Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 883
I
Expert
OP Offline
Expert
I
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 883
I really want to know the reasons why some of the features are not included in the Mac version, why it takes six months to create the Mac version, and why Real Band is not included.


Computer: Macbook Pro, 16 inch 2021
DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, and Maschine
plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard,
music producer/engineer
Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,777
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,777
Of course I can't speak for PG Music so these are just my thoughts.

First of all, Peter Gannon has stated in the forum that the ultimate goal for Band-in-a-Box is for the Windows and Mac programs to have the feature set. Each year the Mac program gains features that previously only existed in the Windows program. For whatever reason the approach is to gradually merge feature sets instead of trying to make all the changes at one time. So, this is happening, just not all at once.

Why do the two programs differ? I don't know and really don't know enough about the Mac operating system or programming in general to even guess.

My guess for why the release of a new Mac version lags the release of the Windows version by six months is it makes it easier for PG Music to effectively manager resources. It's easier to manager two waves than it is to manage one tsunami. Documentation, server downloads, sales and service support, programming all get split into two cycles instead of one large cycle.

RealBand does not exist for Mac because PowerTracks Pro for Mac does not exist. Jeff Yankauer developed PowerTracks Pro before becoming a PG Music employee. Apple provides a DAW, GarageBand, at no or little additional cost to Mac users so there is no benefit to porting PowerTracks Pro to a Mac operating system.

There have been several wishlist requests for PG Music to provide a RealBand for Mac product. Heck, I've even made the request myself even though my computer uses a Windows operating system. But, considering both the DAW foundation as well as the feature set would need to be created from scratch, I haven't seen the groundswell of support for the idea from Mac users.

Finally, I haven't asked for a video but myself and other users have created multiple wishlist requests for a feature comparison chart. Having such information available would be a help to PG Music sales and support as well as a guide customers can use to make an informed buying decision. I'm all for having SOMETHING publicly available that states here is a feature by feature comparison between Band-in-a-Box for Windows and Band-in-a-Box for Mac.


Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954
P
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
P
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954
You can get RealBand for Mac here RealBandMac or REATRAK for short.
It gives you a way to integrate Biab to a powerful do anything DAW, It will import the chords and tracks from BBMac BBWin (BBLin ?) to the DAW REAPER 32/64 Mac Win Lin.

Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,342
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,342
This is only my guess, I have zero inside information about how PG works.

Mac computers comprise about 5% of the market. PG has a limited number of employees because let's fact it, auto-accompaniment on a computer is a niche of a niche of a niche market. (Musicians -> musicians who make music on computers -> musicians who use auto-accompaniment to make music on their computer.)

So being that Mac is 5%, for every hour placed writing for the PC, the return in cash is much greater. For every $1 made writing for Mac, $20 is made for the same amount of time on the PC.

So it seems to me it would make good business sense to release the PC version first, and then put the focus on upgrading the Mac version.

Fortunately there are still enough Mac users to make it profitable and desirable for PG to make a Mac version at all. Other software companies have abandoned Mac completely.

Insights and incites by Notes

P.S. all my BiaB aftermarket products are available for Mac and other than the installation routines, they are identical to the PC version.


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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
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!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!

Die deutsche Version Band-in-a-Box® 2025 für Windows ist ab sofort verfügbar!

Alle die bereits die englische Version von Band-in-a-Box und RealBand 2024 installiert haben, finden hier die Installationsdateien für das Sprachenupdate:

https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/languagesupport/deutsch2025.exe
https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/languagesupport/deutsch2025RB.exe

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.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,085
Posts775,225
Members39,585
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
CsLy@13, Kendrick Wilderman, kmvertns01, Creon, ASMusic
39,585 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 144
DC Ron 93
WaoBand 90
rsdean 84
dcuny 67
Izzy 65
Today's Birthdays
Kevin Woolley, lifeguardlloyd
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5