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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Beta testing is over and BIAB 2021 for Mac is available. Congratulations to PG Music. I am posting in this Windows-oriented forum because the Mac users are just now getting the new features we have already had since December 2020. They may have questions about things like the mixer and Utility Tracks, plus Xtra Styles 11. And, if you know any Mac users, they will want to know that this does work on Big Sur and the new M1 chip. The announcement and packages are here: https://www.pgmusic.com/bbmac.packages.htm
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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this does work on Big Sur and the new M1 chip. You bet your sweet bippy it does! I've got one on my desk here, and dang this little Macbook crunches out RealTracks quickly!
I work here
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Great news, Simon. Are you implying that your results could be faster than we might be getting on a Windows version? I would not be surprised by this, nor put out. I'm just curious if it could be a marketing angle for you, and serve as an engineering guideline to speed up regeneration for the Windows platform (but I remember the early days in 2008/2009, so I'm not complaining).
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I get slightly faster generation time on my M1 Macbook Air than I do from either my Windows or Mac desktop, which is fantastic given that it's a low power mobile CPU and that it's running BIAB on an x86 emulator (Rosetta) - once we are able to provide native ARM support for BIAB the speed should more than double. Consider that the M1 Macbook benchmarks only slightly lower than a desktop 8-core i7 10700K (although more than half of that power is eaten up by Rosetta translating between Intel and ARM).
I work here
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thank you Simon. Something to watch, definitely.
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,590
Expert
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Expert
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Is the MAC version of BIAB ｉｄｅｎｔｉｃａｌ ｔｏ ＰＣ ｖｅｒｓｉｏｎ？
Windows 10 Home 20H2 Build 19042.487
BIAB 2021 (Build 818)
Intel(R) Core(TM), i3-4160, CPU @3.60 GHz RAM 16 GB, 64 Bit X64-based processor
Zoom UAC-2 (USB 3 interface-built in midi)
VoiceLive 3 Extreme, Sputnik Valve Condenser Mic
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 451
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The 2020 versions were not the same.
Not sure if this new 2021 version is.
Last edited by Beachboy; 06/02/21 02:57 PM.
iMac, 3.7 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i5, BIAB MAC2024 (802), Audient iD4
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Interesting... Thanks Simon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Simon.
these new macs look fantastic. wonderfull.
frankly i would like one.
congrats to pg music on the 2021 for mac release.
apples strategy of useing its own silicon so it can more control its destiny is very very shrewd imho.
the problem i have is ; will the new apple machines be like the phones ?
ie every year a new model comes out , and the end user is tempted by obsolescence/new features to get the shiny new faster model ?
so every year its fork over more money.
in summary i really wish apple offered some sort of upgradeability path for existing users. even if to only plop in a new processor. as well as open up the architecture to more 3 parties.
it seems to me that (and i know the selling strategies haveing worked in tech for manufacturers) the tech industry is establishing some sort of new feudal system like days of yore in "merrie olde england".lol.
ie the rich had their beautifull estates with manicured gardens and wine cellars and servants while the poor toiled away with very little.
ie with i9's /threadrippers and other high end pricing on various products; it seems to me tech for the end user /buyer is becoming a "pay to play" scenario rather like a high end golf club membership.
i thought tech was supposed to free us all ?
thus poorer folks have to make do with slower processors for example.
the other aspect is reading various apple sites on the net the number of ports on these new machines.
on a 600 bukker refurb hp or lenovo xeon workstation off lease warrantied beast of a pc are loads of usb and internal expansion ports. i think apple needs to bring back more ports.
and one final item that concerns me is servicing.
with that refurb i just mentioned if a power supply goes bad i just go rapidly to my local pc guy , and within the day i'm back up and running with a new power supply
or drive or graphics card or whatever. this is important if one is running a commercial client paying recording rig.
eg bands/music groups /solo artists booking recording time. a major reason i like these hp/lenovo workstation machines.
simon i really want to like these new machines from apple.
but i have obsolescence/upgradeability/future servicing concerns.
its sorta like audio mixers. in the past i could plop in a new op amp if a channel went down. or in the case of a 24 trak 2 inch machine plop in a new channel card from the spares cupboard.
the problem to day is with vlsi and smt tech i cant do that. this is true for so many recording studio products today.
best
oldmuso.
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 06/02/21 11:58 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,026
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Is the MAC version of BIAB ｉｄｅｎｔｉｃａｌ ｔｏ ＰＣ ｖｅｒｓｉｏｎ？ That's a very interesting question. Were hopeful that the gap is closing, if not closed already.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
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OP
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Posts: 27,449 |
RealBand is not supplied. I am aware of a few minor differences, but as VideoTrack said, the gap is closing.
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thank you Simon. Something to watch, definitely. You're very welcome Matt! Is the MAC version of BIAB ｉｄｅｎｔｉｃａｌ ｔｏ ＰＣ ｖｅｒｓｉｏｎ？ For the most part the Mac version mirrors the PC version, but there will always be some differences between any app across different platforms, not just Band-in-a-Box. Interesting... Thanks Simon Anytime! the problem i have is ; will the new apple machines be like the phones ?
ie every year a new model comes out , and the end user is tempted by obsolescence/new features to get the shiny new faster model ?
so every year its fork over more money.
in summary i really wish apple offered some sort of upgradeability path for existing users. even if to only plop in a new processor. as well as open up the architecture to more 3 parties. They already are exactly like phones in that respect, and have been for a long time. Sometimes there are even two new versions of any particular Mac in a year! This isn't exclusive to Apple either, every company does this to some extent. it seems to me that (and i know the selling strategies haveing worked in tech for manufacturers) the tech industry is establishing some sort of new feudal system like days of yore in "merrie olde england".lol.
ie the rich had their beautifull estates with manicured gardens and wine cellars and servants while the poor toiled away with very little.
ie with i9's /threadrippers and other high end pricing on various products; it seems to me tech for the end user /buyer is becoming a "pay to play" scenario rather like a high end golf club membership.
i thought tech was supposed to free us all ?
thus poorer folks have to make do with slower processors for example. Tech has always been "pay to play" to borrow your wording - it's always cost more money for a faster computer than a slow one, or a better TV vs a worse one, or a higher end car. Not everyone needs high end - I use BIAB on an incredibly slow laptop (Core M3 super low power CPU), but for what I do it's fine. I play a lot of video games, and while I would LOVE a brand new RTX 3080 and i9 machine I can't justify spending that kind of money when my 6-core i7 and GTX 1060 play everything perfectly for me. the other aspect is reading various apple sites on the net the number of ports on these new machines.
on a 600 bukker refurb hp or lenovo xeon workstation off lease warrantied beast of a pc are loads of usb and internal expansion ports. i think apple needs to bring back more ports. Agreed. and one final item that concerns me is servicing.
with that refurb i just mentioned if a power supply goes bad i just go rapidly to my local pc guy , and within the day i'm back up and running with a new power supply
or drive or graphics card or whatever. this is important if one is running a commercial client paying recording rig.
eg bands/music groups /solo artists booking recording time. a major reason i like these hp/lenovo workstation machines.
simon i really want to like these new machines from apple.
but i have obsolescence/upgradeability/future servicing concerns.
its sorta like audio mixers. in the past i could plop in a new op amp if a channel went down. or in the case of a 24 trak 2 inch machine plop in a new channel card from the spares cupboard.
the problem to day is with vlsi and smt tech i cant do that. this is true for so many recording studio products today. Apple has not offered user-upgradeable laptops since 2012, with the exception that some of them can have the storage upgraded. My Asus laptop is exactly like this too. And for mixers, everything has been going towards SMT for a long time since it allows for more compact mixers. Why have a 16-channel DDA console like I have when I can have a 16-channel Mackie that I can carry with one hand? (I have both of course, but that's an altogether different scenario) Is the MAC version of BIAB ｉｄｅｎｔｉｃａｌ ｔｏ ＰＣ ｖｅｒｓｉｏｎ？ That's a very interesting question. Were hopeful that the gap is closing, if not closed already. RealBand is not supplied. I am aware of a few minor differences, but as VideoTrack said, the gap is closing. Generally speaking any differences are fairly minor at this point. I use both on a daily basis and there are no features I feel that are "missing" from either version.
I work here
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 451
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 451 |
The differences will probably be more problematic if they are differences which impact the way you use BIAB. I have both WIN (2021) & MAC (2020) versions. For me the MAC version is good for the generation of finished songs but has major drawbacks when creating, editing (ie moving sections of song). Some simple examples. Can’t copy paste your Lyrics. Can only insert/delete 4 beats at a time in notation. XML import inserts”naturals” throughout the imported score (same. XML imports fine in WIN version) Scrolling (scroll ahead) playback in notation only works up to around 70 bars. Just my experience, I’ve decided to just stick with the WIN version I can use it on my MAC using Parallels (works for me) 
iMac, 3.7 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i5, BIAB MAC2024 (802), Audient iD4
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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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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
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Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
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Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
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