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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887
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OP
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887 |
I just read that the 2025 BIAB Installed size is 750 GB (FLAC files) which is off since 2024 was 2.0 TB of AIFF files. Is there a reason for this? I buy the audiophile edition because of the higher quality sounds.
Computer: Macbook Pro, 16 inch 2021
DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, and Maschine
plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard,
music producer/engineer
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 240
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 240 |
Hello, I hope you're okay with me participating in your thread.
I'm also interested in some information. I'm hesitating about choosing the BIAB 2025 update.
There's an option with the new RTs in FLAC (only the new ones; the old RTs remain in AIFF), and there's another option if you choose to receive the SSD by physical mail, where all the files are in FLAC...if I understand correctly.
But what about add-ons that you reinstall afterwards (XPro, XPak, etc.)? How is that handled?
Personally, I prefer to start with a clean disk rather than adding downloads. What do you think?
It would be nice to have clear and complete explanations on this topic, which concerns people who have the most professional versions of BIAB.
Thank you.
MacBookPro M1 max, BIAB audiophile 2024, Logicpro X, UAD apollo, ASR10, marshall, peavey, Vox, Guitars...
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,026
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,026 |
PG Music previously stated that they had performed file comparisons of the output from FLAC files compared to the original, and the results are identical. Meaning that FLAC is a lossless file compression format.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,588
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,588 |
To the OP.
i'd like a buck for every time ive recorded my vocs useing flac.
(eg some songs in my sig....eg banker man/pretty girl/stallion etc.)
dont worry just make music...
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971 |
BIAB 2025 Audiophile has 300 new RealTracks and Drums in FLAC and these can be downloaded from your User Portal. My only concern was that I could not see how to download the legacy tracks. To be fair, I did not ask PG Music to see if that was possible. In any case, that is why I opted to have 2025 shipped to me. It came on a flash drive that is a lot slower than the hard drives we got in the past. I dragged the tracks into my old RealTracks and Drums folders and reclaimed about 1.2TB drive space. I could have converted the RTs and Drums to FLAC as I have apps that will do this including TwistedWave but I wanted to see what the new deliverable is like. Now that I know, I will likely go to download only next year.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766
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I just read that the 2025 BIAB Installed size is 750 GB (FLAC files) which is off since 2024 was 2.0 TB of AIFF files. Is there a reason for this? I buy the audiophile edition because of the higher quality sounds. FLAC compression is very different from MP3/WMA/M4A compression. MP3, WMA, and M4A are considered "lossy" compression - that means that the original waveform cannot be reconstructed perfectly. In simple terms it's been described that these algorithms remove frequencies that humans "cannot hear", although it has been proven many times that humans can in fact hear the difference or at least can hear artifacts of the compression. Lossy compression can compress as far as 90:1 (with absolutely abysmal sound quality), however the minimum "acceptable" quality is around 11:1 and "best" quality is 4.5:1 (however still lossy). FLAC is considered a "lossless" form of compression - that means that the original waveform can be reconstructed perfectly bit-for-bit. This is similar to putting a document in a Zip file - once the audio is extracted from the FLAC and saved as a WAV or AIFF the new file is exactly identical to the original, with no means of determining which is which (other than modification/creation date, file header information, or other non-audio metadata). FLAC typically compresses down to 2.5:1 - much bigger than lossy formats, but also much smaller than uncompressed. The only drawback to using FLAC over WAV/AIFF is that it takes a tiny bit more CPU power to decode the files when played - any modern computer is easily capable of that. In short, the new FLAC Audiophile has the exact same sound quality as the previous WAV/AIFF Audiophiles. Neither humans nor machines can tell the difference. if you choose to receive the SSD by physical mail, where all the files are in FLAC...if I understand correctly. That is correct. But what about add-ons that you reinstall afterwards (XPro, XPak, etc.)? How is that handled? The Xtra Styles PAKs do not include any new RealTracks or RealDrums - they include only style files, which use whatever RealTracks/Drums are installed. The XPro Styles PAKs include some RealTracks/Drums in lossy WMA or M4A format, however these RealTracks are already included in the Audiophile in FLAC format, so there will be no reduction in quality. The 49-PAK includes RealTracks that are not included with the Audiophile, and these can be downloaded in FLAC format. Meaning that FLAC is a lossless file compression format. That's in the name actually - FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. BIAB 2025 Audiophile has 300 new RealTracks and Drums Correction - 200. Including the 49-PAK there are 222 new RealTracks/Drums for 2025. My only concern was that I could not see how to download the legacy tracks. It depends on which package you purchase. As I understand: If you purchase the download-only Audiophile then all 4900+ RealTracks are downloadable in FLAC format. If you purchase the SSD then all 4900+ RealTracks are downloadable in the compressed format. If you purchase the Audiophile PlusPAK then only the new 2025 RealTracks are downloadable in FLAC format (this package does not include any RealTracks or styles from previous years). I could have converted the RTs and Drums to FLAC as I have apps that will do this including TwistedWave but I wanted to see what the new deliverable is like. Now that I know, I will likely go to download only next year. TwistedWave is a great app for that, however it is costly, as audio conversion is just one feature out of many. I use a free app called XLD for bulk audio conversion, which does a great job. I've also used a very neat app from Zynaptiq called Myriad, which is not only a bulk audio converter but can do a ton of bulk editing tasks (trim, gain, apply a plugin, etc).
I work here
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971 |
If you purchase the download-only Audiophile then all 4900+ RealTracks are downloadable in FLAC format. At the time I posted, this was not in my User Portal. I see it's there now.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,026
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Posts: 21,026 |
Meaning that FLAC is a lossless file compression format. That's in the name actually - FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. Yes, exactly, and that's why I capitalized the spelling of the acronym.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
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These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
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