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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 22
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 22 |
Long time since!
I have run BIAB (and Cubase) for 20 years on desktop DAW:s with Infrasonic sound cards with ins and outs, loads of sounds from Sample Tank, Sonic Synth and the likes.
BUT I just ordered a laptop, HP Pavilion 15-p046no with Windows 8.1.64.
I am also about to upgrade my BIAB to 2015.
Questions:
1. Do I need an external sound card? ASIO? Suggestions?
2. Can I use my Sample Tank, VSTi:s etc and/or do I need to buy a SW synth? Suggestions?
(I am old enough to still like Roland JV1010 and a Mackie mixer but realise I have to go totally digitalised)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,836
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,836 |
I don't know about the current HP laptops, but on mine I can mostly get sound to work with the onboard sound card using ASIO4ALL, but my laptop is over 3 years old now, so things may have changed. I do get much better results, however, using my M-Audio USB FastTrack Pro instead of the onboard. I would highly recommend getting an external sound source.
With my FastTrack Pro, I can run the M-Audio ASIO drivers natively. I have it working on both my Window 7 laptop and my Windows 8.1 desktop.
You will still be able to use your current VSTi's (such as SampleTank), but you will obviously have to re-install them on the new laptop and re-register the ones that need registration/authorization.
There are a number of threads on the forum for suggestions for external sound cards/devices.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 22
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 22 |
Hi John, thank you for answering my, somewhat basic, questions.
The thing is that i haven't used any music production tools for a couple of years so it feels like starting from scratch. Going from a dedicated DAW, which I can open and add sound cards and stuff + an external rig with EQ:s, compressors, sound modules and mixers to a laptop with no I/O:s for anything w/o USB I feel like a newbie. But life will be flexible and portable.
I found in my junk box an unopened ESI UGM96 USB Audio Adapter, which hopefully will do the job, and will buy the Coyote Forte for a start.
And then dive into the Forum world of good advise!
Thanks again
Pelle
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,787
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,787 |
Answers:
1. ABSOLUTELY you need an external interface/sound card. There's no laptop that I know of that comes from a factory with a stock soundcard that is set up and ready to handle a serious DAW.
Look for USB interfaces that use native ASIO as drivers. No wrappers like ASIO4ALL or codecs. Focusrite, M-Audio, Presonus, and some others all fit this category. Select one that has the inputs and outputs you need and if you plan to use it to mic things..... be sure to use a nice condenser mic and be sure the interface has audio preamps and phantom power. Focusrite and some others fit this need nicely.
2. If you have existing VSTi's and FX and other software based synths, you should be able to migrate them into the new machine. You may need to reauthorize the synths. All decent synths will work well.
Remember that the interface you buy determines how well you can work in the digital world of recording, so don't be afraid to spend money to get a good one. You will never regret buying a decent interface. You will regret it if you try to go cheap and then have to do work arounds on every project. Figure a budget between $150 to $300 for the interface.
I use and absolutely love my Focusrite interface. It was $300 at the time and worth every dollar. I've migrated it from my Dell stock lappy into my custom DAW and not a single hiccup.
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: Jan 2001
Posts: 22
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 22 |
Thank you guitar hacker!
I will try my external UGM interface + Forte + VSTi's and take it from there. Excited to get back on track again!
P-O
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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