PG Music Home Forums FAQ and Knowledge Base Band-in-a-Box for Windows FAQ No Sound / MIDI Driver Setup

1. No Sound/MIDI Driver Setup

We have included a lot of detail in this tutorial, which is necessary in order to cover all possibilities. If you are looking for a "quick fix", try the following:
Check the Windows volume control panel to make sure the volume levels are up and nothing is muted.

In Band-in-a-Box®, go to Options | MIDI/Audio Driver Setup, and select the 'Use DXi Synth' checkbox.
[ Note: If you get an error message saying "No DXi Synthesizers are installed", click Help | Utilities | Install Coyote Wavetable Synth ]

When the DirectX Plugins window opens, select the Coyote Wavetable Synth as your plugin (in the first drop-down box under the word Plugin), then close the DirectX Window and press OK to exit the MIDI Driver Setup dialog.

Using a DXi synth will simplify the problem, since the MIDI and audio tracks are routed to the same audio device in this case. Note: Since the VSC-DXi is not compatible with 64-bit operating systems, if you're using Band-in-a-Box® 2009 or earlier, an alternative is to use the ForteDXi soft synth. As of Band in a Box version 2010.5, the CoyoteWT DXi is included which is 64-bit compatible.

If you can hear MIDI playback but not audio (RealTracks), go into Options | MIDI/Audio Driver Setup | Audio Settings. Check your Audio Driver Type.

If using MME or WAS drivers - click "Audio Drivers" and ensure you have your computer sound card selected for Audio Output Driver (ie. Speakers - High definition audio).
If using ASIO drivers and you want audio routed through your computer speakers - click "Audio Drivers" and make sure you have asio4all output drivers selected. If you want audio routed through an audio interface, be sure to select the correct drivers for that device.

Try switching between MME, WAS, and ASIO audio drivers to see if selecting a different output resolves the issue.

The following topics are covered below:

*Check to see if you have the Band-in-a-Box® tracks muted or the volume turned down.
*Check that your speakers are turned on and connected properly.
*Check your MIDI Driver Setup.
*Check your DXi synth setup.
*Check the Windows mixer to make sure you don't have anything muted.
*Check your audio drivers.
*Check that you have the latest build installed for your Band-in-a-Box® version
*Check settings on your external synth.
*Make sure that the sound card or MIDI interface drivers are installed properly.
*Try returning Band-in-a-Box® to factory settings.
*Try playing a MIDI file outside of Band-in-a-Box®.
*Band-in-a-Box® 2008 and earlier users with Windows Vista or higher -- special case.

Check to see if you have the Band-in-a-Box® tracks muted or the volume turned down

If your song is playing but you can't hear it, check to see if any of the tracks are muted (track name would be red). To mute tracks, you click the "M" button beside the track name in the Mixer area (top right of the screen). This turns the track name red, which shows that the track is muted. To un-mute the track, simply click "M" again. Next, make sure the volume sliders for each active track are set higher than 0 (90 is the default volume level for each track).

You may want to load in one of the Band-in-a-Box® demo songs as a test to see if this is a song-specific, or global Band-in-a-Box® problem. If it is a song-specific problem, you will have to figure out what might be different about a particular song that would cause it to have no sound. For example, perhaps you have entered a chord followed by a period to "rest all instruments", or perhaps you have chosen patches on higher banks that aren't available on the synth you are using. If it is a global Band-in-a-Box® problem, continue with the suggestions below.

Check that your speakers are turned on and connected properly

If you don't hear any sound on your computer at all, check that your speakers are turned on (volume level is greater than zero) and connected to the correct jack on your sound card.

Check your midi driver setup

In Band-in-a-Box®, go to Options | MIDI/Audio Driver Setup to open the MIDI Driver Setup dialog.
The column on the left is the Input column. This is where you select the device you want the MIDI info to be recorded from. If you want to record from an external MIDI synthesizer, you would select the input drivers for your MIDI interface.
The column on the right is the Output column. If you are not using a DXi or VSTi synth (see the next topic below), this is where you select where you want to hear the sound being played from. If you want to hear sound from your internal sound card (through your computer speakers), you would select Microsoft GS Wavetable or LoopBE. If you are sending the MIDI information away from your computer to an external sound source such as a hardware MIDI synthesizer or sound module, you would select the output drivers for your MIDI interface.

Note: Exactly which drivers you see in your MIDI Input and Output columns depends on your specific computer/sound card setup. If you are still not sure which drivers to select, you may need to experiment a little.

Check your DXi synth setup

In the MIDI Driver Setup dialog, there is a checkbox labelled "Use DXi Synth". If this box is unchecked, Band-in-a-Box® will play through the MIDI Output Driver you have selected. If this box is checked, Band-in-a-Box® will play through the DXi or VSTi synth you have selected and ignore the MIDI Output Driver (except for thru playback in certain cases). If you want to use a DXi or VSTi synth, such as the Coyote WaveTable or ForteDXi, put a checkmark in the "Use DXi Synth" box.

You will also need to make sure that your DXi synth is selected and set up correctly. The DirectX Plugins Window will open automatically when you check the 'Use DXi Synth' box. If the box is already checked, you can click the [DXi Synth Settings] button. Directly underneath where it says 'plugin', the top pull-down menu is where you select your DXi or VSTi synth (the bottom three pull-down menus allow you to add audio effect (DX) plugins, such as reverb and EQ, and it is ok if all three are set to 'none'). For DXi software synth plugins such as the Coyote WaveTable and ForteDXi, setup is automatic - all you need to do is select them as your plugin and close the DirectX Plugins window. For other plugins, you may need to do some things to set them up.

Check the Windows Mixer to make sure you don't have anything muted.

Make sure Band-in-a-Box® is open. Then, open the Volume or Play Control Window by right-clicking on the speaker icon in your taskbar and selecting 'Open Volume Mixer'. Make sure that you have both the master volume control on the left, and the Band-in-a-Box® application volume control, turned up and not muted.

*In XP and older versions of Windows: Open the Volume or Play Control Window by either double-clicking on the speaker icon in your taskbar if one is present, or by going to Start | Programs | Accessories | Entertainment | Volume Control. Make sure that you do not have one of the following devices muted: Play/Volume Control, MIDI, Synthesizer, Synth, FM Synth, Mixed Output, Stereo Out, Stereo Mix, Wave, Wave Out, or something similar. It would be good to un-mute everything for troubleshooting purposes. Check the volume levels as well to make sure that none of the sliders are set really low.

Note: Specifically which controls you see in your Volume control window depends on what kind of sound card you have. You can choose which devices to have displayed in the Volume Control window by going to the Options menu and selecting Properties. Then, below where it says "Show the following volume controls", select all of the devices that you want displayed and press OK.

Check your audio drivers

If you are using a DXi or software synth for MIDI output, the sound is routed through the audio portion of your sound card (RealDrums and RealTracks are always routed to the audio portion of your sound card, even if you are using a non-DXi MIDI output driver). This means that if you don't have the correct audio driver selected, there will be no sound. Normally this is only an issue if you have more than one sound card installed on your computer or have changed the audio driver settings from their defaults.

You choose the audio driver type and input/output ports in Options. | Preferences | Audio.
MME or WAS is the default audio driver type (depending on your version of Band-in-a-Box®). Once you select your audio driver type, you click Drivers to select your input/output ports. You need to select your speakers or sound card as your audio output driver to hear audio from your computer speakers.

ASIO drivers are selected when you are trying to achieve a low latency recording with a MIDI keyboard or trying to play audio out through a third party audio interface. Once you select your audio driver type, you click Drivers to select your input/output ports. The specific devices and ports you see listed in that dialog will depend on your sound card and drivers you have installed - check with the sound card manufacturer or documentation if you are not sure which ones to select. You should also check the latency (or "buffer size") setting by clicking on the [ASIO Driver's Control Panel] button. You should start with a fairly high buffer size, then you can decrease it until you start to experience playback problems.

Note that some MIDI drivers (including the Microsoft GS Wavetable) might not work if you're using ASIO. We suggest that you use a DXi synth, e.g. CoyoteWT. If you're using ASIO drivers and you aren't using a DXi synth (or VSTi), then this is most likely why you don't have sound.

In addition, ASIO drivers tend to be more "finicky" then regular "MME" drivers, and you may not have a specific need to use ASIO drivers. Try selecting MME instead.

*It is important to download the latest ASIO drivers from the sound card manufacturer's website. ASIO4ALL is a universal driver that can be used successfully with most computer setups and sound cards, if you are having trouble with your sound card's native drivers.
Check that you have the latest build installed for your Band-in-a-Box® version
You should go to the Help menu | About Band-in-a-Box®. Compare the build number listed there, with the latest build available HERE

Check settings on your external synth

If you are using an external synth, make sure that your synth is set up correctly. This varies between synthesizers. Often, the synth needs to be set to "Song", "Performance", or "multitimbral" mode so that it can receive and play MIDI on multiple channels. Also, try setting it to General MIDI mode either through a setting on your synth's control panel, or by going to GM | Send MIDI Message | Send General MIDI Mode on in Band-in-a-Box®. If you are not sure how to set up your synth, you should consult the documentation for the synth.

You may also be able to find some information about your synth in Band-in-a-Box®. Go to the MIDI Driver Setup dialog and see if your synth is listed under the 'Synth/sound card' menu. If it is, select it and click on the [Get Patch/Drum Kit Info] button.

Make sure that the sound card or MIDI interface drivers are installed properly

If you don't see the drivers for your sound card or interface in the MIDI Driver Setup dialog in Band-in-a-Box®, this most likely means that the drivers are not installed properly on your computer. Band-in-a-Box® will recognize any MIDI drivers that are recognized by Windows. Even if the drivers do show up in your Control Panel, they may be outdated or installed improperly. Download the latest drivers available for your MIDI interface or sound card, and install the drivers according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Drivers can normally be downloaded from the manufacturer's website. Always restart your computer after installing any drivers.

Try returning Band-in-a-Box® to factory settings

You can select the Return to factory settings item under the Options. menu, and this will return many settings (but not all) to their defaults.
Try playing a midi or audio file outside of Band-in-a-Box®
To isolate if it is a Band-in-a-Box® specific problem, or a global problem with your computer, save a Band-in-a-Box® song as a MIDI file or .WAV file, close Band-in-a-Box®, and try playing the file with Windows Media Player. If there is no sound, this might mean that the problem is not specific to Band-in-a-Box®.

*Band-in-a-Box® 2008 and earlier, no sound, special case on Vista/7/10*

This describes a possible fix for a special case of "no sound" with Band-in-a-Box® 2008 or earlier on Windows Vista and Windows 7

PLEASE NOTE: This documents a "special case" of no sound that would only apply to a small number of users. You shouldn't need to follow these instructions.
This would only apply on some systems, and only after going to the Audio menu | Edit Audio | Adjust output level of audio (Quick).

This is only applicable to Band-in-a-Box® 2008 and earlier programs on Windows Vista, Windows 7 and higher operating systems.
This is only applicable if Band-in-a-Box® is the only application on your computer that doesn't have sound.

This is only applicable if you have already checked the Volume Mixer and other Sound settings to make sure the Band-in-a-Box® Application volume is not turned down, your sound device is working properly, and so on.

First, check what build of Band-in-a-Box® you have (Help | About Band-in-a-Box®). If you do not have the latest build 265, download and install the Update Patch to fix the problem. Then, don't use the 'Adjust output level of audio' menu item. Instead, adjust the Audio volume by simply clicking on the Audio track in the instrument panel at the top of the screen.
If you already have build 265, you could consider this solution. However please note that editing the registry is done at your own risk since making a mistake can cause problems with your computer. So you would only want to do this if you are confident that you understand the process and are comfortable making the change. You should back up the registry first.

Open the Registry Editor (Start menu, and type regedit)
Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig
Expand PropertyStore. Right-click on PropertyStore and click Find... type bbw.exe. It should find a key that looks SOMETHING LIKE this: ac6eg14e_0
With that selected, look in the right-hand pane under that data column and check that it has the path to your Band-in-a-Box® application, for example \bb\bbw.exe. You may need to make the Data column wider to see the path.
Delete that ONE key, and press F3 to search again. If there is another key under PropertyStore that also contains the same path (e.g. \bb\bbw.exe), delete that one also.