Flash message when selecting a folder:
"FP32.EXE is an older version. The custom file dialog's combo box and filter may not display newly supported file extensions such as MP4, M4A, etc."

In order to pursuade the consumer to upgrade, the software vendor adds support to new file formats. That is fine.

So where is the version of FP32.EXE that supports these newly-supported formats?

Truth is, the version of FP32.EXE that ships with Power Tracks Pro Audio 2016 is not "an older version." It is the latest version.

Why ship a file browser that cannot even display the new files that are supposed to be supported by the program?

And even the purported support of said files is questionable. I have not succeeded in getting 2016 to load a single MP4 file. Perhaps some of you have. I either get a "Error = -2093" message or the program crashes completely. "QuickTime may not be installed correctly. QuickTime version cannot be determined."

There are several programs that can load an .mp4 flawlessly, some of them free (e.g., VLC Media Player).

And what about the pdf printer that now ships with this program?

"The free versions of Software 995 products are fully functional but will display sponsor pages each time they are used. If you would prefer not to see sponsor pages, you may upgrade."

I already "upgraded."

To any licensee of version 2012 who is considering upgrading: save your money.

Ramalam,

Did any of the suggestions in Part 1 help?


When you say "selecting a folder", can you give some more information about how you select the folder. Which menu item do you use to get to this particular 'select'? Is it 'Save", 'Save As', 'Open', 'Import', etc? (I'd like to try an reproduce your problem so that I can offer some assistance but I can't do so without more details.)


What is the date modified for your FP32.EXE found in the \pt directory? Also, what is its size?


Do you have Quicktime installed on your computer? As far as I'm aware, playing an mp4 video requires Quicktime specifically.


When you upgraded to the paid version of 995, I imagine you received a serial number by email. It sounds like that when you installed PTPA you've also installed pdf995 and that this has overwritten your previous, upgraded version. Re-entering the serial number should solve this.

Lastly...

What version of Windows are you running?

Regards,
Noel

P.S. As mentioned before, if you are not happy, simply ask for a refund of what you paid (I'm assuming it's US$29 as an upgrade from 2012). PG Music are honorable and will stand by their guarantee.

The suggestions did not help. Power Tracks Pro Audio 2016 continues to "nag" me that I don't have a valid install of Band-in-a-Box each time I launch the program.

You will not be able to reproduce the problem(s) unless you're applying the "upgrade" on a computer (Win 7) that does not already have Band-in-a-Box installed.

Power Tracks Pro Audio, which I've used on and off since the late 1990's, was always a mixture of good and bad, mitigated somewhat by its incredibly reasonable $29 licensing fee and lack of intrusive copy protection.

Over the years, the price went up, new features were added, some of which worked well, some not, and the software company did away with downloadble "crippled" demos that you could try before you buy . . . with this new release, the bad now outweighs the good.

A program that NAGS you because you don't have another, far more expensive program installed? Deal breaker.

A program that installs a PDF printer that delivers ADVERTISEMENTS to your computer? Deal breaker.

A program that can't open a "supported" file format, and sometimes crashes, unless ANOTHER program (eg. QuickTime) is properly installed? Deal breaker.

Power Tracks Pro Audio 2012 has its problems and limitations to be sure, but the things I like about it make me overlook its flaws. This NEW release offers me nothing of any value.

I was intrigued by the "node-based" editing and thought it was something like the "automations" offered by other DAWs. Now I see it only affects the track volume.

The new toolbars are a mess. PG Music seems to have removed the user's ability to add and remove buttons from the toolbars -- plus, I don't see any way to make the buttons smaller. They use up too much "real estate" on the screen -- unless the user does away with them completely. (Maybe I'm wrong on this last point; maybe the new toolbars are cusomizable. But I guess I'll never know because I'm getting rid of the program -- ALONG WITH its advertising-delivering PDF printer -- and going back to version 2012.)

FP32.exe is
size: 969,728 bytes
size on disk: 970,752 bytes
modified: Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 12:09:44 a.m.

FWIW
In my 2016 PT folder, the FP.exe file properties reports the same as above.
However I do not get the nagging issue mentioned.

I recently installed PT2016. I seem to recall a similar problem in the past with that "Older Version" error message and that PG support solved it for me very quickly---but I don't remember the fix. Regarding the fp32.EXE file properties, how's this for bizarre: Creation Date is June 23, 2015 but the Modified Date is October 15, 2008. Contact support,

Paj
8^)

BTW, my drumkit window is working for the first time in years with PT2016.

1. Your FP32.exe size and dates are identical to mine (I'm running Win 7 Pro 64 and PT2016) so that's probably not an issue.


2.


Are you running Win 10 by chance? If so, didn't Win 10 (last week?) just remove QuickTime as a security risk now that Apple won't support updates on MS OS?


3.


Agree the price was (and is) GREAT for a DAW but upgrades from ANY previous version is still only $29 - so not sure where you got "price went up" ????

http://www.pgmusic.com/powertracks.packages.htm


4. As to your over all problems:

a) I TRULY hope you get them fixed (I'd uninstall, clean-up i.e., make sure nothing is left behind, and then do a reinstall and to a new directory name), and


b) I cannot believe the "NAG" is a PG Music corp. "ad" trying to get you to buy BIAB. It's simply your PTPA configuration is having issues (wish I could help you get them sorted out) with making PTPA LOOK to the correct directory(s)/paths for "stuff." Or your install is partially corrupted (see comment above - uninstall/reinstall it's a trivial install anyway)


Maybe something like (I'm blindly SPIT BALLING here) the following is the issue:

maybe the StyleLocation.ini (a text editable file) in "X:\PT2016 (or whatever you named it)\Data\StyleLocation.ini" is looking to the default "C:\BB\" directory path, which doesn't exist becasue you don't have Band in a Box, instead of PowerTracks directory?


Good Luck!
Larry

There should not be ads when running the PDF printer from PTW (only when running it from other programs)

In the next update there will be a newer version of FP32.EXE included.

In the next update there will be a way to prevent the folders dialog from appearing every time the program is run. (for those without BB)

Thanks.