|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 43
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 43 |
I'm running BIAB 2021 (latest version) on a cheapo HP Pavilion Slimline 400 PC desktop and it works fine (also on low end HP laptop) - I really have no complaints. I mostly use it for making Mp3 backing tracks for solo gutar (country and jazz standards). I sometimes, but rarely output to Reaper - mostly just output as an Mp3 from BIAB and play them off my tablet or phone. While I have no complaints about the sound quality of the files I'm getting, I'm curious if there's a way to improve it via some sort of external sound card or module. I mostly use Real Tracks so a midi module doesn't really enter the picture (used to use one years ago). I assume the sound card on my PC is integrated into the motherboard and doubt there's even a slot for a better one. Not sure if there's any room for improvement - just thinking out loud. Any thoughts?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,448
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,448 |
While I have quite good audio equipment for audio production, I’m not sure you need anything more than what you have if your goal is only to play back MP3 or WAV files you make in BIAB. Laptops have decent enough sound chips because most people expect them to have good sound for playback of music. My older laptop sounds just fine for listening.
Now, if you are doing recording, that’s another matter. You could try a Presonus or Focusrite interface for not too much. The smaller ones are even bus-powered so you just power them by USB. My one experience with an HP desktop was that they stripped it down so much that there weren’t any slots, power, or even space inside for expansion. A USB interface like a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 would be the way to go.
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: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,970
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,970 |
The playback sound quality output from your motherboard sound card is likely as good as what you can achieve with an inexpensive external sound card. The weak link for your internal motherboard sound is the mechanical connection of the output jack. Over time it can become noisy and / or have an intermittent connection. External sound cards can be roughly divided into three groups, consumers, audiophiles and musicians. Consumer sound cards like +++ THESE +++ mostly duplicate the features of your motherboard sound card. You bypass your computer jacks so they can't mess up over time due to wear and tear. Audiophile hardware is typically divided in separate components like D/A convertor, preamp, amp and speakers. Musician hardware concentrates on the quality of the sound input, blending the computer output and input signals together so the sound from both is in sync. This +++ REVIEW +++ of the Focusrite 2i2 Generation 3 demonstrates the focus on overall sound quality. I believe most will advise you to get a music based audio interface. My advise is to get a consumer grade interface that replaces the computer jacks. That way when the output jack goes bad it is easily and cheaply replaced. For audio playback, that's really all you need. Note: Looks like Matt and I were typing at the same time.
Last edited by Jim Fogle; 07/13/22 11:55 AM. Reason: Clarify thoughts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,448
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,448 |
Jim is right; there are few things I hate in audio equipment more than mini headphone jacks.
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: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,623
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,623 |
FWIW, I use external sound modules because I find sometimes the PC audio outputs suffer from hum.
Provided that's not a problem, most modern PCs seem to have surprisingly good sound quality.
The sound quality from an external module may be a little better but for live playing I doubt it's of huge significance.
A module is also usually another box + plug-top + some cables to carry around, lose, break, whatever.
I think recording is almost always better through a module.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,142
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,142 |
if you are playing off your tablet or phone the sound quality is determined by that device. you may 'hear' a better sound from your laptop with an external card, but the music you create in BIAB stays in the digital realm all the time up to and including the transfer to mp3. so the mp3s will be of the same quality as the original biab files and only leave the digital realm and enter the world of audio when you play them.
so as long as you are not recording the end result will be as good as your phone or tablet - not limited by the soundcard on the laptop.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470 |
Jim is right; there are few things I hate in audio equipment more than mini headphone jacks. And I have to chime in here. A USB to Audio interface is the only way to get decent audio out of a computer. The headphone jack is prone to static and perhaps even a ground loop hum and, depending on the computer, might not even have full audio bandwidth. Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,022
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,022 |
Been there, done that. Don't ever rely on the 3.5mm miniature jack for something important. It's no going to be your friend.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,623
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,623 |
Jim is right; there are few things I hate in audio equipment more than mini headphone jacks. And I have to chime in here. A USB to Audio interface is the only way to get decent audio out of a computer. The headphone jack is prone to static and perhaps even a ground loop hum and, depending on the computer, might not even have full audio bandwidth. Notes ♫ I agree 100% with the sentiment and 90%+ with the whole. I 100% agree that mini-jacks are pretty awful. I implied that other outputs from a PC may be useful, but I think RCAs are as bad or worse. HDMI may be better as the connector generally mates solidly, but then you have to get from HDMI to something useful at the studio/stage end of the chain, and while one's paying for that, one might as well buy a USB to audio module. For a modest cost good audio output, a small USB to audio module is undoubtedly the way to go. I mostly (90%+) agree with the "USB to Audio" part, in particular I've been disappointed in the past by internal cards. That same hum problem again, and not always just from ground-loops, but sometimes picked-up noise just because they're inside the box with all that digital electronics. But other connections like Thunderbolt, the earlier Firewire and Ethernet are available and may well be appropriate. I think most or all of those are more expensive than USB, though. FWIW, I have four USB modules (including my mixer) and one Firewire module. They've all performed very well. The particular problem of earth-loop hum, is that a setup can work fine several times over, then somewhere you'll have a hard to track-down problem, because there's something different with the cabling. Someone's amp plugged in a different branch, someone else's new PC, different earthing in this venue and so on. External boxes seem to pretty much eliminate most of that. The mini-jack has one big advantage, though. It's already there and if/whilst it's working well, anything more may be an unnecessary cost. Caveat emptor.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,448
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,448 |
Did you ever jostle a connection from a mini jack to a PA? Sounds like thunder. Bad form on a gig.
Beating a dead horse even further, it’s not even the right signal to send to a PA or powered speaker. The mini jack is after a volume control (a rheostat that can introduce noise of its own) and it makes the voltage vary. At full volume, it’s more than a line-out signal, so you have to back it off but there’s no way to know without measuring the signal if it’s about right.
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: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,623
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,623 |
Did you ever jostle a connection from a mini jack to a PA? Sounds like thunder. Bad form on a gig. Absolutely, and in comparison to the cost of one's instrument, mic(s), PA, cables and other ancillaries, a USB to audio module is small beer. If one's busking with a 10W mini-amp, not so much.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 62
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 62 |
Hello Skip Ellis,
my soundcard is not activated and I have no external one.
I'm using hdmi cable with a samsung soundbar to get 7.4.1 atmos sound.
With hdmi u don't use cheap soundcard dac's and u can connect any avr to get hifi.
Maybe that helps?
Last edited by Uwe Schwarz; 07/14/22 08:01 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,736
Posts795,478
Members39,942
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean