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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887
Expert
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OP
Expert
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887 |
I just read that the 2025 BIAB Installed size is 750 GB (FLAC files) which is off since 2024 was 2.0 TB of AIFF files. Is there a reason for this? I buy the audiophile edition because of the higher quality sounds.
Computer: Macbook Pro, 16 inch 2021
DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, and Maschine
plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard,
music producer/engineer
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 241
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 241 |
Hello, I hope you're okay with me participating in your thread.
I'm also interested in some information. I'm hesitating about choosing the BIAB 2025 update.
There's an option with the new RTs in FLAC (only the new ones; the old RTs remain in AIFF), and there's another option if you choose to receive the SSD by physical mail, where all the files are in FLAC...if I understand correctly.
But what about add-ons that you reinstall afterwards (XPro, XPak, etc.)? How is that handled?
Personally, I prefer to start with a clean disk rather than adding downloads. What do you think?
It would be nice to have clear and complete explanations on this topic, which concerns people who have the most professional versions of BIAB.
Thank you.
MacBookPro M1 max, BIAB audiophile 2024, Logicpro X, UAD apollo, ASR10, marshall, peavey, Vox, Guitars...
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,107
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,107 |
PG Music previously stated that they had performed file comparisons of the output from FLAC files compared to the original, and the results are identical. Meaning that FLAC is a lossless file compression format.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,649
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,649 |
To the OP.
i'd like a buck for every time ive recorded my vocs useing flac.
(eg some songs in my sig....eg banker man/pretty girl/stallion etc.)
dont worry just make music...
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,066
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,066 |
BIAB 2025 Audiophile has 300 new RealTracks and Drums in FLAC and these can be downloaded from your User Portal. My only concern was that I could not see how to download the legacy tracks. To be fair, I did not ask PG Music to see if that was possible. In any case, that is why I opted to have 2025 shipped to me. It came on a flash drive that is a lot slower than the hard drives we got in the past. I dragged the tracks into my old RealTracks and Drums folders and reclaimed about 1.2TB drive space. I could have converted the RTs and Drums to FLAC as I have apps that will do this including TwistedWave but I wanted to see what the new deliverable is like. Now that I know, I will likely go to download only next year.
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: May 2020
Posts: 2,766
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I just read that the 2025 BIAB Installed size is 750 GB (FLAC files) which is off since 2024 was 2.0 TB of AIFF files. Is there a reason for this? I buy the audiophile edition because of the higher quality sounds. FLAC compression is very different from MP3/WMA/M4A compression. MP3, WMA, and M4A are considered "lossy" compression - that means that the original waveform cannot be reconstructed perfectly. In simple terms it's been described that these algorithms remove frequencies that humans "cannot hear", although it has been proven many times that humans can in fact hear the difference or at least can hear artifacts of the compression. Lossy compression can compress as far as 90:1 (with absolutely abysmal sound quality), however the minimum "acceptable" quality is around 11:1 and "best" quality is 4.5:1 (however still lossy). FLAC is considered a "lossless" form of compression - that means that the original waveform can be reconstructed perfectly bit-for-bit. This is similar to putting a document in a Zip file - once the audio is extracted from the FLAC and saved as a WAV or AIFF the new file is exactly identical to the original, with no means of determining which is which (other than modification/creation date, file header information, or other non-audio metadata). FLAC typically compresses down to 2.5:1 - much bigger than lossy formats, but also much smaller than uncompressed. The only drawback to using FLAC over WAV/AIFF is that it takes a tiny bit more CPU power to decode the files when played - any modern computer is easily capable of that. In short, the new FLAC Audiophile has the exact same sound quality as the previous WAV/AIFF Audiophiles. Neither humans nor machines can tell the difference. if you choose to receive the SSD by physical mail, where all the files are in FLAC...if I understand correctly. That is correct. But what about add-ons that you reinstall afterwards (XPro, XPak, etc.)? How is that handled? The Xtra Styles PAKs do not include any new RealTracks or RealDrums - they include only style files, which use whatever RealTracks/Drums are installed. The XPro Styles PAKs include some RealTracks/Drums in lossy WMA or M4A format, however these RealTracks are already included in the Audiophile in FLAC format, so there will be no reduction in quality. The 49-PAK includes RealTracks that are not included with the Audiophile, and these can be downloaded in FLAC format. Meaning that FLAC is a lossless file compression format. That's in the name actually - FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. BIAB 2025 Audiophile has 300 new RealTracks and Drums Correction - 200. Including the 49-PAK there are 222 new RealTracks/Drums for 2025. My only concern was that I could not see how to download the legacy tracks. It depends on which package you purchase. As I understand: If you purchase the download-only Audiophile then all 4900+ RealTracks are downloadable in FLAC format. If you purchase the SSD then all 4900+ RealTracks are downloadable in the compressed format. If you purchase the Audiophile PlusPAK then only the new 2025 RealTracks are downloadable in FLAC format (this package does not include any RealTracks or styles from previous years). I could have converted the RTs and Drums to FLAC as I have apps that will do this including TwistedWave but I wanted to see what the new deliverable is like. Now that I know, I will likely go to download only next year. TwistedWave is a great app for that, however it is costly, as audio conversion is just one feature out of many. I use a free app called XLD for bulk audio conversion, which does a great job. I've also used a very neat app from Zynaptiq called Myriad, which is not only a bulk audio converter but can do a ton of bulk editing tasks (trim, gain, apply a plugin, etc).
I work here
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,066
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,066 |
If you purchase the download-only Audiophile then all 4900+ RealTracks are downloadable in FLAC format. At the time I posted, this was not in my User Portal. I see it's there now.
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: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,107
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,107 |
Meaning that FLAC is a lossless file compression format. That's in the name actually - FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. Yes, exactly, and that's why I capitalized the spelling of the acronym.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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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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Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
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Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
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!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- 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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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!
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