My first version purchase was BIAB 2018, so this is my first upgrade. I currently run 2018 from the usb drive.
On a chat yesterday with PGM I was instructed to buy the $149 upgrade for the ultrapak & get a new usb drive. When I asked if I needed to uninstall 2018 the answer was simply "no".
Here's my confusion. If I unplug the 2018 usb drive to plug in and install 2019 will I have to reinstall all the extra paks I purchased with 2018? Xtra styles 1-5, 2018 49 pak, bonus pak that came with 2018 and seems like there was something else?
If it is the case that all extras would have to be installed again......is there anything I can do right now, before my new hard drive arrives, to prevent reinstalling everything? For instance, can I have 2018 install everything to one of my hard drives? Again without having to reinstall all the extras? Or any other idea?
This upgrade process seems unnecessarily complicated???? I'm accustomed to paying my money......downloading one file......double click on it and boom everything is upgraded.
Enough whining.....can anyone offer a suggestion to simplify this process for this update and so I don't face the same dilemma on future updates?
Thanks Mike
Focusrite 2i2 2nd Gen Windows 10 pro 1709 16299.125 Intel core i7 6700k CPU @ 4.00GHz 4.01 GHz 16 gig memory BIAB UltraPak version is 2025 (Latest) Cubase pro 9
Mike, when I get anything that’s ‘Xtra’ I save the installation .EXE file on my hard drive. That way, if I ever had to reinstall BIAB, I would have just a few .EXE files to get everything back.
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.
I too have saved ALL files that I downloaded in addition to the usb drive.
So when I get this new usb drive would the best approach be to install on my hard drive? I'm thinking that 10 years from now I'd have to install years worth of extras......doesn't sound fun.
I seen you reply to someone else that if they installed over their previous BIAB they wouldn't have to install extras. I'm assuming this would not work when running from the usb drive?
Any tips would be appreciated!
Mike
Focusrite 2i2 2nd Gen Windows 10 pro 1709 16299.125 Intel core i7 6700k CPU @ 4.00GHz 4.01 GHz 16 gig memory BIAB UltraPak version is 2025 (Latest) Cubase pro 9
Hi Mike The general rule of thumb when upgrading is just to keep installing new updates over the top of your existing installation. - Anything already existing that doesn't need replacing just stays put. - Anything new gets added - The latest program knows about new tracks, features etc. and can find them
Generally no need to reinstall anything that you have installed previously.
Most of us use this technique. It's straightforward, and the installer knows what is required.
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.
.... This upgrade process seems unnecessarily complicated???? .... can anyone offer a suggestion to simplify this process for this update and so I don't face the same dilemma on future updates? Thanks Mike
Went through the same last year, and Deryk helped me out, as i ordered a wrong version, but i had to get the USB drive because of the AP size after all; no downloads possible for them file sizes.
Got me a collection of 10 BIAB drives now, and another 'round the bend. SIQ?
It's probably that complicated, because of all the various versions/combinations of PG stuff. Usually if you inquire first about your needs you'll be advised, only last year i, or someone at PG, misunderstood. Busy times probably ... but their customer service is top-notch as always ... F
I made a mistake in selecting UltraPak+ instead of just the UltraPak this year and only realised it 2 days later. . I have no use for the Midi Songs and Lessons Pak as I already have it from my older versions/upgrades
One email to sales@pgmusic.com sorted that as they "corrected" my order and refunded me the difference. No questions asked...
Now this is the kind of company I like doing business with!!!
I'm doing allright for Country Trash ....
I used to care, but things have changed (Bob Dylan)
Good advice here, and well-deserved kudos for PG Music customer service.
Mike, there are two approaches mentioned: installing to your own drive on your computer, and running from the USB drive you get from PG Music each year. How you handle upgrades for each approach is different:
If you install to your own drive, everything is cumulative. Just install on top of your existing version and you have it all.
Running from the USB drive requires an extra step. As mentioned, the Xtra Paks offered each year can be installed on top of your new USB drive so you continue to have everything. I’m not sure whether some of that material might already be on the new USB drive, but it does no harm to run those installers even if the files were already there.
Mike, you’re worried about ten years from now? I’ve been running BIAB for twenty-five. It’s not so bad.
Running from the USB drive is almost becoming a requirement for those of us using the audiophile version. That drive has to hold 2 TB of data. I used to have a separate drive for BIAB on each computer. Now I only do that on my main production machine. For my backup computers I use the USB drives. I update the drive from two years ago to be the same as this years drive, so I have several. I also keep a working copy of last year’s version this way, in a drive rotation. That’s probably overkill for most, but I need BIAB available for the custom work I still do.
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.
I think I'm going to install 2019 to my internal hard drive when it gets here.
Hopefully it is not an issue to NOT install it to my operating system drive? In other words install to my F drive and not my C drive.
Thanks again Mike
Focusrite 2i2 2nd Gen Windows 10 pro 1709 16299.125 Intel core i7 6700k CPU @ 4.00GHz 4.01 GHz 16 gig memory BIAB UltraPak version is 2025 (Latest) Cubase pro 9
You can install to your own desired location (not \Program Files\ though!) If your RealDrums and RealTracks are elsewhere, you can just point to them from the Options > Preferences > RealDrums / RealTracks settings:
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.
Focusrite 2i2 2nd Gen Windows 10 pro 1709 16299.125 Intel core i7 6700k CPU @ 4.00GHz 4.01 GHz 16 gig memory BIAB UltraPak version is 2025 (Latest) Cubase pro 9
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With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
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