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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,096
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,096 |
I have now read two references to "...Product activation is required. "
Has something been changed in this regard for BIAB and RB?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 625
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 625 |
I didn't see it on RB, but BIAB did ask for an activation key (which was supplied with the online purchase.) Not sure how it works, or if it ties to a single machine. I use BIAB principally on my desktop, but also like it on my tablet. Hope I can continue to use it on both (one at a time...)
Jan - 12 Core AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
32GB DDR4
Win 10 64-bit
Samsung m.2 SSD Boot drive,other SSD internal and USB drives.
MOTO 2
Ketron SD90
Aerophone AE-30, Yamaha WX-7
Yamaha RX-v381amp
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Peter told us during the beta that we can install on up to 3 machines using the same key, so people using laptop for one thing and desktop for another should have no worries.
The activation code is tied to each specific computer.
He also told us that if you need to have more than 3 machines, contact PGMusic directly about that.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 32
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 32 |
Wow. I never would have expected this from PG Music. I never buy any software that uses challenge-response activation. I am so disappointed to see PG Music has gone in this direction. I already bought BIAB 2014 the minute it came out, just as I've done for absolutely every update since the early DOS days when it shipped on floppy disks. So it's too late to vote with my wallet, but I really hope PG Music rethinks this move. One of the great things about BIAB was the ability to keep it all on an external hard drive and just plug it into whatever computer I am using. I could work on BIAB in my home office, my living room, my home studio or on whatever laptop I have with me while travelling. Now I have to strategically think about what computer it gets locked to and I'm stuck with that. Such a disappointment.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826 |
I can't say I'm too happy with this either. I'm sure PGM will be fair but I still don't like the idea of having my software tied to a given machine. There have been many times I need to move it to another PC and keys cause nothing but hassles.
On the flip side though, maybe PGM have been suffering a lot of losses through "sharing" the product. So guess I'll have to adapt.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,860
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,860 |
Really come on now every software package I have in my studio bar none, have activation codes. Studio one, jamstix, EzDrummer, Sonar, Multitrackstudios, Reaper even requires a license key if you purchase.
Why should BB be any different. My key code came with my purchase confirmation email, and I just cut and pasted with both BB and RB all is good. 5 seconds and I am a licensed owner. This is smart as it keeps honest folks honest. If someone wants to crack and cheat they will find a way.
I imagine that some folks buy and use it properly on a couple of their own computers, but still others then load it up for every friend they have, and that is just not right.
So for users like you and me, we should not care that PG wants to protect themselves from that. That way those that want it, pay for it, and activate it properly, and money is there to do further development.
Regards, Rob
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Zoom Livetrack L-8
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,980
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,980 |
Hi, Now I have to strategically think about what computer it gets locked to and I'm stuck with that. Such a disappointment. We allow 3 activations per license, and you can use the "Release" and "Restore" options (Help | Utilities) to transfer an activation to a different machine. You can do that without any intervention by PG Music, as long as you have internet. There is also a 30-day grace period. We're trying to keep this very user-friendly. Don't hesitate to contact us if you are having any trouble with activation.
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,499
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,499 |
Fully CONCUR!
I am surprised PG held off this long - and come on folks this is the LEAST intrusive method you could get.
Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
THREE machines per user on the one activation code is actually fairly generous.
My Sibelius software only allows for two installs, many others, only one.
And, PGMusic are really nice people. If you do have an issue with the authorization thing, a special circumstance, whatever, just contact them directly about the issue, I'm sure they will bend over backwards to help you, just as always.
The late John Conally would be happy for the authorization finally showing up...
During the beta, I was calling it, to myself, the Conally Memorial Authorization Code!
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 451
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 451 |
Unfortunately, the authorization code is probably the only way to stop people from "robbing them blind". I'm surprised wasn't implemented earlier. No complaints here.
Col
iMac, 3.7 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i5, BIAB MAC2024 (802), Audient iD4
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
The Authorization Code may also have to do with the fact that there are now so many top level pro musicians appearing on the RealTracks...
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,860
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,860 |
It seems that the big gripe is "what if I want to take this over to a buddies house and play"
Maybe you have not experienced this before but I have. You go to that buddies house, and after he sees just how cool the program is and all what it can do, he hits you with, "Wow, that's great could i have a copy on my hard drive so I can keep working on this project?" You have to try to explain how it is not cool to give away licensed software. After the uncomfortable silence, he responds who's going to know!
We all know to use it on that buddies computer you need to do a small install to run from the hard drive., so it is hard to explain why you would go that far and not help a real good bud out here, cause money is tight and he really wants to do this music project with you.
You are safe, cause it requires an activation key code to install on another computer.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Zoom Livetrack L-8
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
Hi, Now I have to strategically think about what computer it gets locked to and I'm stuck with that. Such a disappointment. We allow 3 activations per license, and you can use the "Release" and "Restore" options (Help | Utilities) to transfer an activation to a different machine. You can do that without any intervention by PG Music, as long as you have internet. There is also a 30-day grace period. We're trying to keep this very user-friendly. Don't hesitate to contact us if you are having any trouble with activation. Andrew, Is there any limit to the number of times you can activate/deactivate?
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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.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
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Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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.
Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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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!
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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!
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