|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 75
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 75 |
I am a person of a certain age, who started using computers in the 1980s, and BIAB is almost as old as I am. I hear tell that the original version of BIAB was for Atari STs. As Midi, General Midi, and the DAW revolution rolled on, BIAB has kept on evolving and growing. BIAB is a mature and complex (and weird) product.
Here are some initial reflections from a brand new user of MAC BIAB 2023 who is also a professional mac and windows software developer:
* The choice to use the Applications folder to hold the main Application bundle (binary) is commendable. Everything else about file locations gets weirder from this point forward.
* The choice to create an application folder tree under that application bundle where all kinds of other stuff is stored is really really problematic. This reminds me of the Windows31 era were you would install to c:\BIAB and then have c:\BIAB\Prefs and everything underneath it.
* The modern choice for user-specific preferences is to store that in the user library application support folder (~/Library/Application Support/BIAB/<whatever>)
* Documents should go in documents. That includes my own style and song files or anything I save or export for the program. Having autosave of my working copy of a song go into the Applications folder or a folder beneath that is beyond weird and confusing.
* Global content like sound packs, presets, etc, really should go in the global library (not the user library) which is usually found at the root of the main disk on macs (/Library/Application Support/BIAB). If preferences files aren’t going to be in mac preferences format then they should be in this folder unless they should be per user, in which case they should be in ~/Library/Application Support/BIAB/…
Managing this current set of choices is going to make life harder for users, and for your tech support team, as you move onwards. Both Apple and Microsoft are getting saltier over time and not wanting applications to access the Applications folder and write to it for very good reasons, including the fact that this kind of behaviour is now typical of malware. If BIAB itself was written in a manner compliant with apple’s guidance, BIAB app itself could run from anywhere on your disk and not care where any other file is relative to its own position. Typically a preferences folder in a standard location (~/Library/ApplicationSupport/BIAB/Preferences) would be located and read and then the rest of the content could be found anywhere, whether on external volumes or the main disk.
I really hope that some future (2024+) version of BIAB MAC will be written with regard to the Apple’s recommend and industry standard file and folder locations for all the style and other product content. In the meanwhile, my more modest overall requests as a new user:
* Don’t store my auto-save songs into Applications/ folders. Please store it into a Documents subfolder on my mac. I want my documents saved where documents go. I hope this is already possible somehow and I’ve missed finding the preference option for “store documents in the documents folder”.
* When I save a new song I expect to start in My documents folder or a custom subfolder of My Documents folder on my mac. Not in a subfolder of the applications directory.
I love BIAB, but learning it for the first time is confusing, and it does things that modern mac users in particular are really going to scratch their heads over. If it’s truly possible to already set up BIAB to not write and read content that is inside Applications other than the main application bundle itself (the .app), please advise, as I would be glad to try that out. I’d also love to beta test upcoming versions, if you could use some beta test help from someone who can read crash reports and write detailed bug reports.
Warren
Last edited by Warren P; 10/14/23 08:18 AM.
BIAB Mac 2025
Mac Studio 2022, M1 Max, MacOS 26.3 (Tahoe)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,566
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,566 |
Warren, yours is a valuable post. I no longer use Macs so I won’t comment on your recommendations, but I have two comments.
Send an email to support@pgmusic.com and volunteer as a beta tester. I will ask the developers to read this post and consider you.
About the windows version of BIAB, we went through something similar so there is precedent for a major file reorganization. In BIAB 2018, almost everything was taken out of the root folder into more sensible places. The installer did this automatically, and we still have a Cleanup utility that will do it as well.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,093
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,093 |
I'm definitely not knocking the suggestions, and I don't profess to know how BiaB is installed in a Mac environment. However, it might become very confusing for thousands of existing users who know exactly where everything is now if various product content was dispersed to various other locations (into separate Global Libraries, User Libraries, Documents folders and more).
I'm pretty sure that I would be one of them.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,093
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,093 |
BTW, yes, it started with Atari, well, at least I did: ![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=25539&filename=Original35disks034.jpg)
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,110
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,110 |
If you want to run directly from an external hard drive you would want all the files on it. You could use Symlinks to direct the files to another folder location/drive.
Having folders all over the place would create issues if you wanted to copy to another machine. At the moment you can copy the Biab folder to another drive/machine and it will run as it contains all the files it needs, like a portable app.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,093
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,093 |
Good point. Imagine trying to change BiaB to run everything from a removable drive (it happens).
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,192
Posts801,796
Members40,064
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean