|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 537
Journeyman
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 537 |
Will have to get an External Hard Drive for my Laptop for Biab RealTracks and RealDrums. Can you recommend one. (Speed and memory needed) What I don't understand about PG's hard drive is why do you need two usb inputs. I need my usb inputs on my laptop.
Last edited by botma; 08/16/09 07:37 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
***Check the pgmusic supplied hard drive to see if there is also a DC jack on it. If so, you can pick up a wallwart power supply for it, at a place like Radio Shack, and run it from that and only one USB plug.
***If you are upgrading to the new 2009.5 version, check it out carefully, but I understand that pgmusic is shipping them on a newer and larer 160mb drive that comes with its own wallwart power supply.
If you still want to buy your own drive, you have literally hundreds of options these days to choose from, any good quality mfr choice should work just fine for this purpose. Don't buy the cheapest but don't waste money on the most expensive either. The stuff in the middle pricerange is my choice in things like this.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
You do realise that you can get 'extension' USB ports if you need them? They plug into one single USB port and give you another 4 or 8 ports...
Actually, if your system is good enough, you don't really need to plug both of the ends of the Y cable into your system. One will suffice in most cases
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 537
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 537 |
Understand now. Of course, we are talking about an external Hard Drive. It would need power. I have a WD External Hard Drive that has it's own power supply. It is 300 GB. I don't want to use it because I use that drive to keep my computers backed up with Acronis. What speed should I look for?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!
I have several USB HDDs - one of them is a 500GB unit that I keep all my tracks on for gigs.
Iomega are very good and very reliable in my experience
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,551
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,551 |
The second USB plug is to help with the power supply to the drive. Some systems supply enough juice using one port, many need both.
I have some that it will run just fine with one USB conenction, others that need both for it to even turn on.
For music, especially recording, it is probably better to use an additional internal drive and keep the externals for backup, as you are doing now. IF you have the room inside..
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259 |
Quote:
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!
I have several USB HDDs - one of them is a 500GB unit that I keep all my tracks on for gigs.
Iomega are very good and very reliable in my experience
+1 for the iomega ext hd. I could not get the pgmusic hd to work so I sent it back. They said it worked fine there. It had the y usb cable and I was using a powered hub at the time. One problem that I have with the iomega though is if I have it powered up at boot time, the laptop won't boot. Just a small inconvenience.
Cornet Curmudgeon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
Check your boot order - F10 on system boot should put you into the BIOS. I'll bet you have a boot order that has USB ahead of the internal
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 537
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 537 |
I guess I will be OK with my laptop. I have all my music programs installed .Biab, Real Band, Jammer Pro 6, Real book, 75 Fake Books, and all but the summer pack real tracks and real drums that are in the mail. I have 2GB left on the laptop.
Searching for an external fire wire drive they all seem to be for Mac’s. You have to reformat for PC. The one I was interested in all reviews complained about the fan noise. I don’t think a musician will have that problem.
Now that I checked my memory on the laptop I am in good shape to go with just that. After installing the summer pack I should still have a GB left. Thank you all for the info you gave.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
2gb is not enough freespace on a hard drive. You can eventually get into trouble like that. Basic rule of thumb, you want about 10-15% of total capacity to remain as free space on any hard drive.
USB drive will work with BIAB Realfiles just fine. There are combination USB/Firewire enclosures to be found out there that are class compliant and will work on both PCs and Macs, I have several. But you don't really need Firewire to run BIAB and RealTracks at all, especially if you aren't running Audiophile Edition all WAV tracks. USB will fun just fine.
But I do recommend that you pick up a USB drive and move all your RealTracks/Realdrums to it, then point the program there. Leave plenty of free space on your laptop's internal drive, or run the risk of suddenly losing it all.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,551
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,551 |
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 537
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 537 |
Woops!,
Where did I get that? I have 200gb LEFT. Age I guess. Still that's good advice Mac and I think I will go with an external drive anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Wow, that's a large internal hard drive for a laptop, he said enviously...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
I wouldn't run anything off-board if I could help it but i do agree with keeping 20%+ free on the internal HD. Then again, I am a firm believer in laptops. My current one is an HP EliteBook 2.80GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU with 4GB RAM and a 17" screen!
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,551
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,551 |
With all the troubles you have had with lappies I am surprised to hear you say you are a firm believer in them.
I'll tote my full desktop around and keep it in a hidden corner. I really dislike laptops. Maybe it is because I am not comfortable with any given unit.
With a desktop, I can sit down at the library and feel comfortable on a foreign machine. With lappies I always feel like I am struggling to make the thing operate, nothing 'feels right'.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
First time I took a laptop out to record onlocation, I felt the same way, rharv.
Time, experience and practice changes those feelings.
Make new friends but keep the old and all that.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
Bob, I have 4 of them (lappies I mean). All HP - I won't consider anything less. I have an OmniBook (now really only used for internet radio), a Compaq (for work), a 510 (primarily a DAW) and the latest is an HP EliteBook 8730w with 2.80GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 4GB RAM, 300GB HDD and a 17" screen plus a full size keyboard and more ports than you could ever need. It is HP's top model and certainly replaces a desktop! The latest one is now, of course, my baby and the 510 is now #2... BTW, I now have the lappie back that committed a kind of suicide at a gig in April (seemed to wipe its own HDD). Turned out the problem was not the lappie or XP but Norton GoBack. GoBack is a pre-loader and it had corrupted itself so could not load and neither could anything else. Everything is now back again after a full restore from a Ghost 10.0 backup and GoBack has been removed.
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,084
Posts799,908
Members40,030
| |
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean