It would be useful to forum members and potential customers if PG Music published a feature comparison chart of Band-in-a-Box for Windows features as compared to features available in Band-in-a-Box for Mac.

I suggest the chart indicate: features that are the same in the current edition of both versions, similar but slightly different and exists in one but not the other.

An example of a feature available in both versions might be includes chord sheet window.

An example of a feature that might differ slightly might be keyboard shortcuts.

An example of a feature that exists in only one version might be includes RealBand.

Good idea Jim.
Also it would help Windows Users know how to support or recommend ideas to Mac users, by ensuring the feature exists before suggestion options.
+1

I agree.

+1

I know this has been asked before and has not been addressed to date. If someone would send me the Mac BIAB 2017 User Guide, I'd be happy to run it against the Windows features to get something started that can be posted. It might take a month or so, but then we could have something to reference.

Don't forget, there have been one or two features in the Mac version that the PC version did not have. And there's Garageband...

I can't take credit for the idea. Forum member Islansoul presented the idea in another forum thread. I just put Islansoul's idea in the wishlist section for discussion and to help PG Music become aware of the idea.

For THAT reason alone, I agree. +1

Here's a Mac/Win Menu Comparison, Win users can use it to support Mac users, just pause the videos to read, if you download the video it will play clear:

Watch Mac https://www.dropbox.com/s/iey9mhehz9cdxrq/MacBB_Menu.mp4?dl=0
Download Mac https://www.dropbox.com/s/iey9mhehz9cdxrq/MacBB_Menu.mp4?dl=1

Watch Win https://www.dropbox.com/s/3vh5pejrfyaaoa6/WinBB_Menu.mp4?dl=0
Download Win https://www.dropbox.com/s/3vh5pejrfyaaoa6/WinBB_Menu.mp4?dl=1

Click No Thanks Continue if you get a login

Thanks Pipeline.

Bump

Yes, I would love that. It would be nice to see what both versions offer.

Oh really?!
If you'll excuse me, but I don't think for a second you'll be able to back that statement up.
C'mon, I'll make it easier for you - Since you said "one or two", how about you name just two, then? No wait, I'll make it even easier for you - Name ONE!

p.s. And by the way, Garageband is entirely unrelated to PG, let alone BBox, and with absolutely none of the BBox-tailored functions of either RealBand or Powertrack - so that doesn't count.

And with that off my chest - I'm extremely pleased to see this thread, and from a PC user at that
Even more pleasing for the fact that it's getting backed up entirely from other PC users (a nice change from the "You chose Mac, just go PC or get stuffed" crowd amongst them).

Here is one. I was referring to this post #227021, December 9, 2013 by Peter Gannon.

Also, the Mac version is much simpler in terms of audio. There are no issues with latency, or drivers. There is built-in MIDI on the Mac, and it syncs up automatically with the audio. On the Windows side, there are drivers to pick, and latency issues (making it difficult to play along), and ASIO driver problems etc.

Look at all the problems in the PC version threads and you'll see the beauty of not having to answer questions on these two subjects.

The issue I have with that tune (which obviously I've heard before) is that, like with Garageband, this is something that is not a feature added or implemented into the Mac version of BBox by PG Music. And that is a Key Distinction.
Yet they use this example every chance they get to point out something in favour of the Mac version of BBox - case in point your very quote.

p.s. And just to be clear, none of what I've said (ever) on this subject is to be taken as any form of "attack" on PC users. So you need not feel like you have anything to "defend" here.

I think Matt has a Mac now so he will have both versions to compare and help out Mac users also.

Really? Brilliant

I just hope we've prepared him for the 'culture shock', heh

My signature indicates my setup. So far I am very impressed by what I have with the Mac version, but not so much by some of the users.

+1

The main thing I miss is the Piano Roll Editor, you get so used to it using in the Win version so when you are on the Mac you go looking for it then remember, oh no that's right..

Now there’s a calm and specific request I can support. I don’t use the piano roll editor so I don’t miss it, but if I did I would feel as you do.

+1

And I'm still scratching my head over that pointlessly vague "some users" remark, let alone the "snarky" bit...

Well, you obviously failed to show the proper reverence for the software! Heretic!

It is also curious that anyone would claim that the BIAB Mac version has features that the BIAB PC version doesn't have and that those "features" are...wait for it...that the Mac is a better platform than the PC! Oh and Garageband.

Full disclosure...I am a PC man. I've had Macs. They are clearly better. Always have been. But I am cheap and PCs have always been more popular so I have more options.

Would this be the right time to again suggest we need a 64-bit common version of BIAB for both PC and Mac? Same features. Same functions. (But not the same bugs; the Mac folks can keep those!!)

hehehe, that whole post is just bloody brilliant from start to finish!

Thanks for that, Mr. John, you just made my day

<The main thing I miss is the Piano Roll Editor, you get so used to it using in the Win version so when you are on the Mac you go looking for it then remember, oh no that's right..>


ME TOO!

Its time there was parity. I can't think of a single other pro-audio software developer which sells to both PC and Mac markets and yet has - for decades had a policy of non-parity and eschews aiming for an exact parity and GUI look and feel match between platforms.

For heavens sake... there's even legacy GUi code in the Mac version that has been around since the Atari ST!.. And looks like it.

I mean ... seriously folks ! I love BIAB - but jeez! sheesh!

What bugs?

+1

I've jumped in to help someone only to find out that they have the Mac version and none of my suggestion would apply to Mac.

That led to my suggestion of a template for questions which would include version ( Windows or Mac ); Build number; System RAM; Exact computer details; all other details that could affect the problem. The same questions that Tech Support would ask/need to solve problems. This could be a template that users would fill out before posting a question/problem. It would save everyone time and frustration in the long run.

I don't read notation very well but with the piano roll mode I can drag things around and edit the music by ear. That's another vote for the Windows version.

Icelander is brigging up the main two points I am trying to make. First, the fact that Macs have GarageBand is irrelevant to BIAB, RealBand or Powertracks as GaragBand is in now way similar to BIAB, RealBand or Powertracks. Second, the Mac version always lacks a lot of the features the PC version does and PG Music won't tell you that. A perfect example of this is the Jukebox. In the PC version, you can use it to create setlists of songs you made to perform live. It would seem like to no brainer to put that in the Mac version, but it's not there. Anyways, that's not the point.

My point is that I want to see PG Music be transparent. I should be able download a PDF explicitly layingout what bother versions offer to their commonalities and their differences. I want to know why RealBand or Powertracks has never been made for the Mac, or how the new Mac version comparies to the Windows version realesed six months before it. I should have been told when deciding on BIAB that the Mac version wasn't going to have all the features of the PC or have RealBand or Poertracks. That's all.

P.S. I've gotton off of the PC loving BIAB rant.

So why isn't PG Music capitalizing on the Mac's advantages when it comes to dealing with audio? That quote by Peter proves that RealBand and Powertrack what did be more efficient in the Mac OS.

Sorry to resurrect this dated post, but wanted to point out that I (and probably others) have wasted 1+ hours to first find that some useful BIAB features can be controlled wIt’s a QWERTY keyboard or foot switches (via Conductor window), but that those capabilities do not exist in the MAC version.
It would be really nice, in fact very helpful, if the PC/MAC version differences would be documented somewhere. I might say, that even a clearly visible note stating that there are differences and how to discover them would have been already very helpful.

It would be even more helpful if these differences would be eliminated altogether!

Oh, and don't be "sorry", you're keeping the kindle lit on an issue that clearly is very much still present.

I agree, it would be nice if the differences were completely eliminated, with the understanding that there are differences in how the two platforms handle audio.

One of the earlier posts in this thread asked about 64-bit, and that has been accomplished. As part of that project, I recall it was explained to us that the same code base is now used for both Windows and Mac. Why there would then be any feature differences remaining, is a good question. But at least it has resulted in the Mac version arriving much faster after the Windows version than it used to.

The missing Conductor is particular surprising to me given that there are other QWERTY keyboard input dependent features available and there seems to be no other system interface dependency. It looks almost like the SW developer did forget to remove #ifdefs in code that are no longer needed.
As somebody who is just considering to up/cross-grade to the latest version it is puzzling how different the BIAB Windows menu is between the PC and MAC Version considering the 2 versions are apparently built from the same source base. There are quite a few entries in the PC version that do not exist in the MAC, but also the other way around.
Maybe the missing feature entries in the PC version are accessible through other means. A PC version owner may want to check whether they can really do everything the MAC version can do ...

Definitely agree that the best outcome is to have no functionality differences, however, while there are, a comparison chart could be beneficial for users looking for availability of features.

+1

Bump

Operating System Compatibility
JUCE is a cross platform framework allowing a single codebase to compile to native applications and plug-ins with the same user experience on Windows, macOS, Linux...