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lbolen Offline OP
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Good morning all,

I've had BB since about 2014, upgraded now for about my fourth time...excited to see the new changes.

Started downloading yesterday morning after purchase, tried downloading with the Install Manager, but it seemed the program was freezing (or so I thought) on Win11 -- was probably just the massive size that I wasn't expecting all the huge transfer activity in the background and under the hood.

So in my awesome wisdom wink I used FDM (Free Download Manager) and this morning about 30 minutes ago the last file finished downloading. I'm on StarLink and the download speed bounced around between at the lowest, 45 Mb/s to about 105Mb/s randomly, so roughly around 23-24 hours.

I'm using the BB Install Manager now to install. When I ran it to install, I was imagining it might try downloading some again (horror thoughts in my head), but alas, all were green (indicated "Downloaded") after the program read the download space, and I clicked on Install All Files...it's installing now, will circle back and update this.

Can't wait to try it out with the WAV files. My last version was an audiophile version and this is such an amazingly awesome, timesaving songwriting tool! I really don't think PG Music gets enough kudos!

Last edited by lbolen; 04/16/25 09:32 AM.

Les
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lbolen Offline OP
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Ok, all installed and working awesome! smile


Les
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Great. Just to clarify, BIAB 2025 now uses FLAC files instead of WAV files. Same sound quality, less space. That’s what made the download more practical.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Originally Posted by Matt Finley
Great. Just to clarify, BIAB 2025 now uses FLAC files instead of WAV files. Same sound quality, less space. That’s what made the download more practical.
Yep, otherwise the download would've been around 2.2tb!

FLAC is a "lossless" type of compression, meaning that when it's decompressed it holds exactly the same data as a WAV file, literally bit-for-bit identical. FLAC ends up around 30-40% of the size of the original WAV.

Originally Posted by lbolen
Started downloading yesterday morning after purchase, tried downloading with the Install Manager, but it seemed the program was freezing (or so I thought) on Win11 -- was probably just the massive size that I wasn't expecting all the huge transfer activity in the background and under the hood.
If you don't mind could you give us a bit more detail here? How was the install manager freezing - did Windows tell you it was not responding, or did you get the spinning wheel on the mouse, or something else?


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lbolen Offline OP
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Hey Matt,

Thanks, and yes, I knew that, and also knew that they convert back to WAV files with absolutely no loss. They sound great by the way!


Les
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lbolen Offline OP
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Hello Simon,

No worries,

While executing the download/installer, it would get going and about tree or four files would start downloading. Then after a while (about 15 minutes or so), I'd come back and there was no apparent activity indicating that anything was downloading. When I moved the window at the top bar, the program would turn grey/translucent.

Checking in the activity bar at the bottom, Windows indicated that the program was not responding.

Happened about three times, that's why I went to the other downloader...which was fine, it worked in the end to install everything.

Les


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Originally Posted by lbolen
Hey Matt,

Thanks, and yes, I knew that, and also knew that they convert back to WAV files with absolutely no loss. They sound great by the way!
Very good.

For anyone else reading, again just to be clear: BIAB will read a RealTrack which is in FLAC format and uncompress it internally. I believe Las was making a general statement about FLAC file quality, not about anything you need to do in BIAB.

I only say this because there used to be a helpful commend in BIAB for Windows to convert all the WMA files to WAV. It didn't improve the quality and the resulting files took eleven times the space, but they did load a bit faster so some people did it. Now, the program speeds are such that this conversion is not necessary, even with the FLAC files. Carry on.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Originally Posted by lbolen
Hello Simon,

No worries,

While executing the download/installer, it would get going and about tree or four files would start downloading. Then after a while (about 15 minutes or so), I'd come back and there was no apparent activity indicating that anything was downloading. When I moved the window at the top bar, the program would turn grey/translucent.

Checking in the activity bar at the bottom, Windows indicated that the program was not responding.

Happened about three times, that's why I went to the other downloader...which was fine, it worked in the end to install everything.

Les
Thanks, I'll pass this on to the developers.


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Les, that’s correct. This is a very helpful evolutionary change by PG Music to use FLAC files. Another user asked if he could try downloading them (instead of the shipped audiophile SSD drive). When that worked and seemed practical, PG Music made it happen quickly, and at a reduced price!


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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PG Music News
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!

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Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
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New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!

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These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!

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This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.

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We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles

Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)

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You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.

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Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!

With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!

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  • Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
  • Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
  • Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
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  • RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
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  • 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.

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  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
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  • Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
  • Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
  • Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
  • RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

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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.

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Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

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In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

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Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

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.

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