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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,167
Expert
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OP
Expert
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,167 |
I received my 80 GB USB drive this afternoon. I am running a MacBook Pro.I installed trial versions of the Virtual PC machines called Parallels and Fusion to see if either would work with BIAB 2009. I am pleased to report that both virtual PCs recognized the USB drive immediately. I started the program in both Virtual PCs and I was up and running in a couple of minutes. I was able to save song files to my MAC hard drive and to another USB drive.
For those on Intel Macs who are lamenting the fact that they cannot use RealTracks and RealDrums in the native Mac BIAB, the use of either Parallels or Fusion is, in my opinion, a more elegant solution than running Boot Camp if all you want to do is use BIAB. (Running high-quality sound cards via these programs is hit and miss because of driver issues, but for simple MME and ASIO4ALL they seem to work fine.)You do not have to reboot your Mac to shift from Windows XP or Vista and back to the Mac OS X. Of course, you do have to pay for one of the programs (around $75 to $80) and you do have to have a copy of XP or Vista. Still, it is great that I can plug in the drive and have BIAB running in a few moments.
Thanks to all of you on the forum who are so helpful to newcomers and veterans alike.
Fred
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 225
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 225 |
Why does Mac BIAB not include the ability to use RD and RT? Is it that different to program for Mac than for PC?
I guess if the discrepancy continues, Microsoft could use it in ads to counter Apple's "I'm a Mac" campaign:
PC: "I'm a Windows PC. I can make cool music with BIAB, using RealDrums and RealTracks".
Mac: "I also have BIAB, but cannot use those cool RT and RD, so my music doesn't sound as good.
(Play selections from both, to demonstrate the difference)
PC: "And you thought you were so cool!!"
----------------
Actually though, if the problem with the Ultrapak on HDD has to do with the fact that the HDD is formatted NTFS, which cannot be read by Macs, nor by pre-XP windows OSes like 95, 98, and ME, I saw on the order page that Win 95, 98 users can special order the HDD formatted Fat32, which would work for those OSes, and Mac as well. So, I would guess that the HDD can be ordered in the format FAT32 for Mac.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,167
Expert
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OP
Expert
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,167 |
Yes, the MAC version has not been updated in years, though Peter says we will see one eventually.
As to hard drive formatting, Parallels and Fusion can handle NTFS format with no problem, as they emulate a Windows machine. Files can be read and written to the MAC-formatted drive from the Virtual PC.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 291
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 291 |
Thanks fg, that's great to hear!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944 |
Yes, we're working hard on the Mac version, including adding RealTracks, RealDrums and AudioChordWizard.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 196
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 196 |
Thanks for testing it out, Fred. If you continue to experiment with both the Fusion and Parallels demos, perhaps you could let us know if you experience any important differences between the products with respect to BIAB (and, by the way, are you running Vista or XP?). I've been running BIAB 2008.5 (waiting for my 2009 upgrade) via Parallels 3.0/Windows XP on a MacBook Pro for a while now; performance is decent, but could be faster. I understand that Parallels 4.0, the version you must have downloaded, provides a significant speed increase over 3.0, but there's a lot of talk in user forums about problems with upgrading to the new 4.0 release -- could be that these affect a small minority of users, though. I'll either upgrade to Parallels 4.0 or switch to Fusion once my BIAB 2009 arrives, as the cost for an upgrade or a competitive upgrade looks about the same.
I'm glad the PG-supplied hard drive, which I'm also waiting for, is working out for you; I'd expect Parallels or Fusion to have no problem with any NTFS formatted drive. I'm thinking about reformatting the drive for Mac (HFS) once I get it, though (or moving its contents to another Mac-formatted drive), as it would seem to be a convenience to be able to write to that drive via both Windows, and directly in the Mac OS without a VM running... and the Mac OS still can't write to NTFS, no?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 280
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 280 |
Peter,
Some of us have Macs and PC's.
If I update to Ultrapak 09 and PG releases a Mac version, will there be a price consideration for those who updated to PC 09 to move everything to the Mac?
Thank you
BIAB 2010.5 Build 20
Logic Studio 10.3.1
MOTU UltraLite-mk3
Sierra 10.12.4
Mac Mini 7.1 Intel Core i7 3 GHz, Memory 16GB
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944 |
Fred,
Thanks for the report, and that's great that you got things working with Fusion/Paralells.
Reed,
>>> If I update to Ultrapak 09 and PG releases a Mac version, will there be a price consideration for those who updated to PC 09 to move everything to the Mac?
Yes, we have done that in the past, and will continue that.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4 |
Hi,
I need to get BIAB now for practicing improv (I've got a OS X mac dual intel macbook) , and I don't really want to bother with the route of getting a liscensed Windows and a VM to run version 2009, yet I really don't like midi sounds on my mac -(I've heard that putting the songs into garageband helps some) My question is I need to practice now, but if I get version 12, and you hopefully come out with an update using RealTracks RealSoon (joke) will it cost me another 100 bucks or so?
Thanks for any info
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 264 |
Hey Peter
Any release date on a MAC version?
Paul
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 280
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 280 |
Please don't remind me of Virtual PC, Parallels, Fusion, Bootcamp or whatever else that needs a MS OS. I had it suggested - Why not use one of the aps mention above with a partion, cause it's so much better than BIAB for Mac? Parrallels $80.00 (Yes I know there's Boot Camp - YUK for your workflow!) http://store.apple.com/us/product/TS967LL/AVista Home Basic $199.00 http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Win...c&WT.srch=1Nearly $300 to get my PC BIAB up on a Mac, plus the loss of HD space due to partion requirements of another OS. PG won't offer a Free Crossgrade even though the ap is not as good as PC BIAB, even to customers that have been loyal for years on the PC side. Why should I pay $59 for a 'has been' Mac version of BIAB. I'd take a Free Crossgrade just for the MIDI Songs in hopes of the REAL BIAB showing up. I'm not sure I want to hold my breath here. Respectfully
Last edited by Reed; 03/14/09 03:31 PM.
BIAB 2010.5 Build 20
Logic Studio 10.3.1
MOTU UltraLite-mk3
Sierra 10.12.4
Mac Mini 7.1 Intel Core i7 3 GHz, Memory 16GB
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17 |
Dear PG Music,
I, like others here, are awaiting the updated BIAB for Mac. I own the current PC version and RealBand. Given how old the current MAC version is, is there a better crossgrade offer available?
(Sales thought: Get us hooked on the Mac version now so we update that instead of just getting used to using the PC version via Bootcamp or Parallels, etc.)
Thanks!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 280
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 280 |
I too, own the lastest PC version and RealBand and BIAB. I don't work on my PC any longer.
I'm not partioning my Mac drive for BIAB or RealBand, nor am I purchasing another copy of XP or Vista to run it!
Every other program I need is OS X.
I think BIAB will fade for me. Logic is great and so is Ableton Live.
I'm somewhat disappointed in PG Music.
BTW: I got a FREE crossgrade to the lastest Mac 'full' version of Ableton Live when I switched to Mac from PC.
Respectfully,
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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Happy New Year!
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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
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