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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 36
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 36 |
without PROTOOLS!!!! I have an XP P4 w 2 Gig and protools 8 barely runs and I have to turn off every service except windows--I even have to turn of restore points to save CPU space.
Look, all I want to do is get some BIAB track into RB then add my guitar and maybe add my steel too. Is there ANY reasonable solution???
I can't dedicate my Pc to this. I'm just a hobbyist and I'm playing for myself. Surely there's something I can do. Maybe record in BIAB then add steel In RB?? something.
Please!!?!?!?!?!
how about an M-audio delta 44 with its breakout box. would that work??? I'm ready to go back to my little Korg Pandora recorder and kill myself!
Win 7 64 biab 2016
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 583
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 583 |
All the more reason for the ease and simplicity of stand alone digital recorders. As a hobbyist, too, I can't imagine fretting and worrying over computer based recording. I simply bounce BIAB to a stand alone recorder, then add guitars, vocals, etc. Works beautifully. All that valuable time is spent on recording and mixing to CD, not chasing problems.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
"I feel your pain." I have just come through the same difficulties and was on the verge of giving up. My PC matched the limited specs you give above; see full sys info, below. I had been trying to use the same machine for Internet and recording, it wasn't working, and I was gonna go postal.
What worked for me after all was the dedicated Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)--a PC devoted to music production. It's the same four-year-old machine, but with a clean install of XP Pro on a new fast hard drive and nothing else but other music apps on board. After sorting out numerous issues, mainly drivers and getting programs to talk to each other, it works beautifully. Note that my XP is so stripped down that it almost looks like Windows 95. There is no eye candy whatsoever.
I can tell you from recent experience that music and non-music apps (read: antivirus, firewall, antimalware, printer driver, instant messengers, scheduled tasks, system utilities, MS Office Fast Find, program updaters, screen savers, etc., etc., etc.--anything that stays in memory and is likely to take up processing cycles unexpectedly) don't play well together and aren't going to, no matter the tweaks. A Word From The Wise.
It sounds like you've been to blackviper.com to see about unnecessary services and followed those pointers. Try this: If you have Spybot S&D or the free Glary Utilities, look up either's Program Startup manager, which allows you to de-select unneeded programs from Windows startup. Doing so immediately removes them from memory and keeps them from starting with Windows. (Notable exceptions are QuickTime, HP printer drivers and Java update and a handful of others; them you have to tell a few times.)
If you really can't afford $300 or less for a machine to dedicate to Internet ops--a refurb or a Wal-Mart emachine, say, with a KVMA switch so they can share the same keyboard, mouse, monitor and speakers if necessary--consider a dual-boot system. Two installs of the same or a different OS on two partitions of the same drive. Maybe a $3 Ubuntu Linux for the Internet side, if you're any kind of a hacker and feeling frisky; maybe two installs of the same XP. There are people here who have done that and can tell you how.
But the best advice I can give you from my own experience is to dedicate a PC to the purpose of making music.
R.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,917
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,917 |
Hi, Quote:
Look, all I want to do is get some BIAB track into RB then add my guitar and maybe add my steel too. Is there ANY reasonable solution???
I can't dedicate my Pc to this. I'm just a hobbyist and I'm playing for myself. Surely there's something I can do. Maybe record in BIAB then add steel In RB?? something.
You can record audio in either Band-in-a-Box or RealBand, but RealBand offers you much more flexibility, one advantage being that you can record multiple tracks of audio in RB and only 1 track in BB.
You could generate an automatic arrangement using either Band-in-a-Box or RealBand. If you decide to use Band-in-a-Box, you can still open that .MGU or .SGU file (Band-in-a-Box song file) into RealBand. Then you can record your audio tracks.
It sounds like you are having trouble recording audio. At the very least, you could just plug an audio cable into the 1/8 inch stereo line-input on the back of your computer, then select a blank audio track in the Tracks Window, and press the Record Audio button.
If that's not working for you, then we would need to go through some steps such as making sure the correct recording device is selected in the Windows Mixer, and making sure the correct audio input driver is selected in RealBand. It would be best if we new what part of the process isn't working...
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 62
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 62 |
I use a Line-6 Guitar port(Hardware) along with their Software Gear box or POD Farm. I record pedal steel into Real Band. It can be used as a stand alone amplifier with decent reverb etc. I listen to the wet output and record dry and add what I need on mix.
I use the line-6 ASIO. I have a good set of speakers hooked to the output of the guitar port and use this for all of my computer sound output. I also have a decent headset plugged into it also. I like this for recording amd practicing
I paid a little over $100 at guitar center.
I have a gateway laptop Vista Home Premium,
2G RAM
533 mhz CPU
160G Hard drive (40% Free)
I put my internet in standby and turn off anti virus while recording.
I have no problems with the system. I recorded into BIAB before Real Band
Ron
Line 6 Guitar Port Gear Box POD Farm Pedal Steel Guitar My Music
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,199
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,199 |
Chappy,
I would recommend reading the reply in your other two posts on this forum, I've laid out a pretty good answer (in my opinion) that I think would be helpful to you.
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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 436 |
Yeah, if the computer is straining, just bang it over to a standalone digital recorder and multitrack. As long as BIAB will work, get the basics down in there, record to another device, and mix away.
Gene
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 126
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 126 |
For what it's worth...
I have been using this configuration to record multiple instruments, multiple tracks (typically 8-24) on the following configuration.
HP Pavilion with AMD (Athlon) 64 X 2 Dual Core Processor 4400+, 2.19 Ghz Processors, which is about 3 years old
2 GB ram
Windows XP Media Edition, Service Pack 2
Dual internal disk drives (500MB ea, one for O/S, applications, and one for audio)
Cakewalk Sonar Studio 5 (latest version available is 8)
Presonus Firepod (firewire), ten ch, Edirol FA-66, six channel(firewire)
Several soft synths, a pair of hardware synths/keyboards
I use BB to lay down ideas, and export that (midi/audio) to Sonar, and do all my instrument recording, mixing, etc. in Sonar. One can certainly use BB or RealBand (or PowerTracks Pro) to record instruments, mix, etc. However, I find that for my projects, I like the ability to bring in any number of synths, instruments, etc. Sonar provides me with that ability. Not to say you can't do it with BB, Realband (but you are limited to one Synth at a time), or others, but this is what I use. And, I can also run Sonar on a lap top (1.25 GB ram, single processor under 2 GHz.
I also have hardware multitrack recorders I use for live situations, and they afford other benefits, such as hands on multi-channel controls, etc. But for studio, I use my PC. I like the additional graphic views and more powerful/easier to use editing than most hardware recorders affort.
Depending on the other specs of you PC, you should be able to even use RealBand to do what you want. A suggestion, is to make sure no other applications are running, including antivirus/spyware utilities, as they can really hog system resources.
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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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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
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Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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, and much more!
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There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
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If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
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-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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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- 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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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