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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 13
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 13 |
I have been using BIAB for several years. I use it in practice to give some accompaniment. I have have my laptop on top of my piano (acoustic) with external speakers attached. I have recently purchased a Yamaha PF1000 keyboard (an older but upper level model instrument) . It has internal onboard speakers.
What is a simple, better way to improve the audio quality coming out of BIAB? Should I upgrade my speakers? If so with what reasonable cost options? Do I have to change a sound card? Do I need an interface of some kind? Can I hook up my laptop directly to the audio input of the PF1000 or should I use a MIDI input (which I know nothing about.....yet....The fellow I purchased the keyboard suggested I may need a xg cable I think but there is midi in and out on the keyboard).
I am not looking for professional sound but wish to improve things.
As you can tell, I am also a rank beginner at this.
Brian
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Brian,
For people to offer some ideas, it would help if you could let us know a little about your system.
For example: What version of BIAB? What is your operating system (XP, Vista, etc. and is it 32-bit or 64-bit)? What is your CPU's processing power and how much RAM do you have? What soundcard do you run? What speakers do you presently use?
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Plug the headphone out of the lappy into the audio in of the keyboard. That's what it's for.Done.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869
Expert
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Obviously there are a lot of answers to this question. I dont know the keyboard but I guess the internal speakrs will not be too great. Also the onboard sound card of a laptop = practically any laptop - will be poor. Think first about getting decent external sound card/device for this if you intend to use it. You can buy these cards cheap enough. Dont buy an old card and make sure its latency is good enough - 0.6 msec or under. The lower the better. You can also get USB to MIDI cables very cheap at ebay. I use a few of these. Make sure they are 64 bit compatible if you are 64 bit.
MIDI is like a score, it makes no sound by itself, its a digital score written for the computer. BIAB interprets this and makes sound.
Now there is also the issue of the quality of your MIDI's target sounds - if you are using only RealTracks then this does not matter (as these are AUDIO recordings not MIDI) but if you ar using MIDI in BIAB then you need to get a decent synth. There are literaly thousands of synths but you need a GM type synth (misnomer) This means that there will be a simulation of each instrument - piano guitar basses etc that is linked in and fired off by MIDI in BIAB. The better the synth the better the sound. Forte (the paid version) is available through PG fro a small price, I feel its good enough for me.
If you want to get speakers then budget wise Tannoy Reaveals are good.
MIDI and Audio are two entirely different concepts and its important to know the difference - google
Also there are two ways of getting a computer to sound like a piano or guitar etc you can sample the real thing, or you can emulate the sound using algorithms (code).
All of the above four concepts have virtues and disadvantages. I would auggest these are key concepts and the way tehy are used is part of BIAB and any other music application
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
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Quote:
Plug the headphone out of the lappy into the audio in of the keyboard. That's what it's for.Done.
If your keyboard has Audio L znd R inputs, this is a very good way to do things that would only cost the amount of proper audio cable adaptors from headphone jack to those two inputs on the keyboard.
Then all sounds would come out of the keyboard's speakers, Realtracks, Realdrums, the keyboard's sounds.
It may even provide enough sound power that you could also play along with the acoustic piano, as well, if so desired.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 410
Journeyman
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Some laptops put out quite a bit of noise. If yours does, the best solution imo is a usb soundcard with balanced outputs. That will give you low noise and the correct impedance.
Last edited by jim111; 12/23/11 05:25 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2011
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Apprentice
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USB to MIDI cable you say....is that what i would need if i was to power a USB powered MIDI keyboard?
...and they make them 64 bit compatible too?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,647
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Quote:
USB to MIDI cable you say....is that what i would need if i was to power a USB powered MIDI keyboard?
...and they make them 64 bit compatible too?
No, if it has USB power to the keyboard it is likely a keyboard with an actual USB connection. Set the keyboard to use this connection. And use a USB cable, not a USB-MIDI adapter. MIDI cables don't usually carry an actual power supply in my experience..
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 410
Journeyman
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Journeyman
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Not a usb midi cable for your audio. It's an external soundcard or preamp, driven by usb from the laptop and providing an audio signal that can be hooked to your keyboard or amp. Edit: I looked up your keyboard. For audio, use the aux in jacks of your keyboard to connect the headphone out jack of your laptop, as suggested above. That should work fine, but if it's too noisy, use a usb to audio device. For midi, get a usb to midi cable. You can also get a unit that has both audio and midi. audio: USB Stereo Audio Adapter http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Converter-Music-Keyboard-Window/dp/B0017H4EBG Note: I'm not suggesting this exact one, just showing you what we're talking about. You want to make sure it's usb 2 complient. midi: http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Converter-Music-Keyboard-Window/dp/B0017H4EBGAgain, I'm not suggesting this exact one, just showing you what we're talking about. Edit again. These simple midi devices work fine for playback, and they work for recording midi, but they have quite a bit of latency and you can't hook them to a vsti and monitor the sound from the vsti in real time. I mean, you can, but the latency will drive you nuts lol. Those units both just use usb, and 64 bits doesn't matter. The thing to check for is that they use usb 2. All in one. This unit gets good reviews, but for any unit like this, (that also uses asio) make sure it has 64 bit asio drivers. http://m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro.htmlHope this helps.
Last edited by jim111; 12/23/11 06:39 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 493
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 493 |
Quote:
I have been using BIAB for several years. I use it in practice to give some accompaniment. I have have my laptop on top of my piano (acoustic) with external speakers attached. I have recently purchased a Yamaha PF1000 keyboard (an older but upper level model instrument) . It has internal onboard speakers.
What is a simple, better way to improve the audio quality coming out of BIAB? Should I upgrade my speakers? If so with what reasonable cost options?
If all you are looking to do is have the sound out of BIAB improved, better speakers would be my suggestion. I run BIAB from a laptop using a usb audio interface connected into a mixer and then out of the mixer to two 15" active speakers (powered speakers). Plenty of power and great sound. Prior to buying the usb audio interface I just ran the headphone out to the mixer (at that time a very inexpensive 4 channel job) to the same speakers and that sounded great. I only got the audio interface to allow for recording into the computer, but not via midi even though the unit has midi in and out. The speakers are way more than needed in my music room at home but if I go outside they come in handy, so maybe overkill for your needs. Anyway, from the way I interpret your original post, better speakers should provide the better sound you are after. It then just becomes a matter of how much you want to spend. (when you mention running to external speakers in your current setup I am envisioning a couple of low power output computer speakers and maybe a small sub - if not correct then further info re: your system would help as was posted earlier)
Good luck.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869 |
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,647
Veteran
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Better speakers = self powered monitors IMO. Rokit, M-Audio are a couple brands that don't cost much for what you get. BX5a and BX8a have both dropped in price recently due to new line being introduced.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 13
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 13 |
Thanks for all the suggestions Ive received.
I have a Toshiba laptop, Vista 1.73ghz 2 gb ram and dolby soundroom audio.
I am using BIAB 2011 Everything pak (just received the 2012 version and will get it going over the holidays.
Sounds like the first thing to try is going into the audio input of the keyboard because the sound is quite impressive and that looks easy.
Also next up appears to be better speakers for use with my acoustic piano because yes, Im just using external computer type speakers.
Any thoughts about playing through my home stereo system?
Brian
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,647
Veteran
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Veteran
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I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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The earphone jack of the laptop can also be used to drive an AUX, REC or other consumer level Line Input on a home stereo to great results.
Again, all that is required is the proper cable with adaptors. RadioShack and many other electronics houses carry the audio cable needed to do this, look for a cable designed to hook an iPod or mp3 player up to the home stereo, connections are the same.
When using the laptop thru earphone output as a line output into an amp such as a home stereo, be sure to visit the software mixer applet for your soundcard and turn all playback output faders and Master fader there ALL THE WAY UP for best sound. Adjust the overall volume using the Big Knob on the stereo. Leaving those software faders turned down can result in a "thin" sound when amplified in this fashion.
--Mac
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