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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 122
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 122 |
I am taking the plunge and moving to Nashville next week. I like to write my lyrics using a program called Masterwriter which I will likely need to take with me from time to time for cowrites, etc. I will also be using my BIAB 2010 for basic demos and such. As a result, I am looking at purchasing a new laptop.
I currently use a Presonus Digital Audio input box w/firewire for my vocals and occasional guitar so I will obviously need at least one firewire port. Outside of that, do I need a special soundcard for the new computer or will it have whatever I need? My desktop computer doesn't having a special soundcard other than what is on the motherboard and I have been happy. I mostly use the realtracks though so I don't know if that matters. To be honest, I don't even know what a soundcard is or does. The less I have to drag around, the better so if things can be installed internally, that is better unless it doesn't sound as good.
As regards the computer itself, any caveats regarding brands or operating software? (FYI, I am a PC guy and have been using a desktop computer bought from a small computer store.) Any minimum hardware or software specs I should look for in regards to optimal functioning of BIAB/RB? I generally get the best I can afford, but there are so many options now that the same price point can get you a multitude of configurations.
Thanks to everyone for your input and advice.
Ricky
________
Songwriter-Artist
RickyHarris.com
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812 |
Hey Ricky,
Good on ya moving to Nashville, many great musicians and a good vibe there. I lived in Brentwood for a while, I enjoyed my time there very much, although I was working in the IT field and didn't have the time for Music related projects.
I wanted to point out one thing that I saw on your post that made my alarms go off.
Regarding needing a Firewire port>You should know that as of late, no new models are being made using the Texas Instrument Firewire chipset. This is a problem, as it is known that non TI chipsets will give you pops, clicks and other "Issues" with your audio tracks. One possible workaround would be to purchase a Belkan Firewire Express card adaptor, which would give you 3 FW inputs.
Which brings up another related point>
It's been shown that sharing the FW buss on your computer can cause "issues" with your Digital Audio stream. So, for example if you are using a FW Hard Drive, AND a FW interface, they should NOT be used in the same hub, or adaptor.
The other point I'd like to make is that the USB 3 devices are just now coming and perhaps if you are willing to wait a month or two, you could get a machine that has USB 3. There are adaptors coming that will convert from Firewire to USB 3 also.
Hope this helps,
Ed
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,059
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,059 |
+1 for Ed's statement about using TI chipset with firewire devices.
As far as running BIAB, any new laptop for sale will run it. My little 1 GB Toshiba netbook is even fine. Having said that, we have deduced that Real Tracks generate faster with higher CPU speed, and secondarily, faster hard drive throughput, so those are the two places where I would concentrate.
Not to do with music, but spend a lot of time trying out the keyboard layouts and feel. They differ greatly and make a big difference in how much swearing you will have to do in the future. I chose Toshiba primarily for this reason. Your fingers and typing style may differ.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 122
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 122 |
"Higher CPU speed" and "faster drive throughput" - not sure exactly what those terms mean. What specs am I seeking? What are the mins I am seeking?
As for the firewire issue, I am cool with waiting to get the computer if it really matters. But in two months, will there be some other new thing I should then wait another couple months for?
With the current firewire issue or USB 3 deal, what is my best workaround? Belkan Firewire Express card adaptor? USB 3 adaptor? Buying a new digital interface? Are there laptops that have XLR plugs built in?
Thanks for your help!
Ricky
________
Songwriter-Artist
RickyHarris.com
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 812 |
Ricky, I can't speak for Matt, but I THINK he was talking about how fast the Processor is in your computer. 2ghz is going to be faster than 1ghz and so on. If you have the money and want a really fast machine, consider the new i7 laptops. Load times are super low. The faster Real Tracks/Real Drums load, the more you get done.
By "Faster Drive Throughput, I think Matt was talking about drive speed and type. Since you would want a drive with "fast" specs (low seek time, etc) you should look for a Hard Drive that has 7,200rpm. Why???.......because the drive is able to access data at a much faster rate. The down side is that you will need to use an external power supply. The other thing you should look for is a large cache buffer. Although 16mb is ok, 32mb is much better.
Again, IF you have the cash, you should look into getting a Solid State HD. These units are super fast, don't produce heat, and are now claiming 25-30 year data security specs. In fact, the OCX Vertex series has a 250mb per second read rate, 160-200mb per second write rate, and 25 year data cycle before failure. Even the fastest eSATA 10,000rpm units don't come close to that. Check out the Youtube videos of Laptops booting up with the latest SS HDs. Amazing. The caveat is the price. The 60GB Vertex is $200. I'm sure this will come down in time.
Last, you can wait to see about USB 3, try to get a Belkan TI FW chipset Express card, or change your interface. I just ordered the Echo Indigo Express card Interface, because all the reports I have are of very low latency, great drivers and converters. The down side is you can't record as there is no Mic input.
What I bought last month was the M-Audio Fast Track II USB. Very nice unit, I have no real complaints, works well with Windows 7. For $120, it's well worth the money!!!
Good luck, let us know which direction you are going and how things work out!
Ed
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,059
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,059 |
What he said. (Thanks, Ed.)
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
If you don't have the cash I can attest to the netbook thing. Mine has been great and if it died I'd get another rather than a bigger one. Unless you want to do a lot of gigs with a computer.
If you eyesight is bad don't buy one.
If you are impatient don't buy one. ( It does take 8 or so seconds longer to render all real tracks songs.
On the other hand we travel and it fits into the wife's purse and we can stop in the parking lot at Motel 6 and send the kids pictures of where we are and stay someplace else. (They have wi-fi...just do a drive by..!)
And if the Acer has only 1 gig and you have Windows 7 stick in an 8 gig memory stick and let it use that to speed things up, I have vista and can't do that but someone else might try it.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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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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New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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