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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4 |
I'm a semiprofessional musician and for many years I've based my performances (music keyboard, voices and little bands) on BIAB windows; in that environment I realized more than 1000 music arrangements which I prepare "in studio" and use "live" during the performances to support them. Now I'm working on the idea of moving towards Mac. My question is: if I'm going to use BIAB Mac, can i import all my BIAB user files on the new environment, seving all the functionality I had on Windows, both for editing them and executing them "live", having the score and lyrics running on my screen and supporting all the others "live" performances, vocal and instrumental? Thank you al lot.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,551
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,551 |
Welcome to the forum.
I do not use the Mac version of BIAB, but I understand there are a few differences in features. In general, the Mac version is updated after the PC version, and that is currently the case as we are in version 2014 for the PC and 2013 for the Mac. Files can be transferred, although as Mac pointed out in the Shout Box (to the right) there is a requirement about the file extension.
If you need to know more specific details about the differences, let us know what your concern is. Don't forget that the Mac version is not your only option; with Parallels or similar, you can run the Windows BIAB version on your Mac.
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; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4 |
Matt, thank you a lot for your kind answer. I'm new for the mac environment and still I'm only thinking about the move from windows to mac. You gave me very useful information, both on the compatibility between the two BIAB environments and - even more useful - on the possibility of running the windos BIAB version on the mac (that still I don't have). Thank you very much.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,827
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,827 |
You can do a cross-grade and get just the Mac App, but depending on the version you have WMA or Audiophile, you will need to convert the wma to m4a to use it on Mac not sure if the BIAB2014 for Mac will support the wma files or not when it is released ?
The Audiophile files will work with BIAB Mac because it can use wav.
On the Mac you just need to rename BB\RealTracks\Library to
BB\RealTracks\LibraryM
There is also Boot Camp.
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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 |
Hi Alca,
You don't have to purchase the Mac version at all, Band in a Box for Windows runs very well on the Mac using one of the Mac Windows simulators, BootCamp, Parallels.
No change of anything at all, same familiar interface, all songs will work exactly as they have worked for you in the past with no changes needed, no extra expenditure for a new bb program, plus you can also run the included RealBand that way as well on the new Mac.
Peter Gannon has told us that he uses a Macbook to develop BB for Windows, in the same way.
Ought to run just fine for you.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393 |
Alca,
Realize, though, that to use a Windows emulator, you will have to buy a copy of Windows, plus a copy of Parallels (if you go that route). If you use Boot Camp, you've got to either boot OSX or Windows (one or the other at a time). Plus you've got to partition your hard drive with any of these. Of course, one reason a lot of us go to Macs is to get away from Windoze, not to take it with us... There's just not a perfect solution to this dilemma.
Bruce
Macbook Pro 2018
2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM
OS Monterey
BIAB for Mac 2022
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,551
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,551 |
There's a lot of good info here in a short time. This thread should be a sticky.
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; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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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 |
Also must understand that the Windows version of BiaB contains some certain features and addons that are not available in the Mac version.
Someone who has worked up a lot of performance files using the Windows version of BiaB might choose to invest in the OS and program that allows the dual boot capability rather than have to go through every swongfile to make certain that they haven't invoked certain things in the songfiles that the Mac version might balk at doing, necessitating editing or rewriting of those certain songfiles to suit.
At the end of the day, it is good to have options like this one IMO.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,086
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,086 |
Alca,
Realize, though, that to use a Windows emulator, you will have to buy a copy of Windows, plus a copy of Parallels (if you go that route). If you use Boot Camp, you've got to either boot OSX or Windows (one or the other at a time). Plus you've got to partition your hard drive with any of these. Of course, one reason a lot of us go to Macs is to get away from Windoze, not to take it with us... There's just not a perfect solution to this dilemma.
Bruce The O/P didn't seem to indicate that they wanted to get away from Windows, it's just that they were considering adopting a Mac environment. In fact they had obviously been using Windows for a long time. You're right, there's no perfect solution to this dilemma - if you want to run Mac.
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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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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