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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 913
Expert
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OP
Expert
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 913 |
I recently got one of these android phones (inherited from my son who moved on to iphone) and saw the biab music app. I have biab 2011 but i still can't understand how it works.
Can it actually produce backup music?
Can it do anything "on its own" without a computer? If not, whats the sense in having it?
Is there a video or could someone describe how they would actually use this app?
I do not have it and don't really want to waste any money unless i actually know what it does.
thanks
kristen
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
It's 99 cents right?
There is a video here on the website.
Your home computer has to be on.
You need to do some prep work.
I know a guy who uses a laptop and an old version of Band in a Box to input chords in a bar when someone asks for a song. He does it during a break. I've seen it and it scared me, he can just go OH YEA, that song, and in 60 seconds he's ready to play his guitar and it sounds decent.
If I could do that for say, California Dreaming in a bar in 60 seconds I'd be Santa Claus.
From scratch without a book that would take me about 2 weeks. Honest. I could re-shingle my big old house alone faster than figure out those chords. But if his computer was setup at home and he put in the chords and picked a style it would roll his track.
I got the app, tested it, and have it running but I have no use for it. I do however have a free compass app for the wife. She's always telling me stuff. No kidding. This morning she texted me about a rainbow in the east, ....west...maybe north. Lived in the same house for 22 years and she's lost. It was south west, I looked.
I still think I liked my blackberry better. But I can find a website and sort of read it, I still get 2 newspapers and would rather my coffee and paper. Slippers, dog, library, smoking jacket, (without the smoke) and the sun through the trees. Jazz on the radio.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944 |
>>> Can it actually produce backup music? Yes. WHen it is hooked up to the desktop version (within your house network, or across the network), you can type in chords, generate songs and play them on the Android/Iphone, and they are stored on the mobile device as mp4 files, so can be replayed any time (replay them without a connection to desktop) >> Can it do anything "on its own" without a computer? Yes. When you are hooked up to the computer, you can download hundreds of your songs to the device in a single method (Get All Songs). This gets all songs that are present in the c:\bb\bb2Go folder. YOu can have pre-made mp4 files for them (using BB desktop program menu-Windows-BB2Go) , so you won't have to generate them, as the audio is there. Then, on your device you have your favorite songs, and they play instantly (without having to be hooked up to a PC). You see the chord chart, and it highlights the current bar, and the audio plays. Is there a video or could someone describe how they would actually use this app? Yes, videos are here: http://www.pgmusic.com/support.iphone.htm#videosOnce nice thing is that by the songs being generated on the desktop version, they are high quality, as they use the RealTracks and Soloists etc. when they are part of the song. So in summary, the typical uses are: 1. As a one-time procedure, copy your song library to the Android/iPhone BB version, complete with mp4 audio of the arrangments. You then can play those tunes anytime (without hooking up to the desktop BB) , with the chord progressions, RealTracks, melody etc all heard as you see the leadsheet. 2. WHen you are hooked up to the desktop version, you could redo the arrangments, or type in new songs, if you want to do that on your mobile device (or are miles away from your desktop version)
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 188
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 188 |
I don't care about live playback since I mix everything for MP3/WMA playback. I have a huge library that I have printed out in a large binder so I can read certain charts for melody or chord changes. If the app for Android allows me to view my collection this would be a tremendous feature.
In effect the user would have a "BIAB Fakebook" viewer. Given the huge availability of BIAB songs this would sell like hotckaes as an app. If it could also display lyrics even better! My goal is to ditch the 4" binder and view my lyrics and charts on a device that fits into my pocket. If the playback of a rendered WMA/MP3 were to sync with playback this would be fantastic. I was already thinking about converting all my lyrics to PDFs for easy cartage.
Sounds like the existing app does this? Comments please.
Last edited by dpresley; 06/24/11 03:10 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
As a side note, and maybe Peter can elaborate further, when you use this app. you have turned your computer at home into a server. A sever on the Internet requires a little more attention to security. Just saying.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 188
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 188 |
To clarify: I am most interested in option #1 above.
So... as a one time procedure can I then view and playback my BIAB files previosly made at home without a connection? Again I would like to use Android as a playback device and viewer for my files when performing them live. I need to check out the demo video above but this would appear to be a break thru application. A friend has a Fakebook app on the Iphone which we have used on occasion for transposing tough tunes like Ipanema when some one wants it in a key other than F.
Again viewing and playback alone would be enough to get me to purchase an Android and leave the laptop/binder at home.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 622 |
Changes only. Aside from PLAYING the tune (which admittedly is a neat thing) RealBook Android will show you changes and transpose with less hassle.)
Jan - 12 Core AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
32GB DDR4
Win 10 64-bit
Samsung m.2 SSD Boot drive,other SSD internal and USB drives.
MOTO 2
Ketron SD90
Aerophone AE-30, Yamaha WX-7
Yamaha RX-v381amp
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944 |
>>> As a side note, and maybe Peter can elaborate further, when you use this app. you have turned your computer at home into a server. A sever on the Internet requires a little more attention to security. Just saying.
The applet Band-in-a-BoxServer.exe isn't really a server. Its just a communication exchange between the iPhone app and BB. If you're using it on your LAN (within your house), I can't think of any security issues. If you're using it over the internet, you're opening 2 ports on your router - there are already many open ports on the router. We haven't heard of any security issues there either though. If you have AV software running, that should be good enough.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Happy New Year!
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Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
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