| Author |
Topic: BIAB type thing |
Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
|
Posted 31 Dec 2003 1:35 pm |
|
| I was reading some where that there is something around that is similar to BIAB that is a self contained portable unit. Anybody know what this is and how ot find out more about it? Billy W |
|
|
 |
Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
|
Posted 1 Jan 2004 10:32 am
|
|
Sure. It's called a laptop computer.
There are also sequencers that are available in standalone format -- the Roland SoundCanvas models come to mind. But those have none of the compositional capabilities of BIAB, only generate the sounds and store the sequences of notes.
I'd go with a good laptop. They're under $1000 for a decent brand and horsepower these days. You may even find something used that's acceptable. Be sure to look at the hardware requirements on the BIAB website and/or package to avoid expensive surprises. I suspect you'll need at least 800MHz and 256Mb RAM (for a Windows/Intel or AMD based machine), but take a look at the website for more definitive info.
Good luck.[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 01 January 2004 at 10:35 AM.] |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 1 Jan 2004 1:24 pm
|
|
The BIAB system requirements are pretty minimal. In my teaching studio I have a 1995 Pentium 1 computer with Windows 95 that I'm using for running BIAB, and it works great. The sound card is a little iffy, but the BIAB program runs fine on it. One of my students runs BIAB on his 2 year old laptop and works fine. Here's what the BIAB site says about system requirements:
To get the best performance from our programs you would want a fairly up-to-date computer and a good quality MIDI hardware device or wavetable sound card. For Windows 3.1 users we require at minimum of a 486 processor or better and 8 MBs of RAM. For Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP users we recommend a Pentium Class (or better) a minimum of 8MB of available RAM (16MB or greater preferred), and at least 20MB free on the hard drive. A CD-ROM drive is also recommended for ease of install. Some programs, such as the Performance Series products, ship only on CD-ROM.
For the Macintosh you must have at least a 68030 processor computer. We recommend a PowerMac, iMAC/G3 or better, running System 7.5 or later, and 8 MB of available RAM. Many of our programs, including Band-In-A Box, can run on earlier, less powerful models. Call, fax or e-mail if you aren't sure about your system.
------------------
My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 01 January 2004 at 01:26 PM.] |
|
|
|
Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
|
Posted 1 Jan 2004 1:31 pm
|
|
| There are some amazing cheap keyboard synthesizers such as Yamaha DGX-202 (under $300) that can sound like a band. |
|
|
|
Russ Wever
From:
Kansas City
|
Posted 2 Jan 2004 10:23 pm
|
|
Billy,
Perhaps it is the Boss DR-5, which is a self-contained unit that, in essence, is a four-track loop-based sequncer. Fairly popular with steelplayers, particularly before the proliferation of Band-In-A-Box.
~Russ[This message was edited by Russ Wever on 02 January 2004 at 10:27 PM.] |
|
|
|
Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
|
Posted 3 Jan 2004 6:50 pm
|
|
| Thanks for the replys guys. Turns out the thing I heard about is called a Boss Jam Station. I checked it out on Musicians Friend and it is a 4 track practice and performance device wich could work for what I want to do. I'm lookin to be able to go and do gigs as a solo when the budget is not there for a combo. Anybody doin this? At this point I'm thinking of using pre-recorded tracks of me playing the other instruments. I recorded a Xmas ukulele CD on a Roland VS880 didgital machine and really liked it. It is portable enough that I could record with it AND use it as the backing track player as well. Anybody got any better ideas? BW |
|
|
|
Tim Hurst
From:
Newport, TN
|
Posted 3 Jan 2004 8:13 pm
|
|
Billy, I believe you are referring to a Boss JS-5. I have one for sale in Buy and Sell, along with the video manual. It seems to work well and is of typical Boss quality, but I don't have time to learn it in depth.
|
|
|
|
Don Olson
From:
Muscatine,Ia. USA
|
Posted 4 Jan 2004 8:33 am
|
|
I use BIAB in a trio using a SC55 sound brush and sound canvas,sounds great and works great.You can find them on Ebay really cheap compared to what they were new.The problem with keyboards and other Roland devices is you can't alter the styles such as intros and endings.BIAB you can change most anything after you learn the program and it is not hard to learn.
ZUMSTEEL FOREVER
|
|
|
|
Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
|
Posted 4 Jan 2004 11:40 am
|
|
Billy, you gotta promise me that you're not going to do a Christmas banjo CD.  |
|
|
|
Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
|
Posted 4 Jan 2004 9:13 pm
|
|
Don, what is a sound brush and canvas? I assume this is a lap top computer set up of some kind.
b0b. Thanks for puttin yer snail mail on here. The CD Yuketide is on its way to you. Not to worry, no Banjo CDs coming. BW |
|
|
|
Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
|
Posted 5 Jan 2004 9:29 am
|
|
We need to be clear on what your requirements are here. That makes a BIG difference.
You mentioned 'like BIAB' as a requirement, so I assumed you needed a tool that would turn chord progressions into rhythm tracks. That's the main function of BIAB, from my perspective. A sequencer (hardware or software) will NOT do that. A sequencer WILL take a MIDI instrument as an input device and record whatever you play for future use. It will also accept general midi (GM) files (usually on floppy discs) and play those back. But a sequencer, whether it be a sound canvas, dedicated keyboard instrument, or software application, usually does not include the ability to COMPOSE PARTS.
If all you need is the ability to play back midi sequences, a laptop computer may be overkill, but it's still an excellent option.
------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
|
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 5 Jan 2004 11:46 am
|
|
Billy,
Sound Brush & Sound Canvas:
If I remember right, one is used to record the midi info and the other is a tone generator to play it back.
But then, I've been known to be wrong before!
Erv[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 05 January 2004 at 11:48 AM.] |
|
|
|
Don Olson
From:
Muscatine,Ia. USA
|
Posted 5 Jan 2004 6:34 pm
|
|
Your right Erv the Sound Brush is a MIDI player and the Sound Canvas is a sound modual.I use a computer with BIAB to put the tune together then put it on a 3.5 disk to play in the sound Canvas.
Don |
|
|
|
