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#571905 12/22/19 03:15 AM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Nov 2019
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Ok guys I'm ready to make the jumb to be an active user of BIAB. I intend to purchase the ULTRAPACK and possibly the Xtra Packs to have maximum RTs & combos tracks available to compose and play over.

Now the question is about whether I opt for an internal downloadable option (I have enough room on my internal disk drive) or ordering the exernal USB 3 disk drive.

My questions are those :

1/ Will the speed be the same whether I have BIAB on the USB drive or directly on my internal disk drive ? I wonder if needing to access to the USB external drive won't be a bit slower than accessing all the files on my computer.

2/ Supposing that I opt for the full downloadable option and knowing that I already have a USB external drive, can I copy all the installation files on my external USB drive in the case I decide to have the minimal installation on my pc and run all the RT from my USB drive ?

3/ Supposing that I opt for the BIAB external USB drive, how long does it take to have it ? They say 3 business days on the average but what is your experience about it for those who purchased it ?

4/ On the overall is there a better option than the other for you between the full downloadable option and the external USB drive provided by BIAB ?

Thanks for your answers. After that I will be ready to make the purchase smile

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1. Running BIAB from the USB drive works fine. Running from an internal drive will be faster loading BIAB and especially regenerating RealTracks.

2. Yes

3. Yes, in the USA I get my drive by UPS in three days. Not sure about doing it just before Christmas, though.

4, I have the audiophile version so downloading would be enormous; I don’t think it’s even an option.

5. Additional thought relating to #1. My BIAB program is on an internal SSD drive. It loads a bit faster that way. I have the audiophile RealTracks on a separate internal 10,000 rpm hard drive. Yes, this is extreme but that’s my production machine and I want the fastest possible.

However, on my backup machine, the program is on a regular hard drive and the audiophile (large) RealTracks are on a USB drive. Works fine!


BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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My answers are almost like Matt's answers. The only difference is that it took a week for my USB drive to arrive.

I think the real answer is how fast is your Internet service? If real fast and you have the time then DLing is an option. If you have slow Internet service then DLing probably isn't an option. Although I have a fast service I still ordered the USB drive. That way I don't have to worry about a bad DL. YMMV

Last edited by MarioD; 12/22/19 03:42 AM.

Tips on how to fall asleep in a living room chair:
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64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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