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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 65
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 65 |
I am replacing my PC's small boot drive with a larger one. I want to partition the new drive into C: and D: drives. I want the C: partition to be large enough for all my programs, with some room to spare. I plan to only put programs on the C: drive, nothing else. I will soon be buying the BIAB 2009 UltraPak, which I think I read is 30-40 GB (true?).
When I install BIAB will it allow me the option to install the core BIAB and RealBand programs to Window's standard program location, "C:\Program Files", but put all the content (MIDI styles, RealTracks, ReadDrums, etc.) on the D: partition? Or does the installer automatically put everything on one drive so I need to allow enough room for the entire UltraPak on the C: drive when I partition the new hard drive drive?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,976
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,976 |
You can have custom locations for the RealTracks and RealDrums. (eg: d:\Mystuff\Drums and d:\MyOtherstuff\RealTracks The rest needs to be in the main folder (c:\bb), but it isn't that big (maybe 1 GB) The RealDrums can be up to 5 GB, and the RealTracks up to 30 GB.
Have Fun! Peter Gannon PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 65
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 65 |
Peter, thanks for the fast answer. That is good news that most of the UltraPak can be installed to the D: drive.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
Dale 1250,
IMO, putting the Real Tracks on a partitioned drive in other than the main partition is going to degrade performance to some degree. You are simply making the heads go farther to find the tracks than they would have to were they simply in the program folder along with BIAB/RB. (Translation: longer seek times.)
The difference may be marginal on a really fast system, but I'm so used to working with minimal machines that I'm always looking for (and recommending) any edge I can get, particularly with audio apps.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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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 |
What R. says is not a problem concerning BIAB RealTracks and RealDrums, they can indeed be stored on other drives because when BIAB generates the tracks for playback, only the pieces needed to play that particular song are brought over to the Temp C directory, assembled and run from there.
BIAB RealDrums/RealTracks are designed to be able to store all their source files on another hard drive.
PGMusic even SHIPS the program ready to run on an outrigger USB hard drive, which is the way I recommend to order it and it will run directly from that drive if you so desire.
No problems.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 24
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 24 |
I have a minimal system as mentioned above, and I tried using an external USB drive for installation of the whole program, and the RealTracks, etc. There were always glitches, and it was frustrating. I then tried what Peter said, Realtracks and Drums only on external, but it still presented minor problems. I then transferred my photos to the external drive and freed up space on the C drive, and it's a world of difference. It works best for me with everything on the C drive, and I save anything I produce on my external drive.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,915
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,915 |
On some computers, it is best to plug the USB drive into a port right in the back of your computer (not on the top, front, keyboard, monitor, or hub (unless it is a self-powered hub)). If you have a Y cable, plug in the second "extra power" USB connector also. There are significant differences between computers and ports as to how much power a particular port will deliver. Normally this will make things work smoother.
Andrew PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 31
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 31 |
During the setup of BB, I changed the default c:\bb to d:\bb and it 'seems' to work without glitches. In fact, I installed BB, PTW, and RB on the d:\ partition, because my c:\ partition was too small. Peter, what might be problematic with this install? Thanks.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,915
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,915 |
Quote:
During the setup of BB, I changed the default c:\bb to d:\bb and it 'seems' to work without glitches. In fact, I installed BB, PTW, and RB on the d:\ partition, because my c:\ partition was too small. Peter, what might be problematic with this install?
Nothing would be wrong with that, it should work fine.
Andrew PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
It works here (when I have my laptop under control, which it isn't at the moment).  I HATE IT techies who don't deliver
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,828
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,828 |
I have an older laptop, that has USB 1.1 and i keep my BiaB abd ARB files on a exterial HD. I bought a card buss USB 2.0 and it would not work, so i had to run a separate USB cable from the second port on the card buss to the USB 1.1 port on the Laptop to power the card buss, now it works great. It took some fair amount of research to figure this out.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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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 run AudioPhile Edition entirely off a USB 2.0 drive. I have no latency issues whatsoever. I have my C:\ drive stripped to the bare bones (drivers and apps that area pain to re-install like (Pinnacle Video Editing.) I back up automatically every night with Acronis, so I can restore to any point any time even if malware kills my XP restore points (or service.) I have used a tiny "boot drive" for as ling as I remember, and never had a regret about the practice. I don;t care how long the backup takes, as I am asleep, but a full restore at 15 minutes makes my life easier.
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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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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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!
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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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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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Holiday Weekend Hours
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Saturday, May 16: Closed
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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!
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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!
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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®!
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This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
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-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
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- 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®!
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