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Joined: Feb 2008
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I,m looking to upgrade to a newer computer. I,m thinking I should have 500 memory? to handle the furture and 4gig ram? prosesser duel ok or will quad be better fot the future of biab? My old pc is having a time with realtracks all of the sudden. I've defarged my songs are lockin up I have 3 shows this week I need a back up?
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How much do you want to spend, can you build it yourself, or do you want an off the shelf solution. Intel i5 or i7 Quad Core, or AMD FX Multi-Core, 8GB of RAM, 2-4 750 GB hard drives (at least two, one for your system and programs, one for data storage, i.e., all your Real Track .wav files. The more hard drives you have, the more space for tracks and for back up of tracks. Weekly defrag, don't let any drive get below 20% capacity, and make sure you're running Windows 7 64 bit. What sound card do you have, and do you need a PCI slot for it? One of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883157330At least one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284You'll be set for a while. Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Since jt3 needs this computer for shows, and the specs are not large, I'm thinking he/she may be looking for a laptop? But I'm having a lot of trouble reading the question.
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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I'm not clear with the question either. But for gigging, I recommend Lenovo ThinkPad laptops. I get an average of 8 years of use out of them, on stage, being abused, doing one-nighters (always hard on equipment) before they become too old to gig with.
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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Quote:
I'm not clear with the question either. But for gigging, I recommend Lenovo ThinkPad laptops. I get an average of 8 years of use out of them, on stage, being abused, doing one-nighters (always hard on equipment) before they become too old to gig with.
Major DITTO here!
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sorry I guess I didn,t make myself clear. Yes a laptop is what a am using now and that would be the easiest. I will replace with it with a something 500g on up I found one with 4 g ram can up grade to 8. right now I have 320 with 100 free space I think 3 g ram. It is a compac it started giving me fits a couple months back. Someone told me to defrag more often and restart every hour in a 4 hour show worked great but now was working great shut it down next morning doing the same as brfore only now if I have aot of real tracts it freezes up. midi works fine I have 2 shows this week so I will replace it it. I will take my songs off and save on external drive see if that helps it keep it as back up thanks guys you are alot of help
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I bring two ThinkPads to the gig. One for a backup. I'm a "the show must go on" kind of a guy.
I do one-nighters and I make my living by gigging. Since I started using ThinkPads in 2002, I've had to use the backup computer twice.
1) The hard drive of the main computer started making mechanical noises, so I switched the USB cable to the second computer and finished the night. I replaced the Hard Drive the next day. Nothing failed, but I know a noisy hard drive can be a warning signal.
2) The CMOS battery on a 6 year old ThinkPad computer died. The CMOS computer runs the clock and probably some other background tasks, and the computer will not start when it is dead. I used the backup computer for the gig and replaced the CMOS battery the next day. $4.95 at Radio Shack - it's one of those little disk batteries about the size of a US nickel coin.
Not a bad reliability rating for 10 years of very hard computer use and abuse.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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I take two copies of everything and a stand for anyone who wants to sit in.
I use the box for practice, and play otherwise.
I like it when someone else wants the melody. Comping and improv is fun.
My korg keyboard, a Roland W50, and a Yamaha on a 3 level rack is fun when I do that.
But then you can't see me very well.
Which is a plus.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Quote:
But then you can't see me very well.
Quote:
"Must be good looking 'cause he's so hard to see . . ."
Come together.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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I wish I could endorse ThinkPads - but my Z61m died an early death with only very expensive MOBO replacement (if one can actually determine the correct MOBO) as the solution.
I spent over 1000$ on that box in 2007/8 time frame and got less than 4 years out of it.
-Scott
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BTW - The T series thinkpads seem to be much more durable. I don't know which model(s) Bob has, but we had a few T series boxes at my former employer and those things took ALOT of abuse and kept on ticking.
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Quote:
But then you can't see me very well.
Not seeing me well has been a demand made by every band I every played in.
"Get more keyboards!! Build a keyboard wall!"
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I've used the budget R series of ThinkPads since 2002. Since then I've retired only two of them. And they both still work but after 8 years of abuse they started getting a little tender.
I have two in my office, two on stage and Leilani has one.
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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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
There are too many options. But to narrow it down:
An i7 processor, at least 4 GB memory with a possibility to expand should suffice for now (= the naext 2 to 3 years).
Believe me, software developers will find a way to render your equipment outdated.
On a desktop you may change the processor, have chances to chagen the sound card and grphics adaptor. Laptops usually show less possibilites to be updated.
Guido
Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
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I'm just bringing my old HP510 back into service with XP Pro SP3. Does the job for gigs and it ain't worth jack anymore. Way OTT on HD space too (250GB)
Come to think of it, the only reason I stopped using it was due to Norton Ghost screwing up the HD. I had a sponsor back then and it was quicker, easier and cheaper to get a new state-of-the-art laptop. I'm only running two now because it looks like I have a regular gig on a Friday night and I don't want to use the new(er) one for that.
Last edited by WienSam; 05/18/12 02:07 PM.
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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I had a sponsor back then
Is that what Europeans call a "Sugar Mama"?  
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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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.
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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.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
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- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
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- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
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