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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
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I've been using BinB for awhile to practice play with, but have limited my use to my laptop and it's rather limited sound palette.
I'm assembling a new piano-side computer to replace the laptop and am trying to figure out what sound card to install. I don't record very much, but use this mostly for playback.
Suggestions?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
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Quote:
I don't record very much, but use this mostly for playback.
Suggestions?
Today's onboard sound has very good audio specs in the playback dept. due to the mass consumer interest in playback of audio, DVDs, etc.
They are still lagging behind with their recording, however if all you need is playback, hook up a good pair of monitor speakers with amplification and use the internal sound.
I do that with the laptop on live gigs and it sounds great.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Stan,
Having had Mac say that, the next thing is 'what are you using for source material?' In other words, are you going to use solely Real Drums and Real Tracks, where the sound card doesn't matter *as much*, or are you going to be using a software synthesizer? If you're going to use the Software Synth, then finding the best synth for the sound is paramount. Sound cards no longer have sounds built into them, as they did 10 years ago. Now the sounds are all software, and if you don't have a good set of sounds, it won't matter what sound card you get, they'll still sound cheap.
I would think that your laptop, with an external sound module, the most highly recommended now is the Ketron SD2, and a USB midi interface, will get you a better sound for playback, AND recording, if you wish to do so.
A Mic for the piano, a small mixer, and a USB audio interface with the Ketron SD2 will give you a killer set up for recording.
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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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9
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Will use of USB audio interface give better sound than using earphone plug when playback?
Svein
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Quote:
Will use of USB audio interface give better sound than using earphone plug when playback?
Svein
Depends upon the specs of the USB unit chosen as versus the specs of your particular built in soundcard.
Like I said earlier, today's computers have built in soundcards that have very good PLAYBACK converters and specs indeed. This is because of the large consumer base interest in playing back of music files, DVDs, etc.
Remember, RealTracks/RealDrums and even the DXi MIDI synths are locked at 16.44.1, a soundcard that can do higher depths and rates doesn't matter, BIAB (or RealBand) are still only going to play those back at the 16/44.1 rate no matter what you set the sound device to.
Be advised that you'd have to spend more money to improve on that, very likely that the USB sound devices that reflect low pricing don't have much better playback converters in them than the built in does. So pricing can sometimes yield a clue as to the quality of the USB unit. Sometimes not, though, caveat emptor.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696
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Gary Quote:
a small mixer, and a USB audio interface with the Ketron SD2 will give you a killer set up for recording.
Let's assume that someone is going to put an 88 Yammie keyboard into this setup . . . the Ketron would come out, right and you'd go with Yamaha voices on board, right?
Mac - If you're recording voice and other "live" elements then you would need a sound card of sufficient quality beyond the "on-board" card for the audio recording - correct. But for someone using the setup for demos or arrangement ideas then the on-board would be sufficient - the key would be adding good powered speakers?
Cheers
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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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Quote:
Let's assume that someone is going to put an 88 Yammie keyboard into this setup . . . the Ketron would come out, right and you'd go with Yamaha voices on board, right?
Well, you could pick either synth for MIDI playback from inside BIAB, the Yamaha or the Ketron SD2. If you pick the SD2, then the Yamaha keyboard would act as a controller on the Thru channel of BIAB, but the sounds you heard when playing the keyboard would come from the SD2.
Quote:
Mac - If you're recording voice and other "live" elements then you would need a sound card of sufficient quality beyond the "on-board" card for the audio recording - correct.
Cheers
Well, you don't "need" another soundcard, as the onboard card can indeed record, but for best quality of the audio, it is a very good idea to use one when recording new tracks is the issue.
Quote:
But for someone using the setup for demos or arrangement ideas then the on-board would be sufficient - the key would be adding good powered speakers?
For "today's" built in soundcards, yes indeed. I think you can go back about four years or so in age of computer and expect the same good results.
--Mac
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