium swing tempo.

57. What is the difference between the "AudioPhile" editions of Band-in-a-Box, and the regular Band-in-a-Box packages?

Windows:

The Audiophile editions ship pre-installed on a 750GB hard drive, and has everything that the "regular" versions of Band-in-a-Box and RealBand have, plus all the uncompressed audio in WAV file format for ALL the RealTracks and RealDrums, so the highest sound quality is preserved. We normally ship RealTracks audio files as compressed WMA files (usually 128 or 160 kbps) instead of WAV files. The WMA files are excellent quality, and make the program MUCH smaller (roughly 40GB). With a typical setup at home, many people would not be able to hear a difference, but some advanced users prefer to have the original WAV files. Note that it is possible to uncompress the 'regular edition' M4A files to AIFF, however these will not be the same as the original WAV files, having already been compressed once. Also, please note that the 'Audiophile editions' do include the WMA files as well, which gives you the option of installing the program on your computer the same way as with the 'regular edition'.

Macintosh:

The Audiophile edition ships pre-installed on a 750GB hard drive, and includes everything that the regular Band-in-a-Box packages have, plus all the uncompressed audio in AIFF file format for ALL the RealTracks and RealDrums, so the highest sound quality is preserved. We normally ship RealTracks audio files as compressed M4A files (usually 128 or 160 kbps) instead of AIFF files. The M4A files are excellent quality, and make the program MUCH smaller (roughly 40GB). With a typical setup at home, many people would not be able to hear a difference, but some advanced users prefer to have the original AIFF files. Note that it is possible to uncompress the 'regular edition' M4A files to AIFF, however these will not be the same as the original AIFF files, having already been compressed once. Also, please note that the 'Audiophile editions' do include the M4A files as well, which gives you the option of installing the program on your computer the same way as with the 'regular edition'.

58. When I try to place an order, it asks me to log into my account. What should I do?

That's only one of the options - further down the page you'll see an option to continue without logging in or creating an account.

However, we do recommend creating an account. Your account is your unique personal identification when you visit and shop at PG Music's online store. That means that you can place orders without entering all of your shipping and billing information every time. It also means that your order is processed without delay because your account is positive identification for our sales and shipping staff. You can also use your online account to update your registration information whenever it changes.

Note that the account you might have on the PG Music forums is entirely different than this account.

59. Is the latest version of Band-in-a-Box backwards compatible with songs and styles from older versions?

Yes - Band-in-a-Box is designed to be fully backwards compatible with songs and styles created with previous versions of the program. In addition, you can often make your older songs sound much better after upgrading to the latest version, by choosing newer Styles, RealTracks, and RealDrums that came with your upgrade.