I was hoping that 2017 would deal with the many really difficult problems that arise from multiple monitors. Multiple monitors is becoming a very common configuration, especially for people dealing with music technology. I have 3 monitors on the machine that runs BIAB. BIAB is the only app that seems to have severe problems with this, and it actually got a little worse with 2017. Typical problems include:
1) At startup, the app doesn't remember its prior coordinates, nor does it check to make sure that the coordinates it is using are sensible. It just starts on monitor one every time. For me, monitor 1 is not where I do my work. It is where I put the ash and trash I don't want to look at all the time.
2) So when I launch BIAB, I immediately have to drag it to another monitor. With any other app, you can drag to another monitor, then click Maximize and it will use the full screen. Not BIAB. Maximize is all screwed up. It only uses 2/3 of the width, and the vertical dimensions are off the bottom of the screen. So I have to carefully mouse that window to more-or-less use all the real estate.
3) But then if I do anything that opens another window, you have that same problem all over again. This especially bad with the style picker. It comes up three times too large with the top half of the page truncated. It takes 30 seconds of mousing to drag and stretch and crop to get that style picker into some sensible position.
4) Those problems all existed at 2016. With 2017, it is worse. Now if you want to edit the name of the song, for example, that pops up another window. But I have my BIAB app running on the second monitor and that text editing dialog come up on Monitor 1. That's crazy. It should come up on the monitor where the app is running, and right below the box that is being edited. For me, monitor 1 is set to a screen resolution that is barely legible because I use that monitor mainly for icons. So when I edit a BIAB title, I can't read the text in that popup window -- and you can't drag that window to a monitor with better resolution.
What will it take to get these things fixed? This is very closely related to the complaints about 64-bit. The generic issue is that the environment is evolving and BIAB seems to be trapped 10-15 year behind where the platform technology is today. BIAB is truly the only app I have that has any trouble with this.
I suspect the issue with #2 is that the "Maximize" button is somehow adopting the geometry for monitor 1, when it should be using the geometry for the monitor it is on. In my case, the geometries are wildly different. Monitors 2 and 3 are 1920x1280. Monitor 1 is (I think) 720 x 1280, rotated into portrait mode.
Regarding the parallel between multiple monitors and 64-bit support, I wasn't trying to imply they were similar efforts. I was just mentioning there is a challenge to keep software within the mainstream of the custom configurations.
I have just bought jbridge, which looks like an effective work-around. But from a marketing standpoint, three is something of a stigma attached to 32-bit apps today, fair or not.
Re: This is very closely related to the complaints about 64-bit.
Originally Posted By: PeterGannon
Well, also about 1/1000 of the work to implement. Like comparing fixing a doorbell to building a new house.
I did have a laugh when I read Peter's analogy. Yes, this is actually a very accurate statement. Making the application run native 64 is easy to request. While I look forward to it, I do understand the technical challenges that will be encountered. Implementing 64 bit will be demanding and challenging. Do not underestimate the enormity of this task. If there were a magic button, we'd have it by now, surely?
BIAB & RB2024 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
That's a good point that to my knowledge has never been raised here clearly. The developer is the only one who can estimate the enormity of the work needed, and now we have it.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
Another big step backwards on this problem with the new mixer code put in on the latest patch. With multiple monitors, that mixer jumps all over the place. If you stretch the box so you can see the controls inside, it jumps to the edge of the page. When you start playback it reverts to the smaller size and jumps to monitor #1. If you make any changes to panning or whatever, it may move to a different monitor.
Don't you guys have multiple monitors on your test systems? Most of the DAW users I know use multiple monitors these days. It is the NORMAL way to operated in the music tech world these days. I have some surplus VGA monitors I would gladly send you if it will help get these these problems fixed.
Another big step backwards on this problem with the new mixer code put in on the latest patch. With multiple monitors, that mixer jumps all over the place. If you stretch the box so you can see the controls inside, it jumps to the edge of the page. When you start playback it reverts to the smaller size and jumps to monitor #1. If you make any changes to panning or whatever, it may move to a different monitor.
Duh?
I use multiple monitors and yes it would be nice if BB started on monitor last used so I didn't jump in on first post.
But I don't see mixer behavior you mentioned unless I missed your point?
The mixer pops back to location and size inside (relative to) the parent BB window when I undock it or dock/undock/dock/undock.
Also when undocked it does NOT pop back to monitor #1 when I start playback.
However, IT DOES pop onto monitor #1 upper right hand corner if I select, while mixer is undocked, the MIXER's window "minimize/minus" ("-") button - which is annoying but....
Larry
Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
However, IT DOES pop onto monitor #1 upper right hand corner if I select, while mixer is undocked, the MIXER's window "minimize/minus" ("-") button - which is annoying but....
The behavior on my system is almost random. It is not random, of course, but just so bizarre that it could not possibly have been tested by anybody using multiple monitors.
"Annoying" is a polite way of describing it, and I'll go with that. FWIW, the mixer is undocked for me every time I click on the mixer tab. Is there a way to not undock it?
There are other peculiar aspects of that new mixer code. On some songs if I solo a track during playback, it takes an extraordinary amount of time to take effect, and hoses the playback during that time. In this case, "extraordinary" means 30 seconds or more to mute all the non-soloed tracks. I never had that problem before this latest patch.
It seems like window redraw is happening far too frequently, and part of that redraw involves incorrectly resizing and relocating the window.
Most of the DAW users I know use multiple monitors these days. It is the NORMAL way to operated in the music tech world these days.
Pumps, you're making an incorrect assumption here and that is the average PGM customer is music tech savvy. They are far from that. Think of the classic old folks scenario where they can't program their VCR, barely know what a cell phone is and don't know 64 bit from 64 bottles of beer on the wall. Seriously.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not making fun or anything but Biab is advertised as a Band In A Box. Literally. ANYBODY with a basic computer simply loads it up, enters some chords and voila, instant band. And guess what? It does that.
I really love this program for lots of reasons and I agree with you it should come up quite a bit to compare to modern DAW software but you know, there are a whole lot of regular non tech savvy people here who could care less about all that. They're happy with the Coyote Wavetable for midi sound and really love the Real Tracks. Pick an RT style and go, that's it. No multiple monitors, no need for 64 anything, just KISS it.
It's a balancing act for PGM. They know obviously, better than I do what the split is between those regular folks and us power users who would appreciate all of that and it's up to them to allocate the resources. It looks like it's not that big of a deal to fix your monitor issue so that's good.
If you download https://screentogif.codeplex.com/ you can record a screen shot in animated gif format then upload it so they can see what it is doing. Set it @ 6 fps, do a quick recording to keep it 2meg or under to upload as an Attachment, if bigger to a dropbox.
Great idea Pipeline, but Users, if you do this, please include some text (no matter how brief) that describes: - What you did - What the program did - What you expected
That takes the guesswork out of decoding a GIF animation and trying to identify what went wrong, or exactly what didn't get delivered for the user.
BIAB & RB2024 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
I do a lot of support work and have spent hours on the phone trying to explain what to do, since TeamViewer it's a 2min job, see ya later Jack. Just seeing is worth a 1000 words.
Pumps, you're making an incorrect assumption here and that is the average PGM customer is music tech savvy. They are far from that. Think of the classic old folks scenario where they can't program their VCR, barely know what a cell phone is and don't know 64 bit from 64 bottles of beer on the wall.
I don't consider having multiple monitors to be a high tech thing. For example, MANY non-savvy users who have laptops also run a second monitor. It is very easy to do and works as expected for -- well, for every application I have ever seen except for BIAB. It is as if PGMusic had to go out of their way to break this. I suppose the issue is the development framework they are using, which is probably pretty archaic.
I have shown a few examples. There is a photo pf my setup showing the three monitors.
GIF 1 shows peculiar behavior when the mixer auto resize is off.
GIF 2 shows even more peculiar behavior when auto resize is on.
There are just a couple of quick examples. The bizarre-ness goes way beyond these examples. It is pervasive throughout the program. The biggest time waster is the style picker. Every time O open the style picker, it takes me about 20 mouse clicks to get the window into view in a useful place.
I tried it but didn't have any problems the mixer stayed put. When I did use MultiMons I used UltraMon that gave a lot of control and put more buttons on the windows to send to or stretch across another monitor. There's a free one here you can try http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Remote-Utils/Dual-Monitor-Tools.shtml
"Annoying" is a polite way of describing it, and I'll go with that. FWIW, the mixer is undocked for me every time I click on the mixer tab. Is there a way to not undock it?
If mixer is undocked - click on the usual CLOSE "X" or what looks like a "MAXIMIZE" NOT the "+" or "-" and it will then DOCK back into BIAB parent window - it will then stay there until you undock it. At least it does for me
Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
The Bob Doyle Media YouTube channel is known for demonstrating how you can creatively incorporate AI into your projects - from your song projects to avatar building to face swapping, and more!
His latest video, Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box, he explains in detail how you can use the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box with ACE Studio. Follow along as he goes from "nothing" to "something" with his Band-in-a-Box MIDI Melodist track, using ACE Studio to turn it into a vocal track (or tracks, you'll see) by adding lyrics for those notes that will trigger some amazing AI vocals!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
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."
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