Some time ago I deleted the HiQ Instruments for Sforzando files from my C: drive because it was filling up, and now I have a number of MIDI styles that won't play without those patches. I want to reinstall them on my D drive now. Now what I want to know is whether I can simply install those that came with the latest version of BiaB and they will work for all styles and instruments, or whether I have to install every one from every year that I owned the program and since PG music started using them.
In other words, do the styles work like the Synthmaster patches, where each patch was designed for each individual instrument used on a given style, or do they function like better sounding versions of the GM standards such that one download would suffice for all.
Hope that makes sense...
Thanks in advance!
DB09
Band-in-a-Box 2024. Custom Build Desktop PC W/ Windows 10 Home 64-bit. CPU: Intel Core i5-9600k @ 3.7GHz (6 core x 6 threads) RAM: 16GB DDR4. Storage 238GB SSD + 2.7 TB HDD. GPU: ZOTAC NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
The +++ PG Music Download Manager +++ will help you in this instance because not only is Band-in-a-Box keeping track of the patch location, select a patch and manage the automatic loading of Sforzando.
Open the Download Manager and set the correct paths. Then download and install the patch files. Band-in-a-Box follows the paths you set in the Download Manager.
Last edited by Jim Fogle; 01/23/2503:36 PM. Reason: Oops! Wrong Screen shot!
Thanks Jim, but while the downloads manager provides for the downloading of Hi-Q instruments, the install process has to be done manually if you don't want your main drive to be the default. (see screenshot)
That's not even so much of an issue for me as much as I want to know whether I need to For example, the install manager currently covers 2022 through 2025. The download size for each year is 521 MB, other than 2025 which is 271 MB. You would think that if they all built on each other, then each year would be progressively larger as more content was added that needed the tracks. Or, they should all be the exact same size if they are simply more advanced and sophisticated versions of GM sounds we have in Coyote.
Practically speaking, if I wanted all the tracks to work with the Hi-Q instruments patches they were meant to use, would I have to download and install for each year (going back even further than 2022, because I believe that Hi-Q instruments go back further than the years covered by the download manager utility), or would downloading and installing those that came with the 2025 installation be sufficient?
Thanks again!
Band-in-a-Box 2024. Custom Build Desktop PC W/ Windows 10 Home 64-bit. CPU: Intel Core i5-9600k @ 3.7GHz (6 core x 6 threads) RAM: 16GB DDR4. Storage 238GB SSD + 2.7 TB HDD. GPU: ZOTAC NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
I would chat with PG Music Sales to be sure but I don't think the Sforzando Hi-Q download adds new material every year. The same size is reported each year because the links are likely pointing to the same download file.
The 271 MB file in 2025 is smaller than the 521 MB file available from previous years because the 2025 file includes lossless flac audio files. Previous downloads used a different audio file format that requires more storage space.
The Sforzando Hi-Q download files are not cumulative because if they were users that do not purchase packages every year could not use Hi-Q instruments patches. All packages include some MIDI SuperTracks and all MIDI SuperTracks use Hi-Q instrument patches.
Now, the same can not be said for Playable RealTracks. PG Music adds more Playable RealTracks just about every year, including in 2025. Playable RealTracks uses the same technology (Sforzando Player + audio sample files) as Hi-Q instruments but presents the technology a different way. Still, downloading and installing the 2025 Playable RealTrack installers will give you all the files you need to use the Playable RealTrack feature.
You can also use these in your Reaper, just drag the midi into a Reaper track, load SforzandoVST and select the same sfz that Biab was using in Sforzando. This way you don't need to render to wav.
The same size is reported each year because the links are likely pointing to the same download file.
The 271 MB file in 2025 is smaller than the 521 MB file available from previous years because the 2025 file includes lossless flac audio files. Previous downloads used a different audio file format that requires more storage space.
The Sforzando Hi-Q download files are not cumulative because if they were users that do not purchase packages every year could not use Hi-Q instruments patches. All packages include some MIDI SuperTracks and all MIDI SuperTracks use Hi-Q instrument patches.
Thanks Jim. this is exactly the information I was looking for!
All the best,
DB09
Band-in-a-Box 2024. Custom Build Desktop PC W/ Windows 10 Home 64-bit. CPU: Intel Core i5-9600k @ 3.7GHz (6 core x 6 threads) RAM: 16GB DDR4. Storage 238GB SSD + 2.7 TB HDD. GPU: ZOTAC NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
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