Soundcard error message with Band in a Box

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Nov 2001 9:34 pm

All of a sudden, when I try to play BIAB files, the program tells me my sound card is installed correctly but is currently in use by another program, when there is NO other program even open! What does this mean?? And what do I do about it???
Thanks!
JC

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 22 Nov 2001 5:16 am

Exactly what it is telling you (sort of). Another application (program) that you previously used did not "release" the sound card after you closed that program or another program is running (even in the background) and has the sound card captured.

Some potential programs that have been know to do that occasionally include RealPlayer, WinAmp and Music Match Jukebox. If you have any of those "always active" (in the lower right of your task bar) that is a potential source. Since they are in a "hot" state one could be "using" the sound card.

The next time you get that, do a "CTRL/ALT/DEL" (hit all three keys at the same time) and it will bring up a "Close Program" panel which lists all the running applications on your PC. Look in that list for another running audio application and that may be the culprit. If you find one, highlight it and then click "End Task" and then close and restart BIAB and see if that fixes it.

Which brings up another point. If you have any of those on the task bar, get rid of them. They only use "system resources". Many programs want to put a "quick access" icon (and load a program in memory) for faster access but it's not really needed.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Nov 2001 8:01 am

Thanks, Jack. I've closed everything else and I still get the problem! So I updated my virus software and re-ran a scan... and found no virus. I'm stumped. Any more ideas? Thanks for your help,
Jim

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Nov 2001 8:31 am

Try the user setups for the soundcard in BIAB. Maybe it got screwed up and by resetting it, it may correct the problem.

Go back over what you have recently installed or changed and see if that correlates with when the BIAB problem started. Maybe you can figure out what caused the problem???????

All this thinking is causing me to go for the Jack Daniels bottle.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Nov 2001 8:34 am

Hold that bottle, Jack! I just tried it again... and the problem is now not there! I dunno why... well, let's hope it stays put this time.
Thanks for your help.
jc

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Nov 2001 8:36 am

There is something that is not Kosher. It may come back.....

Too late on the Jack, any excuse will do.

George Wixon · Post by **George Wixon** » 23 Nov 2001 8:55 am

Jim,
I also had this problem when I first went to try to do a wave file. One of the things that I did do was to upgrade to a newer sound card that was full duplex as compared to my old one. I now use the Sound Blaster 16PCI card as compared to the old soundblaster I was using and all my problems went away. This new sound card also comes with some great software. The wave recorder will even allow you to record Steelguitarradio while you are running winamp.Hope this helps.
Regards,
George

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Nov 2001 5:26 pm

So far, so good. But here's yet another BIAB problem I'm having lately. Every time I launch BIAB, there is no sound. I have to drop down the Options menu and re-set the sound card, then click "OK" and then it will play with sound. But I have to do this EVERY time I launch the program, all over again. Any idea what's up with that?? Don't know if it's related to the other problem above, or not.
Thx
jc

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Nov 2001 4:30 am

Sounds like all the problems are in BIAB.

What version do you have, 10? Make sure you have the updates, I think they are up to 10c.

You may have to uninstall/re-install BIAB as a file may have been clobbered. If you go this route, make sure you backup any song files you have first. Then do an uninstall and make sure everything in the c:/bb folder is gone. Restart windows and then do the install (then copy your song files back to the BIAB folder - I keep my song files in a separate sub-folder e.g. c:/bb/jax rather than intermingle them with the BIAB program files).