Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#879078 02/07/26 01:50 PM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733
T
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
T
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733
I am in the market for a new Windows laptop and am looking for some advice on the ideal specification. I am a little out of touch with Windows computer specs. I have had distortion problems with songs containing the most Realtracks so I want to avoid this particular problem. I am using an external synth and Focusrite.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,372
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,372
Budget?
Used? New?
Most audio issues I've dealt for many, many years were resolved with 12th gen intel processor, 32g ram and nvme gen4 ssd.
Most of the machines with these specs or above have fast USB ports and usually 2 different USB controllers for those. That is a big plus for external gear in my view.

With this setup I can run BIAB with heavy plugins and simultaneously a DAW with plugins. No audio stuttering.
Mine is Thinkbook by Lenovo. To somewhat futureproof (for Audio!), I would not go below specs mentioned above.

If money permit, look at the current Lenovo Legion series. They are considered "gaming" laptops, but obviously could be used for anything. They are very powerful machines.
----------------------------------------------------------

Having said that, I am sure your current laptop, if it was made in the past 5-7 years, has at least 8gb ram and ssd, could very likely be tuned to run BIAB by itself (without heavy weight VSTi) without audio issues.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
The advice I often see here and elsewhere is that, if my other digital audio programs run fine on a particular computer, BIAB should, too. I've written elsewhere that I don't think this advice applies as well now. Two years ago, when the speed of BIAB's regenerating was remarkably shortened, it increased the need for more cores and a faster processor. I have read the minimum requirements and, while they work, you may not be happy with it. You mention distortion and RealTracks so you are aware this can be a challenge. There are settings within BIAB to lessen the load, and threads here with these tips. One is that the more you convert RealTracks to audio, the less stress on your computer.

There is more to it. There is always more. But if you are buying, put your money into this order: CPU, RAM, SSD storage for the RealTracks. Graphics are not important for BIAB (now, at least).


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 for Windows
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 104
B
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
B
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 104
Originally Posted by Matt Finley
There is more to it. There is always more. But if you are buying, put your money into this order: CPU, RAM, SSD storage for the RealTracks. Graphics are not important for BIAB (now, at least).
Great advice, and if I can add one more suggestion, if comparing a couple of machines that are generally equal in cost and with specs as above, if one has two SSD slots (one used and one empty) and the other has only the one main SSD and no opportunity to expand other than swapping out the main one, I personally would give much consideration to the double SSD capability for future proofing.

Last edited by BluegrassPicker; 02/07/26 04:38 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
I agree.


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 for Windows
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733
T
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
T
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733
Thank you for the input. I am in the market for a new laptop and am prepared to pay.
My existing laptop is an i7-5500 with 8GB of RAM and a 500Gb hard drive.
I am looking at an I7 with 32 GB of RAM and 1TB SSD.
I assume this will do the job, at least that is what Gemini is also telling me!
Things have certainly changed since I first started with BIAB in 2000. I now amaze the residents in our senior's residence with what BIAB can do!
Tony

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,605
Ok. An i7 CPU could be more or less powerful over a wide range. Some i3 and i5 chips are faster than some i7 chips so get the fastest you can afford. If you do anything besides BIAB you will probably want an external SSD USB drive for your RealTracks.

Do you have monitors (speakers)?


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 for Windows
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733
T
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
T
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733
I only use this laptop for BIAB so 1TB SSD should be enough?
I have powered BOSE speakers that I feed from a mixer
Tony

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 104
B
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
B
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 104
I have my BB installation on a 1TB SSD which is separate from my boot drive. My BB installation alone is 250 GB.

Also, when you get all done, I would suggest that you pick up a seperate external USB powered SSD drive to be used as a BACKUP. You can copy everything to it and then detach it so it is available to restore your BB songs in case your computer or computer's SSD crashes and dies. It DOES happen and it isn't any fun to lose everything.

Last edited by BluegrassPicker; 02/08/26 07:13 AM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,372
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,372
Originally Posted by Tony Wright
I only use this laptop for BIAB so 1TB SSD should be enough?
I have powered BOSE speakers that I feed from a mixer
Tony

Depends what version of BIAB. If recent Audiophile FLAC, go with 2tb. If Ultrapak - 1 tb should be fine.
You want to have at least 20-30% of space left on HD.

-------
Just make sure to research CPU. Your current is i7-5500. That 5500 number... It should be at least 2x higher for meaningful upgrade smile
From my laptop experience, usually better CPU machines have newer chipsets as well.

Last edited by Rustyspoon#; 02/08/26 10:37 AM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733
T
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
T
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 733
I am homing in on a ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405CA-RS71T-CA) I asked Gemini to compare it with my existing laptop for using with BIAB and the reply was.
"Comparing your current i7-5500U to the Intel Ultra 7-255H is like comparing a reliable bicycle to a high-end sports car"
Do you think there is a little man at AI headquarters answering my questions?

Tony

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 109
D
Apprentice
Online Content
Apprentice
D
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 109
Originally Posted by Tony Wright
I am in the market for a new Windows laptop and am looking for some advice on the ideal specification. I am a little out of touch with Windows computer specs. I have had distortion problems with songs containing the most Realtracks so I want to avoid this particular problem. I am using an external synth and Focusrite.

Hello Tony,

I just purchased a new MSI laptop to replace my current MSI gaming laptop, which I have had for about 6 years. I hopped back on the Band in a Box bandwagon about 12 years ago after first buying (I think a DOS version) sometime in the 1990's. My last 5-6 Band in a Box purchases have been the full audiophile version, and the last 2-3 installs have been a full hard drive install (after running from the purchased hard drive for years before that.)

Here is the laptop I purchased, at Costco, about a month ago after a 2-month search, the MSI Crosshair 18 HX AI 18" Gaming Laptop - Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX - NVIDIA RTX 5070 - 2560x1600 - 32GB RAM - 1TB SSD - Windows 11 Home:

https://www.costco.com/p/-/msi-crosshair-18-hx-ai-18-gaming-laptop-intel-core-ultra-9-275hx-nvidia-rtx-5070-2560x1600-32gb-ram-1tb-ssd-windows-11-home/4000374413?langId=-1

I also bought a second 4TB hard drive and added it to the laptop, so I have a primary 1TB C drive where I have installed the program and my DAW, and the 4TB where I have the DRUMS and STYLES installed, along with my projects. I also have the full TB of Native Instruments and VST's on the secondary drive.

There are many reasons for choosing this laptop, including the VERY powerful CPU with multicores (handy for the stuff we do), the ability to upgrade (I can upgrade the RAM and have already upgrade the drive), the large monitor which is very hand for the new GUI, and the dedicated graphics card (8VRAM) which is handy for some games I may play. It was also on sale at $300 off when I bought it in January, and Costco provide an additional 90-day return window.

CONS: It is heavier than my current laptop, but has a plastic lid which is fine for carting around from home to office to coffee shops to work on my music, but I would not travel with it on a plane as I think it could be susceptible to damage. I feel like there is the tiniest delay - not really latency - in the display being a touch behind the audio. I did not notice this on my replaced laptop, which seemed to display notes and/or chords right in line with the sound. I will go back and double check. There is also the occasional crackle when rendering new tracks and/or experimenting with VST's, which MAY be latency, but I have been trying to address by closing my browser and experimenting with other settings.

In any case, I am not necessarily endorsing the laptop - indeed, I may still return it - though I am happy with it so far. The other computers I considered are the zephyrus (G14 and G16). Both are more gamer-type laptops with 5070TI, 5080 graphics cards, but lesser CPU's.

I hope this discussion helps a little.


Tom Marvan
Dunbar7376
San Diego, CA

Band in A Box Audiophile 2025

MSI GE66 10SFS 15.6" Laptop (Model GE66048)
Intel Core i7 10th Gen i7-10750H 2.6ghz
32GB DDR4 RAM 2666mhz
8GB GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER
1920x1080 Full HD LED
2x1TB NVMe SSD PCI
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,372
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,372
dunbar7376,
Nice machine!
MSI is a reputable brand, but Lenovos parts are more abundant and usually much cheaper if something breaks down the line. Also, not sure of MSI warranty policy. Lenovo doesn't discriminate if you are not original owner and if warranty is present on pre-owned or refurbished comp, it will honor it without pain. Also, it lets you extend existing warranty at fair prices.

Tony, It all differs from machine to machine... I had Asus desktop and a laptop in the past. In my view Lenovo Thinkpad, Thinkbook or Legion series are much better builds.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 109
D
Apprentice
Online Content
Apprentice
D
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 109
Rustyspoon#,

It is a very nice machine. The benefit of purchasing a laptop at Costco here in the US is that on top of the (in this case, one year) MSI warranty, they add another year (or two) of warranty as well as phone/email support via Costco. If parts are needed, then for sure Lenovo is exceptional in offering replacements parts or indeed full replacements if your purchase their add on support when purchasing from them directly. Indeed, this was very useful when I was at business school in Durham, NC - not far from Lenovo's HQ - and they gave me a complete replacement of my ThinkPad (this was post the IBM hardware transition) when it died.

There were some lovely Legion and Zephyrus deals that started today as part of the President's Day sale at Best Buy. Again, these are not endorsements, but simply the next computers that I would consider if I wasn't working through my current MSI set up.

The Legion is $480 off, down to $1799.
Lenovo - Legion 7i 16" 2.5k OLED Gaming Laptop - Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 2025 - 32GB RAM - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 - 1TB SSD - Glacier White
https://www.bestbuy.com/product/lenovo-legion-7i-16-2-5k-oled-gaming-laptop-intel-core-ultra-9-275hx-2025-32gb-ram-nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-1tb-ssd-glacier-white/JJGSH3Y5H9/sku/6617095

The Zephyrus is $500 off, down to $1899.
ASUS - ROG Zephyrus G14 14" 3K OLED 120Hz Gaming Laptop - Copilot+ PC - AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX - 32GB RAM - NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti - 1TB - Platinum White
https://www.bestbuy.com/product/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14-14-3k-oled-120hz-gaming-laptop-copilot-pc-amd-ryzen-ai-9-hx-32gb-ram-nvidia-rtx-5070-ti-1tb-platinum-white/JJGGLHJXQ9/sku/6613954

Tom Marvan.


Tom Marvan
Dunbar7376
San Diego, CA

Band in A Box Audiophile 2025

MSI GE66 10SFS 15.6" Laptop (Model GE66048)
Intel Core i7 10th Gen i7-10750H 2.6ghz
32GB DDR4 RAM 2666mhz
8GB GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER
1920x1080 Full HD LED
2x1TB NVMe SSD PCI
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

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 amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.

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, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!

Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.

Holiday Weekend Hours

It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:

Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Regular hours
resume Tuesday, May 19th!

Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!

Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!

Don't wait - order today!

Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!

Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.

Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.

If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!

202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!

With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!

Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!

Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.

Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.

Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!

And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.

The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!

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)
  • iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,421
Posts804,788
Members40,120
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
Newest Members
Fjane, vieumotar, dpckeys, Bloc, Jt54
40,120 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 125
rsdean 100
DC Ron 100
WaoBand 84
dcuny 83
vicarn 72
Today's Birthdays
Bob Roetker, mark1, wgtorode
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5