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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 11
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 11 |
I was pretty disappointed in the performance of the BIAB external drive I received. So I got a cheap ($15) USB 3.0 enclosure and a relatively cheap ($70) solid state drive and put BIAB on that. It it way way faster. Realtracks/soloists used to take up to 30 seconds to get going, and now it's just a couple of seconds.
All computers now have USB 3.0, and solid state drives are fast enough to make use of that bandwidth, so I suggest that BIAB should come on a solid state drive in a USB 3.0 enclosure.
- Prices are low enough that you could buy 90GB-100GB drives in bulk for not much more than what is currently used.
- USB 3.0 is backwards-compatible with USB 2.0.
- You will save time installing/copying files to the disk before sending to a customer, because SSDs are so much faster than traditional 5400rpm 2.5" drives.
- You could just have the USB 3.0 / SSD as an option for an extra amount of money, for those who so choose.
If I had known about the severe speed handicap, I would not have purchased BIAB on disk (even as cheap as it was, only paying for shipping). I would have just downloaded it and put it on a USB 3.0 SSD to begin with...
thanks!
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687 |
Good points and it sounds very tempting but what about some reports that say SSD's are not as long lasting as regular HD's, when they fail there's no warning at all and when they're dead, they're dead.
I just did a quick Google search about this and quite a few people say use an SSD for your system boot drive but use a regular HD for data storage because it's safer. If that's the case then considering PG's HD is about 95% Real Track data then there's little advantage from that point of view. But others say these drives are improving all the time, the prices have come way down as you say and reliability is now as good as anything else.
I have no experinece with SSD's just throwing this out there for discussion because I'm interested in this as well.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,544
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,544 |
Thanks. Good suggestions, and those are exciting results that you've found, both in the price and the performance of SSD .
We are looking into it, and as hopefully will move to that when the price is right.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335 |
Quote:
I was pretty disappointed in the performance of the BIAB external drive I received. So I got a cheap ($15) USB 3.0 enclosure and a relatively cheap ($70) solid state drive and put BIAB on that. It it way way faster. Realtracks/soloists used to take up to 30 seconds to get going, and now it's just a couple of seconds.
First world problems. Not fast enough. Geeze. Maybe PGMusic should throw in iPads with every purchase as well? I think the whole selling it on a Hard Drive is because it is a PAIN IN THE ASS to load Band in a Box from DVD, and downloading it and then keeping a backup copy is a pain as well. And since hard drives are real cheap.....makes sense that PGMusic gets some hard drives, offers them in lieu of DVDs and the added bonus is that you can, if you want, run the program from it.
But it is a laptop drive.....so what do you expect?
Quote:
All computers now have USB 3.0, and solid state drives are fast enough to make use of that bandwidth, so I suggest that BIAB should come on a solid state drive in a USB 3.0 enclosure.
And iPads. We want iPads with it too. But serious, not every computer has USB 3 (I'm using one right now that is 3 years old that does not have USB3). And musicians are more likely to have OLD gear rather than new fangled stuff. I know a few guys still running Windows XP and one that runs Windows 95!
Quote:
- Prices are low enough that you could buy 90GB-100GB drives in bulk for not much more than what is currently used.
Nope. It is still a lot more expensive per megabyte for SSD than standard.
Quote:
- USB 3.0 is backwards-compatible with USB 2.0.
Ok....
Quote:
- You will save time installing/copying files to the disk before sending to a customer, because SSDs are so much faster than traditional 5400rpm 2.5" drives.
They probably clone the disks......and it's not like they are selling 50,000 units a week (though they should be damn it!)
Quote:
- You could just have the USB 3.0 / SSD as an option for an extra amount of money, for those who so choose.
I guess, but then again you'd have people complaining that the SSD is this or that or doesn't have leveling or garbage collection or......the list goes on.
Quote:
If I had known about the severe speed handicap, I would not have purchased BIAB on disk (even as cheap as it was, only paying for shipping). I would have just downloaded it and put it on a USB 3.0 SSD to begin with...
Thank God you didn't chose the DVD option. You'd probably have gone on and wanted everything on BluRay or Holographic crystals.........
I think the hard drive is just fine. It's cheap, it works, and if someone wants to go faster than what the laptop drive can handle, they can use the drive as a backup and copy the files to where ever they want......just.....like.........you.......did.
Musician, Polymath, Google Jedi, Apple Master, Windows Wrangler and Digital Wizard. High ratings in Nerd-fu & Geek-fu.
M1 Mac Mini, MacBook Pro Touchbar 15", Intel 27" iMac, M1 Mac Mini
https://musician.social/@ericdano
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 335 |
Quote:
Good points and it sounds very tempting but what about some reports that say SSD's are not as long lasting as regular HD's, when they fail there's no warning at all and when they're dead, they're dead.
Well, they have a limited number of times they can be accessed. The technology is still rapidly moving forward, so todays SSDs are not going to be in the same league as ones next year.
Quote:
I just did a quick Google search about this and quite a few people say use an SSD for your system boot drive but use a regular HD for data storage because it's safer. If that's the case then considering PG's HD is about 95% Real Track data then there's little advantage from that point of view. But others say these drives are improving all the time, the prices have come way down as you say and reliability is now as good as anything else.
Safer? Not really. The 5400+ RPM spinning platter and the head that is hovering like 1/20th the size of a piece of hair above said platter.....the potential is there for failure. Regular hard drives have been around for a LONG TIME and the tech is pretty reliable. Years usually. SSDs........not so much.
For what it is worth, my webserver has been running on an SSD for almost 2 years now. Not a single glitch.......yet.
Musician, Polymath, Google Jedi, Apple Master, Windows Wrangler and Digital Wizard. High ratings in Nerd-fu & Geek-fu.
M1 Mac Mini, MacBook Pro Touchbar 15", Intel 27" iMac, M1 Mac Mini
https://musician.social/@ericdano
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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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Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed!
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