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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 24
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 24 |
Is anybody using a Sound Blaster USB soundcard, and if so, how do they get along with BIAB? I've been looking at the various models available, but I know nothing about them. Does anybody have any advice?
Thanks,
Dennis1945
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 134
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 134 |
Budget? For USB look at the EMU 404 ... it's Creative's, the manufacturer of SoundBlaster, pro line.
I don't know about getting along ... I have a high end sound card whose ASIO drivers don't get along.
I could write a small ariticle on sound cards, I've owned so many!
1st ... bus type. In order of highest performance: PCIe, PCI, FW, USB 2.0 and USB 1.1.
2nd ... I/O ... do you want to record a band or just you and a guitar? So, do you need an 8X8, or will a 2X2 do?
3rd ... do you want midi connectivity for keyboard or controller? If so, you'll want one with midi ports.
4th ... do you want built in mic pres (and DI inputs)? Many audio interfaces come with built in mic pres. Again, EMU 1616M (for which you can or soon will also be able to buy a PCIe card) is a pretty decent mid price and mid level audio interface with all the above features.
The high end 'prosumer' brands are RME, Lynx and, if you're on a Mac, Apogee.
Your audio interface is one of your essential links in your digital music chain.
Go to Tweakheadz.com and read the tutorial about selecting an audio interface. As they say, 'buy nice, or buy twice' ... or thrice.
Prado
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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 |
There is one more company I'd add to the good info you've gotten above, and that is the M-Audio.
The M-Audio Fast Track Pro.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 24
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 24 |
Thanks guys, good info indeed. I want to record guitar with BIAB backing, and I use a mic with my harmonicas. I also have a basic midi controller, the M-Audio 25, that I can't get my head around yet. Btw, my PC is 11 years old. No laughing, please.
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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 |
Quote:
Btw, my PC is 11 years old. No laughing, please.
No laughter, but a caveat -- make sure that whatever sound device you are looking at will run on the older PC and OS, also that there are drivers available for that OS -- before buying.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
I've got tears in my eyes now. Honest, no sense in putting a ferrari engine in a 40 year old pickup truck with mis-painted fenders. When I need something new I 'un-retire' for a week and make the money. I guess that's a luxury, and I'm always unhappy working, but if it gets me somewhere.....well I do it.
Right now I'm supposed to be writing a risk management plan and manuals for someone who's paying me 2k for the work. It's gonna take at least 4 hours and I'm PRO-crastinating. I'm a PRO at that. Good thing I have the templates and most of the work is to take it to the Kinkos and have them bind the stuff with some changed pics, new company names and shrink wrap it and send it a day late saying it was complicated. They asked me to do 3 more of these and I asked for one a month cause I'm busy, which is BS but who cares. If I needed the cash I'd be do them all faster but if they think it takes 4 hours I'm going to get 2k to do the works.
Nice when the client is totally computer illiterate and so is his staff.
One of the brothers calls me yesterday. I say "You know I charge $100 to talk to me on Sunday, I've got company." He doesn't care.
10 minutes later I have to calculate 60 types of liquor, cost per drink, profit per drink, current price/profit ratio and send him a spreadsheet. $500 for an hours work. These guys are crazy. Never heard of a spreadsheet. I think I'll do it in 4 colours and ask for an extra $100 for ink cartridges. LOL.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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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 |
John,
Nice work if ya can get it.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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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 |
Quote:
Btw, my PC is 11 years old. No laughing, please.
I knew a guy who bragged about this axe his grandfather had given him when he was fifteen. "Best axe I've ever owned," he said. "I've put three new heads on it and changed the handle five times. Granddad's axe is just amazing!"
My PC is seven years old, but it's more like granddad's axe, or Frankenstein's monster. The mobo failed just before the warranty was up, so I have a six-year-old replacement. I've replaced the power supply two or three times, the last being this past fall. The $200 gamer video card that I bought at a yard sale for $10 just blew, so I replaced it with a new OEM piece with twice as much RAM for $15. The C: drive--the 60 gig Maxtor with Win2K loaded--failed when I moved in the summer of 08. Its replacement is running a factory-fresh copy of XP Pro SP2 I got from a Microsoft employee for $35. I replaced the D: drive, too, because it seemed a little ridiculous to have an 80 gig 5400 RPM drive backing up a 160 Gb 7200 RPM main drive. Now the secondary is a 500 Gb Western Digital 7200 RPM Caviar Blue server-grade drive. Oh, and the USB bus fried when BIAB 2009 UltraPAK came on a defective HD in the winter of 09, so I installed a new USB IDE adapter.
Best seven-year-old PC I've ever owned!
Be sure you're ready for the demise of Old Paint by having everything backed up and ready to put into a new box.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 241
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 241 |
Yes. I have two, one for my desktop and one for my laptop. Both are Audigy 2 Soound Blaster Cards and both work well with BB. The desktop allows me to record music while inputing midi data via a keyboard and the Laptop I use to play live. The Laptop does not have a midi interface that I am aware of but does have and input and output. I think think the Input is for inputing guitar or mikes directly, haven't used that function. I just plug the output to a mixer and play along with the band. By the way, my operating system is XP on both. 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 241
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 241 |
Dennis,
I spoke before I thought about it. I do not have a USB Creative Sound Card. I do have and Audigy 2 Sound card that plugs into the side of the Laptop, not the USB port. It is about 2" X 3" and has a input and output. sorry about that.
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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.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 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 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 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.
Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
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Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
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