I know quite a few of you have added SSD's to your computers and I need some help in understanding what advantage they provide. I understand that due to the flash memory, the installed OS will load faster but I'm more concerned about will it increasing the processing capability of an open program.
Currently, I use two 7200 rpm black WD hard drives. Following the advice of many of you here on the forum, I have my data files (midi files, completed songs, temp files, Sampletank / Kontakt samples, audio, etc) on one drive and my programs on the other.
If I install a SSD and load my OS and programs on that, I wouldn't think it would have any effect on pulling in the data faster from the data drive...would it?
If hard drives are the bottle-neck these days, would my songs regenerate faster in BIAB / RB? Would latency from VSTi's be reduced? Could I run at reduced buffers?
So, the bottom line question is: do SSD's allow programs to load faster or will they allow programs to run faster when data is load on another drive?
If all that an SSD would do is to startup and shut down my system faster, I can live without it, but if it processes data faster, that would be an interest.
All hard disk related operations are significantly faster.
(if you don't care about the reasoning, skip to last paragraph.)
Reason: a) reading data: The SSD looks up where the data are and electronically goes there to retrieve them. The conventional hard drive looks up where the data are, mechanically goes to a certain position and waits for the data to arrive to retrieve them. If the stream of data is not complete this process repeats until all necessary data are fetched.
b) writing data: Actually it is the same process as above. The process is a little slower because writing needs a little more time in most cases. But the general speed advantage of electronically going to the warehouse location is significant compared to the speed of physically going to the respective warehouse location.
c) processing data: This is only faster using an SSD if there are so many data that the data cannot be kept in working storage but has to be written onto the disk temporarily.
Using BIAB/RB with an SSD speeds up several steps in the work flow -- if all the necessary files are on an SSD -- since retrieving data is much faster, like regenerate a song using another style, or using another RealTrack for a song, or loading another virtual instrument, or
Summary In short: Everything that needs the hard disk is faster using an SSD. Everthing else is as speedy or slow as it was before installing an SSD
Highly recommended. I use two in my production machine: one has Windows and most programs. The other (small early SSD) has only the BIAB program on it (no RealTracks). I have the audiophile version that requires over one TB of space, or I would have the RealTracks on an SSD.
As a general guideline, the best use of an SSD is for programs that are read, but not so much written to. RealTracks fits that definition perfectly. So do VSTi instruments and soft synths.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
This is great info folks....really appreciate that. Still have a bit of confusion though. Currently my programs are on one HD and my data on a second HD. If I just move my programs to an SSD and leave my data on the second drive, do I still capture the benefit of the SSD? Or do I have to move my programs and data to the SSD?
I just upgraded my computer and one of the upgrades I made was to change my 1T OS drive to a 500M SSD.
Man, the difference is phenomenal! everything is faster! even browsing loads faster, I'm assuming because of the disk cache it uses.
as far as "moving programs" from old drive to new: use a cloning program. I bought a Samsung EVO 850 and it came with "migrating" software which cloned my 1T drive onto my 500M SSD.
most things worked flawlessly after the migration, but a few things had to be "reauthorized." and even fewer things had to be reinstalled (IK Multimedia was some of the stuff had to be reinstalled - at least for me, others may have a different experience).
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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