It's a while since I did this so I want to make sure this will still work to copy an installed 2018/516 to another computer.
1) I have de-activated a previous installation to make room for another one. 2) BIAB is installed completely in the bb folder including all my songs. I have never specified any other folders while installing. 3) I have the complete bb folder already backed up onto an external HD. 4) I intend to simply copy the saved bb folder onto the new computer and create a desktop icon for the bbw.exe file.
This has always worked in the past - any problems with 2018?
1. Copy the BB folder over from the old computer to the new computer. 2. Run the installer you originally received with BIAB, but just select the minimal options (don't copy the RTs/RDs etc, since you already have done that), but you want to make sure you get the fonts, the DX effects, the Coyote WT, optionally the PDF driver, the IK multimedia files such as Amplitube, and the Sforzando plugin, etc. These files must be "installed" on your computer and you can't just copy them over from your old computer. 3. Run the latest update patch to make sure everything is up to date. 4. Create your shortcut icon on the desktop and set it to "run as administrator". 5. Optionally exclude the BIAB folder from you anti-virus protection to get much faster startup times. 6. Launch BIAB and set your sound card settings and make sure it is pointing to the correct folder for RTs/RDs. 7. Go into RealTracks picker and rebuild the database. 8. Go into RealDrums picker and rebuild the database. 9. Go into Stylepicker and rebuild the database. 10. Make sure you have registered IK Multimedia Amplitube files on the IK site for your new computer. 11. Probably something else I'm missing, but I'm sure you'll figure it out.
Hope that helps.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
1. Copy the BB folder over from the old computer to the new computer. 2. Run the installer you originally received with BIAB, but just select the minimal options (don't copy the RTs/RDs etc, since you already have done that), but you want to make sure you get the fonts, the DX effects, the Coyote WT, optionally the PDF driver, the IK multimedia files such as Amplitube, and the Sforzando plugin, etc. These files must be "installed" on your computer and you can't just copy them over from your old computer. 3. Run the latest update patch to make sure everything is up to date. 4. Create your shortcut icon on the desktop and set it to "run as administrator". 5. Optionally exclude the BIAB folder from you anti-virus protection to get much faster startup times. 6. Launch BIAB and set your sound card settings and make sure it is pointing to the correct folder for RTs/RDs. 7. Go into RealTracks picker and rebuild the database. 8. Go into RealDrums picker and rebuild the database. 9. Go into Stylepicker and rebuild the database. 10. Make sure you have registered IK Multimedia Amplitube files on the IK site for your new computer. 11. Probably something else I'm missing, but I'm sure you'll figure it out.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the suggestion everything seems to gone OK.
When it came to running the installer I actually declined most of the "extras" - Amplitube, Sforzando etc - as I use hardware for everything.
While sForzando doesn't need to be installed to run MIDI (it is used as the software synth for HiQ MIDI sounds), a number of electric guitar Realtracks do use Amplitube to enhance their sound.
If you want to get the best out of BIAB, an installed and registered version of Amplitube is needed (the free version that comes with BIAB is fine... it will still need registering, though).
If you want to get the best out of BIAB, an installed and registered version of Amplitube is needed (the free version that comes with BIAB is fine... it will still need registering, though).
Regards, Noel
What do you mean by "get the best out of BIAB"?
I have found that any problems with BIAB or the computer running it are always related to software so I use an Roland external synth and a Focusrite sound module. This combination is bullet proof and suites my simple needs perfectly.
If you want to get the best out of BIAB, an installed and registered version of Amplitube is needed (the free version that comes with BIAB is fine... it will still need registering, though).
Regards, Noel
What do you mean by "get the best out of BIAB"?
I have found that any problems with BIAB or the computer running it are always related to software so I use an Roland external synth and a Focusrite sound module. This combination is bullet proof and suites my simple needs perfectly.
Tony
Tony,
If your set up works for you and gives you all you need, that's fine. There's nothing that you need change.
What I was trying to explain in my above post is that some of the Realtrack electric guitar sounds use Amplitube in addition to the recorded guitar audio to give the final sound that comes from the speakers. This is true of a lot of Brent Mason electric guitars, for example.
If you haven't had Amplitube installed and you've never missed the addition of these effects then simply leave everything the way it is now. As you say, it's a perfect fit with your needs. At the end of the day, that's all that matters.
In addition to Noel's comments I'd like to add PG Music creates and assigns high quality sounds (Hi-Q) to each of their MIDI SuperTracks. Likewise, PG Music assigns Sforzando as the Hi-Q sound module. So, if you use the PG Music MIDI SuperTracks, you will need to have the Sforzando sound module installed.
Honestly, I've always found it is easiest to just re-install it from the original media rather than trying to manually move everything. It leaves a lot of potential room for something to be missed, whereas if you install everything from scratch again you'll know it is there
Honestly, I've always found it is easiest to just re-install it from the original media rather than trying to manually move everything. It leaves a lot of potential room for something to be missed, whereas if you install everything from scratch again you'll know it is there
This means you have to install from scratch all the RT's and extras that you may or may not have bought and may or may not have saved over many years. Not only is this a huge, time consuming job but prone to all sorts or errors and mistakes. It is much better to keep a backup copy of the bb folder and simply copy it to the new location. This is the main reason I keep everything in the bb folder. Perhaps it is a good idea to re-install the latest (2018) files, as advised in this thread, but I dread to think of the alternative.
I have moved my BIAB installation around between different hard drives and computers over the years. Like others have suggested I just copy the bb folder to wherever I want it and then just reinstall the latest version without contents to get BIAB to point to the correct new location and be able to find all the necessary files.
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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.
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.
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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)
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