Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#62067 02/24/10 04:48 PM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 196
F
FrankK Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
F
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 196
I have been running SONAR in ASIO mode and B&B in MME mode together to do drag and drop (D&D) and this works fine. Today I switched B&B from MME to ASIO (No real good reason to do this for D&D but done merely as an experiment).

If B&B is loaded first, the program works OK but then loading SONAR (with ASIO) at the same time, SONAR says it can’t find the UA-4FX audio interface. If I run SONAR (with ASIO) first things are OK but then trying to run B&B with ASIO at the same time I get an invalid pointer error in B&B and access violation as follows:

“Exception EInvalid Pointers in module bbw.exe at 00004FB9”

and then

“Access violation at address 100025B9 in module Rdaw1061.dll”

Switching B&B back to MME and running simultaneously things are sweet.

Note that running both in MME mode at the same time also works (I was using this before switching SONAR to ASIO to delete the guitar input latency.)

Re F

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 134
P
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
P
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 134
I believe only one program can access an ASIO driver at a time. Sonar probably has some setting on the page where you select the drivers to do something like "release ASIO drivers in background." This is the language Cubase uses. Then when Cubase is not longer the active window, i.e., you have BIAB or another application on top and 'open,' the drivers will be released to the 'on top' application. Most DAWs have some setting that performs this function.

However, I have no idea whether or not BIAB also has a setting for the capacity to release the driver back to Sonar, when Sonar has the active window.

Prado

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,337
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,337
As I recall, SONAR does have such a setting, to release drivers, but I don't think it's going to work anyway with two applications trying to use ASIO drivers on the same device. That is a known design of ASIO. Suggest you go back to the way it worked before.

[Edit. In SONAR 8.5, it's Options, Audio, checkbox for Share Drivers with Other Programs]

Last edited by Matt Finley; 02/24/10 05:42 PM.

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.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 134
P
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
P
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 134
Hi Matt,

"... two applications trying to use ASIO drivers on the same device."

Meaning that BIAB does not have a setting to 'release drivers in background?'

Prado

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,337
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,337
I don't know of one, but it doesn't matter with ASIO.


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.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 196
F
FrankK Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
F
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 196
Tried the share drivers option in SONAR but this doesn't have any effect.
Anyway clearly something to avoid when using drag and drop.

Re F

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
This discussion comes back and back. There is almost no reason to use ASIO drivers anywhere. Unless you have some keyboard and are trying to play a softsynth.

Just say no.

MME. Everywhere.

A more techy guy than me will jump in, but I lost a week of my life thinking I somehow needed asio drivers when it was like I need an unneeded root canal.


John Conley
Musica est vita
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 134
P
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
P
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 134
FWIW ... to avoid semantic misunderstanding. Only one program can use ASIO at a time, but loaded programs that 'release' the ASIO driver when they are not the active window do, in that sense, share the driver.

It may be that most programs automatically release the drivers and only DAWs hold on to them. I routinely load Windows Media Player using system ASIO drivers while running Cubase, and which ever program is in the foreground plays just fine.

And yes, unless you are recording either midi or audio, ASIO drivers are unneccesary.

Still, many folks like to be able to play/ record a softsynth accompanied by tracks that are playing back in their DAW. Or like to write automation to recorded audio tracks. For these and other purposes the lowered latency of ASIO ... less the 10 msec on a powerful computer ... is critical.

Prado

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 196
F
FrankK Offline OP
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
F
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 196
Quote:

This discussion comes back and back. There is almost no reason to use ASIO drivers anywhere. Unless you have some keyboard and are trying to play a softsynth.

Just say no.

MME. Everywhere.

A more techy guy than me will jump in, but I lost a week of my life thinking I somehow needed asio drivers when it was like I need an unneeded root canal.





John see my post "B&B,SONAR and GS-201 tape echo" below. Clearly this does not work in my case if you need ASIO to stop delay (using MME) when a guitar is plugged into a audio interface. Thats why or at least one reason why ASIO was invented.

Cheers F

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
I just posted a reply to another thread about this same thing. ASIO2 and ASIO3 compliant host applications WILL share drivers with other apps. ASIO1 hosts will not. I am pretty certain that BB is not ASIO2 or 3 compliant.

ALSO, your soundcard drivers must ALSO be ASIO2 or 3 compliant in order for 2 hosts to be able to use ASIO at the same time.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507
R
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
R
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507
Beagle, thanks for the clarifications on compliance level. That may be the key that cuts through some of these issues.

Do you happen to know where ASIO4ALL fits in? I understand it is not a true ASIO driver, but I'm wondering if it emulates the later specs.

Thanks, -Ron

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Ron - ASIO4ALL is not an actual driver itself. In order to make ASIO4ALL clear, I'll need to try to explain on a little more basic level about soundcard drivers in general.

There are several driver protocols. the most popular ones are MME, WDM and ASIO. MME and WDM are both Microsoft protocols. ASIO was developed by Steinberg but is now a consortium with other developers.

each soundcard manufacturer must write different drivers for each of the protocols that it will be compliant with. for example, if my M-audio Delta 44 wants to be compliant with MME, WDM and ASIO, then it will write THREE different drivers, one for each protocol.

Then the you choose in the host (BB in this case) which protocol driver to use by selecting that particular "driver mode." (in BB that's either MME or ASIO). that's just a pointer or a "switch" that tells the host which driver of the 3 (in the example above) to choose from. the other 2 drivers are not used by that host.

so if a soundcard manufacturer decides that it is only going to write TWO drivers for everyone to use. And they decide that they will write their driver to be compliant with MME and WDM driver modes because that's what 99% of windows users will use anyway (audio guys like us are a small minority in the overall computer market).

enter ASIO4ALL. ASIO4ALL is a WDM wrapper. what it does, is it allows the host to access ASIO protocols (and thereby bypassing the kernel) but it uses the soundcards' WDM drivers to do access the soundcard. basically it's an "interpreter" allowing WDM drivers to be used in ASIO mode in the host. That will allow the soundcard to have lower latency and other benefits from using ASIO driver mode, but it still accesses the WDM drivers written by the soundcard manufacturer.

as far as it "emulating the later specs" - yes, the latest versions of ASIO4ALL are ASIO 2 compliant. I haven't used it in a long, long time, so I don't remember if they've updated it for ASIO3 compliance or not. however, at this time there are very few hosts which are ASIO3 compliant. Sonar is NOT ASIO3 compliant and the only one that I KNOW that's ASIO3 compliant is Cubase 5 (and the latest Nuendo and the latest other Stienberg softwares).

Hope that's clear enough!

Last edited by Beagle; 02/26/10 07:55 AM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507
R
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
R
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 507
Thank you Beagle! I knew ASIO4ALL was a "WDM wrapper," but not necessarily the implications.

So, for sake of understanding, IF BB were ASIO2 compliant, I could run it and Sonar simultaneously with the same sound card using ASIO4ALL, latest version, as long as the soundcard had a WDM driver installed. (Not that I'd want to for serious work. My 2496 has its own native ASIO driver. I was curious because I also have a soundblaster, with which I noodle at the desktop.)

-Thanks again. -Ron

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Yes, in theory that should work. of course there's still a possibility that it won't work depending on if the ASIO4ALL didn't "interpret" the WDM soundcard drivers correctly to ASIO 2 format. they're supposed to - but I don't know enough about the "under the hood" stuff of ASIO4ALL to know if it will ALWAYS convert to ASIO2 compliance for every WDM driver.

but from what I understand that's the way it's SUPPOSED to work!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Video: New User Interface (GUI)

Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 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.

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 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.

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 60 new features in this exciting release.

Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until December 31, 2025. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49. Browse the full contents of each package and listen to demos here.

XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!

XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!

The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!

Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.

What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?

XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!

Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!

Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.

Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 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.

Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,292
Posts790,608
Members39,854
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
StratMan1965, CPIA2002, janhardo, Minstrel, Deb D
39,854 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
jpettit 321
MarioD 215
DrDan 214
Noel96 163
DC Ron 143
Rob Helms 127
Today's Birthdays
dreadmon, Jazzer_Phil, SteelScott
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5