Hey, dmrodes and everybody else:

I don't know about older versions of BIAB, but for the last two versions you can create MP3's directly from within the program. It's a little strange, because BIAB first creates a WAV file, then renders the WAV to MP3. I do my entire solo (well, except for the tracks of course) guitar act from an Ipad, using only MP3's. While there is some degradation in quality from WAV's to MP3's, I think it's minimal, especially playing them back over a PA system instead of a great stereo system. Plenty good enough for live performance, IMO. If you're short on disk space you should go back and either delete or move the WAV's that are created, since they're huge compared to the MP3's.

The only problem I have with the MP3's created by BIAB is that they're volume levels are quite "hot" compared to the fully produced tracks I create in Sonar. I always render everything a -1 DB, just to make sure that I don't get any clipping when the tracks are mastered. For the BIAB MP3's I always end up running them through WavePad and using either the Soft or Very Soft presets to normalize them so they don't blast out of the PA compared to the Sonar tracks.

BTW, there is now a great app for both Iphone and Ipad called BackTrax. It is a dedicated MP3 player with a very large PLAY and a very large STOP button. It also STOPS after each track has played so you don't have to be constantly reaching for your playback device after a tune to keep it from going to the next tune.

You can also load Ipod playlists directly into the program, so if you've already developed a playlist for your act, all you have to do is load it up and go. It's under $10, too. I've communicated with the developer asking for a big VOLUME slider, and for a volume leveler as part of the program. The slider is definitely on the drawing board; the leveler - maybe.

So, there's my tip and/or trick.

- DR