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konaboy Offline OP
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Hi,
The workflow seems to be aim the mouse at a row in the style browser and double click to trigger the audition preview.

This is ok, but gets tiresome when trying out 100s of styles to find the perfect match.

Is there an easier way? For example, it would be superb to just step up and down through the styles using the cursor keys, and have the selected style just automatically play without anymore effort?

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Yes that has been suggested many times and to have an internal wma demo player that does not use the system WMP.
Along with a Multi Tabbed picker for all instruments audio and midi.

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It would be superb to step up and down through the styles using the cursor keys.

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My guess is that such obvious, trivial, normal and effective user interface interactions are impossible solve in the software as it stands, otherwise I guess we would have had it long long time ago.


BIAB 2025, Studio One 7 Pro, Song Master Pro, Win11 Home. i7-9700K CPU, 32GB, ESI MAYA44eX, ZOOM UAC-2, Guitar Pro 8, Transcribe, (EZKeys2, EZD3, SD3, EZBass, EZMix3)
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Originally Posted By: shlind
My guess is that such obvious, trivial, normal and effective user interface interactions are impossible solve in the software as it stands, otherwise I guess we would have had it long long time ago.


It's more likely complacency. A basic tidying up of things would be quite easy to implement but after all these years of ignoring it, I doubt it's ever going to happen.

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Quote:
It would be superb to step up and down through the styles using the cursor keys.


After reading this thread I was viewing how to search and audition grooves/styles in EZD3. This video at this point is a perfect example of what is being requested here: https://youtu.be/oBU8AATI7OA?t=542


The whole video is a source of brillance for recommendations to improve the Style picker in BIAB.



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Latest BIAB version, latest build.
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Yes, EZD3 is a really good example of an efficient and user friendly interface with focus on the work flow at hand - So clean, so simple, so intuitive, straight on and so efficient (as well as the other EZ products)


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great minds think alike... I swear I don't remember seeing that thread. crazy


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Originally Posted By: shlind
My guess is that such obvious, trivial, normal and effective user interface interactions are impossible solve in the software as it stands, otherwise I guess we would have had it long long time ago.

My approach would be to make a separate tools just for the job. Why clutter BiaB itself further with something like that?


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Originally Posted By: MusicStudent
..After reading this thread I was viewing how to search and audition grooves/styles in EZD3. This video at this point is a perfect example of what is being requested here: https://youtu.be/oBU8AATI7OA?t=542
The whole video is a source of brillance for recommendations to improve the Style picker in BIAB.


Originally Posted By: shlind
Yes, EZD3 is a really good example of an efficient and user friendly interface with focus on the work flow at hand - So clean, so simple, so intuitive, straight on and so efficient (as well as the other EZ products)

I was going to make a video and put it in my post how EZ it is.
As someone said PG should have EZDrummer3/Superior Drum 3, they should engage with it on a daily basis, after using it how could you possibly NOT want to make Biab and BBPlugin have a better workflow.

Originally Posted By: Gordon Scott
..
My approach would be to make a separate tools just for the job. Why clutter BiaB itself further with something like that?

That was my first thought smile I could make a search list with AutoHotkey.

I make all these AutoHotkey add-ons and Reaper scripts for Biab as it's the only thing I can do to try to solve issues.
If I could program Delphi so many things would be just done by now, I would just fix it or implement it and upload it, rather than just wasting my time nagging and using undiplomatic statements.

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Quote:
Is there an easier way? For example, it would be superb to just step up and down through the styles using the cursor keys, and have the selected style just automatically play without anymore effort?


Yes, in the StylePicker you CAN use the cursor keys to step through the styles, and the spacebar to play/stop the audio demo. This works in any of the "Pickers". Is this feature not working for you?


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Originally Posted By: Andrew - PG Music
Quote:
Is there an easier way? For example, it would be superb to just step up and down through the styles using the cursor keys, and have the selected style just automatically play without anymore effort?


Yes, in the StylePicker you CAN use the cursor keys to step through the styles, and the spacebar to play/stop the audio demo. This works in any of the "Pickers". Is this feature not working for you?


Exactly as I thought I've been using the cursor for years with out any problem.


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If you use the spacebar you have to press it to play the press it to stop before being able to play the next demo. There is lag in the system WMP, you need an internal player that uses the same audio device.
Have a check box Auto Play on selection look at EZD below its instant play smooth transition without any lag:

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I had to do something in the DAW and I just remembered it has a media explorer.
This is not using the system WMP to play the wma demos.
Watch: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o630n6tbfg4lgd9/BB-Demos-Instant-Preview.mp4?dl=0

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konaboy Offline OP
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Now that, my friend, is exactly what I was looking for!
And funny you should type that, as I was just going to head over and study the manual to see if there was a shortcut. Thanks

But as others have said, it would be even better if simply stepping up or down with the cursor keys to the next style would trigger that preview.

Originally Posted By: Andrew - PG Music
Quote:
Is there an easier way? For example, it would be superb to just step up and down through the styles using the cursor keys, and have the selected style just automatically play without anymore effort?


Yes, in the StylePicker you CAN use the cursor keys to step through the styles, and the spacebar to play/stop the audio demo. This works in any of the "Pickers". Is this feature not working for you?

Last edited by konaboy; 02/08/23 03:01 AM.
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I just figured out something similar. It's so much easier to scroll through and listen to different styles *outside* of BIAB.

1. Inside of style picker, I clicked on the little file icon with the Quick Play Demo buttons. Ah ha! Now I know where the demo files reside. This is after I searched extensively in file explorer and gave up. *HINT* It's C (or wherever you keep your files):\bb\RealTracks\Data\Style Demos Audio. What tripped me up when looking in explorer is that it's right in the middle of the long number of folders that have the individual bits of audio, such as "Bass, Synth, MinialHipHopHeld 095" and etc...
So in the middle of all those is another Data folder, not the same as the Data folder under bb.

2. I opened MediaMonkey, which is a player I like (I use their free version, probably a pretty old version) in which I can scroll through the directory tree of my computer from right within MediaMonkey and not have to have the files in a "library." It plays the wma files without needing to convert to mp3. I can just scroll down the list, using the arrow keys and spacebar and listen to each one.

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We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

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Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

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