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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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I'm considering getting a Mac Mini to learn more about Macs. I'm a former comp. sci. prof but I haven't used an Apple computer heavily since 1996. I don't need anything with any speed or power because I have my other Windows computers for that.
1. Can BIAB run successfully on the lowest-spec Mac Mini?
The specs are:
1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
4GB memory
500GB hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 5000
2. On a PC, we can run the free utility, Geekbench, to see the single-core score and compare to a recommendation from PG Music. Is there a comparable utility and recommended score for a Mac?
Thanks.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Hey Matt, I'm not sure what kind of performance to expect from that particular model, but luckily Geekbench is cross platform and there is a Mac version so you could actually compare "Apples to ...well... non-Apples, I guess"  There is also an app called MacTracker that runs on Mac and ios ( http://mactracker.ca) that lists Geekbench scores for most Mac models. I looked up the 1.4 i5 Mac Mini specs in Mactracker and it gives Geekbench 4 scores of 2966 for single core, and 5223 for multi-core. Hopefully this helps. - Jay
MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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You didn’t Say what year yours is but any i5 Mini can run the latest OS. It’s not as fast as an i7 for many tasks but it’s more powerful than the bottom of the line Core Duo versions that are past end of life for many apps—but not BIAB. As BIAB is still 32 bit only, the system and OS requirements shouldn’t be much of an issue. As it turns out, they’re not: BIAB Mac System Requirements System Requirements Mac OS X 10.5 and higher. Intel Processor. Minimum 512 MB RAM Screen Resolution: 1024x768 or higher At least 2 GB recommended for the main Band-in-a-Box® program. More space is required for RealTracks, depending on which package you buy... RealTracks & RealDrums: ~100-400 MB per set Pro RealCombos: ~10 GB MegaPAK RealCombos: ~20 GB Full UltraPlusPAK/EverythingPAK when installed to internal hard drive: ~100 GB (another ~90GB is required for the installation files when downloading the UltraPlusPAK or EverythingPAK) Hard Drive versions of the EverythingPAK or UltraPlusPAK do not require any hard disk space when run directly from the external hard drive they are shipped on. Optical drive for shipped versions of the Pro or MegaPAK version.
BIAB 2024 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Thank you both; great info. I’m all set.
I would be buying a new Mac Mini. It does look like it’s well beyond minimum specs for BIAB. That 2966 Geekbench score is higher than I would have thought. On a PC, the only folks who report problems seem to be below 1700 or so.
About the Core 2 Duo, yes, I still have one of those and it does run BIAB fine. I just use the slow PC options in Preference, RealTracks.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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No problem Matt, I was a bit surprised by those numbers too.
Although It's kind of depressing to think that the entry level Mini has slightly better single core performance than my top of the line 8 core Xeon from just a few years earlier.
Ah well, I reckon that's what's called progress.
I see no performance problems with running BIAB on that setup, as long as like Mike said you have enough disk space and RAM.
4 Gigs of RAM should be sufficient, although I would think that 8 would be better.
I upgraded my 2011 Mini to 8 Gigs a while back and it did make a noticeable difference.
Hopefully it is upgradeable and not soldered to the motherboard like the laptops are.
Much cheaper to do it after the fact, IMHO, than to pay Apple's outrageous prices for RAM upgrades.
- Jay
MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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The RAM above 4GB would help me only if I used a software synth, and I have a spare Roland Fantom XR. I assume in the Mac world a 32-bit program can’t address more than 4GB unless JBridge or some equivalent works.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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You are exactly right Matt, as long as you are just running BIAB you shouldn't have an issue. I was forced to use my Mini exclusively for a couple of weeks about a year ago, while my main machine was broken and waiting for parts. Where I really noticed the big slowdowns, (with 4GB) was when I was running both BIAB and Garageband, to drag and drop tracks from BIAB to GB (something I do a lot). I'm thinking a SSD would have helped a lot too, since IMHO that little laptop 5400 RPM drive is definitely the weak link in the Mac Mini. Switching from one app to another with 4GB was painfully slow, you could hear that little drive working like crazy to page all that VM to and from the disk. Since I was only using the Mini temporarily, I didn't transfer all my plugins over, but I imagine using a lot of plugins could affect performance as well (especially "jbridging" 64-bit plugins as you said). For just messing around with BIAB itself you should be fine, but for serious work I would consider upgrading the RAM. Just my $.02 though, YMMV, I'm not trying to talk you out of it (really I'm not). Hopefully it should be enough RAM for what you want to do then. - Jay
Last edited by JayO; 01/29/18 01:50 PM.
MacPro 5,1/12 core@3.46GHz -- OS X 10.15.7 -- ATI 7970 -- 32 Gig RAM -- Crucial 500GB OS SSD -- Samsung EVO 1TB Audio/Sample SSD -- BIAB 2023 -- Logic Pro X -- Cubase Elements 11 -- Too many plugins
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Thanks Jay. The primary reason is to reacquaint myself with Mac OS so I can assist my wife who uses her Mac for everything. I just thought, why not put something I really like on mine? Otherwise playing with it would be boring.
I was fully checked out on Apple computers from 1977 to 1996. I used an Apple in the early 90s to do music notation, but then the program was released for the PC.
I figure one or two things may have changed since 1996.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Going forward, the Mini is dead but the late 2012 i7 Quad is a kickass little machine. All 4 models can be upgraded to 16G RAM and a 2T SSD—you can drop two 2T SSDs into the Server versions without adapters. FireWire, USB 3, Thunderbolt and HDMI ports. Minis on EveryMac Unfortunately, Apple toned it down for late 2014 with dual processors instead of quad and non-upgradable, soldered RAM. It’s not a bad machine but pales in comparison to the 2012.
BIAB 2024 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Thanks. I know it’s a dead model. It will do for my purposes.
The original Mac Mini was quite a surprise, though.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Just a followup.
I bought a very nice old iMac for $400. It has a 2.5 Ghz i5, 4 GB RAM (room for 4 more), 21.5" screen (lovely!!), 2 TB drive, and even a CD player. I'm writing this on it. High Sierra 10.13.2.
I connected my Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 (1st gen) and all is good.
BIAB runs fine.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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$400 is a great price. The 21.5” iMac will last through the next OS at least—after that, I don’t know but I expect quite awhile.
Because it has to be dissembled, it is difficult to upgrade these to an SSD and install more RAM but any Mac tech can do it. The speed increase is more than worth it when the time comes—which it will as the heat cooks hard drives.
BIAB 2024 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Thanks Mike. I already upgraded to 8GB RAM.
Yes, an SSD would be great, and I have put one in every PC. Apparently to do it on this iMac, I would have to take the monitor apart. Luckily, the Apple dealer is nearby.
Boy, it does spend a lot of time with a beachball doing updates. I just connected it to the Internet and I've read High Sierra takes hours for some people to finish these actions. I disabled the iCloud and things are better.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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High Sierra is faster and smoother. Apple’s desire to have you store all documents and data on the cloud is just nuts for most of us. I disabled that pronto. This is not to be confused with using iCloud to share Contacts, Notes and Photos among your various devices—that works quite well. The other requires fast, reliable internet at all times—no thanks especially when storage is so cheap. You don’t say what year your iMac is. All are fairly easy to get into if you’re ok with tools and have a little patience. I do this job one-handed (no joke—I lost the use of my left arm in 2009) but, if not comfortable with the idea, have it done. Late 2009–2011 use magnets and screws while 2012-on use pre-cut double-stick foam tape. In both cases, tools and the kits are readily available as well as the adapter bracket and special heat sensor from OWC. Here are the instructional videos. Find the correct year for yours. OWC iMac Install Videos There are 2 heat sensors: 2009–2010 and 2011-on. They are not interchangeable nor are the optional (the software solutions cause the Mac to roar during startup and you have to control internal temperatures manually—not a solution in my book). OWC sells them with and without toolkits. iMac Drive Heat sensors Besides the SSD, this is the bracket: iMac HHD to SSD adapter As much as I like the Samsung 850 EVO, the new Crucial MX500 is nearly as good and quite a bit less. The 2T is $499 on Amazon and has a 5 year warranty. The MX300 is ok but is a little slower and has a 3 yr warr. — if the price is good, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Last edited by Mike Halloran; 02/05/18 07:29 PM.
BIAB 2024 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Again, thanks Mike. I should have posted that I added 4 GB and the beachballs went away. All is good now and plenty fine for my purposes of just learning MAC OS to help my wife on hers. BIAB 2017 works very well.
I've built all my own PCs - dozens - since 1983 so I could tackle such a project with ease if needed, but my local Apple dealer is a wiz and I'll probably just have him do it since this would be new to me. I won't pay more for the SSD than the whole iMac, though! By the way, you asked: it's a Mid-2011.
We can sign off this thread. I'm all set, thanks to some great help here. Appreciate it!
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.
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Matt, I know you wanted to sign off, but do I understand correctly that you have installed High Sierra on your iMac with a standard HD drive, not a SSD?
I thought that High Sierra, at least when it was first released, required a SSD, though I heard that a later update would work on HDDs. I just recently upgraded to Sierra on my iMac, but held off on installing High Sierra.
Incidentally, I DO have a bootable external drive that runs Sierra, but when I tried to install High Sierra on it, I was told that it could not install on that drive.
Ron
UltraPAK 2021, 27" late 2012 iMac, 16 GB RAM, OSX 10.15.7
Logic Pro X 10.6.3
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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My Mac expertise is all of one week old, but yes, I have High Sierra running successfully on a 1 TB standard hard drive. The dealer did the upgrade from Sierra so I don’t know what hitches, if any, were involved. He’s a wizard.
Since then I did quite a bit of reading, and Apple said the hardware requirements for High Sierra were the same as Sierra.
This iMac I have clearly did not have a 1 TB drive when it was built in 2011.
Does that help?
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.
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1T was the largest drive available in the late 2011. These usually have a WD Black and those drives are past end of life. Not one of my clients still has one installed. These were great drives but generate a lot of heat and the iMac is an oven. The late 2011 is my favorite. FW and Thunderbolt, USB 2, and was th first year of the SATA III 6G bus (for the drive only—the optical is on a 3G bus). The 27” has a spare SATA bus that yours doesn’t—not an issue now that 2T and 4T SSDs exist. My wife has one. High Sierra installs fine but the HHD cannot be formatted APFS. It makes a difference on some drive intensive applications such as Digital Performer but not the huge difference that going to an SSD will. APFS was optionalonly during the beta period so I was abl to test it both ways. It’s possible that if your drive was replaced, it already has the OWC heat sensor. In that case, you only need the SSD and bracket. If not, you need the 2011-on sensor. Besides the huge speed and performance boost, an SSD reduces the internal heat. A Micron 1100 is the same drive as the Crucial MX300. It is only sold to systems integrators and OEMs and has a 90 day warranty (their cost takes this into account). SIs sell these on eBay, sometimes at great prices. TRIM is part of the Mac OS but disabled on 3rd party SSDs by default. After installing an SSD, run the following in Terminal: sudo trimforce enable. Click through the Apple CYA warnings. Disable App Nap globally. Many apps do not play well with it. It’s sole purpose is to preserve battery life—not an issue with an iMac. Disable App Nap
BIAB 2024 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Got it! Thanks for all these great tips.
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.
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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 2025 Italian Version is Here!
Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.
Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.
Band-in-a-Box 2025 - Italiano
RealBand 2025 - Italiano
Band-in-a-Box 2025 French Version is Here!
Bonjour à tous,
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music
Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:
BIAB 2025 - francisation
RealBand 2025 - francisation
Voilà, enjoy!
Band-in-a-Box 2025 German Version is Here!
Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!
Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.
Stay up to date—get the latest update now!
Update to RealBand® 2025 Build 5 Windows Today!
Already using RealBand® 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 5 now from our Support Page to ensure you have the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.
Get the latest update today!
PowerTracks Pro Audio 2025 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks Pro Audio 2025 is here! This new version introduces many features, including VST3 support, the ability to load or import a .FLAC file, a reset option for track height in the Tracks window, a taller Timeline on the Notation window toolbar, new freeze buttons in the Tracks window, three toolbar modes (two rows, single row, and none), the improved Select Patch dialog with text-based search and numeric patch display, a new button in the DirectX/VST window to copy an effects group, and more!
First-time packages start at only $49. Already a PowerTracks Pro Audio user? Upgrade for as little as $29!
www.pgmusic.com/powertracks.htm
Video: Summary of the New Band-in-a-Box® App for iOS®
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new Band-in-a-Box® app for iOS®! Designed for musicians, singer-songwriters, and educators, this powerful tool lets you create, play, and transfer songs effortlessly on your iPhone® or iPad®—anytime, anywhere.
Band-in-a-Box® for iOS® :Summary video.
Check out the forum post for more information.
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