BIAB Family: Which DAW introduces the smallest amount of noise (signal to noise ratio)? I'm replacing my SD-80.

Generally speaking, a DAW does not introduce noise.

Your interface does. So you may want to edit the question Johnny.

Signal to noise starts at the preamp. I'd consider getting a couple good preamps in whatever configuration you prefer.

For an interface many here use Focusrite (I have one, though I also have 3 Delta 1010s available and tend to beat on those more, but they are getting long in the tooth). Focusrite preamps are nice. 90db (member here) posted a nice deal in another tread.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlet2i2SG2

Your old SD had a synth on it also, didn't it? Or am I confusing models. If it did, are you comfortable splitting up audio and MIDI, or do you still want it all in one?

OK, rHarv! That helps a lot. Yes, my Edirol SD-80 is a hardware synth, and I don't mind mixing a hardware synth along with the RT's. And now that you mention it, my "noise" is probably coming from my powered speakers and is most likely NOT on my tracks. These "power supplies" for the compact speakers today are maybe NOT filtered as well as they should be. My noise evokes a low "B" musical note, a dead giveaway of an alternating current problem! Ya got me thinking . . . JZ

Sonar X1e with a Focusrite Saffire interface on a custom built machine.

Love it.... very quiet.

Personally built machine (new with 4 meg RAM)
Sonar X3 Producer
Delta 44 for audio (it's an antique also but drivers work fine in Win7)
KRK Rockit 8's for monitors

Download any free trials that are available and see which interface seems more intuitive to you...then decide.

BIAB is a great program to keep one fired up.

Spend well....back to it.

Johnny, that B is likely your B, or concert A, yes? We should be able to solve that one with a discussion about power (and possibly RFI).

I had an Edirol SD-80. It is made by Roland and is a MIDI synth. It does not handle audio.

I thought the SD-80 was an excellent unit. It was the first unit I connected via digital (using SP/DIF). In testing I quickly decided the digital connection sounded 'cleaner' than the analog TRS cables.

Custom built computer
Sonar Platinum
Roland Octa-Capture
M-Audio SP-5B monitors

Love it - very quiet.

i use flstudio

As rharv pointed out, the DAW software is the least likely place in your entire signal chain to introduce noise.

Any of the major brands of audio interfaces have pretty decent input and output stages for audio.

I might venture off just slightly from rharv in that if you are purchasing a prosumer level of audio interface like the majority of us in this forum, buying an external preamp may not be advised because of the inherent chance for noise and impedance mismatching that can happen by putting an external preamp and cabling into the signal chain. Many folks on this forum used to have a mixer in between their sound sources and the input of their A/D on their sound card. Not sure how many people still run that kind of setup as often it introduces low level noise unnecessarily.

Very few microphones on the market at the prosumer level that can't get sufficient gain from the preamps built into the audio interface and instead require an external preamp. Same is true for line level devices.
Most noise free signal chain is almost always the least number of cables and other devices between your sources and the input stages of your audio interface.

Neat! Those comments taught me. In further checking, I found the sound amplifier I WAS using was the culprit. In replacing that, all "noise" is gone. And being a "purist", I still want to sparingly use the SD-80. Anybody know where I can get a driver for that? I'm on Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit. None of the "available" ones on the internet work. But I did find one for my MAC PRO, but I need one for the PC so as to work "in tandem" with the audio. JZ

Johnny, are you sure about the driver? They released a driver for Windows 7 and updated it for 8.1, including in 64-bit, so the one for 8.1 should be loadable into Windows 10. Are you familiar with using the Compatibility Mode when installing?

https://www.roland.com/global/support/by_product/sd-80/updates_drivers/

Out of curiosity I did some research.

Don't know what hoops you're willing to go through to get the SD-80 up and running but I stumbled on this YTube video by a privateer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2aSb4q2Kvw

Scroll about 1/2 way down the page to a post by The Random Concept.
This process worked for his SD-80.

There's also a "Method II"....3rd vid down on the right side.

Matt: I saw that Roland site also but figured he'd tried the Win 8 drivers but didn't work.
I wonder if 64 bit OS is more of an issue than the Win 10 OS itself.
That's just a guess.

Hope that helps....

Thanks, Chulaivet1966 Great research! Stayed with my MAC. Works fine. JZ

I couldn't figure out the "compat" mode, Matt. For some reason, no interface would come up. So I've gone back to my "trusty" MAC. Works fine there.

Thanks, JZ

I have and use SONAR Plat, Reaper and Studio One ... at different times.

Work flows and features vary greatly between them and other DAW software. Your best bet is to demo all you're interested in to see which fits you best.

Johnny, it's a right-click on the installer's filename when in Windows File Explorer. Select: Troubleshoot Compatibility.

ProTools running on an HP Z-book, JBL speakers and ROR mix monitors.