|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175
Apprentice
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175 |
My clarinettist colleague and I share the work of preparing arrangements for our joint repertoire, and have just set up Shared Folders on Dropbox to make this easier. This way our two laptops should be kept in synch, and can provide mutual backup.
We freeze the RealTracks once we're happy with the arrangement, and each of us drops his completed files into his shared Dropbox folder, for automatic transfer to the other.
Although songs with frozen RealTracks are played correctly on the source computer, when they reach the destination the usual automatic generation of the RealTracks does not happen. On the other hand RealDrums are generated correctly, and any MIDI parts are played.
I've noticed a similar pattern on my iPad when I've transferred a song with frozen RealTracks - I need to re-generate the song from the iPad to get the RealTracks to sound.
The obvious work-around is to force the re-generation of the frozen source files on the destination computer every time they're played, but this takes time, and is likely to be forgotten in the heat of the moment when the backup computer is brought into action at a gig. Apart from this, the frozen track may well be the result of several attempts to get it to sound right, and re-generation takes it back to square one.
I can't believe that this is the way it's meant to work - could I have missed an option in Preferences? As the same problem occurs on the iPad, it can't be a matter of RealTracks being stored in different folders, as the iPad doesn't store RealTracks - what's exported is an audio file.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,586
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,586 |
Hi Foxylady,
What version of BIAB do you have? Also, are you running the latest build for your version?
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,586
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,586 |
Hi again, Let me preface what I'm about to type by saying that I might be completely wrong. If that's the case, I'm sure someone will jump in and correct me  From reading the forums and comments made by some experienced users, I've formed the opinion that the "Freeze" function does not create an audio file for a frozen track. If it did, the SGU or MGU file would be tens of megabytes for each frozen track (whereas it's only 20KB or so). My understanding is that the freeze function writes a set of instructions so that a track can be identically created each time the song is loaded. The generation process is necessary because it implements the instructions required to assemble the frozen track. Your clarinetist would hear the same frozen track that you created because his generation of the track would have followed the exact instructions that were saved when the track was frozen. As I said at the start, I might be wrong. Let's see what others have to say! All the best, Noel P.S. By comparison, Realband does save audio information in its SEQ file. This is why Realband files can be a couple of hundred megabytes.
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,696 |
Foxlady - as Noel suggested, the only true way to save a frozen track is to right click and render a wave file of it. Frozen tracks are just instructions - they don't create WAV files - unless you ask the program to do it. Now were the tracks all midi, then that info would be good for transporting between similar computers and software in SGU and MGU, as long as the voices and patches were the same. RTs are a different matter. At that point seems that DVDs and SEQ files and RB must enter the equation to do what you want to do. Now mind you I have never applied or tried to apply any of this to a live gig - so I strictly speak from the desktop - but have shared files over the distance. Perhaps it's a thought for a future version, where those frozen track instructions are saved or can be saved for transport and regeneration. Perhaps the PG can answer this and clear up any uncertainty. My two cents - Ian 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175 |
From other threads I've discovered that the generation of songs with RealTracks has two phases, one where a choice of what is to be played is made, and the other where the chosen elements are assembled into audio form before they're played.
What is stored when you "freeze" a track is the outcome of the first phase, and the second phase has to be performed each time the frozen song is opened afresh (as Noel96 says, the file is too small to hold the audio data).
I would expect such a frozen file to hold all the information that is needed for BIAB to reproduce the track whether on the computer it was created on, or on another computer which has the same set of RealTracks etc.
What I've found is that frozen files prepared on another computer don't behave in the same way on my computer as files I've prepared myself, in that the "Play" button causes BIAB to generate the RealDrums part, but not the RealTracks parts, so what is played back is the drums along with any MIDI parts that might have been left (we've been trying to replace all MIDI parts with RealTracks). I have to use Play=>Generate (even if tracks are frozen) to get these "foreign" files to work.
Obviously, we could decide to render our whole repertoire to WAV form, but we would lose the flexibility we have when running directly from BIAB.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141 |
Just curious, but is the drive letter and folder path to the realtracks the same on both machines?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175 |
No - I have my RealTracks on Drive F (drive C being too small), my colleague has a large enough hard drive to keep everything on Drive C. If the BIAB files we're exchanging depend on explicit paths to the RealTracks, this could well be the problem.
It doesn't explain how Play=>Generate (...) fixes things on the destination machine, though, nor does it explain why my exported-to-iPad songs lack RealTracks unless I force re-generation from the iPad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141 |
It's just a guess on my part but I suspect that the drive info might be stored in the .MGU (.SGU) file and when the track is frozen it just tries to build from that info but when you hit Play=>Generate (...) the process starts from the beginning and looks in the configuration file for the actual path to the realtracks folder...when I'm home tonight I'll try to do an experiment... Are your realdrums on the C drive for both computers?
Last edited by Ed J.; 01/31/12 09:59 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175 |
Thanks, Ed.
I've got \BB\Drums and \BB\RealTracks folders on Drive C and on Drive F, but the Drive C copies are empty apart from a .txt file in each. I erased previous versions of BIAB completely, and installed from scratch, including all the RealTracks, when I upgraded to 2012.
It would be odd if BIAB did the sensible thing for the RealDrums and not for RealTracks, if it didn't find the files where it expected them to be.
I've noticed that if I double-click on one of the imported files in Windows Explorer to open it, generation of RealTracks goes ahead as if I'd opened it from BIAB and hit Play=>Generate, and the song is played correctly,
I've tried looking at a hex-dump of one of the problematic files, but can't spot anything that looks like an explicit reference to a folder such as C:\BB\RealTracks - presumably the RealTracks section is compressed.
I'll try renaming C:\BB\RealTracks and see what happens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175 |
PS renaming C:\BB\RealTracks didn't work.
Also, I was wrong about double-clicking a file in Windows Explorer - I'd just happened to choose a file that my colleague hadn't frozen before he passed it on to me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Just tried this out here using the latest updated version of BB2012, loaded PGMusic Demo Songs, Combo->Freeze all tracks after hitting play to generate, SaveAs, then used USB memory stick to transfer from one computer to another that had no idea of this frozen and renamed songlist. All worked as expected. Load song, hit Play, no track generation at all, song immediately starts to play with same frozen version here.
Can't duplicate the problem.
*Are both of you using the very same version of BiaB (ie BB2012 with latest Update applied)?
*There is a possibility that you have one or more corrupted songfiles. Try freezing one of the PGMusic demos and see what happens when using that.
Don't forget about what I always do whenever BiaB stops doing something that it is supposed to do, I go to Options and hit the Return to Factory Settings button...
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141 |
FoxyLady, I did pretty much the same thing that Mac did above and I also could not duplicate the problem either. The frozen realtracks played back on both machines without having to regenerate. I agree with all of Mac's suggestions. Maybe you could post a link to one of the files for one of us to try on our setups.
Last edited by Ed J.; 01/31/12 06:56 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,975
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,975 |
- Transferring songs between *** desktop*** versions should work fine with frozen songs, as long as the RealTracks exist on both PC's. Please email a song that is not working to support@pgmusic.com, referencing this thread, ask them to forward the song to me, and we can look into it. - The *** iPhone/iPad*** version doesn't transfer frozen songs. That is not implemented.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175 |
Thanks to all for your help in checking out my problem. I've checked out the Drive C/Drive F problem using "junction.exe", which has allowed me to make symbolic links from c:\bb\RealTracks and c:\bb\Drums to f:\bb\RealTracks and f:\bb\Drums, and switched the BIAB preferences so that it looks for RealTracks and RealDrums on Drive C. [The symbolic link means that when a program asks Windows for the contents of a file in (say) c:\bb\RealTracks, Windows supplies the contents of the corresponding file on drive F. I think the more recent versions of Windows incorporate this useful feature as part of the OS]. The files I've created on my laptop work correctly, exactly as they did before I effectively enlarged drive C and put all my RealTracks on it. This leads me to suspect that my colleague's files are in some way incompatible with my system - I'll be sending one to support@pgmusic.com, as requested. As to the iPhone/iPad App - it would have been handy to have a warning about frozen songs when I tried to convert them... On the other hand, I did find a work-around - render the file in the PC, download it to the iPad, and then Regenerate it from the iPad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 100
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 100 |
Hello,
I understand one of the two computers runs Band-in-a-Box 2012 349 in the original post, does the secondary computer also run 2012 349?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,975
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,975 |
Hi foxylady,
I tried out the song that you sent. There aren't any RealTracks on the frozen tracks.
This can happen if RealTracks were disabled when the file was saved. We'd need to know the version of BIAB that the other person is using.
Anyway, we tested this issue when different PC's are using RealTracks folders on different drives, and it works fine (the path isn't stored in the BB Song, just the name of the RealTracks.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175 |
As far as I know, my colleague is using 2012 build 349. I'll check with him.
The exercise we're going through at present is to update our repertoire, previously MIDI only, to use RealTracks wherever possible. Our procedure is to open each MIDI-only file in turn, change to a RealTracks style, play it through to test the arrangement, freeze the tracks once a good arrangement has been reached, and save it as a new file.
Next time we meet, I'll go through the process with him again, but it seems odd that he could be using RealTracks for the arrangement, inadvertently switch RealTracks off when he saved the file, and turn RealTracks on again for the next piece.
Would it be a case of his using Opt.=>Preferences=>RealTracks to disable RealTracks before each save, and the same route to enable?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844 |
And does your friend have all the same RealTracks that you do?
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 175 |
Confirmed - same 2012 build, and the same RealTracks.
I've also found that he has been having the same problem in playing back the songs he's converted to RealTracks as I have, although those that I send to him work as they should.
It looks as though his copy of BIAB is failing to save the RealTracks component, and causing all this trouble.
I've suggested that he should try Opt.=>Return to Factory Settings. If that fails to resolve the problem he'll probably have to uninstall BIAB, clear out all other BIAB-related files, and install again from scratch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: 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.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,204
Posts801,931
Members40,068
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean