PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box for Windows Lyric to Midi Note Assignment Bug

Hi PGMusic,

Back on Saturday, April 28th, I sent the following email to PGMUSIC tech support. Since that didn't seem to get anyones attention, I thought I'd post it on the forums in the hope that I'd get a response.

Lyric to Note Assignment Bug

One of the features of BiaB is to allow lyrics to be linked to individual midi notes. I have identified a software bug that has being causing me a lot of problems when it comes to assigning lyrics to a midi note track. In the attached file, you will find a midi file that I have assigned a sequence of one digit numbers to, instead of actual lyrics. One number for each midi note. However, if you play the file in BiaB and open the lyric window, while also watching the staff view, you will notice that there are numerous spots where there is a two digit number that lights up in the lyric window. This is because when I entered a single digit for each note, although the note advanced after I hit enter, the lyric entry doesn’t! As a result, a double digit number winds up being entered. BiaB fails to consistently assign a lyric to each individual midi note. This happens throughout the midi score, whenever you find a double-digit number highlight in the lyric window.

I have looked at the duration of the midi notes and the lyric entry bug seems to occur whenever the midi note duration of one of the notes is very small. However, my attempts to increase the duration of the shortest midi notes from 60 to 75 then to 80 and then to 85 have failed to correct the situation. Although it seems like this bug might be related to the midi note durations, I have no idea how you folks have programmed the lyric entry code that may be causing it not to properly assign lyrics to each individual midi note, as expected.

The midi file that was imported into BiaB was created in Sonar by using audio transients to create a midi note “lyric score” that matches up precisely with the vocals from one of my recordings. This bug is making it extremely difficult for me to easily create a karaoke backing track for my recordings. Can you please, take a look at this issue and I am hopeful that you will be able to correct this in the next update of BiaB 2012? If you have any additional questions or require information, I am more than willing to provide any assistance I can. Thanks for considering my request.

Glen Smith
A loyal customer, since at least 2005.

I did receive confirmation receipt to my email from PGMusic the same day. See below:

Re: Lyric to Note Assignment Bug
support@pgmusic.com

Thank you for contacting PG Music's technical support. This is to let you know that your message has been received, and that we will reply shortly.

If you haven't looked already, you could visit the PG Music Support FAQ at http://www.pgmusic.com/techfaq.htm to see if there is a known solution for your problem. Use Ctrl+F to search.

Many previously reported problems have been fixed with free update patches. It.s always a good idea to visit http://www.pgmusic.com/support.htm and download the latest patch for your program.

You are welcome to call us toll-free Monday to Friday from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm, Saturdays from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sundays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. (All times are for the Pacific Time Zone, GMT -8.) The numbers to call are:

- Technical Support: 1-866-983-2474.
- Sales and Customer Service: 1-800-268-6272 or 1-888-PGMUSIC (746-8742).
- International free-phone service (where available): +800-4PGMUSIC (800-4746-8742)
- Local number: 1-250-475-2874 (toll charges apply)

Thanks for using PG Music software.
The PG Music Support Team


Now I know that the description I have provided of the error above may appear a bit cryptic to some, but I did send both a MGU file and a midi file that demonstrated the issue, so that PGMusic could use it to analyze as to why BiaB would not assign lyrics properly to a midi file. As I mentioned, the issue seemed to be related to when the midi duration used was shorter. Could someone at PGMusic please review the situation I identified and at least confirm that you can see that there are instances where your "lyric to midi note feature" doesn't work "as advertised". I would be more than happy to resend the files, if you have lost them. Some sort of response or assistance would be appreciated.

I think you folks have a great product and I'm just trying to make it better or, at the very least, have someone explain why it isn't working in the situation I have described.

Thanks again.
Glen Smith