I wanted to build my own pc that would help to render BIAB tunes that I create. Where should I invest the money for the biggest bang for the buck? Processor? Skip graphics card? What should the focus be on?
I build all my computers, and their primary function is for music programs especially including BIAB.
The CPU is very important for regenerating RealTracks. Don’t skimp there.
The graphics card is relatively not very important in digital audio.
I highly recommend a SSD boot drive, and put the BIAB program on it. The RealTracks can stay on the supplied USB drive but if you can give them a separate internal hard drive, I recommend that.
Tougher question: RAM. At this time BIAB is a 32-bit program and itself doesn’t benefit from more than 4 GB. However, if you have large software synths BIAB can use JBridge to access more RAM if you have it.
To prevent RFI, I only use wired mice and keyboards for music, and I keep the router away from the PC.
I am careful not to run power cables in parallel with line level or mic cables.
And we haven’t even talked about an audio/MIDI interface outside the box, decent monitors and a room without lots of square surfaces and windows.
Does this help?
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.
That is an option, but unless you are truly a pro (meaning your computer you build is how you are going to make money) let me share with you that I just went out and ordered a Dell. After years of hand building with specs and safeguards that in the long run didn't mean much it was just as easy to buy the Dell. Solid state drives are nice and if I had money and desire I would have SSDs in that computer, but for me the primary advantage is boot speed, and I have no reason to care it it take 4 seconds to boot or 4 minutes. Nothing is that urgent for me. I have an i7 with 64 gigs of RAM and a 2tb storage drive for files. Programs live on C: and data lives on D: with thumb drives just for utility. When I work on music downstairs I move them by network anyway. I have never had any issues with RF from the wireless keyboard but I'll take Matt's word for it if he says he has. In my case I am writing songs nobody will ever hear but me and a handful of people here who bother to listen, so I don't care if the wireless keyboard maybe could might possible potentially emit a spurious bit of noise.
My PC with the RAM upgrades, the second drive and updated video card was $1100. I am so out of touch with that world since retiring from IT that I don't even know (or care) if buillding would have been cheaper, more expensive, or the same.
All depends on you, bro. According to your post you have been a member over 2 years and this is your 10th post. I don't know how much you are into music, if it is your means to make a living, if you play with it for 2 hours a month.... I don't know your skill level with computers, so building may be a challenge to you or it may be second nature. Back when I was a gamer I had a water cooled system because I pushed the front end bus of the fastest AMD processor made then to the limits it could be pushed and it ran so hot you could weld with it. That one also had 64gb of RAM and the best ATI video card. That was like 18-20 years ago though. THAT computer you won't buy at Staples... Now I am retired and lazy and refuse to work on computers ever again.
So ask yourself some questions. Is this a money pit that will sit in a spare room or is it going to make money for you to at the very least pay for itself. That's step one on your decision. I have been to houses bigger than my high school where people had obscene amounts of money and wanted these state of the art computers so they could check their AOL email..... LOL
To build off Eddie, I usually go with Dells too. I've been shopping PCs and laptops with them for over 10 years. I usually shop at the Dell Outlet and buy refurbished machines. They have all the warranties of a brand-new machine but were returned for some reasons or other. The prices can be steeply discounted depending on the models and specs you are looking for. I work in IT as well and could build my own machine too but prefer the challenge of finding a machine already built with the features I want.
Steve, do you know if current Dells have slots to add more hard drives or SSDs, plus power and SATA cables or at least ports for them? That was a serious problem the last time I looked under the hood at one.
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.
Hey Matt, my Dell Precision T5400 is an engineering workstation from 2008. I've found better luck with number of power/SATA cables and drive bay on those versus the consumer grade PCs. On the screenshot below you'll find that they separate the good workstations from consumer models with (For Home) or (For Work). I always have gone with the Precisions as I was introduced to them through the office in IT-land. I knew they were bulky and tough workhorses from supporting and maintaining them in the work environment. Of course a Dell Precision Workstation will cost you a bit more than the consumer (home) models but you have an awesome machine for music, video, or whatever challenge you throw at it. The newer version of my machine is the 5810 and 5820. I've got upgrades maxed out on my machine, 32 Gig Ram, Dual Quad Core Xeon processors (8 logical cores) and a beefed up video card. I should still be good for another couple of years before I get a newer machine. I also use this machine to render 4K HD video and flight simulation. Hope that helps!
NP. Once you see what models you may want, then pop over to the Dell Outlet store. Available PCs change on a daily basis. I just saw 2 5810s one loaded with an 8 core processor and the other with a 12 core. Each PC was marked down over 50% from their original price.
Thank very much for the responses everyone. I’m taking notes on all of your comments. You guys confirmed what I was thinking. I do make a living from music and wanted the BIAB program to load faster and render to mp3 faster. I figured it wasn’t the graphics card, but the processor. I do live in Florida so cooling is going to be a factor. I hadn’t considered Dell, but I’ve looked into many YouTube videos on how to build a pc. My laptop is struggling a bit. It’s a refurbished Windows 10 running the latest BIAB. I’m probably looking at the 1,500-2,000 range.
I wanted to build my own pc that would help to render BIAB tunes that I create. Where should I invest the money for the biggest bang for the buck? Processor? Skip graphics card? What should the focus be on?
Thanks!
-Andrew
This is the best way to do home recording.... build or buy a machine that will be dedicated to the music.
I've used both with good results. The important part is to have a really nice USB interface. That's the sound card. You really don't want to try to use the soundcard in the computer.
Most computers today are more than sufficient and powerful enough to do everything you need. Just use a good interface and you'll be just fine.
I have a Dell laptop that I used for several years with a Focusrite interface and it did an amazing job. Later, well, it's been over 10 years ago now, I built a custom DAW with the i5 Intel chip and running XP pro 32bit. That machine is still running rock solid and it now uses the Focusrite interface that was on the Dell. The benefit to the custom build was it didn't come from the factory loaded with bloatware and unnecessary software taking up drive space.
I keep my main DAW totally off the internet. As a result, I don't get surprise updates that screw up my configuration.
But yeah.... I think you'll be fine with either a build or an off the shelf machine. Put the focus on the interface, the speakers you monitor with , and some good software besides PG's fabulous stuff.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 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.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, 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, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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
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!
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
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!
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!
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!
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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