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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2004
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Apprentice
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I have had the ultra plus pack in recent years, and if I upgrade again, I will probably get that again.
From a quick glance at the order page online, it looks like the only way to get it is in the form of a portable hard drive, same as the last couple of years.
However, it would be nice to have a "Download Only" option (for all of the packages). With Ultra Plus, that would save a lot of expense, of your buying for each of us a portable hard drive, loading everyting onto it, and shipping it. It would save you a lot of cost per user, which you could pass on to us, making the cost of the upgrade considerably cheaper, as well as being better for the environment.
Much software is available these days as "download only".
I can guess the response to that--the ultra plus pack, more than 100GB, would be an awful lot to download! Yes, it would be, but internet speeds are much faster than before. Also, there is no reason that most folks would need to download all of it at once. They would download the program, perhaps a couple of the RealTracks that most interest them, and little by little, over time, download more. Or perhaps only download more when they need an additional RT that they have not yet downloaded.
And of course, still provide the HDD option, and a DVD option as well, so people can buy whichever option they wish. (Of coures, different price for each option--HDD most expensive, download only least expensive.)
Would that be possible, for you to create a Download Only Option, at a lesser cost, for each package?
Thank you.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I agree 100% with you maiki. The total download this year from 2010 to 2011 was 23.7gb ultra pak upgrade.
its my opinion that the upgrade should have been $99 2010 to 2011 ultra pak upgrade and maybe $69 for 2010.5 to 2011 ultra pak upgrade download option only.
At the current prices and so many hard drives lying around its only a matter of time before a lot start appering on ebay, perhaps doing pg's business model no good in the long term.
Musiclover
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
At the current prices and so many hard drives lying around its only a matter of time before a lot start appearing on ebay, perhaps doing pg's business model no good in the long term.
Musiclover
When you sign up for an ebay account, you have to give them information about yourself. This makes your identity traceable if you engage in illegal activity on Ebay.
The licensing agreement does not include the right to resell old versions. Therefore, trying to resell it on Ebay or anywhere else is illegal.
(perhaps doing the reseller's business model no good in the long term)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
It would save you a lot of cost per user, which you could pass on to us, making the cost of the upgrade considerably cheaper, as well as being better for the environment.
Much software is available these days as "download only".
I can guess the response to that--the ultra plus pack, more than 100GB, would be an awful lot to download! Yes, it would be, but internet speeds are much faster than before.
This year, Elastique changed everything... not only the program that drives it all, but all the real tracks changed too. In other words, an older version of BIAB could not use the new real tracks... so EVERYTHING needed to be transferred. 5,000 people downloading all that at the same time would put a strain on any server. So in the case of a major upgrade (like 2011) it makes sense to use the USB drives
But for future releases when the real tracks don't all change, I can imagine a download-only upgrade option consisting of nothing but the new stuff (why re-download all the stuff you already have?)
It would be a nice reward for those who have faithfully upgraded and already have all the other stuff. Especially now that the RT file size has gotten smaller, a "DL version of only the new files" seems like a workable idea.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Quote:
At the current prices and so many hard drives lying around its only a matter of time before a lot start appearing on ebay, perhaps doing pg's business model no good in the long term.
Musiclover
When you sign up for an ebay account, you have to give them information about yourself. This makes your identity traceable if you engage in illegal activity on Ebay.
The licensing agreement does not include the right to resell old versions. Therefore, trying to resell it on Ebay or anywhere else is illegal.
(perhaps doing the reseller's business model no good in the long term)
You know that Pat and I know that, but with so many things on ebay a lot of others will not abide by the rules. Whats to stop a seller selling an old version on ebay, saying that its the only version they have got, is ebay going to check or is pgmusic going to check every ebay listing for their products and will ebay co-operate with pgmusic so as to trace every listing for a hard drive and willingly give the details to pgmusic? So many question with so few answers. Of course ebay have their stringent terms and conditions, but I bet you could search ebay now for something and within 5 mins you will find something illegal.
I have seen so much pirated stuff on ebay (just by reading the feedback on sellers) and I will not be surprised if I see pg music's hard drives there either, and as for seeing ebay take action or it affecting the reseller's reputation, don't hold your breath.
Musiclover
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2007
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A download-only option would be great!
When I received the 2011 Ultra Plus Pak I had to pay the UPS-guy 40 Euro's for taxes. Last year that was 20 Euro...
Stealing is illegal in the Netherlands; our governement wants to keep the monopoly on that.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I understood it to be the case that if you *contacted pgmusic sales directly* on the issue, that they can indeed supply a "download only" delivery.
Has this changed?
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
I understood it to be the case that if you *contacted pgmusic sales directly* on the issue, that they can indeed supply a "download only" delivery.
Has this changed?
--Mac
My case is for a download option minus the cost of whatever the hard drive costs pgmusic, so whatever the hard drive costs pg, offset the cost of that to the download customer. As I read Maiki's post who started this thread that is his hope as well.
Whether pg take this on board is a different matter altogether.
musiclover
Last edited by musiclover; 12/26/10 10:12 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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There is also the cost of acquiring and supplying temporary bandwidth to run a sales campaign and mailing based on new releases. And the sometimes cost of testing and debugging that option.
Not like it's all 'gravy'.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I don't care all that much for yet another HDD. What am I supposed to de with the old ones; throw it away in the trash? It is just a waste of resources. And what to think of the resources used to deliver it from Canada to my house?
I am completely fine with a download-only option at the same price as the HDD - option. The USB HDDs nowadays cost near to nothing, and the costs for extra bandwith and maintenance of the service, as John allready pointed out, need to be paid for also.
Technology has advanced in a way that there's really no need anymore to send DVD's or HDD's. Nor does one need a paper manual. A PDF-file is sufficient. And you don't have to spend all those resources...
Recycling is good. Not producing what is not needed is better.
Of-course there are people on dial-in or people without internet acces at all. So you can't completely go on download-only.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 493
Journeyman
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Journeyman
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Quote:
Quote:
I understood it to be the case that if you *contacted pgmusic sales directly* on the issue, that they can indeed supply a "download only" delivery.
Has this changed?
--Mac
My case is for a download option minus the cost of whatever the hard drive costs pgmusic, so whatever the hard drive costs pg, offset the cost of that to the download customer. As I read Maiki's post who started this thread that is his hope as well.
Whether pg take this on board is a different matter altogether.
musiclover
I understood it to be that you could buy the upgrade on DVD at $99 US and get download links for all files at your request (as Mac said). That eliminates the hard drive cost. If you want a download only price (no hd, no DVD) I doubt it would save much for you or PG Music.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Well I didn't start this thread though I agree entirely with the sentiments of Maiki and I said what I had to say on this before xmas I an just expressing my support for Maiki's view at this time. Contrary to what people think and though technology has moved on hard drives are not free or for that matter next to nothing. Try and get one for next to nothing even on eBay and see what you come up with. That hard drive must cost at least $20 even at wholesale prices. At the moment I am happy with my 2011 ultra pak hard drive though it cost me $220 including delivery courier fees and tax. It’s a long time to Dec 2011 again where so much can change for everyone. Happy new year to everybody and happy music making.  musiclover
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Citaat:
Try and get one for next to nothing even on eBay and see what you come up with. That hard drive must cost at least $20 even at wholesale prices.
A quick search on US-based sites gave me a consumer price of $15,95. If you would find a wholesale price for said product you would talk even less.
Compared to what storage devices used to cost, these units cost near to nothing.
Next year shipping costs will be more than the actual HDD. And for consumers outside Canada and the US there will also be extra taxes (I had to pay 40 Euro ($52,53!))
So when I have to pay $10 (shipping) and $52,53 (taxes) = $62,53 to receive a $16 HDD, the additional costs are in no proportion to the actual cost of the HDD.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I'm all for a "green" sales/delivery model of downloads only.
I'd estimate that 99% of all software I purchase now is downloaded.
The one exception is Band in a Box.
The main reason is size ... I have a fast cable connection but I can't see myself DL'ing a gazillion RealTrack files. I just don't have the time for that.
As far as old BiAB hard drives go - I keep the last version around just in case something happens to my current drive. And the drive before that I've turned into my carry-around "off-site" data backup device.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 693
Journeyman
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Journeyman
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Quote:
...As far as old BiAB hard drives go - I keep the last version around just in case something happens to my current drive. And the drive before that I've turned into my carry-around "off-site" data backup device.
I'd say that the extra few dollars is worth the price for a decent backup drive. I'm considering doing the same myself, but I haven't had the heart yet to format the old drive. I just threw out my BIAB version 7 MegaPAK, 8, 9, 10, 11,... installation CDs a couple days ago! 
Joel
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I can't attest to the quality, but at CostCo the other day, I saw a 2TB USB external Seagate drive for $99 (normally $139). The other Seagate USB externals I have purchased have all worked fine both to back up data, and yes, to restore said data - the true test.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I have a son who's a prof and finishing his Phd thesis. (He promises he will graduate in the spring).
I reformat the drives, put black electrical tape over the words Band in a Box and he uses them to backup his computer. I also put open office on the hard drive so if he's somewhere in a library etc. he just pops it in and works away.
I keep the previous version around that I update and sync with the current version sometime after I consider it stable, so that I can feed my paranoia, otherwise I'd wake up in the night in a cold sweat and freak out. The question isn't if I'm paranoid, it's if I'm paranoid enough!
Just have a visible tumour the size of a lemon in your neck and the get told to watch for 'new' ones. I do not have any stress, I repeat I do not have any stress. If you are paranoid, stay on the line, we are tracing this call and will dispatch a helicopter and black cars with hypodermic needles to your house in 10, 9,....NOOOO
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 225
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 225 |
Quote:
Quote:
I understood it to be the case that if you *contacted pgmusic sales directly* on the issue, that they can indeed supply a "download only" delivery.
Has this changed?
--Mac
My case is for a download option minus the cost of whatever the hard drive costs pgmusic, so whatever the hard drive costs pg, offset the cost of that to the download customer. As I read Maiki's post who started this thread that is his hope as well.
Whether pg take this on board is a different matter altogether.
musiclover
The difference in cost to PG is not only the cost of the hard drive itself.
The time spent transferring the files to the hard drive.
Packaging and shipping them, and the actual shipping costs.
Download only would save them a lot, and that savings could be passed on to the customer.
As a result of lower cost to the customer, larger sales volume.
Win-win.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Fine for you. However, I already have backup drives, much larger than the BIAB ones. One does not need a collection of little drives. But to each his own. That is why all the options should be there--with corresponding prices--hard drive, DVDS, or download. Quote:
Quote:
...As far as old BiAB hard drives go - I keep the last version around just in case something happens to my current drive. And the drive before that I've turned into my carry-around "off-site" data backup device.
I'd say that the extra few dollars is worth the price for a decent backup drive. I'm considering doing the same myself, but I haven't had the heart yet to format the old drive. I just threw out my BIAB version 7 MegaPAK, 8, 9, 10, 11,... installation CDs a couple days ago!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Wow there sure are a lot of experts in running a company. I'm glad I sold mine, it was way past one of my pet peeves. "You know what YOU should do?" Honestly if one more person said that at times I really really wanted to haul off and....
If you have not had a business, demanding customers, and a bunch of employees you've no idea.
This used to be one of my favorite times of the year. In that I provided computer support/sales and software for mid range Unix boxes (30 to 50k plus terminals), I had about 20 to 30 customers. I cut loose the worst 3 or 4 every year with a standard letter, your business does not meet my business model sorry about your luck. After I signed them I fired up a cigar, and poured a nice glass of single malt and smiled.
My replies to the dreaded question were always pretty much the same.
"Do you know what you should do?"
Me: 1. "Retire to Florida and forget about it." 2. "Go deaf so I can't hear what you are going to say" 3. "Quit listening to everyone tell me what to do?"
I suggest for simplicities sake you make some contact. Here's the model. You need to store about 100 gigs on their server. 2000 people will download. And 90% will do so on 10 days a year. The others will be concentrated in January and August. Now I think that's conservative. So all the files to to all those people on those times. Given what I THINK I know you are going to have to pay alot. Most companies hosting like that would set you up on a server, but wait, you need to do it all on certain days, so they need servers to handle 2000 people, or about 4 so the cost quadruples. The rest of the year 'your' servers sit there doing nothing. Now say you decide fine, I want this in MY office. Well sorry but the cost of the line you need to lease, the fibre optic one, well you don't want to know.
Maybe you've good money invested in making 30 drives at a time, and then you have seasonal help to package them. And a software program to print the labels, and you are going to make that redundant.
You now have the reality that you should have multiple mirrors, one in the UK, one in the US, and one in Canada. But you make a new release and you have to start refusing ftp calls and update and test your software.
Now there you are, with the investment in hardware, and you've had a long day, and shipped 300 drives and business is decent, and you turn out the lights at midnight, set the alarm, and trundle off in the cold early winter night, stopping at festive looking bar, fireplace blazing, coat undone at the end of a long day, you scarf still around your neck, having a nice Oban and watching the fire when a customer you recognise comes up and smiles. You have to buy this person a beverage, and as soon as the first sip is over he turns to you and says.."you know what YOU should do?
"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGgggggggggg kill me now."
John Conley
Musica est vita
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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.
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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)!
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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!
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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
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Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
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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!
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