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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15 |
If I switch to a Mac (been using Windows), will the BB and Real Band songs I created in Windows open in the Mac version of BB and Real Band?
Thanks
EDIT: Looks like I found the answer in the Mac FAQ (yes)
"36. Are Mac and PC versions of Band-in-a-Box® songs compatible?
Yes, Band-in-a-Box® songs are compatible between platforms."
Last edited by dmunday; 03/22/21 11:46 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393 |
Be forewarned: there is no Mac version of Real Band.
Macbook Pro 2018
2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM
OS Monterey
BIAB for Mac 2022
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 836
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 836 |
One thing to be careful of is that your songs that you are sharing between the Windows version and the Mac version uses RealTracks that both computers have installed. For example, the Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK includes all of the RealTrack Sets for its particular version/year and the Pro PAK is the smallest PAK with a limited number of RealTracks. If your Windows is an UltraPAK and you made a song with it, then open that song in a Pro PAK for Mac, it is possible to accidentally use RealTracks from the Windows UltraPAK that are not included in the Mac Pro. Thus the RealTracks would then show as N/A and not play.
Best,
Chantelle
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15 |
Gotcha, thanks. I'm planning on avoiding that problem by getting the Mac version with all 2,500 tracks 
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15 |
Be forewarned: there is no Mac version of Real Band. What, no Real Band for Mac? Wow, I just assumed that would be part of the package. Darn, I've always liked moving songs from BB to Real Band. So you make a song in BB and move it to another DAW?
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766 |
Be forewarned: there is no Mac version of Real Band. What, no Real Band for Mac? Wow, I just assumed that would be part of the package. Darn, I've always liked moving songs from BB to Real Band. So you make a song in BB and move it to another DAW? Correct. Since all Mac users have access to Garage Band for free, most users would likely not use RealBand. Some users certainly would miss it, of course, but likely not enough of them to be worth the amount of time and programming it would take to port RealBand to Mac (and because RealBand depends on a number of Windows-only libraries and API's, that would likely make the task quite difficult). That's just my educated guess though, I don't know the full reasoning behind the decision.
Last edited by Simon - PG Music; 03/23/21 12:19 PM.
I work here
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15 |
OK, thanks for the heads up. I'm just so used to Real Band. Guess switching to one of the other free DAWs is not a deal breaker, though
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954 |
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,044
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,044 |
Since all Mac users have access to Garage Band for free, most users would likely not use RealBand. … Really, that's the reason? Oh dear… I'm one of many who would purchase RB for Mac if it was available. I've no intention of ever firing up my Windows laptop again, however.
BIAB 2026 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 & M5 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScore/Notion/Overture
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15 |
Since all Mac users have access to Garage Band for free, most users would likely not use RealBand. … Really, that's the reason? Oh dear… I'm one of many who would purchase RB for Mac if it was available. I've no intention of ever firing up my Windows laptop again, however. So would I - easier than having to learn a new DAW PS - I'm a "newbie" on the forums, but as you can see from my sig, I've been using BB and PowerTracks - was that what it was called before RealBand? - since 2002 My Windows laptop died, and I'm strongly leaning toward replacing it with a MacBook, thus the questions EDIT: PG Music's algorithm put an ad on my Facebook today for the plugin that puts Band in a Box into GarageBand. OK, I have to say that makes sense. https://www.pgmusic.com/support.bbmplugin.garageband.htm
Last edited by dmunday; 03/24/21 08:46 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954 |
RealBand is basically PowerTracks that calls on bbw2.exe that is just Biab that runs silently in the background, it generates up tracks, renders them to RealBand's temp folder that are then loaded into RealBand tracks. So basically this in what the BBPlugin does within your DAW, so you have the Band in a box plugin you load in your DAW, it then calls on bbw_64.app that runs silently in the back ground, it generates the tracks, renders to aiff into the SavedTrack folder, you then can drag them into the DAW. The future of the BBPlugin should be to generate and play the RT RD direct from the source files. This way the tracks will generate instantly, quicker than Biab, load frozen SGU's, no aiff/wav files will be rendered until you are happy with the results then as you drag them out of the BBPlugin into the DAW track they will be rendered. With the Sends now in the BBPlugin you could leave them in the BBPlugin and just render the DAW session to wav without the BBPlugin ever have to render to file. There is also a ReWireVST Mac/Win that will let you slave any slavable DAW to Biab. https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=648011You will need BB21Mac for the plugin to work.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766 |
It's interesting you bring this up, as I've personally experimented with BB on Wine. Definitely not ready for prime time, but I did manage to get it to make sound. Didn't play with it much further than that. Of course, this is completely unsupported territory. I would personally use VirtualBox before I used Wine for this. Since all Mac users have access to Garage Band for free, most users would likely not use RealBand. … Really, that's the reason? Oh dear… I'm one of many who would purchase RB for Mac if it was available. I've no intention of ever firing up my Windows laptop again, however. I wouldn't say it's the reason, just potentially one of many. So would I - easier than having to learn a new DAW PS - I'm a "newbie" on the forums, but as you can see from my sig, I've been using BB and PowerTracks - was that what it was called before RealBand? - since 2002 My Windows laptop died, and I'm strongly leaning toward replacing it with a MacBook, thus the questions EDIT: PG Music's algorithm put an ad on my Facebook today for the plugin that puts Band in a Box into GarageBand. OK, I have to say that makes sense. https://www.pgmusic.com/support.bbmplugin.garageband.htm Yep, I prefer using the plugin over RealBand myself, though that's mostly because I'm a Pro Tools/Logic guy so I'm more comfortable sticking with those.
I work here
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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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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!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
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.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
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.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
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