After installing BIAB/RB 2021 I now have 3 separate desktop icons for BIAB (BIAB, BIAB 32-bit, and BIAB 64-bit) and 2 for RB (RB and RB 64-bit). Why is this?
If I have a 64-bit system, why should I have the other two icons? Are they backups or what?
From your other post about the PDF995 driver, we know you upgraded from BIAB 2016. That was a 32-bit program. BIAB 2021 gives you both a 32-bit version and a 64-bit version, and installs shortcuts for each.
If you can run 64-bit programs on your computer, you should, with one exception: if the plugins you use are limited to 32-bit, you might choose to use the 32-bit version of BIAB. Since you can start either one, and load the same song into either, even back and forth, you actually have the most flexibility by having both versions available.
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
As Matt indicated you may have desktop icons for 32 bit Band-in-a-Box, 64 bit Band-in-a-Box, the standalone version of the Band-in-a-Box plugin.
The 2021 RealBand is 64 bit only. The 32 bit RealBand is 2020 build 5. 2020 build 5 is the last 32 bit release of RealBand.
The standalone version of the Band-in-a-Box plugin can be considered as similar in concept to the idea of a light version of Band-in-a-Box. It does not have all the features of the Band-in-a-Box program but is a great way to sample styles, RealTracks or generate tracks for use in a DAW.
To add to that, The 2021 version is called "RealBand64" because it is now 64 bit; whereas the previous versions of RealBand are just called "RealBand". This also means that your previous version of RealBand will not be overwritten when installing the 2021 version and both versions will be located in the RealBand folder.
plus if you have tracks created in RB 32 bit using PG Music fx, the 64 bit RB won't load the 32 bit fx with the settings you saved so you are best using 32 bit for older files with pg music plugins loaded and creating new ones in the 64 bit version
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
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