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I,m looking to upgrade to a newer computer. I,m thinking I should have 500 memory? to handle the furture and 4gig ram? prosesser duel ok or will quad be better fot the future of biab? My old pc is having a time with realtracks all of the sudden. I've defarged my songs are lockin up I have 3 shows this week I need a back up?
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How much do you want to spend, can you build it yourself, or do you want an off the shelf solution. Intel i5 or i7 Quad Core, or AMD FX Multi-Core, 8GB of RAM, 2-4 750 GB hard drives (at least two, one for your system and programs, one for data storage, i.e., all your Real Track .wav files. The more hard drives you have, the more space for tracks and for back up of tracks. Weekly defrag, don't let any drive get below 20% capacity, and make sure you're running Windows 7 64 bit. What sound card do you have, and do you need a PCI slot for it? One of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883157330At least one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284You'll be set for a while. Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Since jt3 needs this computer for shows, and the specs are not large, I'm thinking he/she may be looking for a laptop? But I'm having a lot of trouble reading the question.
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; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I'm not clear with the question either. But for gigging, I recommend Lenovo ThinkPad laptops. I get an average of 8 years of use out of them, on stage, being abused, doing one-nighters (always hard on equipment) before they become too old to gig with.
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Quote:
I'm not clear with the question either. But for gigging, I recommend Lenovo ThinkPad laptops. I get an average of 8 years of use out of them, on stage, being abused, doing one-nighters (always hard on equipment) before they become too old to gig with.
Major DITTO here!
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sorry I guess I didn,t make myself clear. Yes a laptop is what a am using now and that would be the easiest. I will replace with it with a something 500g on up I found one with 4 g ram can up grade to 8. right now I have 320 with 100 free space I think 3 g ram. It is a compac it started giving me fits a couple months back. Someone told me to defrag more often and restart every hour in a 4 hour show worked great but now was working great shut it down next morning doing the same as brfore only now if I have aot of real tracts it freezes up. midi works fine I have 2 shows this week so I will replace it it. I will take my songs off and save on external drive see if that helps it keep it as back up thanks guys you are alot of help
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I bring two ThinkPads to the gig. One for a backup. I'm a "the show must go on" kind of a guy.
I do one-nighters and I make my living by gigging. Since I started using ThinkPads in 2002, I've had to use the backup computer twice.
1) The hard drive of the main computer started making mechanical noises, so I switched the USB cable to the second computer and finished the night. I replaced the Hard Drive the next day. Nothing failed, but I know a noisy hard drive can be a warning signal.
2) The CMOS battery on a 6 year old ThinkPad computer died. The CMOS computer runs the clock and probably some other background tasks, and the computer will not start when it is dead. I used the backup computer for the gig and replaced the CMOS battery the next day. $4.95 at Radio Shack - it's one of those little disk batteries about the size of a US nickel coin.
Not a bad reliability rating for 10 years of very hard computer use and abuse.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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I take two copies of everything and a stand for anyone who wants to sit in.
I use the box for practice, and play otherwise.
I like it when someone else wants the melody. Comping and improv is fun.
My korg keyboard, a Roland W50, and a Yamaha on a 3 level rack is fun when I do that.
But then you can't see me very well.
Which is a plus.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Quote:
But then you can't see me very well.
Quote:
"Must be good looking 'cause he's so hard to see . . ."
Come together.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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I wish I could endorse ThinkPads - but my Z61m died an early death with only very expensive MOBO replacement (if one can actually determine the correct MOBO) as the solution.
I spent over 1000$ on that box in 2007/8 time frame and got less than 4 years out of it.
-Scott
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BTW - The T series thinkpads seem to be much more durable. I don't know which model(s) Bob has, but we had a few T series boxes at my former employer and those things took ALOT of abuse and kept on ticking.
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Quote:
But then you can't see me very well.
Not seeing me well has been a demand made by every band I every played in.
"Get more keyboards!! Build a keyboard wall!"
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I've used the budget R series of ThinkPads since 2002. Since then I've retired only two of them. And they both still work but after 8 years of abuse they started getting a little tender.
I have two in my office, two on stage and Leilani has one.
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Expert
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There are too many options. But to narrow it down:
An i7 processor, at least 4 GB memory with a possibility to expand should suffice for now (= the naext 2 to 3 years).
Believe me, software developers will find a way to render your equipment outdated.
On a desktop you may change the processor, have chances to chagen the sound card and grphics adaptor. Laptops usually show less possibilites to be updated.
Guido
Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
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I'm just bringing my old HP510 back into service with XP Pro SP3. Does the job for gigs and it ain't worth jack anymore. Way OTT on HD space too (250GB)
Come to think of it, the only reason I stopped using it was due to Norton Ghost screwing up the HD. I had a sponsor back then and it was quicker, easier and cheaper to get a new state-of-the-art laptop. I'm only running two now because it looks like I have a regular gig on a Friday night and I don't want to use the new(er) one for that.
Last edited by WienSam; 05/18/12 02:07 PM.
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Quote:
I had a sponsor back then
Is that what Europeans call a "Sugar Mama"?  
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
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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
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-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
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- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
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- 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!
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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!
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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.
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