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I have seen multiple user posts strongly suggest that new users should invest in a computer sound card or an audio interface versus using the (normally) Realtec (but sometimes Intel or Cirrus) audio solution built-into the computer motherboard.
While that's not bad advice I don't necessarily agree a sound card or audio interface will resolve the posted issue I see in many threads. In particular I don't believe cards or interfaces will resolve any issue where playback or mixing is part of a question.
However, I do agree an audio interface can make recording audio easier and very possibly capture audio better than the built-in solution.
I suggest there are Band-in-a-Box users that do not record but instead exclusively use BiaB for arranging, mixing and/or audio playback.
I would love to better understand how a sound card or audio interface will help users that do not record.
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I would love to better understand how a sound card or audio interface will help users that do not record. If one does not record then one does not need an audio interface. Realtek is fine for just listening regardless of it its a movie, Youtube, TV, Realtracks etc. Having a good set of speakers or near field monitors is another story. Those small computer speakers just don't hack it. YMMV
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
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That’s a valuable clarification. You’re right. I just said what you referred to, today in another thread.
The built-in chips are designed to do one thing very well: play back audio. That would include mixing if mixing just means adjust track volumes.
So I would say if you are recording, you should use something better than a built-in RealTec chip running a generic ASIO emulating driver.
I would also say the CPU becomes more important than the sound card when using plugins including effects and software synths. Mixing with effects and virtual instruments can involve severe stress on a computer, but again, purely audio playback is the one thing any computer should handle well because that’s what the vendors are building them for.
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.
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I would love to better understand how a sound card or audio interface will help users that do not record. If one does not record then one does not need an audio interface. … I use an interface for recording only. Although one can use monitor controllers and interfaces for playback on a Mac, they are never necessary for stereo. They can be convenient which is why I use a monitor controller. Having a good set of speakers or near field monitors is another story. Those small computer speakers just don't hack it. Yeah
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The built-in chips are designed to do one thing very well: play back audio. That would include mixing if mixing just means adjust track volumes. I'm fairly happy listening to built-in audio through headphones. I've had no end of troubles with built-in audio trying to drive anything else, mostly with ground loops and CPU etc. 'twitter', but also because so often the connectors are just plain poor. Mini-jacks, RCAs and the like. Most or all external interfaces offer proper connectors, seem to have the grounding sorted, seem to keep out the noises that so often happens and usually also offer pretty good pre-amps and phantom power. For me, external interfaces seem like money well spent.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
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I’m ok with RCA jacks, dating back to my audiophile stereo equipment days of the later 60s. But there are many posts on here where I disparage mini-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.
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RCAs are "OK", but I personally wouldn't go further than that. I have a pair on my mixer and on each of two speakers that are their primarily for connecting a laptop or a tablet, which are normally fine if not powered, otherwise there's the usual issue of hums and twitters. If I need them, in practice I usually feed into them the output of a Logitech Bluetooth audio module and connect via that.
I'm thinking more of live sound than studio here, so perhaps I'm being a bit harsh. Any board within the PC is potentially exposed to whatever supply and EMI issue there may be inside the box and/or coming out of the box on signal and ground wires. A DI box can often resolve things, but it's another box and another set of cables and connectors, probably another plug-top power supply (as for the Logitech) and so on.
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
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I agree that can be a problem. I fix it by buying RCA cables that have a little cylinder they wrap around (I’m thinking it is called a toroidal transformer or something like that). Usually takes the hum out. If not, I go after cable runs to make them perpendicular to power cables. Etc. etc.
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.
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I suspect those are ferrite beads. They're usually to filter out EMI/EMC rather than clean up the audio, though they can help protect inputs from RF. They usually look rather like this: clip-on ferrite bead, or are heat-shrunk on.
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
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Yes, that’s one tool and they work. I thought another way involved a cylinder but it’s possible that is just one of these with a case.
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.
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I live in an electrically noisy environment in the middle of the Silicon Valley. All of my cables are star-quad from SESCOM via Markertek including TS and RCA. The bottom line on star-quad: If you can hear the noise reduction, you need them. If you can't, you don't. I do and that makes them worth every penny. Sescom Audio Cable Canare Star-Quad 1/4-Inch TS Mono Male to RCA Male
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
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I live in an electrically noisy environment in the middle of the Silicon Valley. All of my cables are star-quad from SESCOM via Markertek including TS and RCA. The bottom line on star-quad: If you can hear the noise reduction, you need them. If you can't, you don't. I do and that makes them worth every penny. Sescom Audio Cable Canare Star-Quad 1/4-Inch TS Mono Male to RCA MaleThough star-quad only deals with RF/magnetic pickup, not electrical noise originating within the, e./g., laptop itself. FWIW, most of the internal noises I personally have had have been when the laptop/tablet has been on charge. If desperate, unplugging the PSU often cleans things up. YMMV. I wish I'd known about star-quad fifty years ago when I lived close to and line of sight of the Crystal Palace TV transmitter in London. I can't now remember how much of TV and FM it transmitted 20MW or so, I think. Mind you, it used to get right into the phono cartridge, so may not have helped that much anyway. 
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
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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