I originally crossgraded to BIAB MegaPAK via 19 DVDs in 2008 and have downloaded the EverythingPAK $99 download each year since, plus various bonusPAKs.
Do I install in that order or is there a link I can get the standard 2017 installation from?
I could coppy my existing BB folder but recently I've been getting messages about missing instruments, so I'm not sure if it might be corrupted.
If you are not moving your installation to a different struggle or folder, I would keep what you currently have, and then go through just re-installing all your bonus packs (generally on DVD) in order from oldest to 2016. If anything is missing from those, the files should be added. You shouldn't need to install each years corresponding EverythingPak for the years prior to 2017. Then install the full 2017 from USB drive, and then install the latest update patches for BIAB, RealBand, and RealTracks/RealDrums. That should get you completely up to date. You should then go into preferences and make sure your Audio and MIDI devices are properly set up, as well as the paths to RTs/EDs. Also make sure you installed the new Sforzando VSTi, so that Super MIDI tracks work properly.
If installing from scratch, I would install the 2008 MegaPak and any bonus 2008 disks. Then install the FULL 2009 EverythingPak along with 2008 Bonus disks. Then install just the bonus disks for 2010 through 2016. Then install the 2017 EverythingPak and its bonus disks (along with Sforzando). Then install the latest patch files for BIAB/RB/RTs/RDs and you should be up to date. Do your preferences tweaking and make music.
Hope that helped.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
Perhaps I'll try to fix the folder I have already - is it common for other people to receive messages about missing instruments when loading up Styles?
I don't have 2017 on USB just the download - do you just mean the BIAB program itself?
Should I reinstall the Real Sets just in case some of these are missing?
When I upgraded from 2016 to 2017, I had to tell 17 where my bonus packs were located. Initially, it didn't see them or know they were there. Once I made that connection, it found them nicely without having to do a reinstall of the packs.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
If you want all of 2017, you need to have downloaded all the RTs, etc. Then just install them each in turn, since you don't have the USB drive (which effectively just copies of from the hard drive, rather than extracting from the downloaded install files). Make sure the last thing you do is update to the latest patch.
Hope that made sense.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
So...I have the machine and been installing Sonar, Komplete, EZDrummer etc. :-)
I have copied my bb folder to the D: Drive and located all of the updates and plus Paks for the last 8 years.
I have a 256Gb SSD drive with OS and programs - what is the best strategy for installing between the C: and D: drives for fastest loading?
I can't really spare 104GB for bb on the C: Drive so what should I do with the main BIAB/RealBand programs and stuff like Blues Pianist, Guitar Chord Dictionary, Latin Pianist, Forte, Sampletank, Amplitude and various 6, 12 and 49 Paks etc.?
Many thanks!
M
PS I forgot to copy the 236mb RealBand folder from my D: Drive...do I need to do that?
Run the installer and pay attention to the options (usually radio buttons or folder selection screens).
Use the minimal install so BB uses very little of your C: drive.
Then put the RTs and RDs on the D: drive (likely faster than the external drive anyway). And point BB and RB to those D: drive folders during your install.
Ideally you end up installing the executable/license etc on C: along with the PGMusic fonts and such, but should be a small hit to the C: drive.
If you install RB I would take the time/effort to point its RTs and RDs to the same folders on D: and also create a new folder on D: called TempAudio, then in RB Preferences point the TempAudio directory to that new D: drive folder. This saves drive wear on the OS drive (as well as load) because RB defaults to using a temp storage area on the C: drive for stashing the chunks of data needed for recording, audio edits, undo, etc otherwise.
Better to have that happening on a secondary drive so the program and OS have better access to the C: drive with less interruptions.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
I looked at the installer and there is no Minimal Install option - BIAB, RB and AmpliTube plus fonts etc. add up to about 1Gb, but maybe that's about right? Not as bad as 104 Gb anyway :-)
OK thanks, done. For the moment Preferences won't let me add a custom RealTracks folder but Real Drums was fine. Not sure where the TempAudio setting will be. Late here in the UK - will attack again tomorrow :-)
Well it's the same today...RealTracks Preferences will not allow me to tick the checkbox to change folder (there is no folder icon shown next to it either. Bizarre - as I say changing the RealDrums folder was OK. Have tried running as admin.
OK thanks, done. For the moment Preferences won't let me add a custom RealTracks folder but Real Drums was fine. Not sure where the TempAudio setting will be. Late here in the UK - will attack again tomorrow :-)
Well it's the same today...RealTracks Preferences will not allow me to tick the checkbox to change folder (there is no folder icon shown next to it either. Bizarre - as I say changing the RealDrums folder was OK. Have tried running as admin.
And...cannot see where the TempAudio setting is.
Thanks!
M
you May well be onto something here Mus because my custom realtrack setting behaves in the same way, running 17 latest build. Readrums as in your case is fine.
My realtracks do show though as this custom folder was selected a good while ago probably on 16.
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
you May well be onto something here Mus because my custom realtrack setting behaves in the same way, running 17 latest build. Readrums as in your case is fine.
My realtracks do show though as this custom folder was selected a good while ago probably on 16.
Could well be a bug.
Musiclover
In the install I chose the E: Drive for RealDrums and RealTracks. The RealDrums are there now I have changed the path in BIAB but not the RealTracks.
I think confirmed as a bug. Should hopefully get fixed fairly quickly.
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.
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.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available 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 Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
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