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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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I bought BIAB UltraPak+ laster year (2021), and later on purchased Xtra Styles Pack 12 on sale, but now I am confused a little bit about what I would need to upgrade with 2022 out now.

I see I can update the program itself for $49

For $99 I can upgrade to what I presume must be the same as if I bought 2022 UltraPak+ today, which has the 222 more real styles.

Then I am being prompted about the 49 add on pak and Xtra styles and Xrtra Pro styles...more money more money... I guess maybe when I bought the UltraPak+ last year I didn't actually get "everything". but what did I get? what would I need to potentially purchase today if I wanted to have absolutely "everything"?

And what exactly are these Xtra Styles and XtraPro styles, compared to whatever is in the UltraPak+?

Yea its confusing...

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Since you already have the 2021 version of Band-in-a-Box, you qualify for the upgrade from 2021/2022 pricing on our site here: https://www.pgmusic.com/bbmac.packages.htm The $99 option is for the PlusPAK, which will include the new program as well as all the newest RealTracks. This option is only for customers who have a 2021 UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, PlusPAK, or Audiophile Edition.

None of the Xtra Styles PAKs or XPro Styles PAKs are included with any of the Mac Band-in-a-Box packages.

Hope this helps!


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Jerry
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I see. So... If I wanted to have ALL the Xtra and Pro style packs...I'd need to buy 1-11, and 13, since I apparently already bought 12 earlier this year?

But one question, why are these broken out as seperate packages...are they better in some way or just additional ones?

I guess that 49pak also has to be purchased separately...same question...is it better in some way then the included ones...or just "more of"??

Is there anything else I'm missing?

Last edited by Dewdman42; 06/16/22 05:43 PM.
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What you have:

2021 UltraPAK+
2021 49-PAK
Xtra Styles PAK 12

**

Upgrade options:

If you're downloading your upgrade again, I recommend:

2022 PlusPAK $99 (add to cart)
2022 49-PAK $49 (add to cart)
(The 49-PAK includes Bonus RealTracks and other Add-ons that are not available in any other Band-in-a-Box packages/purchase)

(^^this purchase path will complete your existing UltraPAK+ with all of the new RealTracks Sets!)

...and if you want to complete your Xtra Styles PAKs collection, the best way to do it (even though you already own Set 12) is our 1-13 bundle, which is on sale right now for $199 - add to cart


--------

The Xtra Styles PAKs are broken down due to a PAK or two being released every year (typically 1 with the Windows release and 1 with the Mac release) using the newer RealTracks included in the UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile Edition. Some people prefer to purchase a specific genre, which is why you see a further breakdown of those for purchasing within each PAK.

At $29 a PAK during a release, purchasing the 12 PAKs you don't have currently would cost $348, so the $199 is a great purchase option if you want them all.

I hope this helps!

-Callie

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Thanks Callie... I am just trying to wrap my head generally around the way BIAB is divided up to understand the future upgrading also... Please correct me if I'm wrong

UltraPak+ basically includes the program, a bunch of misc midi stuff..and then a large collection of RealTracks. Then there is the 49 pak.. is this a new pak every year or what? you said I already have 49 pak from 2021, so the 2022 version is $49 more on top of that and contains a few new things...or is it a completely new pack that I should kind of plan on buying every year (if I want to have everything)?

Then I see there are the XtraPaks and XProPaks... The XtraPack appears to be a bunch of styles, which use mainly existing RealTracks from UltraPak....but just greatly expands the number of styles to make use of all those RealTracks. Do I have that right? And it appears you make one one of those every year...

Then it also appears you are making new XProPaks which are both styles and some new RealTracks recorded by pros...and expand further with distinct sounding styles, etc..and looks like probably a new two of those each year yes?

So if I wanted to basically keep up to date with all possible styles, etc.. I would need to upgrade BIAB+PlusPak..which keeps me up to latest UltraPak, plus the latest XtraPaks, latest XProPak and latest 49Pack..which is all $240/year.

Do I have that right? The 49Pak is not really clear to me what that is or why it exists or whether I really need to pay $49 a year to update it.

Also what about the MultiStyles pak....is that included in ultraPak or is it a completely seperate add-on also?

Last edited by Dewdman42; 06/17/22 01:22 PM.
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I am glad that I am not the only one to find the various BIAB offerings confusing. Long time users who have grown with BIAB may find navigating the sales page a piece of cake but, as a relative newcomer, I find it opaque in the extreme.

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Originally Posted By: Dewdman42
Thanks Callie... I am just trying to wrap my head generally around the way BIAB is divided up to understand the future upgrading also... Please correct me if I'm wrong

UltraPak+ basically includes the program, a bunch of misc midi stuff..and then a large collection of RealTracks. Then there is the 49 pak.. is this a new pak every year or what? you said I already have 49 pak from 2021, so the 2022 version is $49 more on top of that and contains a few new things...or is it a completely new pack that I should kind of plan on buying every year (if I want to have everything)?


The UltraPAK+ upgrade will include RealTracks sets 1-400, the Songs and Lessons PAK add-on, and all other content listed on the product page here: https://www.pgmusic.com/bbmac.packages.ultrapakplus.htm . None of the current Band-in-a-Box packages include any of the Xtra Styles PAKs or XPro PAKs add-ons. The 49-PAK is new each year, so if you are looking to purchase everything for the current year, you would want to add the 49-PAK.

Originally Posted By: Dewdman42
Then I see there are the XtraPaks and XProPaks... The XtraPack appears to be a bunch of styles, which use mainly existing RealTracks from UltraPak....but just greatly expands the number of styles to make use of all those RealTracks. Do I have that right? And it appears you make one one of those every year...


This is correct. The Xtra Styles PAKs are for customers that have an UltraPAK or higher and contain addtional Styles.

Originally Posted By: Dewdman42
Then it also appears you are making new XProPaks which are both styles and some new RealTracks recorded by pros...and expand further with distinct sounding styles, etc..and looks like probably a new two of those each year yes?


XPro Styles PAKs are the same in concept as the Xtra Styles PAKs, in that they are just additional Styles. The only difference between the two are that the XPro Style PAKs are designed to work with the RealTracks that come with the Band-in-a-Box Pro Package and higher.

Originally Posted By: Dewdman42
So if I wanted to basically keep up to date with all possible styles, etc.. I would need to upgrade BIAB+PlusPak..which keeps me up to latest UltraPak, plus the latest XtraPaks, latest XProPak and latest 49Pack..which is all $240/year.


If you wanted to stay current, you could purchase the PlusPAK, which is the new Band-in-a-Box program and all the newest RealTracks Sets to that version year, the newest 49-PAK, newest Xtra Styles PAK, and newest XPro Styles PAK, as well as any other additional add-ons that may have been released (which we would advertise).

Originally Posted By: Dewdman42
Do I have that right? The 49Pak is not really clear to me what that is or why it exists or whether I really need to pay $49 a year to update it.


We list the contents of the 49-PAK each year on our site. You can view the current one here: https://www.pgmusic.com/bbmac.bonuspaks_2022.htm

Originally Posted By: Dewdman42
Also what about the MultiStyles pak....is that included in ultraPak or is it a completely seperate add-on also?


That is not included in the UltraPAK or any Band-in-a-Box package for Mac. It may be helpful to think of it this way: anything that is on the Add-Ons Page is not included with any Band-in-a-Box package unless stated on the product page.

Hope this helps clarify!


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Jerry
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Are the previous years 49-PAKs included in the 2022 UltraPAK, UltraPAK+ and Audiophile editions?

Or does the 2022 49-PAK include all the previous years 49-PAK contents?

From what I’ve read, the 49-PAK is new every year and I’m wondering whether previous years 49-PAKs would still be available or whether you would miss the opportunity to have them in your collection, if you were a newcomer to BIAB in 2022?

Last edited by cubasis; 06/21/22 02:43 AM.
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The content in each 49-PAK are specific to that year. We only sell the 49-PAK for the current year.


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Jerry
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Thanks for clarifying Jerry!

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Your're not alone. I am a long time BIAB user and I still don't understand their pricing scheme. Just upgraded BIAB 2022 pro and not sure if I really should have upgraded to ultra. I saw it for $149 but they told me that was for the MAC. I'll wait for the Christmas sales and see what shows up...... JD

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Originally Posted By: donojazz
Your're not alone. I am a long time BIAB user and I still don't understand their pricing scheme. Just upgraded BIAB 2022 pro and not sure if I really should have upgraded to ultra. I saw it for $149 but they told me that was for the MAC. I'll wait for the Christmas sales and see what shows up...... JD


Please contact us directly and we would be happy to help. We could then look at your account and give more individualized advice than here on the forums. You can go to Live chat on the website or email sales@pgmusic.com


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Chantelle
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[img]https://www.pgmusic.com/bbmac.packages.htm[/img]
I already talked to the chat line about my upgrade from 2021 to 2022 pro. They kept insisting to do what I was asking was another $279.

I told them I found this page and, as I read it, it states that if you have a 2021 or 2022 Biab you could upgrade to Ultra for $149. I had a 2021 BIAB but then ugraded to 2022 for $69. I asked if I could I revise my purchase to pay $149 vice my $69 and get the ultra version? THey said no, it would be $279.

This is always very confusing when I upgrade and I have been using BIAB since at the '90s ... JD

Last edited by donojazz; 06/21/22 11:19 AM.
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This pricing information is listed on the Band-in-a-Box for Mac Packages page only, found here: https://www.pgmusic.com/bbmac.packages.htm

You can reference the Band-in-a-Box for Windows Packages page here for the Windows pricing: https://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.packages.htm

Hope this helps clarify!


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Jerry
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It does. They did say they were MAC prices. I told them I will wait til Christmas.

If I had a MAC, would the upgrade price to ultra version be $149?

Thanks.... JD

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Originally Posted By: donojazz
It does. They did say they were MAC prices. I told them I will wait til Christmas.

If I had a MAC, would the upgrade price to ultra version be $149?

Thanks.... JD

At the moment yes, that would be the upgrade price if you had a Mac version and were upgrading to Ultra. However, looking at your account you're a Windows-only user so subsequently switching to the Mac version would fall under the Crossgrade price of $169 for the UltraPAK.


Originally Posted By: donojazz
This is always very confusing when I upgrade and I have been using BIAB since at the '90s ... JD

I understand. This may help - as you're a Windows-only user, if you never upgrade to a Mac then you can completely ignore any Mac-specific pricing and only focus on the Windows pricing, which is always available on this page: https://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.packages.htm


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Just a quick tip if you are interested in the Artist Performance Sets 11 & 12 Songs with Vocals and you have the UltraPAK or above.

You will need several of the Xtra Styles PAKs and one of the XPro Styles PAKs in order to load and play several of the songs as intended. I just went through all of this and hopefully this will help someone else going forward.

_3HEARTS - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Rock & Pop 12 - If You Only Knew (Male) AP Set 11
_ASTOUND - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Rock & Pop 12 - Believe (Female) AP Set 12
_DANCE4U - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Rock & Pop 12 - She's Hangin' On (Male) AP Set 12
_FAMILY - Xtra Styles PAK 8 - Rock & Pop 8 - Save A Thought For Me (Female) AP Set 12
_GOLDRSH - Xtra Styles PAK 8 - Country 8 - Emmaline (Male) AP Set 12
_GRANDE - Xtra Styles PAK 8 - Jazz 8 - Una Vez Mas (Male) AP Set 12
_HANOVER - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Rock & Pop 12 - Lonely Once Again (Male) AP Set 12
_LOWAVES - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Country 12 - Can't Get Hold Of You (Female) AP Set 12
_MUDLAKE - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Blues 1 - My Oh My (Male) AP Set 12
_NSOMNIA - Xtra Styles PAK 11 - Country 11 - Texas On My Mind (Male) AP Set 12
_PONYUP - Xtra Styles PAK 10 - Country 10 - The School Gymnasium (Male) AP Set 12
_SPIT_IT - Xtra Styles PAK 7 - Rock & Pop 7 - Hang On (Duet) AP Set 11
_STRANDS - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Rock & Pop 12 - My Love Is Yours (Male) AP Set 11
_SOBRO - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Blues 1 - Good Love Is Hard To Find (Male) AP Set 12
_SLOWAGN - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Country 12 - Emmaline (Female) AP Set 12
_TRNTRAX - Xtra Styles PAK 12 - Blues 1 - Emmaline (Male) AP Set 11
_YIELD - XPro Styles PAK 1 - Country Styles - Texas On My Mind (Male) AP Set 11

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Unfortunately, every time there is a new release, a new pak, or an upgrade, it is accompanied by user confusion. So much to choose from, but generally not enough PG Music online advice to users on how to select what-from-what.

A single table that shows all of the options and describes all of the prerequisites would be a great addition. E.g. Do all of the 2022 Bonus Paks work with the Pro version?

It would be a big improvement if you had a Single, one-page lookup table that stated:

"If you want this" : "You need to have this"


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