PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box for Windows Windows 7 SP1 or 8.1 ?

Any opinions on what windows one should install on a new 64bit Windows system? -F

Windows 10 is around the corner... but if you can't wait, Win 8.1 works ok.

For the record, I have BIAB 2014 installed in two computers, using Win 7 sp1 in my laptop and Win 8.1 in my desktop.

In the beginning I didn't get along with Win 8.1's interface, but eventually got used to it.

TBH, I can't really tell if BIAB works better in either computer, so, at least for me, the answer is: "it just doesn't matter".

HTH,

If you are used to XP and do not want to learn a new GUI then go with Win 7. If you are use to smart phones, tablets, etc, then go with Win 8.1. I went for Win 7 for the first reason as a lot of people are still doing.

As already stated it makes no difference to BiaB/RB.

Hi fiddler,

Before deciding, and if you have a special sound set up (other than what comes with the computer), it would pay to check out drivers for your soundcard.


All the best with the upgrade.
Noel

• latest song: Just A Little After Midnight

Win 8 is better, but you need a small add-on like StartMenu X that returns the familiar start menu with added capabilities.

It's free and the extra conveniences are only a couple of dollars.

There are many things about Win8 that are better than Win7 (I have both), the only bad thing about Win8.1 is the lack of the traditional start menu (Win8.1's start menu is fairly close to Win7's and neither are as good as XP IMHO). StartMenuX and at least a half dozen other add-ons give you a start menu that's actually a little better than the XP menu.

Insights and incites by Notes

I have Win 7 Ultimate x64 on my DAW and Vista Home Premium x64 on my laptop, which I use for mobile production. (Apparently I'm the only person who never had issues with Vista.) I'm skittish about upgrading from 7 because when I upgraded from XP I lost the use of two perfectly good sound cards because the drivers weren't upgraded. I wouldn't tell you NOT to get 8.1, just tell you to do it with eyes wide open.

Richard

Yes, as far as BIAB, it just doesn't matter, as Kojack said.

I like a few things about 8.1 technically. As long as you are used to the interface, I recommend you purchase 8.1 and keep current. Just first make sure all your devices have drivers.

Start8 from Stardock, or some other start menu feature makes Win8 work much like the Win7 (and Vista) interface. Besides, the start menu is "mostly" coming back in Windows 10, anyway, so don't forget it (a la Win8.x) before you have to learn it again.

I've purchased Start8 as gifts for folks (it's only $5); they loved it.

Richard ... which soundcards? Thanks Y'all for the tips, i have 8.1 on a laptop and adapted the interface indeed. And yes, i got pissed off already when changing to win 7 64bit & from XP. Especially about expensive soft- and hardware that just isn't maintained or flunked. The reason why i never would deal with digidesigsn and their "apple first" versus widows policy regarding Emagic. - F

Fiddler, they were a Soundblaster Audigy 2Z Platinum Pro and a TASCAM US-228. The SB was useful for having three onboard synths and supporting Sound Fonts; the other for serving as a control surface and transport control. (I still use it with my Vista laptop for mobile recording.)

I've got audio drivers for the ZS2 converted to 64bit someone gave me, Works OK with windows 7 x64. Some clever guy called Daniel adapted them, so not officially obtainable from Creative. He was probably in love with the sound blaster. I was too, only needed the PCI slot for something else now. Drivers work OK as for the audio itself. Only the other other software hasn't been adapted, but who needs it, and the sounblaster system is especially useful as soundfont loadable synth (also GM), besides it's great audio quality ... -F

Since I use external synths, the hardware I bought for my Atari, PC-DOS5, and Motorola Mac still work on 8.1 - generic MIDI drivers do the trick.

Some antiquated programs no longer work, like the Windows 3.1 version of Master Tracks Pro (which I prefer over the newer one - but I get along with the new version OK) and my Microsoft Publisher XP asks me to approve the license every month or so, but otherwise works fine.

I generally don't upgrade the OS on an existing computer though, but get the newest, latest, and greatest OS whenever I buy a new one. That gives me the longest 'shelf life'.

Since I buy ThinkPad computers exclusively, shelf life of an OS is important. I'm still using a 2002 ThinkPad on stage, running 3-4 hours a night, bouncing around in the van, changing temperatures constantly, and running like a top.

BTW, the computers on the Space Station that regulate the life support systems (oxygen, water, etc.) are ThinkPads - they are built like tanks.

When Win10 comes out, it will probably be the first time I upgrade on an existing computer. I'll make a disk image of my hard drive, perhaps even clone another drive so that I can have a fail-safe if things don't work properly.

People always complain when a new OS comes out. When Win95 came out, people complained. When WinXP came out, people all over the Internet were screaming "Keep your Win98SE because XP sucks", and people are still angry with MS for Win8. A lot of people just don't like change - and while I admit, change just for change sake is unnecessary, and a PITA, once you get used to the changes, you can reap the advantages.

Same thing happens with instruments.

The Selmer Mark VI saxophone was a great horn in its day, and the Mark VII was not quite as good. But the newest saxes coming out of Taiwan have better intonation, great tone, and will last much longer. Still there are thousands who worship the Mark VI as if it was the the holy grail. My new MacSax is a much better sax than my old MarkVI was.

Same thing with wind controllers. The WX7 was Yamaha's first. The WX5 is much better but there are those who worship the WX7 (I've had both, and the 5 is easier to play, has more essential features for expressive playing, and goes many more years between failures).

My new Parker DF524NN is a much better guitar than those PRE-CBS Stratocasters. It stays in tune, often even from one gig to the next, has a better neck, hardened stainless steel frets, better pickups, and a three way trem that can float - plus a piezo under the bridge that can be mixed with the mag pickups.

Older is not always better, but there will always be those who like old for the sake of old.

On the other hand, sometimes older things are better (newer isn't always better). The trick is to use whatever is best.

Bob

Fiddler, I started with a mobo with a PCI slot in my self-specced DAW (which I paid to have assembled), but the board was either defective or just wouldn't work with other components—don't recall which—so a substitution was made to a board without PCI. One way or another I was not meant to use my Audigy in the new machine.

Bob, I get what you say about accepting the new. What I did, and do, resent was losing the use of $375.00 worth of perfectly good sound cards.

R.

I understand that. It is just a matter of time before you lose those sound cards. Everything inside a computer is eventually going to be an orphan.

It's the main reason why I don't depend on them. I bought a "Turtle Beach" sound card way back when, I think it was on my Win3.1 computer that went obsolete.

Now I use external hardware synths exclusively. The mid 1980s Yamaha TX81z, Korg DDD5, and Roland MT32 as well as my Akai S900 sampler all work fine on my newest computer, along with every MIDI synth I've bought since.

I like buying new synths, but I don't like losing my old ones.

I also save all my creations in standard file formats like .MID or .WAV.

Before the Standard MIDI File format, was created, I had about 300 songs in a proprietary Yamaha keyboard format. When the keyboard died, Yamaha had changed their file format, and I lost 300 songs.

I understand my way isn't the best for everyone, but I'm very glad I chose it.

They were hard lessons learned for me.

That's why I don't understand the rush to get software synths and upgraded sound cards. They will all eventually be orphaned. Then you will have to do a lot of work just to catch up.

Insights and incites by Notes

I get that, too, Bob. I had a Roland JV-1010 hardware synth, but it turned up missing after my most recent move, and I can't afford to replace it. However it happens, I'm sick of losing stuff.

Yeah, I agree, missing stuff is a drag. Especially things you depend on.

The JV has a good reputation. Is it still in production? If not, ebay?

I have some old photographs of my band that I edited with an orphaned editor. They are up on my web and still look good. But when I load them into my Win8 computer, they look weird. The tops look fine and the rest is discolored.

I downloaded them from the web, and on Win8.1 the same thing happens. So they are alive on my web server, but if I ever want to get a new web host, they will be gone.

I love computers and I hate them, depending on the day or the hour of the day.

Notes

Bob, the 1010 is long out of production. They go for $150-$200 on eBay, but I just spent a bundle on a new guitar and 88-key MIDI controller. There's more, but a new synth is not in my immediate future.

On the other hand, I have Propellerhead Reason, a massive soft synth and recording suite that won't be obsolete any time soon. Unfortunately, it doesn't have true GM capability. You can make it do it, but it's a pain. The 1010 had a wonderful GM sound set, yeah, but I don't have one just now.

Enough of flogging this particular horse. In 2006 I had several computers for making music, which broke down until all I had was a Win2K machine with a $15 wave table sound card. I decided not to let that be an objection and created some material that I really liked. Exactly what I need to do now. Back to work, friends.

Folks,
I have been away from music for about a year. Will need to re-learn a lot.
Last week, my 2.5 year old Lenovo (motherboard) died. I live in Thailand with limited facilities for repairs etc.

Now I need to get a new notebook and am faced with this q.
I have BIAB 2012.5
The new recommended notebook will have Win 8.1x 64 bit pre-installed.
Am I facing any issues with this new notebook, or will BIAB 2012.5 run with no problems?

I also noted a potential "activation" issue in a running live chat (which I now cannot locate).

Thailonius, yes, it will run fine. That's the OS I'm using. The only potential problem would be if you are using an external sound module and there are no drivers updated for Windows 8 64-bit.

There was a recent mention of activation, but It was pointed out that PG Music will work with you if you have a problem. I have not seen anyone describe any unsolved problem, and almost no mention of activation in months.

Activation is only for BIAB/RealBand 2014 and above. You don't need to worry about activation for version 2012.5.