Hi Bill,

I recommend that you look into the selection and purchase of a USB Audio input/output device (formerly known as a "sound card") for use with your laptop, Band in a Box and other recording programs such as the included RealBand, a device that has a Microphone Preamp in it that can also handle Direct Connection of Instruments such as electric guitars or keyboards as well.

The sound devices built into PC laptops can be made to work, but are typically best used for Playback rather than recording. There are many reasons for that, the noise inherent in the built in recording facilities is not good for music making, being tailored mostly for speech work, the Inputs available do not have the necessary Impedance matching for your various different sources, and the Gain, although available and usable by the true techno-geeks such as myself, is another problem for the person who just wants to get their music into the computer without resorting to jumping thru all those proverbial hoops of fire.

M-Audio, TASCAM, the very fine devices made by Presonus, etc.

I'm sure others will be checking into this thread with recommendations as to exact brands and models they are using with BB -- and how well such works with the program, ease of use, etc. so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, you could take a sec to tell us the exact laptop brand and model, which OS system you are rumning, because that may have a considerable impact on selection of the proper input device for you.


--Mac

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