Do they deal at all with digital audio specifically?
Nope. That's why I want to upgrade soon so I can see how it works. The document in the original post is a great read at 10 long pages but I don't think Microsoft did any major infrastructure changes that would impact audio at all.
The link I posted is just the landing page to start the upgrade process and which method you want to do that.
Do they deal at all with digital audio specifically?
Nope. That's why I want to upgrade soon so I can see how it works. The document in the original post is a great read at 10 long pages but I don't think Microsoft did any major infrastructure changes that would impact audio at all.
That's been my experience so far - nothing much has changed. Of course, I'm using newer hardware (2020 HP Envy and Focusrite Mk3) so other people's results may differ.
At home, I'm building a new Windows machine around an i5 11400 and associated "up to date" parts compared to my old ~2014 machine, so I don't imagine I'll have too many problems with Windows 11. Of course, the one part I'm waiting on is the CPU itself...
Last edited by Simon - PG Music; 10/08/2112:54 PM.
simon. can you read my mind. lol. ive been looking at same i5 processor. rateing on cpubenchmark.net 17372. but otoh i might wait for prices to come down.
best om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
I want to read these - thanks, guys - but do they deal at all with digital audio specifically?
Sweetwater does a pretty good review of the impact on digital audio at their site. Along with some of the how's as far as what is required for upgrade etc.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
simon. can you read my mind. lol. ive been looking at same i5 processor. rateing on cpubenchmark.net 17372. but otoh i might wait for prices to come down.
best om
The 10400 is a good alternative for a few bucks less, though it does bench a bit lower. That's the problem with waiting - there's always new stuff around the corner.
I'm going with the 11400 specifically because it's the most power for the money with the lowest TDP. It's a 65-watt chip, which is important because I'm building a very small formfactor ITX machine (the case is just over 3" thick and around 15"x13"), and if I were to put in the i9 9900k I have in my main machine it'd probably melt. There are faster 65-watt chips, but they take a big jump in price.
IIRC Planobilly recently built a 10th gen i5 machine and was very happy with it even compared to the i7 or i9 he put in his other machine. I think it was Billy anyway...
I read an article about Win11 yesterday, and I wasn't happy with what I read. Win11 is all about security enhancements, but what M$ is doing is requiring new hardware with these security protocols built in for Win11 to install properly. I wasn't happy because my newest system, which I put together just a few months ago so I could run Win10, has a motherboard that's about 7 years old. I bought a clean used MB with the old style PCI slots because I have some legacy hardware that I run on my DAW.
So it looks like I won't be upgrading to Win11 -- or any other subsequent M$ OS -- for as long as I continue to use the legacy hardware. The day may come when its drivers will no longer be compatible, which will force its retirement, but until then I will use the hardware and I'll be happy using it.
Personally, I do not like the idea of embedding code into hardware. I just don't like it, no matter what the hardware is or what its purpose is. Except maybe BIOS, but that's it.
There's some tools you can use to check your system and some prep things you can do with your machine to get it ready. My laptop CPU is 8 years old and I was able to get it working flawlessly so far. I think that although Microsoft has a lot of requirements, they want your machine to be more secure from attack. Once you go through some of these steps prior to upgrade, I think you'll feel a little better about it. I'm a huge tech nerd and wanted to dive in right away to share my experiences with all of you.
Personally, I do not like the idea of embedding code into hardware. I just don't like it, no matter what the hardware is or what its purpose is. Except maybe BIOS, but that's it.
From a quick Google, every Intel computer since 2008 has had the Intel Management Engine built into it, and every AMD computer since 2013 (maybe earlier) has the AMD Platform Security Processor. Both of which use proprietary embedded code for a variety of things. Going further back, most motherboards had an embedded controller of some sort. Unless you don't mind running really old hardware or you design your own, this kind of stuff is inescapable no matter what OS you use.
There's some tools you can use to check your system and some prep things you can do with your machine to get it ready. My laptop CPU is 8 years old and I was able to get it working flawlessly so far. I think that although Microsoft has a lot of requirements, they want your machine to be more secure from attack. Once you go through some of these steps prior to upgrade, I think you'll feel a little better about it. I'm a huge tech nerd and wanted to dive in right away to share my experiences with all of you.
While I agree that the CPU cutoff Microsoft decided on is higher than it needs to be, one of the reasons they decided this is likely due to the other associated hardware and any required drivers. Many of the companies that produce sound chips, LAN controllers, WiFi, etc probably don't want to create Windows 11 drivers for decade-old hardware.
I don't personally recommend installing Windows 11 on unsupported devices, as there can be a host of problems involved. An older unsupported computer might be able to boot Windows 11 and might appear to be stable, but might end up having very strange and seemingly unrelated problems. Your mileage may vary, but from my experience working in tech support here and at previous companies, the users who have problems are most often users with the oldest hardware, and exponentially more when running an unsupported OS.
That said, I'll personally be running Windows 11 on a 4th gen i7 desktop with no TPM for at least a few months, so I'll see how it is.
I'm going with the 11400 specifically because it's the most power for the money with the lowest TDP. It's a 65-watt chip, which is important because I'm building a very small formfactor ITX machine (the case is just over 3" thick and around 15"x13").
This is exactly what I'm in the middle of researching now. My only issue is if I build a new system myself I'll have to pay for Win 11 Pro which could be $150? I just spent a few minutes surfing the MS site and don't see Win 11 for sale. Is it actually for sale yet? That's the main reason I bought the ZBox used, it had 7 already on it so 10 was free. Otherwise I see a lot of mini ITX's on Ebay with that i5 10400 chip with Win 10 Pro so 11 is free.
Simon and JM. one reason i like refurbs is i save on buying windows, plus i get a decent warranty. also ive never had one prob ever compared to friends buying new retail pc's which often need cleaning up.. of bloat etc.
but the 11400 cpu has sorta thrown me cos...is it better basing a pc round it, OR are the 500 buk ...........
hp z or lenovo beasts a better deal. with xeons. om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 10/18/2101:16 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
I agree about the value of refurbs it's just that I'm replacing my ZBox which is about the size of an older external drive. For me it's about the smaller size. The one Simon is building is about twice that big but still small and you can fit some high end parts in it. That's why I'm considering both right now. The mini ITX can be a fairly powerful machine but the standard ITX is better. I think the difference is the regular ITX can be almost as powerful as a full size tower while the mini ITX can be comparable to a high end laptop.
JM. Bob. case size dont bother me. i'm seeing some silly low prices on off lease refurb hp and lenovo workstation beasts with xeons/ssd etc. win 10 included. (for win 7 lovers some include 7). prices as low as under 300 buckies for a refurb xeon beast.....how much faster will rt's gen useing one vs tother. i mean if i'm only gonna save one second..meh lol. i'll stick with refurbs. but if 11400 is a BIG diff over cheapo refurbs, then that interests me.
so i wonder if i'm mixing down a 40 trak song, how much time will i save useing a new 11400 based system vs a refurb beast.
what i'm hoping for is now that apple has gone with its own silicon (now added m1max etc) that intel will respond by lowering prices on its higher end processors. thus undercutting apples mi pricing.
the other option bob i sometimes consider is pc turnkey for recording studios. some reaps users seem to like these... https://studiocat.com/opencart2/ (i got nuttin to do with them. just find em interesting.) and there are lots of others silentpc, scan uk etc etc. i think some even offer small form factor if i remember. https://www.slickaudio.com/mini-pc-for-music-production/
best/happiness bob om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
I'm going with the 11400 specifically because it's the most power for the money with the lowest TDP. It's a 65-watt chip, which is important because I'm building a very small formfactor ITX machine (the case is just over 3" thick and around 15"x13").
This is exactly what I'm in the middle of researching now. My only issue is if I build a new system myself I'll have to pay for Win 11 Pro which could be $150? I just spent a few minutes surfing the MS site and don't see Win 11 for sale. Is it actually for sale yet? That's the main reason I bought the ZBox used, it had 7 already on it so 10 was free. Otherwise I see a lot of mini ITX's on Ebay with that i5 10400 chip with Win 10 Pro so 11 is free.
Bob
The 10400 is a very good chip, so if that's much more cost effective I'd say go for it. I might go that way too, simply due to motherboard availability and cost.
This is also the reason I bought a "retail" Windows license, as it can be moved from one machine to another. Some Windows licenses can be transferred, particularly the "upgrade from regular Windows 10 to Pro". OEM licenses that come preinstalled cannot be transferred.
Originally Posted By: justanoldmuso
Simon and JM. one reason i like refurbs is i save on buying windows, plus i get a decent warranty. also ive never had one prob ever compared to friends buying new retail pc's which often need cleaning up.. of bloat etc.
but the 11400 cpu has sorta thrown me cos...is it better basing a pc round it, OR are the 500 buk ...........
hp z or lenovo beasts a better deal. with xeons. om
Depends which Xeon. Quick google search, the HP Z400 is a common inexpensive refurb with a Xeon W3503, which has a benchmark score of 1052, while the i5 11400 scores 17383 - no I did not type an extra digit in there, it is 17 times as fast!
Another one that came up, an HP Z800 with two Xeon E5620's would score around 6528, so the i5 is still 3x as fast. Nice thing about a new 10/11 gen build is new connectivity, like USB-C, options for Thunderbolt, super fast PCIe storage, etc.
All depends on the total cost though. A cheap refurb is still a bit cheaper than the parts to build your own 10/11th gen machine. Mine's going to cost around $800 CDN or so just for parts, not including labour or the video card and OS I bought previously (not that everyone needs a fast video card).
Originally Posted By: jazzmammal
I agree about the value of refurbs it's just that I'm replacing my ZBox which is about the size of an older external drive. For me it's about the smaller size. The one Simon is building is about twice that big but still small and you can fit some high end parts in it. That's why I'm considering both right now. The mini ITX can be a fairly powerful machine but the standard ITX is better. I think the difference is the regular ITX can be almost as powerful as a full size tower while the mini ITX can be comparable to a high end laptop.
Bob
There is only Mini ITX, no other versions exist - perhaps you're thinking of Micro ATX or full ATX vs ITX?
The mini ITX I'm building is not using laptop-grade components - it'll have a desktop i5 11400 (or 10400 depending on what parts I find - local supply is atrocious at the moment), 32gb of desktop-size RAM, 2tb NVMe SSD, and a GTX 1060 6gb video card. What ITX does is simply make the motherboard smaller by reducing some connectivity options - only 1 PCIe slot, reduced port selection, only 2 RAM slots, and on many ITX boards they'll only accept the "lower"-spec chips like the 11400, 11500, 11700, but not the overclockable K-series chips that require more wattage. There isn't much power difference for me between an 11400 and an 11600K, but the 11600K uses 50% more electricity and subsequently creates more heat.
This is only 5 x 5 inches and uses the mobile U chips. But I can't find a separate case for one of these, just the barebones kits like this one. My current Zbox is sitting next to my 60" HDTV in my living room which is why I want it small but a few of the mini ITX cases would fit behind the TV too. I'm just deciding how much power do I really need because I'm not a gamer. A desktop CPU is better than the mobile one but do I care? Not sure yet because as far as Biab is concerned my old I7 4770 will still render a full RT song in about 10 seconds depending on if I'm using a RT soloist or not. I've found it's the soloist that slows down the generation and can double that time.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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 amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac 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 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean