I downloaded the ASIO driver and it's on the laptop ready for the next time I work on BiaB. I'll let you know if it works for getting rid of that message "Couldn't open wave device."
Big thanks to all on this forum. Your help and enthusiasm is quite wonderful.
John,
Thanks for posting the screenshot. It helps a lot.
Looking at your setup, the program should be running. Also, for what it's worth, BIAB is much friendly with MME than ASIO so it's likely that the ASIO drive might not solve the problem.
Try this as an experiment and see if it helps...
When you start up BIAB, rightclick on the startup icon and select "Run as administrator".
Also, when you installed the program, which option did you choose?
Ha, Noel. Don't worry, I've been caught before (more than once). That's why I took a guess on the text. Trev
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
I started BiaB. I then right clicked on the PC start icon.
I only see 2 things: Properties AND Open windows explorer.
I don't see "Run as administrator"
You don't see this when you Right-click on the desktop icon?
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
I think it's supposed to be Right-Click (!) (Unless the mouse buttons are swapped.)
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
1) I thought you meant the "Start" icon for the Windows PC at bottom left of desktop. My bad!
2) I had opened BiaB and didn't see the "Run Administrator". So I right clicked on the BiaB start icon (with BiaB still closed) and NOW I SEE "Run Administrator". It asks if I want to make changes to the computer with BiaB.
Allow it to make changes... that's what running in Administrator mode is about. BIAB is safe to run in Admin mode.
The aim is to see if running in administrator mode makes a difference. PG Music recommend that BIAB should be run in this mode... it needs to be tested on your computer.
Once you have BIAB running in Administrator Mode, use the program exactly as you would normally and see if the problems still arise.
I just re-read this thread. I think we are running John unnecessarily through the wringer here.
I agree about Running BIAB as Administrator, which is recommended, cannot do harm, and in some cases is required.
The initial post describes symptoms of BIAB being flaky, but remember, it DID work once. That makes me think all this about drivers is taking us off target.
John, the first thing we do when BIAB was behaving fine but starts acting up, it to reboot the machine and restart BIAB. Obviously, you must have done this many times since your initial report.
The second thing we do is go to the Options menu and do Return to Factory Settings. You can save any custom settings as you do this.
Then close BIAB, reboot and restart. Report back.
If it still has the same problem, I would like to resume the discussion about the audio device. We still do not know what is being used.
If that doesn't pan out, then I'm thinking John should reinstall the program.
And there is always PG Music Support. They are superb. They can even remote-connect to your computer to help diagnose a problem. To get to them, click on the gray Support tab up above. Almost all of us in this forum are fellow users; we're pretty good, but not the ultimate resource.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
You might have taken care of the problem! I did "Run Administrator" in BiaB.
I've then tried a lot of changes and I haven't seen the message [“MESSAGE: Couldn't open wave device. The likely cause is another program is using the audio playback, or has left drivers open.”] come up at all. Not even once. That's good and I hope it stays that way.
A BIG THANK YOU!
I still have the other question about stopping a style change when playing (on the Chordsheet). My goal is simply to compare the styles for the song.
Here's what I do: 1) Open my song and play it (to listen to the style) / then I click stop. The song stops. 2) I go to Style Picker and select another style (listening in “Quick” mode – not chords of song) 3) When I find a style I like, I select it at “Play using current Chordsheet for song” 4) The chordsheet appears and plays the song using that newly chosen style. But it keeps playing.
QUESTION: How can I stop the song from playing without going to Task Manager?
None of the icons respond (including the STOP icon). The song plays to the end then starts all over again. This happens even with the “4 bar preview” [“Play using current Chordsheet for song”] selected at Style Picker”.
So far, I've only been able to stop the play by going to Task Manager, to End Process {T.M. only shows one process open for BiaB]. Otherwise it'll go on playing forever.
Your result for your second question is not normal behavior for that function. Something is amiss.
If you choose either the demo or the play over your chord chart button, the screen should not go back to the chord chart. (Number 4 on your list) It should remain on the Stylemaker page and either stop button should stop the playback. You can return to the chord chart page selecting either the OK or Cancel button. Back on the Chord chart page, you can change anything--- key, tempo instruments, chords, etc.
I recommend you reset the default settings.
Options/Return to Factory Settings and then restart the computer.
I reset the default settings and restarted the PC. Everything seems to work correct now. It's probably time to close out this post.
Thank you,
John
PS. There is a longtime BiaB forum member that lives just 20 minutes from me. He said he would be glad to meet with me and show me some BiaB tips & tricks.
Another possibility is to update your RealTek audio driver to the latest version. Be sure to download the appropriate driver for your operating system.
Choose the "High Definition Audio CODECs" link, accept the disclaimer and click "Next". Then select the appropriate driver to download.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
Nope, because the RealTek doesn't have a native ASIO driver. However, I have successfully used ASIO4ALL with the RealTek on two different machines.
Also, if you happen to have purchased any Steinberg products, you get a generic low latency ASIO driver from them as well, which also works with the RealTek.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA
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.
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!
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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.