Hi all,

I've not a full install of BIAB since my first version in 2013. I'm now on a new PC. Windows 10 Pro, i7, 8 GB RAM. I want to install BIAB 2020 UltraPak, using files I've downloaded this time and other realtracks from over the years.

I have limited internal drive space. My C drive has no extra space for anything. My internal D drive has room for some things, but not for all the RealTracks etc; and a PGM adviser told me it's best not to have the BIAB program on a different drive from the RealTracks.

So I've decided to use a fast (7200 rpm) external USB drive ("E") on which I have a terabyte free. I.e. I'd be installing both BIAB and the media on E.

So far I've created a folder, E: BB2020 into which I've copied all the exe files I believe I need. Here is a jpeg of a screenshot showing them all, in alphabetical order.

https://ibb.co/JqpvXC2

In case it doesn't work, a text list of the files is at the bottom of this post.

It's been some years since my only full install (subesquently I've only done upgrades), so I've forgotten the drill.

Do I correctly assume that all I have to do is doubleclick bandinabox_realband_2020_full.exe, and answer, when prompted, where the realtracks are / need to go?

Do I have all the files I need in this folder? I collected most of these exe files from my earlier versions.

Other questions:

I noticed that in my old BB 2018 folder I have "master_realtracks_installer_2018.exe". I don't have a 2020 version. Whether I need one or not, will the installation process launch all these exe files as needed? Or will I need to launch them each myself?

Roughly how long (a range maybe) will the full installation take? Does it require much if any baby sitting i.e. does it stop and various points, requiring some response from me?

Is there anything important I've overlooked?

Very grateful for any advice. I'd love to get this right the first time!
---------------------------
List of files:

E:\BB2020\1_question_do I need a master realtracks installer.txt
E:\BB2020\2015_49pak_1.exe
E:\BB2020\2015_49pak_2.exe
E:\BB2020\2016_49pak.exe
E:\BB2020\2018_49pak_full.exe
E:\BB2020\2019_49pak.exe
E:\BB2020\2020_0pak.exe
E:\BB2020\2020_49pak.exe
E:\BB2020\artistperformances1-9.exe
E:\BB2020\bandinabox_realband_2020_full.exe
E:\BB2020\hiq_instruments_sforzando.exe
E:\BB2020\realdrums01-10.exe
E:\BB2020\realdrums11-20.exe
E:\BB2020\realdrums21-29.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks001-006.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks007-010.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks011-012.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks013-015.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks016-019.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks020-023.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks024-027.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks028-029.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks030-032.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks033-034.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks035-039.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks040-043.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks044-049.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks050-053.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks054-058.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks059-062.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks063-066.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks067-069.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks070-071.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks072-074.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks075-077.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks078-082.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks083-089.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks090-092.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks093-095.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks096-101.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks102-108.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks109-113.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks114-115.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks116-121.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks122-126.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks127-129.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks130-131.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks132-136.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks137-142.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks143-148.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks149-154.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks155-159.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks160-164.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks165-169.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks170-175.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks176-181.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks182-187.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks188-191.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks192-193.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks194-197.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks198-199.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks200-205.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks206-213.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks214-220.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks221-227.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks228-232.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks233-235.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks236-240.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks241-244.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks245-253.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks254-263.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks264-266.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks267-269.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks270-277.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks278-280.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks281-285.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks286-293.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks294-300.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks301-309.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks310-314.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks315-319.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks320-323.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks324-328.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks329-337.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks338-345.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks346-352.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks_re-amped.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks_shots_holds_246-294.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks_shots_holds_350-440 (1).exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks_shots_holds_350-440.exe
E:\BB2020\realtracks_shots_holds_loops_1-242.exe
E:\BB2020\registration_bonus_styles.exe
E:\BB2020\supertracks001-029.exe
E:\BB2020\videorealtracks001_1.exe
E:\BB2020\videorealtracks001_2.exe
E:\BB2020\videorealtracks002_1.exe
E:\BB2020\videorealtracks002_2.exe
E:\BB2020\xtra_styles_pak_8.exe

You might want to double check with PG Music tech support, but if you have the UltraPak you will not need to install all those numbered RealTracks or shots/holds. You will want to install the UltraPak then whatever XtraPaks, 49-paks, artist performances, and Bonus Paks you have. Don’t forget to preserve any of your song files and custom styles you may have made.

I’m surprised you have all those individual RealTrack install EXE files. Is it possible you were a beta tester?

I respectfully but completely disagree with the advice that the program and RealTracks should be on the same drive. That’s the first I’ve heard that opinion in 12 years discussing the subject. I can tell you mine are on different drives, and work great. If they needed to be on the same drive, the program wouldn’t make it so easy to split the locations and specify them during install, or change afterward.

The installer will ask you where the program goes and where the RealTracks go (also where the RealDrums go). That could be as many as three different drives.

There will be a very few small files that must still be written to your boot drive, such as fonts and activation, but they shouldn’t pose any size problem.

Finally, your USB drive will work fine for BIAB, but if you have room in your case for another hard drive, any internal SATA drive would be faster than a USB drive.

Matt, thanks for your quick and helpful reply.

One thing confuses me, perhaps because I've confused you when you say " if you have the UltraPak you will not need to install all those numbered RealTracks or shots/holds."

Where else would the media come from, other than from these exe files?

Each year I buy on a download only basis, accumulating Realtracks as I go.

On the My Products page, this year, by buying 2020 Ultra, the only new thing I am functionally getting i.e. downloading this time is the latest version of the program plus any new realtrack exe files to which I'm entitled. I've already got the pre-2020 media from each time I've upgraded over the years. That's why I have all the exe files. I didn't know how else I'd have the media!

The My Products page does list each of the numbered files, and lets me download them as exe files, but as I already have them, there's no reason to, plus it would take forever.

Am I misunderstanding you?

At all events, I just need the program to get up and running with what I have. Will in the installation wizard let me easily say, for example, "Set up the program on my internal D drive; the E drive is where the Realtracks, Real Drums etc media are, unzip them, and at the end of the process, let me make music!"

I'd imagine this should be straightforward enough, yes?

Ah, you get the files by downloading. Now that makes sense.

I do not (I have the audiophile edition, way too large to download) so I don't know how the downloaded versions are sent or expected to be run. I had imagined you would just have a DVD or USB drive and by running one installer EXE, it calls all of the individual ones.

I'm still surprised you would have to run each individual install; are you sure that the bandinabox_realband_2020_full.exe won't do all of these RealTracks for you?

That's my question. It should, but that doesn't mean it does. I'm trying to find out in advance how this works so I only have to do it once; as it is, it is bound to take quite a while, whether the wizard does all the media extraction or I do.

I am not yet up to "Novice" standard But I have placed all files on an external USB 3.1 Gen 2 SSD Device and, unless I am mistaken - could easily be - I am fairly sure that such a USB connection is 10 Gbps which outstrips Internal SATA 6 Gbps. Everything seems to work rather quickly - to my 75 year old eyes. Surely a new PC might have such a port?

This time around, I purchased the Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK+ and used the supplied master_realtracks_installer_2020 which installed a bucket load of files on the SSD.
Don't know if that helps or hinders, but just my 2 penny worth.

Regards.

Maurice.

Maurice, yes, an SSD drive on a fast USB connection could be faster than an internal SATA drive. It’s a coin flip. But notice he said his drive was 7200 rpm. That indicates it’s not an SSD. It would be best mounted as an internal drive.

Maurice, to be clear: does master_realtracks_installer_2020 work on the already downloaded files? That's the thing with me, I've already downlaoded everything, just want it to install them all with a click. Is that how it worked?

Also, do some people call you the space cowboy? Or the gangster of love?

This

https://www.pgmusic.com/tutorial_downloading-realtracks.htm

suggests that in my case, I have functionally already done steps 1-4 of the 6 listed here, and so should be able to do steps 5 & 6 easily enough, then I'm good, touch wood.

Good Morning from UK. I did download all files myself which includes a load of .exe real* and ran the "master_realtracks_installer_2020". This took a couple of hours or so to complete the installation which has given me a total disk installation size of 127 GB. I can only assume that I have everything I paid for This is my first step up to "Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK+" previously owning just band in a box realband 2019 mega. HTH

@Matt Finley - Understood,thanks for pointing out the fact it was a spinner. I only have SSD's these days and don't even use a spinner at all, unless you count my WD Cloud Drive as such - it is, of course. For everyday use, for example backups, I use older SSD's.

Regards,

Maurice,

Maurice, I have the BIAB program on an SSD also, separate from my boot drive that is an SSD.

The RealTracks and RealDrums are on a separate internal hard drive running at 10,000 rpm. I have the audiophile version so an SSD for those would be quite expensive.

Totally understood Matt. I would own the audiphile version if I could download. The import taxes here in UK make it rather expensive, but, should this ever change I would consider the cost [400 GBP] of a 4 TB SSD a worthwhile investment for me. Regards.

Maurice.

Yes, the issue of your VAT has been raised here often. I hope a better way of distribution can be found.

Maurice I've PM'd you a question about how you did this

(double post)

Sorry, just bumping this ... can anyone who has used the 2020 master realtracks installer confirm that my understanding of the above is correct? I.e. if I just now follow steps 5 & 6, I'll be good?

Yes, that is correct.

You should download the "Master RealTracks Installer 2020". You run it from the same folder that you have all the rest of the .exe files saved in and it will install all of the realtracks* and realdrums* files. It will tell you if there's anything missing, and if there is, just cancel and download/find the file that's missing and run it again.

Before you do that however, you should run the main Band-in-a-Box program install and a few other files that aren't handled by the master RT installer. You'll get a chance to specify your bb / RealTracks / Drums folder. Usually these will be all the same, e.g. E:\bb.

Specifically, install:

E:\BB2020\bandinabox_realband_2020_full.exe
E:\BB2020\hiq_instruments_sforzando.exe
E:\BB2020\artistperformances1-9.exe
E:\BB2020\supertracks001-029.exe
E:\BB2020\videorealtracks001_1.exe (VRT were included in a previous bonus pak)
E:\BB2020\videorealtracks001_2.exe
E:\BB2020\videorealtracks002_1.exe
E:\BB2020\videorealtracks002_2.exe
E:\BB2020\*49pak.exe (not all of these would be necessary, but it won't hurt)
E:\BB2020\xtra_styles_pak_8.exe

Next run the 2020 Master Installer and when it completes you are finished.