Greetings. Will be making my first purchase of BIAB. Will start with 2022 Pro and then likely upgrade to 2022 UltraPak at the awesome sale price. I wish to use the download method.
Is there a best practice strategy for downloading? I do want to keep a copy of all the installation files for safety backup on an external HD and also to use those to install on a second computer which PG tells me is OK for non simultaneous use.
Is there any special advice on how to proceed with the download? Overnight for the upgrade? Use of a download manager? Way to keep all the downloaded files? Anything that I might not have asked?
Thanks so much for all your great thoughts in advance!
PG Music has a download manager. PG Music creates a unique to you download URL based on your purchase. Copy the URL into the download manager. The download manager will then download and install the files you purchased.
The downloaded files are stored at C:\BBDownloads unless you point the Download Manager to a different storage location.
I've added a screen shot of the Download Manager screen below.
Also, as a first time buyer understand there is a huge jump in included content between the ProPAK and the PlusPAK. The ProPAK has about 1/10th of the content available with the PlusPAK. For comparison the next level up, the MegaPAK has about 1/3rd the content included with the PlusPAK.
I'm not trying to discourage you from purchasing the ProPAK. I started with the ProPAK and stayed at that level for two years. I concentrated on learning Band-in-a-Box and RealBand as best I could while saving up my money to upgrade to the PlusPAK.
Initially I downloaded the individual file packages, then installed them onto my two machines in batches, partly because both machines were tight on disc space and I wanted to select what I'd use from what I probably wouldn't, partly because I wanted a safe copy.
I changed discs in both machines and they now have more space.
Doing it again now, I would let the download manager do all the downloads and installs, then just copy the whole /bb file tree across to the second machine. It can take some time either way, even with a reasonably quick connection, but it's so much easier with the download manager.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Jim, the reason why I am getting Pro first is that with the current sale, PG lets you first buy this and then upgrade to UltraPak at anytime within 30 days for their sale. Acquiring UltraPak this way saves you $191 over the price of UltraPak all in one go and the Chat folks assure me this is just fine and yes it will save me significant money
Gordon, if I download the files using the DL manager, will it automatically install for me or will I need to launch an install file within the downloaded files? I am hoping that it will NOT automatically install and let me do that manually. That way I will have a clean set of all install files that I can keep safe on a physical external hard drive, not only for a safety backup, but also to launch an install on my other computer if needed. Thanks for any clarification on the download manager functioning.
The download manager is designed to automate a first time installation or upgrade. So the download and install steps are combined into one button.
If you're purchasing from PG Music, you'll need to create an online account. The online account will include the individual files you purchased available for download. I posted a screen shot from my account to give you a visual of what I'm saying.
Jim, super helpful! Thank you for the time you have spent. After the advice from you all and chats with PG, I think I have my process down now and will start.
I am going to purchase and put all files in C:\bb. Then run the installers from there. Then make a complete copy of C:\bb to an external hard drive to act as an installer and data safety back up. PG tells me that everything from C:\bb will contain the whole package as an emergency back up and to use if I want to load onto a second computer. They say that what is in C:\bb will be the whole installer + Data package.
I did find an article at PG that actually recommended a third party DL manager which I will use. I already have and am familiar with Jdownloader which I have found to work really well and PG itself says that this will be faster and better. That surprised me!
I have been really impressed with this community so far with all the help willingly given to newbies and am very appreciative.
I know there are third party download managers mentioned in some tutorial, however as of a few days ago we now have our own Download and Install manager, which is better since it downloads AND installs all the files, making it pretty close to a one-click install.
If you will be downloading an UltraPAK, the main thing is to double-check that you have enough space on your hard disk for your download folder, and for your Band-in-a-Box install folder. They don't need to be on the same disk. For example, you could have your download folder on an external drive G:\BBDownloads\2022, and have Band-in-a-Box installed to C:\bb
Once you have sorted that out, start the Download and Install, and I suggest that you wait around for the Band-in-a-Box program installer to download. This installer file requires you to agree to a license and click through the setup wizard, the rest of them do not require you to do anything.
Once you have clicked through the Band-in-a-Box setup, and the downloads are on there way, you should be able to walk away and let it do it's thing.
You can do anything you want with your BBDownloads folder - back it up to a different drive etc.
Ahhh Andrew now THAT was exactly what I was trying to understand. Thank you for being so clear. Finally now I understand as you stated. The download area is separate from the install area and yes, you can copy that download folder off to anyplace you like, leaving the install folder with all the installed programs and their data.
Now THAT is making sense. I picked this up also by an article on the PG site that just happened to mention a download folder as C:\BBDownloads as distinctly different from C:\bb which is the usual installation folder, which let me know, yep, you can download to one folder and then install the program to the usual C:\bb site.
Whoa!!! Up and running and improvising right out of the box so to speak with a smooth jazz realband demo song loaded into the chord sheet. What a start. Happy camper here.
This installer file requires you to agree to a license and click through the setup wizard, the rest of them do not require you to do anything.
That's more significant that it may sound. If you install them individually of in batches, you have to enter the license code every time. And there are lots of them! :-)
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Folks, if you are concerned about downloading - how about setting up your computer to do the install in the evening? Retire - then you can see how it turns out in the morning.
Used the download manager it was seamless. I have an extremely fast 1 gig connection so timewise it was just a few minutes, but install worked great and I didn't have to do anything but tell it where I wanted it to go, basically. I highly recommend this. It is easy to see what it is doing and make sure you got everything this way as well.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
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There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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