In the mixer, if I go the plugins tab, and click on a VST plugin (e.g., Pianoteq), I get that plugin's window.
If I close that window by hitting the X in the upper right corner, all is fine. The window goes away as expected.
BUT... if I (by mistake) minimize that window by hitting the - in the upper right, I can't seem to ever get it back, without restarting band-in-a-box. Is there a way to do so, or is this a bug?
(This is a hassle because minimizing windows is almost instinctual, so I do it by mistake with some frequency.)
I don't have an answer for you about the why the behaviour is as it is but I've found that using ALT+TAB to scroll through the active Windows (not just he BIAB windows) will usually bring me back to the VST Window.
I experimented with the issue on my system. The window minimized to the lower left corner and the top was visible and the expand buttons were visible to restore the window with each attempt.
I assigned different vst's for the different instruments as well as applying some of the PGMusic DxI's and that had no effect on the window and restoration of the window for each track worked.
It's working as it should on my system.
Have you tried to open the Plugins window from another track when you've minimized a window. In other words, if you accidentally minimized the bass track, attempt to open the plugins window from the piano track and you should have the option to select the bass track from that window and close it properly.
As a test, try changing your screen settings. I think the screen drivers have trouble working correct at certain settings if the screen is a certain size.
I highly suspect that you are using the dreaded Aero theme screen view in your windows, (the one with the semi clear fancy glass borders .) this often make items near the edge of the screen impossible to see. Right click on desktop and chose personalise and try Windows Classic in Basic themes Then chose a background wall paper if required This will also allow you to have the classic top of page menu bar back should you wish. Regards Mike
Similar problem with styles, if you minimize the window it locks out everything else. I didn't immediately look for the icon but tried just about everything else. It seems that a pop up window controls what you can do or not, and a minimized one is really hard to find.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
The problem seems to be related to the setting "Display scaling on high DPI settings" (#5 on the image below).
When I set activated the setting under Compatibility, the minimised icon Kent shows appeared. With the setting not checked, the icon is not available. I'm using Windows 7.
Here's what I did (I'm running an Aero theme on Windows 7)....
1. Right-click on the BIAB shortcut (#1).
2. Selected 'Properties' (#2).
3. Under the 'Compatibility' tab (#3), I set BIAB to run in XP mode (Service Pack 3) (#4).
4. Set the 'Display scaling...' option to active (#5).
5. Exited, started BIAB and tested the minimising of the VSTi/DXi window. The minimised window icon was present.
When I repeated the above and left all settings exactly the same but with the 'Display scaling...' (#5) option unchecked, the minimised window icon was not available. After only very brief testing, this setting seems to have no impact if running a Windows Classic theme.
This seems to suggest that some Windows themes have the scaling setting built-in and that this might be what is causing the issue.
With Windows 10 (and 8.1 on my laptop) and it's 'new' tiled interface compared to 7, i always used ClassicShell, never had issues with it, and especially like that: classicshell 4.3.1. F
OK, I see what's going on. 100% is the default setting (and is the one marked "recommended" on every computer I've ever used). 150% magnifies icons and applications to make things easier to read, but a lot less stuff fits on your screen. It's basically like using a very low screen resolution, and Band-in-a-Box (and a lot of other programs) generally won't display very well with settings like that.
When you check that "Override high DPI scaling behavior. Scaling performed by Application" box, this causes Band-in-a-Box to ignore your magnification setting, and display Band-in-a-Box how it was intended to appear.
I'd say your options are to keep that box checked or turn off magnification (this may require upgrading to a larger monitor), or start making a habit of closing the Plugins window instead of minimizing it.
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!
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Video: Enhanced Melodists in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®!
We've enhanced the Melodists feature included in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows!
Access the Melodist feature by pressing F7 in the program to open the new MultiPicker Library and locate the [Melodist] tab.
You can now generate a melody on any track in the program - very handy! Plus, you select how much of the melody you want generated - specify a range, or apply it to the whole track.
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