|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 219
Apprentice
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 219 |
I run my BIAB, Real Band and Power Tracks on a home built desk top PC (Windows XP Pro) but it is now seven years old and very under powered. It certainly struggles when importing Real Tracks with BIAB version 2009. I do have a second desk top PC but I am considering buying a laptop so that I can practice along with my BIAB files anywhere in the house and am not tied down to my music room. I would also like to record my practice sessions at a friend’s house, for later analysis.
I have been looking at models with Pentium Dual Core processors, 4GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive and perhaps a 17” screen to make reading music easier whilst standing up playing. I appreciate that the MIDI side of things will not be as good as my Edirol SD-80 plays them on my desk top, but I will be using Real Tracks anyway.
I would probably buy an M-Audio Fast Track to record to the laptop via USB as recommended by Mac (9th April).
So my question is, what sort of laptop memory and power would you recommend please? I prefer to buy a machine with an eye to the future as far as forthcoming PG demands on such a system may require.
Richard (Stan's Fan)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
*Always buy the fastest machine you can afford at the time. This is as much "future-proofing" as we can reasonably expect.
*I typically avoid package deals that already have a lot of RAM installed, as the price of one with less RAM and purchasing and snapping the extra RAM into it yourself is usually a cost savings to be considered. But not always. Right now, the economy is forcing lots of great deals, so do your homework on that front.
*If at all possible, I'd go for a machine that comes with XP installed and not Vista at the moment. Simply makes for an easier-to-use machine for music programs at this point in time. XP Home or Pro doesn't matter, either will do the music programs identically.
*The M-Audio Fast Track also includes MIDI connect on it if I'm not mistaken. A plus for when you do want to hook up something MIDI.
*Stay way from Dell brand name. Too many reported problems over time with music programs and aftermarket sound devices. IMO the same goes for Toshiba, although they have been getting better at it. A good deal on a newer Toshiba, I'd consider it now.
*HP, Acer, those are two brands that I've recommended to people I know and they are generally happy with pgmusic products and those brands. But there are other brands that are out there to consider as well, don't think these are the only two.
*The pgmusic USB hard drive with all programs on it and the ability to change from machine to machine with the same copy of the program and all songfiles of your own is priceless.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 219
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 219 |
Mac,
Thank you once again for your good advice. I will certainly take all the points into consideration. Thank you for the Dell warning too.
Richard (Stan's Fan)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 9
Newbie
|
|
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 9 |
Umm..okay. Some better advice for you. Don't buy anything that runs Windows. Period. It's garbage and no one knows where Microslop is headed since the Vista debacle. You want to risk getting caught up in one of their software control schemes to force users to switch from Xp to something else? They're dropping support for it, you know. Developers right now are all confused about what to do with Windows 7 right around the corner to boot. And who knows what kind of problems Wimdows 7 will bring with it?
You can get a Mac and run BB using Crossover for $30. You don't even need a Windows disc. I only mention this because Petey's been dragging his feet for five years on a new Mac version of BB.
Just sayin'...stop being a silly perpetual Beta tester for Microshaft. You'll be happier.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Your bank account will be a lot lighter than it has to be too...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235 |
And less software choices...
I'll be back...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 219
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 219 |
WesLong, Thanks for that . Yes I also have read about Microsoft stopping support for XP once Windows 7 gets going.
Mac and abaudio, messages received too.
Richard (Stan's Fan)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235 |
A pity that some Mac users are so stubborn in putting their issues as a general users issue. I never had any real trouble with windows. I won't say it is perfect, neither I would say a Mac is (and I worked with that as well for many years). Both have their (dis)advantages and neither is better or worse in that way. It is the user in the end which makes the computer crappy or good. Well enuff said about it, since I would end up in a Mac-Windows discussion that is in fact really not my attempt.
About the support being stopped for XP I would like to say: so what? I got an old computer running even with win98SE ( a stable 48 tracks with quite some effects and dynamics processors on a 1200 Mhz system), just because my old setup just runs great with it. My XP systems also run smoothly, so there is no need to be scared for that. Just get all the important updates and that system can run for many years after, unless you like to change hardware and software all the time, buying the newest stuff...
For windows 7 I can't say a thing, but I do not put it down up forehand. That is just a matter of wait and see I guess...
I'll be back...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
Well I run both a Dell and a Toshiba. Someone's old discarded lappies. Total Invested for both $250 for new drive, 2G ram, & cost of buying the Dell. Still run Win2K on both. I think the big difference is the Dell is internet etc. the Toshiba is just Biab, RB etc. I little maintenance also goes a long way. If you dare do this:
Do this and you'll see a marked improvement. I had ALL SORTS of leftovers from AVG, AVIRA, you name it.
DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING UNLESS YOU'RE SURE IT'S NO LONGER USED ON YOUR MACHINE.
When you install a device driver on a Windows XP machine,or Win2K the operating system loads that driver each time the computer boots regardless of whether the device is present—unless you specifically uninstall the driver. This means that drivers from devices that you have long since removed from your system may be wasting valuable system resources & causing conflict issues.
Follow these steps to view and remove these unnecessary device drivers:
1. Right click MY COMPUTER---> Properties to bring up the System Properties dialog box.
2. Select the Advanced tab and click the Environment Variables button.
3. Click the New button below the System Variables panel.
4. In the New System Variable dialog box, type devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices in the Variable Name text box and 1 in the Variable Value text box.
5. Click OK to return to the System Properties dialog box and then click OK again.
6. Select the Hardware tab and click the Device Manager button.
7. In Device Manager, go to View | Show Hidden Devices.
8. Expand the various branches in the device tree and look for the washed out icons,(light Grey) which indicate unused device drivers.Mostly under non-plug & Play drivers.
9. To remove an unused device driver, right-click the icon and select Uninstall.DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING UNLESS YOU'RE SURE IT'S NO LONGER USED ON YOUR MACHINE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470 |
I have a few IBM/Lenovo ThinkPads, and they have been very dependable (although the Lenovos are slightly less dependable than the IBMs). Still they seem to do better than the competition.
As far as the Mac vs PC thing is concerned, my friend when through the same problem when OSX was first introduced as people have with Vista. It's just the nature of the beast. The cutting edge is the bleeding edge.
Anyway for me, nothing beats a ThinkPad for durability and value.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
I've got an Acer netbook and even with the internet running and running band in a box from the external hard drive it came on it's just a second or two slower rendering realtracks than the XP quad core 6 gig 1 terabyte monster in the 'studio'.
That said the one downstairs is Vista sp1 and I should upgrade it. I'm just waiting for some more time to pass.....never the first to upgrade unless it's to band in a box.
Think with the Acer Apsire, it's like $300, runs xp, and if you have a suit coat with a large pocket you can unplug it and not leave it out during breaks, although no one would touch it most places I play.
John Conley
Musica est vita
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,199
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,199 |
I just bought an HP laptop at WalMart. Cost was $499. An AMD 64X2 processor running at 2GHz, 3 GB of RAM, Vista Premium 32 bit, 250 GB hard drive, 15.4" screen. No PCMCIA slot, so I can't plug in a PCMCIA sound card. Not an issue, buy an Edirol UA-1X for $80 from PG Music. I upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate 32. I would have upgraded to 64 bit, but there were some programs I wanted. I may switch to 64 anyway, just to get it to run faster. The programs are replaceable with others I have. What I'm saying is that you can do an awful lot at a lower price today. Of course, if you want, I also have a Toshiba with a 3.2GHz Pentium IV, 2 GB of RAM, 80 gig hard drive, 15.4" screen, XP Home, and a new reinstall to factory settings, AND a color laser printer with more than half the toner left, $550, cash only, you pick it up!  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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,736
Posts795,470
Members39,942
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean