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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151 |
my pc finally died so i need to reinstall BIAB. I bought the ultrapack in 2018 so i'm tempted to install BIAB 2018, activate it and leave the download manager to do the work of installing the vast number of RealTracks. Then add all my bonuses, xtra styles and upgrades to 2021 manually.
i'll delete the installers and downloads once i'm up to date. am i right in thinking that i don't need to activate or even open the various upgrades as i go along until i finally get to 2021 and then if i install the latest BIAB and RB patches they are cumulative and will include all the RealTrack fixes since 2018?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954
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Did the hard drive crash or can you still access that ?
If so you can just copy the bb folder over and just run the font installer, DXi Plugins installer and Sforzando installer, then activate BB.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151 |
no the pc died as the hard disc gave up 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 270
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 270 |
Yes, the patches are cumulative, but I believe they are only applicable to a specific year's release, i.e. the final patch for 2018 will be OK for BIAB2018 but 2019-2021 patches will not.
Vintage
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 836
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 836 |
Yes, the patches are cumulative, but I believe they are only applicable to a specific year's release, i.e. the final patch for 2018 will be OK for BIAB2018 but 2019-2021 patches will not.
That is correct. The latest patch for Windows 2018 is build 520 HERE. Bob, if you would like, you could contact us and we can confirm the best way to re-install for you. Also, if you plan to upgrade to the 2021 version, if you purchase the UltraPAK or higher then you would not need to re-install your 2018 version. We would be happy to discuss your options with you.
Best,
Chantelle
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151 |
i have 2021, updating with the plus packs every year since 2018. what i wanted to confirm is that i don't need to update 2018,19 and 20 as i go along - jsut install them. i'm assuming that RealTrack updates contained in the latest 2021 patch will bring me up to date - as if i bought 2021 as a new purchase.
maybe i wasn't quite clear but i remember updates that affected RealTracks en masse. i simply wanted to use the Download Manager to do the heavy lifting of downloading the huge number of RealTracks in my original 2018 ultrapack. I'll do the rest as i go along manually.
I'm also assuming that as i load the pluspacks, i don't need to activate each yearly instance of BIAB
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 735
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 735 |
I think What Chantelle was saying is that if you install 2021 there is no need to install any of the older stuff (assuming you have the ultrapak). It is all in there. Any extras you may have purchased would still need to be installed and you can do that in any way that is available to you including download manager.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 836
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 836 |
I think What Chantelle was saying is that if you install 2021 there is no need to install any of the older stuff (assuming you have the ultrapak). It is all in there. Any extras you may have purchased would still need to be installed and you can do that in any way that is available to you including download manager. If you purchase the UltraPAK 2021 then that is correct. Also if you had purchased any Xtra Styles PAKs, Loops-with-Styles, or the XPro Styles then these must be re-downloaded and installed manually. These particular add-ons are not in the Download Manager because they are sold separately from the main Band-in-a-Box PAKs. If you have the UltraPAK 2018 and then a PlusPAK for each consecutive year then the 2018 must be installed first, 2019, 2020, and then 2021 and all of the add-ons for each version. You do not have to activate each of these, just activate the 2021 once you are finished installing it, unless if you want to use the Download Manager for each version.
Best,
Chantelle
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,008
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,008 |
i have 2021, updating with the plus packs every year since 2018. what i wanted to confirm is that i don't need to update 2018,19 and 20 as i go along - jsut install them. i'm assuming that RealTrack updates contained in the latest 2021 patch will bring me up to date - as if i bought 2021 as a new purchase.
maybe i wasn't quite clear but i remember updates that affected RealTracks en masse. i simply wanted to use the Download Manager to do the heavy lifting of downloading the huge number of RealTracks in my original 2018 ultrapack. I'll do the rest as i go along manually.
I'm also assuming that as i load the pluspacks, i don't need to activate each yearly instance of BIAB Without being able to look up what you currently have to confirm in our records, it's hard to give exact advice, however, if you had a 2018 UltraPAK or higher, and then a 2019 PlusPAK and a 2020 PlusPAK, then yes, you'd need to install the 2018, 2019, 2020, and new 2021 content together. Unless you get the UltraPAK 2021 or higher. If you do, the 2021 UltraPAK and higher contains all the previous RealTracks and regular styles (not including any of the optional Style PAKS you may have purchased such as XtraStyles PAKs or XPro, for example) which would need to be installed as well with the new version, unless you were install 2021 directly overtop of your previous content - which you don't need to do if you have an UltraPAK or higher. So it really depends on how you want to install and what exact content you had before. If you want us to go over your exact steps with you, you can e-mail sales@pgmusic.com and they can easily look up your account info with you and discuss your process with you.
Cheers,
Ember
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151
Veteran
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151 |
ok, just to confirm what i will be doing. install 2018 ultrapack manually plus the bonus files that the download manager doesn't pick up. then open and activate BIAB 2018 and use the download manager to install all the realtracks i got then.
then............manually install every pluspak update and RealTracks that went with it, bonuses, xtra styles discs etc, but not opening or activating BIAB in its various versions.
when i install 2021 pluspak and every bonus, xtra styles disc etc, i will activate BIAB and then download and install the latest patch for BIAB and RB
i will then download Cakewalk by Bandlab to get the 64 bit TTS1 and reinstall all my purchased vst plugins
a long process but fairly straightforward
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 225
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 225 |
I think that we all could benefit from a flowchart of all possible scenarios.
This could help visualize the process and save the user contacting the support team.
Maybe PG Music could do one for us and add it as a sticky on this forum.
Just a thought.
Biab 2026 Mac
MacBook Pro M4 24GB, Tahoe
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151 |
it's fairly intuitive but as i haven't reinstalled BIAB for nearly 15 years I was just checking. the only possible improvement would be if the download manager worked for all my incarnations of BIAB by being linked to my account rather than the activation code of individual BIAB purchases.
it would be marvelous if i could install BIAB 2021 and everything listed on my account then installed automatically!
Last edited by Bob Calver; 10/13/21 05:00 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 225
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 225 |
Remember to back up all your download purchases somewhere safe and don't rely on th PG Music website as with time go by older downloads might don't show up on your account.
I had problems with it, with my EverythingPAK and some free bonus software that came with various purchases throughout the years.
It got quite frustrating to explain to the support team what I had purchased and what bonus software came with it. Eventually they found they info and I was able to restore the files, in particular the Chords Dictionary program, which I like to use.
Biab 2026 Mac
MacBook Pro M4 24GB, Tahoe
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,151 |
thanks for the advice, everything i have bought since my original purchase in 2018 is still there
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,653
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Veteran
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I didn't read all this thread, but in case it helps, this is what I do: I keep the EXE files for each add-on (Xtra styles, bonus paks etc.) so I can always rebuild easily, even without logging on to my account at PG Music where they have a record of all my purchases. I periodically delete older year builds and updates and the older annual installs. This is done once a year, as part of housekeeping.
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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Feb 2015
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Once you get it all set up again make a copy of the bb folder onto a thumb drive. Then all you need to do is run the installers for fonts, directx plugins and sforzando.
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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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Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
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