Simple (I hope) question about Bandlab and Microsoft Surface

Maybe this question is better asked on the Bandlab forum is there is such a thing, but I thought I would throw it out here in case anybody has some advice.  I have several different equipment setups for doing recording in the field.  All of these are hardware based, ranging from zoom recorders to full Behringer X32 consoles.  That is all fine, but it means I can only record if I have planned in advance to do so, because I don't normally carry that stuff with me.
 
There are times when it would be nice to make a decent stereo recording, when the need arises unexpectedly.  In my car, I generally keep a Microsoft Surface 3 (which is one of the Surface products that can run regular Windows apps.)  And I also keep in my car a small Behringer battery-powered PA.  That PA is of no use in recording, but in the bag with that amp I have a Behringer Ultralink ULM202USB, which is two wireless dynamic microphones and a USB dongle.  They work with that amp seamlessly.  But you can also plug the USB dongle into a PC or Mac to have those microphones available to PC software.  That all works and the sound quality is actually pretty good considering these are basically $50 dynamics connecting over wireless.
 
It occurred to me that if I installed a lightweight recording app on my Surface, I would be able to do a stereo recording any time I have my car with me.  I definitely don't want to install anything as bulky as SONAR or Reaper on my Surface.  It probably wouldn't even fit.  So I tested this arrangement using Audacity on a Windows 10 desktop and that worked very well.
 
I was getting ready to install Audacity on the Surface and then did a face plant.  Why am I thinking about Audacity when Bandlab ought to work and eventually have a connection back to SONAR?  Am I missing something?  Here are my questions:
 

1. It looks like there is a Bandlab app that works with Windows 10.  Does anybody know a reason why this wouldn't work with a Surface 3?  Does Bandlab absolutely require a mouse, or could I get by with touch?  I do have a Surface pen if necessary.
2. My Surface isn't connected to a network most of the time.  Will the Bandlab app work offline if there is no network available?

 
 

Sonar Platinum works just fine on that Surface 3! I have one myself!
 
R

For off the cuff field recording, I use an android phone and external Sony android phone stereo mic which lives in my pocket at all times the Field Recorder App. Sonar works well with MS Surface apparently, but I heard that Surface isn't good - don't know if that's true as I haven't tried it. I imagine Bandlab will keep Sonar's Surface integration - it would be pretty dumb not too.

There is a small Windows "metro" app called Recording Studio Pro for $8 that looks like it will do what I need.  There is a free version, but you cannot export WAV files.  You can poke around on the filesystem and find the WAV fragments.  I haven't found a way to set the mic sensitivity level, but I assume there must be a way to do that.
 
I'm probably just as well off with Audacity.

Larry Jones
Is there some reason you don't want to use your Zoom recorder? I have a Tascam handheld that I don't use as much as I expected to, but when I do the quality is shockingly good, and the thing would transport easier than any PC -- even a Surface.

Mainly because I am anal about inventorying my equipment.  I use the Zoom recorders quite a lot -- I have an H6 and a Q8.  They are terrific.  But I don't keep them in my car.  They have a specific storage location so I always know where to find them when I need them for a job.
 
I keep the Surface in my car all the time as my office on the road.
 
I guess I could buy another field recorder and leave it in the car.  A Zoom H1n is about $100.

There is also a program called MultiTrackStudio, the lite version is free, it can only do 3 mono or stereo tracks and 2x2 I/O, I just installed it and the 32 bit version is only 10.5mb.

Strryder
There is also a program called MultiTrackStudio, the lite version is free, it can only do 3 mono or stereo tracks and 2x2 I/O, I just installed it and the 32 bit version is only 10.5mb.

That looks like exactly what I need.  I installed the Lite version.  Under Studio - Devices, I can select
Driver type: Windows
Audio-In Device: Microphone (ULM200D Wireless Receiver)
 
All of that is correct.  But when I add an audio track, the Input button remains gray, indicating no audio devices are available.  In other words, the program sees my mics but I can't get it to use them.
 
MultiTrackStudio does recognize and record from my Samson wireless mic.  I can see the waveform available for edit.  But I can't play back anything.  Even when I explicitly select the output device to the be the Intel SST audio device (built-in) it says "the selected Audio/MIDI devices cannot playback or record these tracks."
 
If everything worked, this would be a great little program.  These things all worked automatically on Audacity.
 
====
 
Update: In selecting devices, there is an option to select Windows XP mode instead of Windows 10.  The vendor doesn't recommend this because of latency.  Latency is not an issue in my case because I would just be doing a simple live recording and probably not doing any multi-tracking (at least for now).
 
Bandlab ought to buy this program, or at least work with the vendor to synchronize with the Bandlab cloud.
I think I'll try this program a few times with that pair of Behringer wireless USB mics.  If that works out, then I might get a Blue Yeti mic to keep in my car.  That would be more flexible in most cases, being switchable between stereo (for ensembles) and bi-directional (for inerviews)
https://www.bluedesigns.c..outube-and-podcasting/#

Grem
I have SPlat, ... installed on my surface pro 3 (in sig)
...
My Surface is only 128gb and I have installed a 128gb SD card.
...
 With the i7/8gb ram in here, there is not much I can't do with it. It has surprised the hell out of me to be honest. 

Well, maybe Bandlab should produce a small footprint version of SONAR targeting the Surface and other Windows laptop/notebooks.  In other words, a full function SONAR for the fully equipped studio / final production.  And a "portable SONAR" mainly for the creative end of the spectrum.

abacab
As is, Home Studio skips the Pro Channel, aux tracks, and synth rack.  Things you really don't need until you sit down in the studio to mix.

Absolutely.  In the field, desktop real estate is at a premium.  You need every pixel to be productive.  I view the field as where you want to collect ideas and recordings, but really don't need to do major mixing, other than just for a quick demo.  If that "Home Studio" version automatically synced to the cloud, and the project was already on my "big SONAR" when I got home, that would be great.
 
At home I have unlimited storage, good monitors, with subs, and lots of glass (3 big monitors), and some FX that I might not ever want to use in the field (like Neutron or Melodyne). Other people have in their main studio control surfaces, outboard gear and other acoustic or MIDI instruments.  I definitely see the road as a completely different set of requirements from the main studio.  If it could all synchronize, that would be a dream.

abacab
Sounds like a feature request to me! 

Maybe something like an "installation template".  For me doing mainly live recording, I would only be interested in the mobile rig doing audio capture.  I wouldn't want any loops or MIDI instruments, and I wouldn't want most of the FX.  I'd want a basic verb, compressor, EQ and limiter.  For me, maybe that means I would ONLY want the prochannel strip + Concrete Limiter and none of the other VSTs.
 
For a person who wants to do composition away from home, there would probably be a different combination, but they still might want it to be a compact footprint.
 
 

cparmerlee
I decided to go ahead and install the Bandlab Windows app. 
 
Well ...
 
I don't think there is one.  They say Bandlab works on all your devices, but evidently there are only special apps for Android and iPad.  It seems for all other platforms, you have to use the Chrome browser.  And that requires you to be online.
 
So much for Bandlab as the solution to this problem.  It would have been cool to be able to record into a Bandlab app on the Surface , then later connect to WiFi for those tracks to sync to the cloud, and then have them show up in SONAR when I get home.

abacab

cparmerlee
I decided to go ahead and install the Bandlab Windows app. 
 
Well ...
 
I don't think there is one.  They say Bandlab works on all your devices, but evidently there are only special apps for Android and iPad.  It seems for all other platforms, you have to use the Chrome browser.  And that requires you to be online.
 
So much for Bandlab as the solution to this problem.  It would have been cool to be able to record into a Bandlab app on the Surface , then later connect to WiFi for those tracks to sync to the cloud, and then have them show up in SONAR when I get home.

too subtle?

mettelus

cparmerlee

Then Bandlab replied to another user saying

BandLab needs an internet connection on Chrome so you can use it and isn't available offline

I guess you can make assumptions on the demographic this targets.

I am not sure it is a demographic issue, although it could be.  It may be that in Singapore, free WiFi access is universally available, so folks there don't have any concept of being offline.
 
I haven't been to Singapore for 15 years, so I don't know for sure.  But if there is anyplace in the world with universal WiFi access, I bet it would be Singapore.

Privacy and security are now intertwined, for better or worse...
 
I think that an end user should be fully informed with any app when using connections that may 'share' personal info.
 
Having a convenient on/off toggle for 'sharing' or being 'online' is a must!  Burying these privacy details in a terms of service or license agreement is disgusting.  It should always be opt-in by default.
 
I am all for leveraging the conveniences of social media, but we must remain vigilant for those who would choose to exploit the increasing complacency of the connected masses.  /rant off ...