Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 37
P
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
P
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 37
While I am certainly very glad the crew is moving forward development wise on the mac side, to pay an add'l $199 for the audiophile upgrade after only 6 months of the 2019 version being rec'd, is wayyyyy outta line. Nowhere near a good way to keep those of us who have been with them well over 20 years. Very very sad, and indeed very very confusing.

Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 23
Originally Posted By: pglabcomp
Very very sad, and indeed very very confusing.


Indeed. For me it was being asked to upgrade after 5 weeks, which really is very poor and out of line with normal industry practice. PG Music's business guys really need to fix that model.



.. mark.
(BiaB 2020 Mac; macOS 10.14.6; MacPro 5,1 56Gb 2xHex-Xeon RX580)
Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 21
S
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
S
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 21
While it is usually very bad form (and bad manners) to re-iterate a post, I just have to say amen again to my post below:

"October 30th I had to get BIAB 2019 because my Mac (like all of ours) went to 64 bit...

Now, 4 months later, 2020 comes out, and I am expected to upgrade like anyone else....

Good grief, even the giants who don't care about us (parallels, adobe, etc) give us more of a break...

Sorry folks, just disappointed in a company that I have raved about for years...."


Steve

Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,852
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,852
Originally Posted By: stevend
While it is usually very bad form (and bad manners) to re-iterate a post, I just have to say amen again to my post below:

"October 30th I had to get BIAB 2019 because my Mac (like all of ours) went to 64 bit...

Now, 4 months later, 2020 comes out, and I am expected to upgrade like anyone else....

Good grief, even the giants who don't care about us (parallels, adobe, etc) give us more of a break...

Sorry folks, just disappointed in a company that I have raved about for years...."


Steve


I don't understand your so-called disappointment. You went to 2019 at the end of October because of an OS upgrade. Does it matter when it was released? (no, it doesn't)

As it turned out, 2019 was released in September which was late due to the 64 bit rewrite and long beta period. That was unusual but it did get released before Catalina.

Normal is March to May. 2020 was on the early side this year. That is a good thing.

Go ahead and keep whining if you must but this fact remains: You wouldn't have purchased before Oct 30 in any case.

I might have a little sympathy if you purchased when 2019 was released but you didn't do that.

I don't work for PG Music and my opinion is my own.


BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 23
Originally Posted By: Mike Halloran


I might have a little sympathy if you purchased when 2019 was released but you didn't do that.


Much harder to justify when I bought mine in Feb 2020. The industry "norm" is 3 months, plus rolling out bug fixes on older versions. This doesn't seem to happen here, there being one rolling release.

Now, in my case, PG Music has helped (and continues to help) however I suspect that this is an exception. If my version actually worked I would have to upgrade after 5 weeks to get updates. IMO a very poor business model



.. mark.
(BiaB 2020 Mac; macOS 10.14.6; MacPro 5,1 56Gb 2xHex-Xeon RX580)
Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 21
S
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
S
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 21
Yes, MIke, your opinion is your own.

For us senior citizens, in retirement, and living on a fixed income, upgrading can be challenging....

I perhaps would have been less acerbic had my attempts to reach the support team when I first had problems been helpful...hours waiting on the phone spread over 3- 4 calls in the week without any answer....weeks before an email response was received which didn't really answer the question.

Call it whining if you wish....I call it attempting to hold a company, that I have supported and lauded to many, responsible to its loyal constituents.

But enough arguing...I have better things to worry about like the morbidity and mortality associated COVID-19 in my age group.

Steve

Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,882
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,882
Mark5009,

Did you talk to PG Music to see if they can accommodate your very recent purchase in some way?

Regards,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2025
Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 21
S
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
S
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 21
First thing I did:

"Hello Steve,

Our policy is if you purchase within 30 days of a new version launch we will upgrade you for free. You would fall outside of that time frame so you would need to upgrade via the link we sent below. We can certainly pass your feedback along, however.

Thank you,
Ember
PG Music Inc. "

Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 23
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 23
Originally Posted By: Noel96

Did you talk to PG Music to see if they can accommodate your very recent purchase in some way?


I did and they did. I'm a bit of a special case in that I've not been able to get it running at all on my Mac Pro (there is another thread on that). Andrew at PG has been kind enough to upgrade me to see if their recent fixes work (not yet).

Apart from this issue I would have fallen outside the 30 day free upgrade window by a week or so, hence my annoyance...



.. mark.
(BiaB 2020 Mac; macOS 10.14.6; MacPro 5,1 56Gb 2xHex-Xeon RX580)
Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,852
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,852
Originally Posted By: stevend
Yes, MIke, your opinion is your own.

For us senior citizens, in retirement, and living on a fixed income, upgrading can be challenging....

I perhaps would have been less acerbic had my attempts to reach the support team when I first had problems been helpful...hours waiting on the phone spread over 3- 4 calls in the week without any answer....weeks before an email response was received which didn't really answer the question.

Call it whining if you wish....I call it attempting to hold a company, that I have supported and lauded to many, responsible to its loyal constituents.

But enough arguing...I have better things to worry about like the morbidity and mortality associated COVID-19 in my age group.

Steve
You doubled down? Oh dear... I suppose I've got to answer that.

What does being a senior citizen have to do with it? Are you making an assumption that I cannot understand because I am not? If so, you are wrong on that point, too. Heck, I might be older than you for all I know. Don't let that 2 year old picture fool you.

Otherwise. I sympathize with the fixed income, a luxury I'm unable to enjoy—still gotta work for a living though Social Security makes the total collapse of my wife's and my gigs a bit easier to live with.

Back to the topic of this thread. Are we expected to sympathize with you because BIAB 2020 was released in March instead of September? I'm sorry but I can't do that.

If 2019 had been released in the normal March–May time frame, you would not have purchased it then. We know this because, by your own admission, you purchased 10/30/19 because earlier versions were incompatible with your new OS. The other guy purchased 5 weeks before the grace period. Doesn't change the fact that BIAB 2019 was available in September. That is a good thing, really. I'm still waiting for two of my bread and butter apps to be Catalina compatible. I'm not being figurative here—I use them to try and make a living.

Think about it. Had BIAB 2020 been released in September, this thread would not exist. Period.

If holding off on purchasing the upgrade till September or October 30, 2020 will make you guys happy, then do it.

BTW, if you're having issues with 2019, contact Support so that they can help you. I had an issue resolved via Chat on Friday. I hate being on hold, too.

Meanwhile, my gigs are gone and we figured this would be a good time to send our grand piano out to be rebuilt. It's time for me to get to know BIAB a whole lot better.


BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
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!

New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!

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

Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)

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!

The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!

Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!

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

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!

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!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,523
Posts780,445
Members39,681
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Maureen Sels, Bob Mesquita, rchovin, Troxy, Spudlink
39,681 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 141
WaoBand 107
DC Ron 85
rsdean 83
dcuny 63
Today's Birthdays
Island Soul, Jyde D, Mike Laatz
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5