From your above images, I noted that the song being opened was Frontier.mp3 found in \bb\Tutorials - 2007. (Fred took this screen shot from the PG Music tutorial.)
When I tried opening that particular file, or the Frontier.wma file, I got the below error. This error seems to suggest that there is a file called INPUT.TXT that is also required for ACW.
The good news is that when I navigated to another directory and opened a different WAV, the ACW opened fine.
I've reported this error to Support.
Regards, Noel
P.S. It seems that I can now no longer open any mp3s in ACW
Last edited by Noel96; 09/09/1610:06 AM. Reason: post script added
It seems that the reason that I could no longer open mp3s (as noted above) was because BIAB or ACW created a file called INPUT.TXT in the \bb directory.
When I located that file and effectively deleted it by renaming it, I could once again open mp3s. Interesting!
With this in mind, Fred et al, have a look in your \bb folder and see if there is a file called INPUT.TXT and, if there is, rename it to INPUT.TXT.OLD. Now exit and restart BIAB and see if the ACW works. (Forcing a new INPUT.TXT to be created would seem to be the equivalent of a factory reset for ACW.)
Frontier.mp3 (in \bb\Tutorials - 2007) now opens fine for me also.
P.S. Thanks Charlie for giving me a new direction to work in
After loading the audio file with ACW within BIAB. The audio can be played within BIAB with great quality. The problem is ACW would not launched automatically to generate Chords to be sent to BIAB. I located "ACW.exe" in my hard drive and manually launched it. I finally can get access to ACW after all these times. ACW is now active and generate chords. The problem now is ACW cannot Send the generated chords TO BIAB NOW. After I "set to bar 1" . click "OK-SEND TO BIAB". ACW is off and BIAB has not received the generated chords.
I have just discovered that Audio Chord Wizard (ACW) creates both an INPUT.TXT (as mentioned above) and an OUTPUT.TXT.
I tried renaming these to INPUT.TXT.OLD and OUTPUT.TXT.OLD. Then I exited and restarted BIAB. When I reopened ACW, all worked well and new INPUT.TXT and OUTPUT.TXT files were created.
Also...
When an audio file is loaded into ACW, there are two temporary files created in in the directory containing the audio file. These are...
TEMPMAIN.WAV
TEMPMAIN.BT1
In relation to rhav's post above, it seems possible that if there are problems associated with overwriting the WAV file and/or the BT1 file due to permission barriers, running BIAB as administrator may overcome this.
It seems to me that if the audio file being loaded is from one of Window's protected directories, there could also be permission issues.
Given all the preceding posts and combining them with what I've learnt along the way, how I would now set about solving the ACW issue is as follows...
1. Close BIAB. Now restart it in administrator mode by right-clicking on BIAB's shortcut and selecting "Run as administrator".
2. Copy one or two audio files into a folder that's directly off the root drive (e.g. C:\Songs).
I suggest only using WAV files at this point in time because working with compressed audio files such as mp3s adds another layer of complexity to using ACW and during the problem-solving process, it's better to work on one step at a time.
If a couple of WAV files are needed, simply put a few chords into BIAB or RB (say, 8 bars), generate the backing and save it as a WAV. Copy or move the generated WAV to the C:\Songs folder.
3. Try loading a WAV from C:\Songs into ACW.
4. If #2 above doesn't work, locate INPUT.TXT and OUTPUT.TXT in the \bb directory and rename them to INPUT.TXT.OLD and OUTPUT.TXT.OLD - this will force ACW to create new versions of these files.
5. Check C:\Songs and if TEMPMAIN.WAV and/or TEMPMAIN.BT1 are present, rename them to TEMPMAIN.WAV.OLD and TEMPMAIN.BT1.OLD. My experience is that it's always better to rename files rather than to delete them. By keeping the new name similar to the original name, it makes finding the files easier if they need restoring or deleting.
6. Try loading a WAV file from C:\Songs into ACW.
Does the above solve the problem?
NOTE: Whenever starting BIAB during this problem solving investigation, always right-click on the shortcut and select "Run as administrator".
I have tried what you said but it is still the same
I have had the chance to get the PG Music Support who ask me to install BIAN 2016 on an internal drive and at the root of the drive (e.g. D:/bb) instead of H:/PG Music/dd perviously) I did the installation (only run the installer the RT remaining on the former drive H)and it finally worked but ... after restarting the Laptotp it behave the same as before
I have uninstall the program from D:/bb and remove (delete) all the files and restart the laptop
I am now trying to install the complete thing from scratch to a new Drive (Samsung SSD 500Go) in a INATECK enclosure (USB3.0) to see if there is any improvement
By Chance I did not touch the original HD I have received from PG Music whne I did purchase the BIAB 2016 UltraplusPak last December so I am moving all the files to the new drive and I will rn the installer whe done.
I want to keep the program on the External drive in order to use it with the Laptop and my Desktop to have axactly the same thing on both
Thank you for the update. This is a most perplexing problem. It would be easy to conclude that \bb needs to be off the root directory for ACW to work properly but such a conclusion doesn't explain why ACW worked for you when you had the program in \PGMusic\bb.
Thanks Noel for your effort trying to sort my problem I am in relation with the PG support I think I will have no other choice than starting a new install on a new drive. I will let you know
I do not really like to do this as my insallation folder as been updated all along the year and the Install program is missing a huge amount of Styles I got all these years in the Bonus Pack therefore it is a big job to get them back to the new drive as they are all ion the root folder of BB
anyway I don't think I have the choice. Thanks Again Fred
Just a quick correction on that post from ejrene. On his system Band-in-a-Box was installed on an external drive with multiple volumes in the directory J:\PG Music\BB. I tried all the methods suggested by Noel (great posts by the way) to no avail, so I then tried installing just the Band-in-a-Box program to his C drive. On the C drive the Audio Chord Wizard was able to run correctly. This seems to suggest a permissions issue on the external hard drive that running as administrator can't fix. My guess would be something to do with drive ownership but that's a bit beyond my expertise. I suggested that as a solution he could either look into the permissions over that drive or just go ahead and run Band-in-a-Box from the C drive as there was more than adequate drive space to support a full install.
If anyone else runs into the same issue a fresh installation of just the Band-in-a-Box program would be a great thing to try as it would essentially cover all the other steps at once.
So for both Saxfred and ejrene, the set-up was very similar in that \bb was one step further removed from the root directory (than the default BIAB installation), both lost ACW functionality and re-installing the program to x:\bb solved the problem.
That's bound to come in useful one day.
A thought that just occurred to me for the development team is to check to see whether the temporary files are being written and read to/from the same folder. For example: what if the programming writes the temp files to the correct path (e.g. h:\PGMusic\bb) but reads from an anticipated, and incorrect, path of h:\bb?
Thanks again for taking time to update the thread.
I just dragged my BB folder into another folder on an external drive, and the Audio Chord Wizard still works fine. In Errol's case, the issue appears to have to do with permissions issues on the drive itself, and installing to the C drive fixed it.
Lots of customers install Band-in-a-Box to subfolders on external drives, and haven't run into this problem, so at this point the folder issue could simply be a coincidence. I'll keep an eye out for this in the future though.
Mine was install as follow H:/PG Music/bb so not exactly the root but this as been like this for years without any issue (I think Since 2014 version) so why is it not working anymore this way?
We're really not sure what went wrong with your installation, but deleting the BB folder and reinstalling will likely fix it right away. You won't have to reinstall your old versions, just the 2016 UltraPlusPAK, 49-PAK, and Xtra Styles PAK. This should take about an hour.
If there are any songs in the BB folder, be sure to move them to a different location first.
Mine was fine also. I am guessing, it stopped working after I upgraded to windows 10. Did you upgrade your operating system? Try the re-installation as suggested in this forum.
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean