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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 310
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 310 |
Quote:
Yes but all that Highliter pen really messes up my computer screen!!!!
Good one !
Meant no offense by my "really" comment earlier.
Just trying to make you aware of how small the manual was (5 1/2 x 8 1/2),
that you were putting a $100 buck price tag on.
... and thanks for the computer screen tips, I pretty much stare at one all day too!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 288
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 288 |
A couple of comments, back in the day I printed the manuals myself, I have a duplex printer which helps, then took them to my local Staples ( Kinkos equiv here in Canada)
and had them bind it. I found I did not like the zirlox binding but could special order the round spiral binding if I didn't mind waiting an extra day.
If you have an 1100 page manual, well I'd break it up if it was me but. That's 550 pages duplex-ed, that's about 5-6 dollars worth of paper, 2.5 cents per page to print $27.00 + 5-6 dollars to bind. That's under $40.00
Last summer I purchased an iPad specifically to run the iGigbook app ( fantastic BTW ) and now I put all my pdf's on it. For some reason much more convenient that printed books, always there, really thin, searchable, bookmark-able, and I can carry around all my documentation all at the same time, as well as fakebooks, gear docs, it really is a great advantage over printing stuff out.
G
Intel i5, 8 GIG, M-Audio NRV10, M-Audio BX8's, Cubase, BIAB, Win 7
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
One rather HUGE "AHA!" about using monitors for reading and studying that I discovered rather early on. Likely due to being one of the earlier day to day computer users way back when there weren't microcomputers and we worked on terminals and mainframes all day.
I'd like to share it with those who will pay heed and want to alleviate the situation.
TIP: Learn to remember to BLINK OUR EYES MORE OFTEN when working with the computer.
Don't know why, but we often will get into a mode where we tend to STARE instead of VIEW when there's a monitor in front of our eyes. That somehow can create a situation where we don't blink as often as we should, and the eyes dry out rather quickly.
Dry eyes are fatigued eyes.
Was still in my Air Force days when I discovered this trick.
Matter of fact, the only paper note hanging at the top of my terminal on that job was on the backl of somebody's calling card and had one word written on it in all caps with a felt pen (AND, YES, This was before the advent of "Post-it Notes":
BLINK
Make it a new habit and see if the task of reading from an electronic screen doesn't change from a task into a joy.
It did for me.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,427
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Veteran
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,427 |
Where is the full manual? I've just installed 2013 and there are two PDFs in my bb directory:
'2012.5 Manual' and
'2013 Upgrade manual'.
That implies PG haven't made a 2013 manual (yet)?
So what does a complete newcomer get? It's a bit poor if they get the same, i.e. no complete manual.
John
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449 |
That's what I have too, John. Perhaps the OP's statement that the printed manual will be available in February also means that the PDF will not be ready until then?
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 928
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 928 |
Well, since we're on the subject of a BiaB manual ... whether printed or electronic.
My much bigger concern than having a printed version of the manual is to have an up-to-date and correct version of the online Help.
The online Help is very old and does not include many of the (not so new anymore) features.
While using BiaB it is much easier (for me) to click on Help than to flip through a multi-hundred page manual.
Of course, YMMV.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047 |
Mac,
Kindle, outstanding idea for me...
I own an $100 Polaroid 7 inch tablet with Kindle App from Amazon on it.
Reads great, color tints, font size and all. Have 16 GB on Aux card.
Will put it there and enjoy WITH my PG Music software and also other
programs that use PDF help files, like almost all of my CoffeeCup net software.
Above average to Outstanding!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392 |
Quote:
Where is the full manual? I've just installed 2013 and there are two PDFs in my bb directory:
'2012.5 Manual' and
'2013 Upgrade manual'.
That implies PG haven't made a 2013 manual (yet)?
So what does a complete newcomer get? It's a bit poor if they get the same, i.e. no complete manual.
John
Right...I think the issue is that the 2013 manual doesn't exist yet. That leaves us with the 12.5 manual and the 13 "New Features Guide" along, of course with the on-line Help resource.
Best,
Jim
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449 |
FYI, the 365b patch now contains the full BIAB 2013 manual in PDF form.
It's a bit over 600 pages.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869 |
Just got a cybook odyssey HD ereader with something called reflow for PDFs. This means that you don't get the pdf page showing up in the original version (unless you turn reflow off), but get it reflowed into the smaller screen.
Its never going to replace a good book, but you can take the pdf and put it in your pocket, or read it on the beach or in bed. Its also possible of course, using file conversion apps to have your manual on a kilndle, but I have never had one myself. My reader is pretty small, you can increase the font size, but its not as good as a nice big book smelling of trees. IMO.
Last edited by ZeroZero; 12/14/12 10:02 AM.
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392 |
Quote:
Mac,
Kindle, outstanding idea for me...
I own an $100 Polaroid 7 inch tablet with Kindle App from Amazon on it.
Reads great, color tints, font size and all. Have 16 GB on Aux card.
Will put it there and enjoy WITH my PG Music software and also other
programs that use PDF help files, like almost all of my CoffeeCup net software.
Above average to Outstanding!
I am such a HUGE fan of PG Music and think they do Best of the Breed work in the software industry that I sort of hate to chime in with you on this. But you are correct. "Context sensitivity" to search terms is all but non-existant.
As for the 2013 Manual, I assume that by combining the "New Features" manual for 13 with the full PDF manual for 12.5, you will have essentially what will be the formal 13 manual...at least something VERY close to it.
If that is correct, I would buy an 8.5x11 printed version of the 12.5 manual and be fine with it. But I don't see a link to buying a printed manual on the PG site (probably my fault) and don't know if it is 8.5x11.
I do recall that the PDF manual is 600+ pages...which I suppose could be edited by at least 100 pages to exclude that which we don't need. But that's still a lot of pages and some of us would just as soon buy a manual than mess around with printing our own.
Just my $0.02.
And CHEERS for everything that PG does right which is ALMOST everything!!!
Best,
Jim
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 13
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 13 |
Why print out all the pages you'll probably never use? You could print out just what you need from the PDF manual. Myself, I usually find out what I need from the pop-up hints or help buttons. Just sayin'.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,805
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,805 |
Well, everyone does it differently. I usually print out the manual, because I will then read it while lying in bed before turning out the light. Much easier to read the paper than a small screen, especially where screen shots are concerned (if it's just text, my Kindle is great, but not so much on diagrams and screen shots). Of course, the added convenience of this is that I can do what I used to do in college. When you get sleepy, just put the book under your pillow and the information transfers by osmosis. 
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)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,360
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,360 |
Hi Rich,
I have a slightly different philosophy. My view is that I don't know what I don't know.
For that reason, I always make it a priority to read and re-read the manual. I like to find out the many subtleties of the program that the pop-up tips do not cover. I don't know how many times I've read something and a voice inside my head has said, "I didn't know that. That's brilliant. I'm gonna use that in my next song."
Just my tuppence worth.
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
"Knowledge is power. Learning is fun."
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17 |
I printed out version 2008.5 of Real Band and Band in a Box. RB was 292 pages and BiaB was 510 pages. It looks like the latest version is 332 for RB and 608 for BiaB. I wonder if there would be a copyright issue if someone sold copies to someone else. (For $100 I would think about it.) I would gladly pay $50 for a 'real' copy.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,360
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,360 |
Quote:
I wonder if there would be a copyright issue if someone sold copies to someone else.
Most definitely. PG Music are the copyright owners and there is no permission that I can find anywhere that gives a user the right to reproduce and market their manuals.
In the past, when PG Music have published a manual, it's usually been sold for a nominal amount (certainly much much less than $100; I think I paid $15 or $20 last time I bought one a couple of years ago).
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,498 |
Quote:
...
And then there's the Kindle. Fantastic. ...
--Mac
Mac
I love my Kindle(s), I wish I had one most of last 35+ years when I was living in airplanes and airports. But FYSA, I just side loaded the 2013 PDF BIAB manual, as well as a converted to MOBI version (around 49 MB's converted), onto one of my Kindle's.
All I can say is: NOT RECOMMENDED  (obviously the BIAB Manual was not optimized for an eReader). If bored or an emergency maybe I'd consider (can't think of an emergency where BIAB would be running and I need some info but I can't use a PDF reader )
I don’t have any Kindle Fire's to try this on but suspect even a larger color screen wouldn't help since layout is all wrong for eReaders.
However, I like a lot of others, ALWAYS prefer hard copy reading over "TV screen" reading for work or pleasure where possible, Kindles (Nooks, etc.) are exceptions.
Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 20
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 20 |
I had one printed at the local Office Depot. With the plastic comb binding, it cost about $35.00.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392 |
Quote:
Well, everyone does it differently. I usually print out the manual, because I will then read it while lying in bed before turning out the light. Much easier to read the paper than a small screen, especially where screen shots are concerned (if it's just text, my Kindle is great, but not so much on diagrams and screen shots).
Of course, the added convenience of this is that I can do what I used to do in college. When you get sleepy, just put the book under your pillow and the information transfers by osmosis.
My problem would be reverse osmosis!!!
(-"
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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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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
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Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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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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