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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15 |
I suggest that a BIAB expert create a book entitled: "BIAB workarounds and solutions". I think is needed and would be a big seller.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Sep 2007
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I have long felt that a third party specialist should take over the existing documentation, mostly for the sake of completeness. It would be logical to include tutorials on the basics (as is already the case, to an extent) and "hacks" (which isn't). It would be helpful if you could list some specific ideas that you would like to see documented. There are some very advanced users here on the forums who may have already covered some of the information you would like to see.
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 427
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 427 |
I actually think PG should set up a Wiki and let us contribute as well.
Then it would become a self learning system.
If all contribute to that with the same enthusiasm then we will have a BRILLIANT help system in no time at all ....
I'm doing allright for Country Trash ....
I used to care, but things have changed (Bob Dylan)
BIAB 2026W + RB
M-Audio FastTrack C600, Rode NT2-A
Digitech VoiceLive 4
Epiphone Sheraton, Ibanez 12str, Washburn 6str, Cort 6Str Nylon
Yanagisawa Tenor Sax
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,608
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Joined: May 2005
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Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,610
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Yes - PWarren set this up initially... not sure who is still contributing and how up-to-date it is. But, there's a TON of good learning material to be found there.
Cheers, Mike My Music * Asus ROG Strix G15CF 32 GB DDR4 4TB HDD + 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB Win 11 AKAI EIE PRO Sound Interface. BIAB/RB 2024 UltraPak Build - Latest
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 427
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 427 |
So this was a user driven initiave. PG should then "hijack" it and formalise it. They could then moderate the entries to make sure it is correct
Last edited by CountryTrash; 11/29/12 10:42 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
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Quote:
So this was a user driven initiative. PG should then "hijack" it and formalise it. They could then moderate the entries to make sure it is correct
that's certainly one way to look at it, and there is merit to that point of view.
An alternative point of view is that the size of a given group magnifies the potential of its swarm intelligence. In other words, if we let PGMusic primarily work at developing cool features we can't live without, and let a huge group of users contribute to the WIKI, we are more likely to get self-correction and continuous improvement in the archived knowledge base.
Just as 3rd party plugins make a product more dynamic, so can 3rd party tutorials (such as WIKIs and user forums)
There is very little incentive for a company to dedicate paid resources to duplicate a function they already provide in a different form. The whole purpose behind user forums is to supplement static documentation with dynamic real time user-to-user help. The ability to capture and share the knowledge of enthusiastic users is part of what makes BIAB so popular (IMO)
Why settle for one when we can have both?
The trick is in figuring out how to get the whole swarm involved in the WIKI....
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,876
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Quote:
The trick is in figuring out how to get the whole swarm involved in the WIKI....
Indeed...and this can be quite difficult. I'd prefer a PG-managed wiki with user input capability. Kinda like WikiPedia where anyone can update articles but they maintain staff who are dedicated to keeping it accurate and complete. PG could/should view this as an extension of the docs they already provide. Just put them online and assign staff to manage/edit/create/moderate/etc. This is the only way you'd ever get something complete and up to date. Just my opinion!
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 427
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 427 |
Hi JohnJohnJohn and Pat,
I think you echoed what I (tried) to say.
I really appreciate the forums and am learning from them..the trouble is all that learning drifts into history and yes, you can go there but what to search for?
Also newbies come in at different times and would have missed the wisdom of the forum "elders" and they then have to discover and ask the same questions.
PG is documenting from a technical angle but the users are experiencing it from a "trying this myself from home" realworld angle and if some of this could make it to a WIKI linked to the topic/object in question any newbie will maybe find wisdoms in this new form of manual.
I'm doing allright for Country Trash ....
I used to care, but things have changed (Bob Dylan)
BIAB 2026W + RB
M-Audio FastTrack C600, Rode NT2-A
Digitech VoiceLive 4
Epiphone Sheraton, Ibanez 12str, Washburn 6str, Cort 6Str Nylon
Yanagisawa Tenor Sax
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15 |
I still would love to see a book regarding BIAB Workarounds and Solutions. A serious pro BIAB user and author could make good money with this book. I think there are thousands of BIAB owners who would love it!
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250
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Veteran
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,109
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Quote:
I still would love to see a book regarding BIAB Workarounds and Solutions. A serious pro BIAB user and author could make good money with this book. I think there are thousands of BIAB owners who would love it!
the problem with all tech books is that they are static, unchanging.. but tech problems evolve.
Another problem is that books tend to cost money.
This user forum is superior to a book in many ways:
1) it is searchable (a bit quirky, but a great tool once you start using it)
2) it's free
3) it's dynamic, ever-changing and always up to date. If you buy a book you'll read about solutions to problems that were known when the book was written. On the forum, two minutes after somebody asks a question, somebody else answers it
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,876
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Pat, you make very good points but the forum is very hard to search and it too has outdated info from past conversations that are no longer relevant. Plus the forum is an unorganized pile of info that cannot easily be used effectively as a learning tool in the way a book can be read cover to cover, in order of importance, priority, etc.
I love the fast-changing tech environment but I miss the old days when a book could be used for years as a useful resource. I think there is a huge opportunity for whoever can figure out how to provide me a book that is kept up to date. I just don't see how it can be done profitably!
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15 |
Here's an idea: Why doesn't a BIAB expert set up a specific blog called "Workarounds and Solutions". They could set up specific problems and then offer step by step solutions.
That would be great!
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,971
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BIAB is not static! A new version comes out about twice a year and each version changes something about the way things are done. PG Music publishes a new features video and changes the front page blurb to describe new features and how they can be used. This forum and postings on YouTube provide a wealth of tip and tricks.
What's tough is starting BIAB as a newbie! Things like knowing the names of the chords you want to use, selecting one style from the many available, selecting real tracks or midi styles, changing instruments as needed from the style defaults, knowing when it might be better to use Real Band versus Band In A Box. It's like learning an office suite of programs (word processor, spreadsheet, database, etc.) for music.
The existing manual is not friendly to newbies as it really doesn't tell a new user where to start. There are no exercises where a new user will feel safe to try things and mess up. Each feature and function are described but seldom are examples given that demonstrate how they can be used. Think about this, I can't even find out what pushes and holds are, but there is a folder full of them.
Using the office suite analogy, there are too many ways to do the same thing. You can press an "F" key, select from the drop down menus and sub menus, use the icon buttons, right click or go into preferences to change settings. All of this is confusing to a newbie and makes it difficult to seek advice because the newbie may be trying to do it one way and another user may know an entirely different way to perform the same function.
The constant version upgrades quickly outdate any manual while the multiple ways to perform a task make training very difficult. Having said that, core functionality doesn't often change and training could be presented using a "here's just one way to do it" method.
I performed industrial training for almost 30 years and it's much tougher to put a course together than it is to present it. It helps to either have an intimate knowledge of the subject and to have good mentors to guide the course direction.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 60
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 60 |
I am writing on a book like this for already one year now. But it is just basic functionality by now. I have to look into the forum and user groups to improve that. But it would be in german then. I could translate that into English later, too.
So, a good point.
If you have any suggestions on that topic, let me know and send me an Email. I will consider all suggestions.
The book will be on my website then as PDF for free download and also as a book to buy.
So, tell me what you want to have in it. Will be with many pictures.
Michael Frank
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
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Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
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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