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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5 |
Hi Someone,
I`m a working Musician and use my BIAB in a Laptop.
I understand laptop sound-cards aren`t that great. Is there something like an external Sound Card or Midi module that will improve sound quality furthermore?
Much appreciated,
Mike Cortina
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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 |
Hello Mike,
There are literally thousands. You need to post budget, and possibly size. - portability I have two, one worth about $20 and tiny and the other worth $1000 and bigger than the laptop. There is a very wide price range
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: Feb 2010
Posts: 794
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 794 |
I can add a +1 for PreSonus gear - I use the Firestudio Mobile. Presonus have very robust gear, very low noise floors and excellent DA converters, and the mic pre's even on the lower end gear are terrific.
D
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
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Veteran
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The headphone jack is fine for playback if that's all you're doing.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,666
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Presonus, M-Audio, Focusrite, Roland....all make good interfaces.
Be sure it's USB and uses ASIO drivers and has good audio preamps with phantom power.... then simply choose one that has the inputs and outputs you will need and fits your budget....
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 794
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 794 |
no offence GH, but I would recommend against M-Audio, sorry.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
no offence GH, but I would recommend against M-Audio, sorry. Me too. I've had mine since '98 and how dare it still be working! LOL 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,666
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,666 |
Well.... iffin that don't just take the cake....
huh? one likes it and one recommends against it....
So....I really don't care because I use Focusrite...and it's a firewire interface. Over 6 years old and still rocking hard like day one.
All I know is that lots of people use M-Audio with great success so I always include it in a short list.
I always recommend against the Layla line, the UNO line, and factory cards of all types. I also recommend against the gimmick stuff like mixers and interfaces combined and guitar modelers/interfaces..... and heck no.... you better not buy a USB mic.....
Aside from that, I'm pretty much OK with anything else that runs native ASIO drivers and has preamps and phantom power built in.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 794
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 794 |
Yeah and you always get an anecdotal story about someone using a bit of gear - but check the M-Audio gear forums, and also the resale $'s. Standard quality pres , flaky software and drivers, broken knobs - but hey I understand you do need to keep proving to yourself you bought the right thing  And if you read the post before jumping on high horses, I said recommend against, not that they were total crap... And @GH, I never made any suggestion re any of the other interfaces mentioned (which are all very good including Focusrite, one of the best) - I too use firewire and anyone would have recognised that from the "firestudio" moniker...it is why I hang on to my laptop as there are very few now made with the firewire interface. If using a laptop live, firewire is the best way to go imo (although that will probs bring all the "blah de blahs" about how someone or other has used USB for like , ever...with nary an issue) I am just offering the OP some info based on my experiences, which go back a long way
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
+1 on the Presonus AudioBox USB. Simple, small, and rugged audio/MIDI interface with separate front-panel volume controls for speakers and headphones (for live use, read: mains and monitors). I've had mine for over a year with no worries.
HTH,
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 426
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 426 |
I have been on M-Audio forever (after my Soundblaster AWE32 card) and recently moved to the m-audio fast track c600, dead happy with it! For ME its simple, does the job....
I'm doing allright for Country Trash ....
I used to care, but things have changed (Bob Dylan)
BIAB 2025W + RB
M-Audio FastTrack C600, Rode NT2-A
Digitech VoiceLive 4
Epiphone Sheraton, Ibanez 12str, Washburn 6str, Cort 6Str Nylon
Yanagisawa Tenor Sax
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
I think he is looking for something to improve the rendered quality of the midi sounds -- like the ketron sd2 or something like that..
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 611
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 611 |
If I were looking to just improve sounds, and have the box always under computer control, I would look at the SD2. I have the SD4 for playing "less" tethered. The sounds are outstanding. M-Audio has provided shoddy support as of late, having spun off the Fast Track Ultra. Especially for 64-bit. The ASIO drivers I have are unusable with PG products.
Jan - 12 Core AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
32GB DDR4
Win 10 64-bit
Samsung m.2 SSD Boot drive,other SSD internal and USB drives.
MOTO 2
Ketron SD4,SD1000
Yamaha RX-v381amp
VB-Audio virtual cables
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Posts: 8,021 |
I think he is looking for something to improve the rendered quality of the midi sounds -- like the ketron sd2 or something like that.. Well if he's after that I have a like new SD4 for sale.Selling it for a friend who already had an SD2. He didn't realise that the sounds in the SD4 are the same and he didn't need the extras in the SD4.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
Yeah and you always get an anecdotal story about someone using a bit of gear - but check the M-Audio gear forums, and also the resale $'s. Standard quality pres , flaky software and drivers, broken knobs - but hey I understand you do need to keep proving to yourself you bought the right thing And if you read the post before jumping on high horses, I said recommend against, not that they were total crap... And @GH, I never made any suggestion re any of the other interfaces mentioned (which are all very good including Focusrite, one of the best) - I too use firewire and anyone would have recognised that from the "firestudio" moniker...it is why I hang on to my laptop as there are very few now made with the firewire interface. If using a laptop live, firewire is the best way to go imo (although that will probs bring all the "blah de blahs" about how someone or other has used USB for like , ever...with nary an issue) I am just offering the OP some info based on my experiences, which go back a long way I was just pulling your leg.I've been lucky with mine. Others have been also. Others like other cards. I think the issue is so complex that all makes/models have the potential to be problematic and wonderful. It all depends on many factors. One of which is human. I must say though that the ONLY interface that I have used that worked right out of the box as it should, never has crashed, glitched or give me concern is my ESI GIGAPORT HD+
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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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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
My reason for recommending the Presonus has to do with the quality and type of Support still available, Drivers are robust and being supported for the newer Operating Systems, user reports concerning the devices are rather stellar in the majority of cases, which translates to ease of use, less problems, hassles and worries.
The M-Audio cards and such, some of them are getting to be long in the tooth, there have been problems concerning driver support in certain cases, a sound device is no better than the drivers written for it, as NEWER Operating Systems come to market some of the older solutions are not getting the kind of ongoing support as to drivers, software, etc. and that can be a problem that someone new to the game can avoid altogether by selecting a brand and model that does not exhibit those kind of problems in the first place.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 886
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 886 |
I am just offering the OP some info based on my experiences, which go back a long way Yup, so do a lot of others experiences.....;)
i5 3.20GHz, 32gb RAM, 1tb SSD OS, 12tb HDD, 4gb gForce vid card, 32" monitor, Audient id44, Win10 x64, BiaB/RB 2023, Reaper 6,IK Multimedia Total Studio 3.5 MAX, Waves 10
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392 |
If I were looking to just improve sounds, and have the box always under computer control, I would look at the SD2. I have the SD4 for playing "less" tethered. The sounds are outstanding. M-Audio has provided shoddy support as of late, having spun off the Fast Track Ultra. Especially for 64-bit. The ASIO drivers I have are unusable with PG products. I've gotta chime in and agree that I too got tech support of about -1 on a scale of 1-10. (-: Jim
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 794
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 794 |
I was just pulling your leg.I've been lucky with mine. Others have been also. Others like other cards. I think the issue is so complex that all makes/models have the potential to be problematic and wonderful. It all depends on many factors. One of which is human.
I must say though that the ONLY interface that I have used that worked right out of the box as it should, never has crashed, glitched or give me concern is my ESI GIGAPORT HD+
Ah okay cool thx ST 
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
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Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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 10 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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
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