Sales FAQ:
Band-in-a-Box for Mac

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Last updated:  Wednesday, 26 June 2024

1. What is Band-in-a-Box?
2. How can I order Band-in-a-Box?
3. Do you have a Band-in-a-Box demo?
4. What new features are there in the latest version of Band-in-a-Box?
5. What is the difference between Band-in-a-Box Pro and the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK?
6. What is the difference between the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK, UltraPAK, and UltraPAK+?
7. I hate installing programs, and just want to plug and play. I also want the best Band-in-a-Box version that you have, with everything pre-installed.
8. Is it true that you offer a 30-day money back guarantee on your products?
9. What are the recommended system requirements for Band-in-a-Box?
10. Do you offer technical support after I purchase the program?
11. What shipping methods do you offer? Is there a download-only option?
12. Do you ship overseas?
13. Are all of your products available for download (electronic delivery)?
14. If I choose to download the program, do I still get shipped a backup copy of the software and documentation?
15. Do you offer upgrades from previous versions of Band-in-a-Box?
16. Can I upgrade from Band-in-a-Box Pro to the MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+ or Audiophile Edition?
17. If I purchased the last MegaPAK/UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile version, do I need to order the new MegaPAK/UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile Upgrade?
18. I purchased Band-in-a-Box for Windows, and I now want to run it on a Mac. Is there a "crossgrade" that I can purchase?
19. Are songs that I create with Band-in-a-Box copyrighted?
20. Do I need to be a musician to use your products?
21. Why is the price of your products so low?
22. Are your prices in US dollars?
23. Do you offer special academic pricing for school systems?
24. Is it safe to use a credit card over the internet?
25. Is Band-in-a-Box available from any local dealers?
26. How do I know if Band-in-a-Box will be able to create an accompaniment in my style of interest?
27. Can I purchase a complete User's Guide for Band-in-a-Box?
28. How can I register my software?
29. I placed an order, but didn't receive an email confirmation.
30. What types of files can Band-in-a-Box save as?
31. I just placed an order, but I am unable to download the software. What should I do?
32. What other languages is Band-in-a-Box available in?
33. Is Band-in-a-Box compatible with PowerPC Macs?
34. Is Band-in-a-Box compatible with older Operating Systems like Snow Leopard and Lion?
35. Is Band-in-a-Box compatible with the latest Mac Operating Systems, including Catalina?
36. What is the difference between the Audiophile editions of Band-in-a-Box, and the regular Band-in-a-Box packages?
37. Is the latest version of Band-in-a-Box backwards compatible with songs and styles from older versions?
38. How much is Band-in-a-Box?
39. Can I purchase an upgrade?
40. What Band-in-a-Box is a good starter package?
41. What are RealTracks?
42. How much are RealTracks?
43. How do I get more RealTracks?
44. What are XPro Styles PAKs?
45. What are Xtra Styles PAKs?
46. What is the difference between XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs?
47. What types of payments do you accept?
48. Where do I put the coupon code?
49. Where do I select the physical backup copy for my Band-in-a-Box order?
50. Do you offer free shipping?
51. Where can I learn more about RealTracks?
52. What is the link for the online manual?
53. What is a LabPAK?

1. What is Band-in-a-Box?

Band-in-a-Box is an intelligent automatic accompaniment program. You can hear and play along to many song ideas and go from "nothing" to "something" in a very short period of time with Band-in-a-Box as your "on demand" backup band. Just type in the chords for any song using standard chord symbols (like C, Fm7 or C13b9), choose the style you'd like, and Band-in-a-Box does the rest. Band-in-a-Box automatically generates a complete professional quality arrangement of piano, bass, drums, guitar, and strings in a wide variety of styles.

2. How can I order Band-in-a-Box?

Place your order online using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, UnionPay, or PayPal. After you place your order, you will receive an email with your product serial number and a link to the download page for your purchase.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact one of our customer service representatives by email at sales@pgmusic.com, via our Live Online Chat, or by phone at 250-475-2874 (direct), 1-800-268-6272 or 1-888-PGMUSIC (toll-free in the USA and Canada), or 800-4746-8742* (toll-free outside of the USA and Canada). *Where Universal International Freephone service is available. View International Access Codes.

3. Do you have a Band-in-a-Box demo?

We don't have a demo program available for download currently, since the program is quite large with all the RealTracks and RealDrums, however we do have a 30 day money-back guarantee. You can watch our video demonstrations at our Band-in-a-Box Demo page. You can also listen to hundreds of audio demos of Band-in-a-Box at our RealTracks pages, and Band-in-a-Box Add-ons pages.

4. What new features are there in the latest version of Band-in-a-Box?

With each version upgrade, we add many exciting new features.

With Band-in-a-Box 2023,we've added Partial Track Re-Generations, with an on-screen Regeneration Panel and an Always Different setting to get up to 40 variations on any RealTracks. Undo - Track Generation and Undo - Song Generation is added. Playable Tracks are enhanced for Playable RealTracks (404 new Sforzando sounds, 700 total - all with Audio Demos), and now include Playable RealDrums, MIDI SuperTracks and MIDI tracks. There are now RealTracks Stems, Auto-Save Song, generate Intros using Song Chords, RealDrums Fills control, and much more!

See all the new features in Band-in-a-Box 2023

With Band-in-a-Box 2022, we added "All Tracks are Equal," so all 24 tracks have the same capabilities, including style generation and audio editing. Playable RealTracks to customize the RealTracks performances by adding your own notes, using sounds from the RealTracks recording. A MultiRiff feature to interactively arrange sections of RealTracks, as you build up the track by choosing from multiple versions. We also added a One-Click Download and Install Manager, Motifs, Drum Stems, and much more.

With Band-in-a-Box 2021, we added 16 new editable Utility tracks, which can be used for audio and/or MIDI. 24-bit audio playback, recording, mixing, and rendering is now supported. Auto-Fix "sour" notes - out-of-tune notes in RealTracks will be auto corrected to match chord tones. 4X's faster audio DSP processing (using SIMD), allowing smoother playback & faster rendering for a larger number of tracks, and much more.

With Band-in-a-Box 2020, we've added enhancements to RealTracks (Smoother Sounding Vocal RealTracks, RealTracks Thickening, "Find-a-Sub" RealTracks, and MultiRiffs). Most RealDrums now have RealCharts (with accurate Drum Notation). There's a new RealTracks Artist Browser to find info/bios/links/lists of RealTracks on all the artists. A new Feature Browser allows the new or "forgetful" user to easily find and use most features/hotkeys/docs from a single window.

With Band-in-a-Box 2019, we introduced a true 64-bit version of Band-in-a-Box, which works well with the latest plugins and 64-bit OS features! We've also made and include a 64-bit VST/AU/AAX Plugin of Band-in-a-Box, which you can use inside your favorite DAW (GarageBand, Logic, Reaper, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Ableton, PreSonus, etc.) to generate styles, RealTracks, RealDrums, Multi-Riffs, etc. There's a completely redesigned SongPicker, which shows information for up to 50,000 songs and has useful filter and search features including search by chord progression and/or melodic phrase. And more...

With Band-in-a-Box 2018, we introduced "Video RealTracks," which work like RealTracks, but also include videos of the musician's performance. You can make a video of a single musician or a band video, optionally with a chord sheet or notation, and you can even add your own videos to the final mix. The Audio Chord Wizard has been redesigned and is now built into Band-in-a-Box. The Audio Harmonies feature has been added, including Audio Transcription, which converts a monophonic audio track to MIDI (notation), and much more...

With Band-in-a-Box 2017, we added over 80 new features and an amazing collection of new content, including 202 RealTracks, 34 MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, 12-Key RealTracks, Hi-Q Guitar Notation, Re-Discovered RealTracks/MIDI SuperTracks styles, a new synthesizer (sforzando), and over 120 new RealStyles!

With Band-in-a-Box 2016, we redesigned and enhanced the StylePicker, rebuilt the Chordsheet with improved functionality and customization options. We also added 201 new RealTracks, 11 new MIDI SuperTracks, 19 Instrumental Studies (bass, acoustic & electric guitar, piano & saxophone, in a variety of genres), and for the first time ever, 3 "Artist Video Performances," which are video files that play in Band-in-a-Box, with live saxophone performances playing along with Band-in-a-Box RealTracks. We also have over 80 new RealStyles, which are new styles using existing RealTracks and Loops. These include great Top-40 styles, "Requested" styles, J-Pop, K-Pop, German "Schlager," and more!

For Band-in-a-Box 2015, we enhanced the GUI for an improved look and feel, and many new time-saving features added such as automatic track labels (e.g., instead of saying "strings" it says "banjo"), video tutorial-help buttons, instant previews for many dialogs, and more. There's a new Video Window to load, play videos to Band-in-a-Box. You can save your song as a video and upload it to YouTube. Audio Track is added to allow you open an audio file, record audio, or render the song to the Audio Track. The new Audio Edit Window shows a digital waveform of the Audio track. There is now a Big Piano Window which displays notes on a resizable keyboard. Audio Chord Wizard is enhanced with a utilities dialog and an option to enable/disable the current style. You can now write Acidized information to the audio file. And much more!

For Band-in-a-Box 2014, we added UserTracks that allow you to make your own RealTracks, redesigned the GUI with a new modern look, added an onscreen mixer, added instant previews of styles, RealTracks, and RealDrums, and much more.

For Band-in-a-Box 2013, we added Performance Tracks ‐ Artist Performances on the Melody track, to showcase the Band-in-a-Box RealTracks demos playing along to an artist performing the melody. These are great for listening or learning-from-the-Pros (since notation/tab shows for the performances). Pick "best" soloist RealTracks: This new dialog shows you the best soloists that match the genre, tempo, feel of your song. A new Song Form feature allows you to define sections of a song (A,B,C etc.), and then rearrange the song by simply typing the form you want (e.g., AABABAACA ). Leadsheet window can now be resized. When you are choosing a RealTracks or RealDrums, there is now a list of recently used - Favorite RealTracks, RealDrums. The popular "Band Button" is now enhanced with many more RealStyles made, listed, submenus, and instruments shown.

For Band-in-a-Box 2012 we've added "Loops" support, so you can add your own or 3rd party loops to any Band-in-a-Box track. We've added a Simpler RealTracks setting, with a checkbox that makes the RealTracks play a simpler (less busy or embellished) arrangement. We include "Direct Input" (clean signal) Guitar RealTracks for over 150 of the Guitar based RealTracks, so you can generate files with a clean guitar, and then, using your DAW (e.g., GarageBand), you can add custom amp and F/X settings using the new Guitar Amp Simulator that is included (AmpliTube CS). You can add MIDITracks individually now, simply select your favorite MIDITrack from any style to any track of your current song. EZ selection of "DrumGrooves" has been added, which are different grooves within drum styles.

For Band-in-a-Box 2011.5, we added a "Same-But-Different" feature, which ensures that, if you have 2 (or more) of the same RealTracks on different tracks, they will never play the same thing at the same time. There is support for Pedal Bass RealTracks. We added 101 new RealTracks in sets 122-136, including: 70's Soul, Celtic Hornpipes & Slipjigs, Crossover Pop, Gypsy Jazz, Jazz Piano and Organ, Brent Mason Country soloing, Praise & Worship, and much more!

For Band-in-a-Box 2011, we made big improvements to the sounds of the RealTracks so that they sound more natural over a much wider range of tempos, using the elastique Pro V2 time stretching engine by zplane.development. These improvements are built-in, so there's nothing you need to do to get it working. Your existing songs will just sound better automatically!. We added a new Mixer window, allowing you to quickly set volumes, panning, reverb, tone, and patches. The Mixer floats on top of the current window, so you can place it wherever it's convenient to make quick and easy adjustments to your Band-in-a-Box track settings. Enhanced RealTracks, so that you can now have RealTracks style changes within a song, generate RealTracks Soloist Medleys. Plus, 101 new RealTracks since July 2010, including: Gypsy Jazz, Celtic Jigs & Reels, Calypso, Praise & Worship, Reggae, Brent Mason Guitar, and so much more!

In Band-in-a-Box 2010, we added 101 RealTracks instruments. We also added RealCharts, which means that most RealTracks display notation showing the notes that are being played. Some Guitar RealTracks also show tab, and accurate on-screen fretboard guitar display to show what is being played on guitar. The RealCharts can be saved to MIDI file or Songs (MGU). The Audio Chord Wizard was enhanced. Chords may be edited in the Audio Chord Wizard. Part markers, chord symbols, key signature, and tuning setting are saved in Band-in-a-Box and are passed back and forth to the Chord Wizard.

Visit our main Band-in-a-Box page to learn more about the latest new features.

5. What is the difference between Band-in-a-Box Pro and the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK?

The Pro and MegaPAK include the same Band-in-a-Box program engine, however the MegaPAK includes many more Styles, Soloists, Melodists, RealTracks, RealDrums and more. Whereas the Pro version comes with over 1,000 Styles (MIDI Styles and RealStyles), the MegaPAK comes with over 3,000 Styles (MIDI Styles and RealStyles)!

Specifically, Band-in-a-Box Pro comes with a basic 'starter' set of Styles, Soloists, Melodists, RealDrums, and RealTracks: It includes 64 MIDI SuperTracks, 1,000 Styles (MIDI Styles and RealStyles), 100+ MIDI Soloists, ~60 MIDI Melodists, 22 Artist Performances, 21 Nature Sounds and Percussion Loops, 1,000 Dubstep, Modern and Top 40 Loops and the Pro RealCombos 590 RealTracks instruments in 350+ Bands!) RealCombos are full bands of RealTracks and RealDrums instruments (no MIDI) in the same style. For example, the Jazz Swing 140 RealCombo includes 5 RealInstruments (Bass, Piano, Guitar, Sax, and Drums) that play at a medium swing tempo. Essentially, RealCombos allow you to hear *some* full bands of RealTracks without having to get the largest Band-in-a-Box package.

The Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK includes everything that the Pro version has, plus a lot more. It includes 3,000+ Styles (MIDI Styles and RealStyles), 163 MIDI SuperTracks, over 300 MIDI Soloists, 200+ MIDI Melodists, 63 Artist Performances, 21 Nature Sounds and Percussion Loops and 1,000 Dubstep, Modern and Top 40 Loops. It also includes the MegaPAK RealCombos (Over 800 RealTracks in 530+ Bands).

Visit our Band-in-a-Box Add-ons for a complete list of available add-ons. Visit our Band-in-a-Box page to see comparisons of the different Band-in-a-Box packages.

6. What is the difference between the Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK, UltraPAK, and UltraPAK+?

All of the packages include the latest versions of Band-in-a-Box. The Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK includes 3,000+ Styles (MIDI Styles and RealStyles), 163 MIDI SuperTracks, over 300 MIDI Soloists, 200+ MIDI Melodists, 63 Artist Performances, 21 Nature Sounds and Percussion Loops and 1,000 Dubstep, Modern and Top 40 Loops. It also includes the MegaPAK RealCombos (Over 800 RealTracks in 530+ Bands). RealCombos are full bands of RealTracks and RealDrums instruments (no MIDI) in the same style. For example, the Jazz Swing 140 RealCombo includes 5 RealInstruments (Bass, Piano, Guitar, Sax, and Drums) that play at a medium swing tempo. Essentially, RealCombos allow you to hear *some* full bands of RealTracks without having to get the largest Band-in-a-Box package.

The UltraPAK includes over 7,000+ Styles (MIDI Styles and RealStyles), 290+ MIDI SuperTracks, over 300 MIDI Soloists, 200+ MIDI Melodists, 160+ Artist Performances, 21 Nature Sounds and Percussion Loops and 1,000 Dubstep, Modern and Top 40 Loops. PLUS, ALL of the currently available RealDrums and RealTracks Sets. Now there's over 3,500 RealTracks included in the UltraPAK. That's over 3,700 hours of studio musicians recordings!

The UltraPAK+ includes all the UltraPAK contents, and adds the Songs & Lessons PAK.

7. I hate installing programs, and just want to plug and play. I also want the best Band-in-a-Box version that you have, with everything pre-installed.

The Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK and UltraPAK+ can each be shipped pre-installed on a high-speed USB 3.0 hard drive. These include the latest versions of Band-in-a-Box, as well as all the currently available MIDI SuperTracks, Artist Performance Sets, Styles, Soloists, Melodists, RealDrums Sets, and RealTracks Sets. You can run the programs directly from the hard drive, without installing them on your computer. Just plug in the drive and you're ready to play! You still have the option of installing the program to your computer hard drive if you would rather run the programs from there.

Another option is the Audiophile edition. This has all the same contents as the UltraPAK+ hard drive, but ALSO includes the uncompressed AIFF files for all of the RealTracks and RealDrums. This means that the highest sound quality of the RealTracks and RealDrums is preserved. This package ships on a high-speed USB 3.0 hard drive.

8. Is it true that you offer a 30-day money back guarantee on your products?

Yes! We offer an unconditional 30-day money back guarantee on all products purchased directly from us. If for any reason you decide that the product is not for you, we will refund you the purchase price of the item.

9. What are the recommended system requirements for Band-in-a-Box?

Our most recent version of Band-in-a-Box is compatible with the Intel and Apple Silicon (M1) chips and works on Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.8) to Ventura (OS 13.x) inclusive. (Note: Band-in-a-Box DAW Plugin requires OS 10.7 or higher.) We also have older versions of the program available for PowerPC based OSX systems, and even OS9 systems. The system requirements for the latest version of Band-in-a-Box are:

• Mac OS X 10.6.8 to 13.x (Ventura) inclusive.
• Intel or ARM-based Apple Silicon processor with 64-bit support.
• Minimum 2GB RAM
• At least 2 GB recommended for the main Band-in-a-Box® program. More space is required for RealTracks, depending on which package you buy...
• RealTracks & RealDrums: ~100-400 MB per set.
• Pro RealCombos: ~40 GB
• MegaPAK RealCombos: ~50 GB
• Full UltraPAK/UltraPAK+ when installed to internal hard drive: ~190 GB (another ~190 GB is required for the installation files when downloading the UltraPAK or UltraPAK+).
• Screen Resolution: 1024x768 or higher.
• Hard Drive versions of the UltraPAK or UltraPAK+ do not require any hard disk space when run directly from the external hard drive they are shipped on.
• USB port for the USB Flash Drive version of the Pro, MegaPAK or PlusPAK.
• Available USB port for the USB Hard Drive version of the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
• Internet connection recommended for program activation and updates.

10. Do you offer technical support after I purchase the program?

Yes. We offer extensive technical support for all PG Music Inc. products. All technical support is free and unlimited for registered customers. You can e-mail us, use our Live Online Chat, or phone us toll-free (from most countries). Please visit our Support Page for more details and contact information.

11. What shipping methods do you offer? Is there a download-only option?

We do offer shipping for Band-in-a-Box packages. If you would like to receive a backup copy of your Band-in-a-Box, be sure to add the physical backup copy to your order on checkout.

The Band-in-a-Box packages are also available for download. Note: If you ordered the Audiophile Edition, you can download the compressed RealTracks and RealDrums. The uncompressed files will be shipped on the hard drive.

Flash Drive Orders: Pro, MegaPAK, and PlusPAK packages only
Shipped free. The Flash Drive media is $15.

Hard Drive Orders: UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile, and OmniPAK packages only
Shipped free. The Hard Drive media is $25.

All other products are download only.

12. Do you ship overseas?

Yes, we ship Band-in-a-Box products anywhere in the world that is served by an international carrier.

13. Are all of your products available for download (electronic delivery)?

Yes, PG Music software is available for immediate download when you order online, and you will also have the option of a physical shipment for the backup copy of your purchase. Note: If you ordered the Audiophile Edition, you can download the compressed RealTracks and RealDrums. The uncompressed files will be shipped on the hard drive.

14. If I choose to download the program, will I still get shipped a backup copy of the software and documentation?

We do offer shipping for Band-in-a-Box packages. If you would like to receive a backup copy of your Band-in-a-Box, be sure to add the physical backup copy to your order on checkout. All other products are download only.

15. Do you offer upgrades from previous versions of Band-in-a-Box?

Yes, you can upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box from any previous version. Visit the Band-in-a-Box for Mac Purchasing page for more details.

16. Can I upgrade from Band-in-a-Box Pro to the MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+ or Audiophile Edition?

Yes, you can upgrade to any of the latest packages from ANY version of Band-in-a-Box including the current version. To order, or for more information, visit the Band-in-a-Box for Mac Purchasing page.

17. If I purchased the last MegaPAK/UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile version, do I need to order the new MegaPAK/UltraPAK/UltraPAK+/Audiophile Upgrade?

You don't need to, but we have special low pricing on these upgrade paths. They are a much better deal than a regular upgrade. If you purchase the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile upgrade, you will keep yourself up-to-date with all the latest Styles, RealDrums, RealTracks, Soloists, and Melodists currently available. If you only purchase the regular upgrade, you will still retain the add-ons (styles etc.) you got with your previous purchase, but you won't get all the new ones. Visit our Band-in-a-Box page to see all of the upgrade packages available.

18. I purchased Band-in-a-Box for Windows, and I now want to run it on a Mac. Is there a "crossgrade" that I can purchase?

Yes, you can crossgrade from any PC version of Band-in-a-Box to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box for Mac for a much lower price than a first-time purchase.

To order, or for more information, visit the Band-in-a-Box for Mac Purchasing page and look for the row labeled "Upgrade from 2022 or earlier or crossgrade".

19. Are songs that I create with Band-in-a-Box copyrighted?

The arrangements made by Band-in-a-Box are yours, and your songs may be used freely as long as they don't infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.

20. Do I need to be a musician to use your products?

No! Our products can be used by anyone, regardless of their musical ability. Although we have many satisfied customers who are professional or amateur musicians and educators, you don't have to be a musician to use or enjoy our products.

21. Why is the price of your products so low?

Peter Gannon, the president and founder of PG Music Inc., states that he set out "...to create software that I would want to purchase and use myself." To this end, we strive to create quality software that is affordable and fun to use, while performing at a professional level. One of our goals is to give you, the customer, more than you ever expected when you purchased the program.

22. Are your prices in US dollars?

Yes, all of our prices are shown in US dollars.

23. Do you offer special academic pricing for school systems?

There are Site License and LabPAK purchase options available to schools and other educational institutions who are interested in purchasing 5 or more copies of Band-in-a-Box for one location (like a computer or music lab). We also offer custom pricing for school-wide, district-wide, and even state, provincial, or national licensing. For more information please visit the Educators Page or contact marketing@pgmusic.com.

At this time, we do not offer an academic/educational discount on individual purchases of our software.

24. Is it safe to use a credit card over the internet?

Every modern browser comes with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption technology. This allows information that you pass to our servers to be encrypted during transmission, without you having to set up anything special. We also have installed a digital security certificate on our servers, which certifies that we are who we say we are when you're connected.

25. Is Band-in-a-Box available from any local dealers?

Yes, Band-in-a-Box is represented by dealers worldwide. Here is a complete list of our distributors.

26. How do I know if Band-in-a-Box will be able to create an accompaniment in my style of interest?

There are over 10,000 styles (MIDI and RealStyles) currently available for Band-in-a-Box, ranging from Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Country, and Classical, to many different world styles. So, chances are that you will be able to find a suitable style. You can browse through all of our styles and listen to audio demos at our Band-in-a-Box Add-ons page.

27. Can I purchase a complete User's Guide for Band-in-a-Box?

You can view the full manual online at https://www.pgmusic.com/manuals/.

28. How can I register my software?

We have an Online Registration Form. Note: If you purchased your software directly from us, you are automatically registered.

29. How can I change my address so that I still receive the newsletter?

The email confirmation is sent out the moment your order is processed. First, check your email program's "spam" or "junk" folder; the email could have been sent there. If not, you may have entered an incorrect email address into the order form, or (rarely) your ISP has blocked the email. Please contact us if you can't find the email.

30. What types of files can Band-in-a-Box save as?

Band-in-a-Box saves files in its proprietary formats (.SGU, .MGU, .STY, etc.). You can also save your songs in the Standard MIDI File (SMF) Format (.MID - type 0 or type 1), .KAR format (Karaoke File Format), .ABC format (ABC notation), .XML format (Music XML), or convert your songs to .WAV files and a variety of compressed audio formats such as AIFF and M4A.

31. I just placed an order, but I am unable to download the software. What should I do?

All PG Music software is available for immediate download.

After placing your order, you will receive your order confirmation email. This email contains the link(s) to access your Downloads page, and the Band-in-a-Box Serial Number if you ordered a Band-in-a-Box package.

Click on the link(s) in your order confirmation email to go directly to your Downloads page for each product. If the Install Manager is available for the product, there will be a link to download it at the top of your download page list. Complete instructions and troubleshooting tips for the Install Manager ("One-click installer") are available:

• Tutorial for Windows
• Tutorial for Mac

Or, watch the "One-click Install" video:

• Video: Using the One-click Installer on Windows
• Video: Using the One-click Installer on Mac

If you have created an account on pgmusic.com, you can also access your downloads by logging into your account and clicking the "My Products" page. This page lists all your recently purchased serial numbers and downloads. If you do not see your recently purchased product on your My Products page, it may not have been connected with that account. This could happen if you used a different email address when you ordered, or were not logged into the account. Contact us if you need help with this.

If you did not get an order confirmation email:

• You may have typed in the wrong email address when you placed the order. If so, please contact us to correct this and we can resend the email.
• Your email program may have a utility that filters out possible junk emails and puts them in a separate mailbox. Check to see if you have a 'Spam' or 'Junk' folder, for example.

Additional product download troubleshooting and tips

• The Install Manager will only work for orders placed on March 2021 or later. For any order (including orders placed prior to that), you can still access the downloads on your 'My Products' page by logging into your account at www.pgmusic.com/account.
• Files can either be downloaded using the "Install Manager" or via individual download links. On the download page, check the box "Show all downloads", and this will allow you to download the individual installer files using your web browser. For the large Band-in-a-Box packages that consist of many installers, the Install Manager should normally be used since it greatly simplifies the download and install process.
• If when you click on a link, you get a 404 page, error message, "page cannot be displayed", or something similar (but other web pages work fine for you), the problem is likely at our end. Please contact us ASAP so that we can fix this.
• Download speed varies considerably based on many factors including your available bandwidth, geographical location, our server load, time of day, and more. If you are downloading a large Band-in-a-Box package like the UltraPAK, the download could take anywhere from a couple of hours to over a day. If the connection speed is MUCH slower than what you expect (based on your measured connection speed - e.g. search 'internet speed test') you may want to wait and try again later, or contact us if the problem persists. Sometimes slow downloads are beyond our control, such as if there is a malfunctioning router somewhere between you and our servers.
• For individual downloads, troubleshoot by trying a different web browser to make sure it isn't a browser specific problem (e.g. old cached file).
• If you get an error message such as "not a valid Win32 application", "there is no program associated with this file", or "setup files are corrupted" when trying to run a downloaded installer, this typically means that the file is corrupt due to your internet connection being interrupted partway through the download. Remove the file from your hard drive and download it again.
• Security software (Anti-virus, firewalls) can sometimes interfere with installs. Symptoms might include the file being 'quarantined' or blocked when you try to run it. These are typically 'false positives'. Please contact us to report the problem. On Windows, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen will often block old installers (2019 and earlier) by default, and you need to allow them to 'run anyways'. On Mac, you might get a message such as "file cannot be checked for malicious software" on older installer packages that are not notarized. You can still install the file by control+clicking on it and clicking Open.
• If you are having trouble with a Band-in-a-Box download and would like have the physical copy shipped, or you are having a problem not covered here, please contact us for further assistance.

32. What other languages is Band-in-a-Box available in?

Band-in-a-Box for Mac is offered in French, German, Italian, and Japanese.

You can purchase Band-in-a-Box in any of these languages from their individual pages. Click on one of the languages above or go to the PG Music home page and click on one of the world icon along the top right of the page.

If you have already purchased the latest version of Band-in-a-Box in English and would like a different language, please contact us.

33. Is Band-in-a-Box compatible with PowerPC Macs?

The latest version of Band-in-a-Box is compatible with the Intel and Apple Silicon (M1) chips and works on Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.8) to Ventura (OS 13.x) inclusive. However, we have legacy versions of the program available for PowerPC based OSX systems, and even OS9 systems.

34. Is Band-in-a-Box compatible with older Operating Systems?

Yes, the shipping version of Band-in-a-Box is compatible back to Snow Leopard (10.6). This includes Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, and higher. We can provide a legacy version for Intel-based Macs running Tiger (10.4) and Leopard (10.5) by request (contact sales).

35. Is Band-in-a-Box compatible with the latest Mac Operating Systems, including Ventura?

Band-in-a-Box for Mac is compatible with the Intel and Apple Silicon (M1) chips and works on Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.8) to Ventura (OS 13.x) inclusive.

36. What is the difference between the Audiophile edition of Band-in-a-Box, and the regular Band-in-a-Box packages?

The Audiophile edition ships pre-installed on a high-speed USB 3.0 hard drive and includes everything that the regular Band-in-a-Box packages have, plus all the uncompressed audio in AIFF file format for ALL the RealTracks and RealDrums, so the highest sound quality is preserved. We normally ship RealTracks audio files as compressed M4A files (usually 128 or 160 kbps) instead of AIFF files. The M4A files are excellent quality and make the program MUCH smaller (roughly 90GB). With a typical setup at home, many people would not be able to hear a difference, but some advanced users prefer to have the original AIFF files. Note that it is possible to uncompress the 'regular edition' M4A files to AIFF, however these will not be the same as the original AIFF files, having already been compressed once. Also, please note that the 'Audiophile editions' do include the M4A files as well, which gives you the option of installing the program on your computer the same way as with the 'regular edition'.

37. Is the latest version of Band-in-a-Box backwards compatible with songs and styles from older versions?

Yes - Band-in-a-Box is designed to be fully backwards compatible with songs and styles created with previous versions of the program. In addition, you can often make your older songs sound much better after upgrading to the latest version, by choosing newer Styles, RealTracks, and RealDrums that came with your upgrade.

38. How much is Band-in-a-Box?

If you are a first-time buyer of Band-in-a-Box, your prices are:

• Band-in-a-Box Pro: $129
• Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK: $269
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK: $469
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK+: $569
• Band-in-a-Box Audiophile Edition: $669

If you purchased Band-in-a-Box previously, you qualify for upgrade pricing.
If you have our current version or last year's version, your regular upgrade prices are:

• Band-in-a-Box Pro Upgrade: $69
• Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK Upgrade: $149
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK Upgrade: $279
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK+ Upgrade: $379
• Band-in-a-Box PlusPAK Upgrade (for UltraPAK and UltraPAK+ customers): $129
• Band-in-a-Box Audiophile Edition Upgrade: $299 (if you own an older Audiophile Edition) or $479 if you don’t.

If you have an earlier version or you are changing to a completely different OS, your regular upgrade prices are:

• Band-in-a-Box Pro Upgrade: $79
• Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK Upgrade: $169
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK Upgrade: $299
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK+ Upgrade: $399
• Band-in-a-Box PlusPAK Upgrade (for UltraPAK and UltraPAK+ customers): $129
• Band-in-a-Box Audiophile Edition Upgrade: $299 (if you own an older Audiophile Edition) or $499 if you don’t.

Compare the different Band-in-a-Box packages using the comparison chart for Mac and for Windows.

39.Can I purchase an upgrade?

Yes, if you purchased an older version of Band-in-a-Box, it can be upgraded. Pricing will depend on which version you currently own.

If you purchased Band-in-a-Box previously, you qualify for upgrade pricing.
If you have our current version or last year's version, your regular upgrade prices are:

• Band-in-a-Box Pro Upgrade: $69
• Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK Upgrade: $149
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK Upgrade: $279
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK+ Upgrade: $379
• Band-in-a-Box PlusPAK Upgrade (for UltraPAK and UltraPAK+ customers): $129
• Band-in-a-Box Audiophile Edition Upgrade: $299 (if you own an older Audiophile Edition) or $479 if you don’t.

If you have an earlier version or you are changing to a completely different OS, your regular upgrade prices are:

• Band-in-a-Box Pro Upgrade: $79
• Band-in-a-Box MegaPAK Upgrade: $169
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK Upgrade: $299
• Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK+ Upgrade: $399
• Band-in-a-Box Audiophile Edition Upgrade: $299 (if you own an older Audiophile Edition) or $499 if you don’t.

Compare the different Band-in-a-Box packages using the comparison chart for Mac and for Windows.

40. What Band-in-a-Box is a good starter package?

The Band-in-a-Box Pro is a great starter package at only $129. It includes a variety of add-ons to get you started, including RealTracks and RealDrums, styles (MIDI and RealStyles), Melodists, Soloists, Artist Performances, and loops.

If you purchase the Pro version and decide you want a larger package later, that is not a problem. Just contact our customer service team for assistance.

Compare the different Band-in-a-Box packages using the comparison chart for Mac and for Windows.

41. What are RealTracks?

RealTracks are audio recordings of real musicians playing various instruments, such as guitars, bass, drums, piano, and more. RealTracks replace the MIDI track for that instrument and can be controlled just like the MIDI instrument (volume changes, muting etc.). They even follow the chord progression that you have entered, so you hear an authentic audio accompaniment or solo.

RealTracks are not "samples"... They are full recordings, lasting from 1 to 8 bars at a time, playing in perfect sync with the other tracks. Choose from pre-made Band-in-a-Box Styles or combine RealTracks instruments to make your own band.

Listen to RealTracks demos for Mac and Windows.

42. How much are RealTracks?

RealTracks Sets are available for $29 each. We also offer RealPAKs for Jazz, Country, Guitar, and Rock-Pop. We release a genre PAK per version release, which includes the newest Sets of that genre RealTracks & RealDrums. RealPAKs can be purchased starting at $79 each.

Learn more: Mac or Windows.

If you decide to purchase a number of these, the most cost effective way to get all the regular RealTrack and RealDrums Sets is by upgrading to the UltraPAK (Mac or Windows) for $279 or $299 (depending on which version you have). Plus, the UltraPAK is chock-full of other great, highly requested add-ons!

43. How do I get more RealTracks?

The most cost effective way to get all the regular RealTrack and RealDrums Sets is by purchasing the UltraPAK. A first-time UltraPAK is $469. If you purchased Band-in-a-Box previously, the upgrade to the UltraPAK (Mac or Windows) is $279 or $299 (depending on which version you have).

We also offer individual RealTracks Sets for $29 each and RealPAK genre PAKs for Jazz, Country, Guitar, and Rock-Pop starting at $79 each.

44. What are XPro Styles PAKs?

XPro Styles PAKs are additional style PAKs that work with the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box. These PAKs contain a wide variety of musical styles, ranging from jazz and rock-pop to country and folk. Each PAK includes a collection of over 100 pre-made arrangements and musical patterns that can be used to enhance and customize your music compositions. These styles can be easily applied to your songs, allowing you to experiment with different genres and create unique musical arrangements. These styles are not included in any other package.

XPro Styles PAKs were released for Band-in-a-Box 2021 and higher. Too see what version is required for each XPro Styles PAK, listen to demos, and to learn more, visit the products pages for Mac or Windows.

45. What are Xtra Styles PAKs?

Xtra Styles PAKs are additional style PAKs that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box. These PAKs contain a wide variety of musical styles, ranging from jazz and rock-pop to country and folk. Each PAK includes a collection of over 150+ pre-made arrangements and musical patterns that can be used to enhance and customize your music compositions. These styles can be easily applied to your songs, allowing you to experiment with different genres and create unique musical arrangements. These styles are not included in any other package.

Xtra Styles PAKs were released for Band-in-a-Box 2016 and higher. Too see what version is required for each Xtra Styles PAK, listen to demos, and to learn more, visit the products pages for Mac or Windows.

Note: Xtra Styles PAKs will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK versions because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

46. What is the difference between XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs?

XPro Styles PAKs include additional styles that work with the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box. Each PAK adds 100+ styles that are not included in any other package.

XPro Styles PAKs were released for Band-in-a-Box 2021 and higher. Too see what version is required for each XPro Styles PAK, listen to demos, and learn more, visit the products pages for Mac or Windows.

Xtra Styles PAKs are additional style PAKs that only work with Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. Each PAK adds 100+ styles that are not included in any other package.

Xtra Styles PAKs were released for Band-in-a-Box 2016 and higher. Too see what version is required for each Xtra Styles PAK, listen to demos, and to learn more, visit the products pages for Mac or Windows.

Note: Xtra Styles PAKs will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK versions because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

47. What types of payments do you accept??

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, UnionPay, or PayPal.

48. Where do I put the coupon code?

There will be a section to enter the coupon code after you click “Checkout Now” in the shopping cart. Note: The coupon code must be valid and be applied to an eligible Band-in-a-Box package to receive the discount.

49. Where do I select the physical backup copy for my Band-in-a-Box order?

Click “Checkout Now” in the shopping cart, a window will display where you will be able to select to have the physical backup added to your order.

50. Do you offer free shipping?

Band-in-a-Box is sold as an e-delivery/download product. Although there are no shipping charges, if you want to have a back-up copy of your purchase shipped you would pay for the media it will be delivered on. The Band-in-a-Box Pro, MegaPAK, and PlusPAK backup copies are available on a flash drive for $15. The Band-in-a-Box UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Editon backup copies are available on a USB hard drive for $25.

51. Where can I learn about RealTracks?

You can find more information about RealTracks in Band-in-a-Box by accessing the RealTracks Settings dialog. From there, you can click on the [+] button to the right of the RealTracks radio button and choose "Select RealTracks" to view a list of available RealTracks. You can also double-click on a RealTracks to hear an audio demo. Additionally, you can open the Artist Browser to see more information about the artists who recorded the RealTracks.

There are also demos and write-ups of the RealTracks on our website for Mac and Win.

52. What is the link for the online manual?

The online manuals are available here.

53. What is a LabPAK?

LabPAK is a purchase option available to schools and educational institutions who want to buy 5 or more copies of Band-in-a-Box for a specific location, such as a computer or music lab. It is a cost-effective way for educational institutions to provide Band-in-a-Box to multiple users.

Compare the different Band-in-a-Box LabPAK packages using the comparison chart for Mac and for Windows.