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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28
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OP
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Posts: 28 |
I'd like to hear some suggestions for a new Windows Laptop to run BIAB Audiophile 2019. I'd like to keep the cost to around $800 (US).
I'm not really hip to all the different CPU's on Windows machines, so that could be helpful. Also, what level of graphics should be looking at?
Would an SSD drive be better for running the program.
I usually load in the 2nd install option so that I can write my charts up without having to hook up the hard drive and then I hook up the drive to save tracks as WAV files which I then transfer to Logic on a Mac. I'm primarily a Mac user for audio stuff, but I've been using the Windows Audiophile BIAB since I think 2009. Right now I'm using a Lenovo T410 ... it's getting a bit sluggish and as far as I can tell it won't run 64 bit.
thanks
Dave
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,328
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Dave,
I believe Thinkpads are a better choice all around. Mainly because they are built better than most PC computers, you can easily swap hard drive(s) or memory (if it is not soldered). Parts are very easy to get and relatively not expensive. Thinkpads usually have fantastic warranty, everything is prepaid "overnight" so if there is a defect they will address it the right way.
Take a look at thinkpad P50 / P51S
If I was looking for a laptop that is under manageable budget that would be my choice #1
You can get a used one for around $700-800, which would still have a year or so warranty left.
In any case, I would go with no less than:
i7 7500 (or higher)
8gb RAM (upgradable to at least 16gb)
500GB SSD. SSD Drives are MUCH! faster than spinning ones.
USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 (Gen2 is important!) / Thunderbolt 3 (at least one port like that)
Best regards,
Misha.
Last edited by Rustyspoon#; 12/12/18 04:24 AM.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28 |
Hello Misha, thanks for the suggestions!
Dave
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,508
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+1 on the ThinkPad recommendations. They are built like tanks. I'm still using one on stage that I bought in 2002.
As far as specs are concerned, I think Misha gave better advice than I could.
Insights and incites by 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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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 112
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 112 |
Hey Dave, Boy have laptops changed over the years. A big thing with CPUs in laptops is that they don't give an accurate read on the power unless you know what to look for. For example, take a i7-8550U, this PHENOMENAL CPU only has a clock speed of 1.8 GHZ, until you see the turbo of 4.0 GHZ. Keep an eye out for any machines running this CPU specifically, as it is a pretty new unit that is in higher end laptops that you can find around your price point. Graphics, do you play PC games? If not, not a concern, the HD graphics in the Intel chips will be more then enough. At home I am still running a i7-4770, I can run modern games (On Low) straight off my CPU internal graphics, I can't imagine what a few years of improvements have done. When looking at Hard Drives, do not dump all your money into a SSD. At this point, for music production, you do not need it. What I recommend, which you will commonly find, is a Laptop with a small SSD (120GB) for your OS, whit a larger HDD for your other programs and content. Also, Hybrid Drives are a really good middle ground. There are defenders of that treat the SSD like miracle workers, but like any piece of hardware, they have their applications, but may not be justified in price. It was 2016 before I moved to SSD, and I STILL only run a 128GB. Take a look around the refurbished models as well. Here is something I think fit's what you are looking for, or at least similar: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834235052&Description=8550u&cm_re=8550u-_-34-235-052-_-Product
C-sharp when you cross the street… or you’re going to B-flat.
Mikke - PG Music
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,328
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Dont listen to Mikke on SSD. Yes, your production needs SSD! Spinning hard drives are a dying breed. Slow and not efficient. Boot / seek times of SSD are MUCH faster than spinning drives. Hopefully I will never have to buy a spinning drive again. 240 GB Kingston SSD is $30. https://www.amazon.com/Kingston-240GB-Solid-SA400S37-240G/dp/B01N5IB20Q/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1548958757&sr=8-5&keywords=256gb+ssdHybrid drives are not a popular item, as SATA SSDs are becoming a very affordable solution. Thinkpads are the best laptops in terms of: they are built like tanks and very user serviceable. You can swap hard drive in the matter of 5 minutes without special tools. (with standard Phillips screwdriver)
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Jul 2000
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An SSD is immensely better to run BIAB on a laptop. It also provides better security for your data than a conventional hard drive.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: May 2003
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I have 2 Thinkpads. Both awesome.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,796
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,796 |
If you intend to do a lot of rendering as with video, go for an i7 processor, and at least 8GB of RAM.
Years ago in XP days i had an AMD Acer, processor blew up on me, only 2 years old.
Usually with computers you get what you pay for; i bought an expensive refurbished Dell Precision, had windows 8, now 8.1, and the wife confiscated it for every day use: gaming, mailing, shopping. Put an extra (old BIAB 1.5 TB drive pulled out of the USB case) in it as it had an extra bay. Never regretted this Dell; superbly stable and fast for over 4 years now.
SSD drives came down quite a bit pricewise, but with windows you'll need at least 100 GB room for the OS only, so if you use a lot of DAW and audio, and BIAB installed internally you will need quite some storage space ... f.i. an extra 1-2 TB drive.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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My suggestion is to run an external SSD for storage of your projects. Song projects with audio files will fill up a drive pretty quickly no matter how big it is.
I follow this protocol. I have a folder on the C drive from convenience. All new projects go in there. At the end of the year, I move that folder to a backup drive and create a new folder in C for the new projects. If I need to work on something from the old folder, I simply go to the drive it's on and get it. That keeps my C drive from filling up with gigs of unused/old/finished project files.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd 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.
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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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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
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!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
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®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
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 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available 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 Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
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.
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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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