"iPad BIAB" app vs "iReal Pro" app. - 07/17/15 06:25 PM
One can simply open and import via Dropbox all your .mgu or .sgu files in the iPad BIAB app. So I did create a simple Dropbox directory containing all the files in a #_z directory structure (for easy search) and downloaded the lot (ca 6000 Yahoo BIAB files see: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17816826/BIAB%20Yahoo%20group%20ZIP%20files.zip ).
In the app you can transpose the files in the "preferences" to any different key, and you can do this on the spot.
The app is developed to import the .mp4 music from your PC along with the chords for play-along, this is imho too complicated since it needs a connection to a running BIAB server. Play along is one part, but beïng able to read, to transpose and to exchange BIAB chord files on the spot is a more important part for many musicians, which can be done without your running server by importing only the .mgu files.
Since you cannot convert BIAB files ( or any type of music file) into the iReal Pro format the only way to import BIAB chords into iReal Pro is manually which is a hassle. So it would be nice if reading and transposing BIAB files could be done directly in the BIAB app having similar results like iReal Pro.
For play-along iReal Pro uses a simple set of adjustable standard downloadable background rhythmes. This is missing in the BIAB app ( if the mp4's are not available, which is a hassle for many users). Importing some adjustable standard files and coupling these with the .mgu files should be an wished option for this app. Then the transposing function is a "general app" preference setting which transposes all files adapting for a typical instrument key valid for all imported files. In practice you really want to open any file the next time in the typical last preferred key, instead of each time changing the preference to get your preferred key again. Also the number of measures should be saved with the file instead of beïng a preference setting for all files.
So yes the BIAB app is usable for reading .mgu files and transposing on the spot but is lacking some basic features which could when implemented make the "iPad BIAB" app a much more desirable and used app.
Rob
In the app you can transpose the files in the "preferences" to any different key, and you can do this on the spot.
The app is developed to import the .mp4 music from your PC along with the chords for play-along, this is imho too complicated since it needs a connection to a running BIAB server. Play along is one part, but beïng able to read, to transpose and to exchange BIAB chord files on the spot is a more important part for many musicians, which can be done without your running server by importing only the .mgu files.
Since you cannot convert BIAB files ( or any type of music file) into the iReal Pro format the only way to import BIAB chords into iReal Pro is manually which is a hassle. So it would be nice if reading and transposing BIAB files could be done directly in the BIAB app having similar results like iReal Pro.
For play-along iReal Pro uses a simple set of adjustable standard downloadable background rhythmes. This is missing in the BIAB app ( if the mp4's are not available, which is a hassle for many users). Importing some adjustable standard files and coupling these with the .mgu files should be an wished option for this app. Then the transposing function is a "general app" preference setting which transposes all files adapting for a typical instrument key valid for all imported files. In practice you really want to open any file the next time in the typical last preferred key, instead of each time changing the preference to get your preferred key again. Also the number of measures should be saved with the file instead of beïng a preference setting for all files.
So yes the BIAB app is usable for reading .mgu files and transposing on the spot but is lacking some basic features which could when implemented make the "iPad BIAB" app a much more desirable and used app.
Rob