Most of my audio software is cross platform for Mac and PC and available for download at no extra cost. Also many software programs allow for multiple computers installs,usually 2 or 3. The way it now the Mac version comes out almost a year after the PC version. The cost to purchase the Ultra pack for both platforms is not a cost effective solution for most of us users out there. I have no idea how the development team works on either version and what kind of resources that are available to them. Anyway this is what I would wish for. Brian
BIAB 2025 Ultrapack- Studio One Pro 7 Windows 11, Mac Mini M4 with Logic Pro 11, Melodyne Studio
+1 "as well and the command, control,and option keys kind of mess with me going between the PC and Mac." You can also change the command, control, and option, alt, win keys around to suite using a Win keyboard on the Mac, System Prefs/Keyboard. You can also do a Crosgrade for just the app and if you convert the wma RT RD to wav (copy them first to a larger drive then use bb\data\decompress.exe or .zip) and they will work on Mac. The wma RT RD Style demos can be batch converted also to m4a. The folder structure is now the same so you can copy the contents of other folders over to the Mac. There's a free audio batch converter for Mac/Win MediaHuman Audio Converter https://www.mediahuman.com/audio-converter/ You can convert the wma to m4a but wav would be better.
Must be nice running on Linux. You don't have to worry about disabling malware checkers.
I wouldn't know. This laptop uses Windows 7 and it appears me and a bunch of other laggards will shortly (January 20, 2020) be "upgrading" to Windows 10. I must admit I'm not looking forward to upgrarding at all.
While I admit Windows 10 is likely faster and more secure than Windows 7 two practices make me reluctant to update. One is the practice of major, build labeled updates resetting my preference settings back to default. The second is Microsoft considering a build out-of-date or obsolete 18 months after the release date.
Generally speaking it takes me anywhere from three to six months to get an operating system tweaked enough that it works the way I want it to. With the two practices above in place Windows management will be a constant task and irritant. I already feel the operating system requires too much maintenance, attention and is too intrusive. To me, the ideal computer operating system should be out of sight and out of mind. It should just work.
The Linux was half-joking. Does BIAB even run on Linux? And I wouldn't trust ANY operating system now to be immune from malware.
About the upgrade to Windows 10, I can give you some reassurance.
It's been many years now, but yes, Windows 10 did give me a performance boost, better than just a fresh install of anything would have caused.
It's also been many years since I fretted much about tweaks. Sure, there are a few like power options that any audio PC needs, but gone are the days of Black Viper tweaks. Windows 10 just works.
And you are correct about updates resetting some settings, but for all the griping, it's only in a couple of areas. For me, my HD audio driver keeps getting turned back for my video monitor (how stupid is that, when I have really good audio powered speakers), and sometimes I have to go back in and reexamine the Power Settings in Control Panel, such as making sure USB ports are not powered down to save power. It's annoying, sure, but not a massive task. Just something to gripe about, which is why you hear about it a lot. Overall, Windows 10 is by far the best operating I've used, and I go back to MS-DOS, UNIX, and IBM mainframes.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Just like some Apple users have workarounds to use Windows software programs on an Apple platform there are workarounds to use Windows software programs on the Linux operating system. In fact in some cases even hardware drivers can be used.
Another music forum I belonged to (today, Nov. 1 the forum moved to Facebook so my membership is now past tense)has numerous members with computers that use a Linux operating system. They constantly post about experiments they try so I had a good overview about what works and don't work.
Just like there are multiple ways to get Windows stuff to work on Apple and some ways work better than others the same holds true for Linux. There are numerous distributions of Linux and Linux with Wine seems to be the most friendly to music applications.
As with many things computer Linux has some geek element to it. Considering that I was just mouthing off in my last posting about the maintenance, care and attention Windows requires rest assured I've no desire to "geek out" with Linux.
I know I've said it before. I am not looking forward to upgrading my laptop to Windows 10; I've already tried twice and while it worked well for awhile, it started doing weird things as time went on. And there aren't proper drivers for everything on the laptop and HP won't provide them (because they want me to buy a new laptop).
While a new laptop would be wonderful, it's an expense I don't want to incur right now, so I may just have to live with the Win10 limitations on that particular machine. I know it's an old machine, but it's still solid...Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM, dual 2TB hard drives. When I load Win10, I lose HDMI capability, so I can't connect it to the TV anymore (again, no driver).
My equally old desktop machines run Win10 fine, but laptops are just different creatures.
Alas!
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
John, you are absolutely right. As much as I evangelize Windows 10 over 7 & 8, it's a much different question with a name-brand laptop. Mine is a Toshiba. Those companies load their own drivers and it's difficult to overcome that.
Good luck.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
In most cases mainstream manufacturers like Lenovo, Toshiba, Dell and HP use off-the-shelf parts that are packaged to their specifications. The circuit boards maybe designed by the manufacturer but the chips used on the boards are off-the-shelf.
A utility application like +++ CPU ID +++ scans the circuit boards and identifies the chips. The application can display its findings or compile it into a report.
Once you know who makes the chips you can visit the chip manufacturer's website and download drivers that are specific to the chips.
My main (but not only) problem is that I have a dual video interface (high performance when running on AC and low power interface when running on battery) that auto switches. I bought the computer right when ATI Radeon became rebranded as AMD Radeon (which is the high performance driver) along with an Intel video interface for the lower power. And a year or so later, Windows 8 was released. Neither ATI/AMD nor Intel released new drivers, and HP flat out stated on their web site that they would not be providing updated drivers for Windows 8 (which also carried over into Windows 10), even though the laptop was only a little over a year old at the time.
There were a lot of folks unhappy at the time. There was even a developer in Russia who tried to create his own version of the dual driver, which worked for some models, but not for mine. I spent months trying to get Windows 8 to work properly on the machine. I later loaded Windows 10 when it came out (the free upgrade), but discovered similar issues with the video drivers as I had with Windows 8.
So when I load Windows 10, I get a somewhat new AMD driver, but it's not the right one and continuously has issues that force reboots, and in on case, I had to completely reload the OS. Similarly, I don't have a new driver for the HDMI interface as well.
HP's stated solution was, hey just spend another $1000 or so for a new machine.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 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.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 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.
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