Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#49192 12/13/09 10:09 AM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
dfaris Offline OP
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
For starters, I just got biab and i have never dabbled in home recording. Well, I had a 4 channel cassette recorder 15 years ago that I mixed some stuff up, but thats about it.
I play guitar, Im just getting back into it as I have not played it for around 15 years ago. (marrige,kids, career,etc)


I have a few guitars but my main is a fender strat that I run thru a digitech pedal processor for tones.
Thats about it.

1.What equipment do you guys recommend I need to develope good music? What equipment do you guys use?
----
I noticed in biab that when I do a chord progression sometimes the chord changes are not clean.

2.I have setup biab to vsc dxi with asio4all audio.Is this good? Or does it make the chord changes dirty?

----
This next question probably relates to the first but, I dont have a dedicated soundcard. Im thinking, now that Im dealing with sounds and want great quality, I should get one.

3. Do I really need a dedicated soundcard?

----

I noticed in some of the files that there is tutorials with instruction audio clips.

4. How do I view the tutorials with audio clips in biab?

----

Relates to question 1 but my guitar runs through my processor and gets alot of feedback from nearby electronics, computer monitors,etc.

5.Now that I got biab and practising with it, Im finding the area feedback unbearable at my desk infront of the computer. How do you guys deal with it? what can I do to get a clean sound?

----

I have a few more questions but I dont want to make you guys read a book. lol

Cheers!


6 strings. 24 frets. An infinite amount of possibilities.
dfaris #49193 12/13/09 10:24 AM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
A small mixer (I have a Behringer) and some earphones would solve that pronto. You can record into band in a box, but I suggest you start with the videos. You can find them on the site.

Long and McQuade man.....

http://www.long-mcquade.com/departments/33/21/0/0/

check the 5 channel mixer 58 bucks, must know the store, Bloor get off at Ossington..not open on Sundays though.

List your gear after your signature, computer, guitars, operating system, best way to get help. I'm a keyboard midi guy with too much gear, last trip to Toronto I got the Bose L1 Model 2, it was only 4 grand. Only.


John Conley
Musica est vita
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
by the way look at this thread from a few weeks back and read what Carlos wrote....his english is not great but then listen to his songs.

http://www.pgmusic.com/ubbthreads/showfl...ge=7#Post240572


John Conley
Musica est vita
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39
M
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
M
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39
Hi,

I'm a guitarist too, here's what I would suggest:

use headphones to record your guitar sounds and turn off your external speakers and any other equipment you don't use to reduce interference & hum when you're recording

As you have a strat - standard single coil pickups are inherently noisier than humbuckers (premium modern single coils are sold as noiseless however). Make sure your guitar has shielding inside to reduce noise. Also roll the volume and tone pots back on the strat, that might reduce noise too

use quality leads between your guitar and digitech, and digitech to PC

experiment with gain and volume settings on the digitech and pc soundcard input mixer. You might find that a little less gain on the digitech reduces signal noise alot. If you don't get this right, your recordings will still sound distorted regardless of how much you spend on soundcards

To answer your specific question on 'great' sound quality...

Get a decent soundcard, inboard or outboard. You will find the separation of instruments and depth of sounds is amazing compared to a standard card. I have an EMU 0404 outboard - lots of inputs & outputs, mixing of signals etc and the clarity of sound is impressive

Get the best monitor speakers you can, they will bring out the best in your music. Monitor speakers are designed to faithfully reproduce the recorded sounds i.e. there is no coloration that you can get with hifi speakers. I have Tapco monitors by Mackie and again, they sound fantastic

Once you have a decent soundcard, don't forget your headphones may need upgrading. And always use quality cables to hook everything up!

hope this helps

regards,

Martin

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
dfaris Offline OP
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
Thanks for the link John...

it indeed answer a few questions.

Im off to long and mcquade...

Cheers!


6 strings. 24 frets. An infinite amount of possibilities.
dfaris #49197 12/13/09 11:43 AM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
dfaris Offline OP
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
Thanks Martin,

Im going to pick up an out soundcard/mixer things. Or at least see whats out there. I havent been to a music store in a decade. I might break the bank!

Cheers!


6 strings. 24 frets. An infinite amount of possibilities.
dfaris #49198 12/13/09 02:54 PM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
With the Digitech and the Strat, good cables and a fair to good soundcard with Line Inputs on it, you should be able to make a pro quality recording with just that stuff. Not kidding.

As for noise of single coil pups, we Strat lovers wouldn't have it any other way.

Biggest noise prob in home recording with the PC may be noise emanating from your video monitor. You can tell real fast if the monitor is the noise source by switching it off midstream and continuing to record a bit more, then switch it back on and hit Stop, give a listen. Sometimes simply moving away from the monitor a bit or turning a 90 degree angle away from it while recording reduces the interference enough.

It is practice, both at the instrument and with the recording system, that makes good recordings. Equipment is a factor, but not as big a factor as many want to make it to be. You've got two pieces of very good equipment in that Digi and your Strat. It is a poor carpenter who blames his tools.


--Mac

Mac #49199 12/13/09 03:08 PM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
dfaris Offline OP
Enthusiast
OP Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 92
True Mac.
You can have the best equipment in the world, it doesnt make u a better player.
But having the right equipment does motivate one to practise more. And practise is what I need and now is effortless with biab.


6 strings. 24 frets. An infinite amount of possibilities.
dfaris #49200 12/13/09 03:13 PM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
If you are playing guitar and wish to record it, you don't really need a mixer.

Matter of fact, it would just be sitting there adding one more level of thermal noise to your signal chain, needlessly.

The Line Outputs, Stereo, of the Digi, into the two Line Inputs L and R of the soundcard and record to a Stereo track.

Why Stereo? Because many of the digital simulations take advantage of the Stereo field. You can still PAN a stereo track L or R in the mix later if need be. This goes doubly so for effects like rotating speakers, speaker simulators, etc. Or a slapback echo that slaps from side to side. Or Stereo Tremolo moving back and forth. etc.

The Digi can handle any EQ or tone situation needed here.

Be sure to use the Speaker Cabinet simulation. Nothing sounds as sparse as a Direct Injected electric guitar. The speakers of your amp are part of the sound. Digital Speaker Simulation is a good thing, allowing us the freedom to use Direct Injection and heaphones so as not to disturb, yet have the sound of as many speaker cabinets as your virtual guitar amp pedal can provide. Totally silent recording technique that plays back like six Marshall stacks in an arena, if that's what you want.


--Mac

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
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!

New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!

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

Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)

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!

The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!

Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!

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

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!

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.

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!

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.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac 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!

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.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,454
Posts779,407
Members39,666
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Leo.andrade.guitar, Nelsong2025, GUHA2025, romy88, NJGuy
39,666 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 123
WaoBand 100
DC Ron 91
rsdean 72
dcuny 65
Today's Birthdays
ARCHIVE RECORD, FB, yeti
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5