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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I purchased BIAB upgrade 2014 last year. I have been using BIAB since it was on floppy disks and I have upgraded every year or every couple of years since then.
I have decided I will never purchase another upgrade of BIAB until it is 64 bit. This should have been done a long time ago. When I saw the 64 Bit VST bridge thing in BIAB 2015. I said to myself, enough is enough. BIAB is not an inexpensive piece of software it should have been 64 bit a long time ago.
I know, some of you are going to defend pgmusic and say you really don't need it. But you're wrong. Especially in light of the VST 64 bit bridge software. More of the program could run in memory ect... 64 bit cpu's have been out for over a decade. I think it's time to make the switch to 64 bit pgmusic.
mj
[Edited]
I want to be clear about something. I think BIAB is a wonderful program. At this point (2014 Version) BIAB does all I need it to do. It is great software, and I am glad I own it. I use it almost everyday.
The point of my post is that, I am very satisfied with BIAB as a product and the only thing that would tempt me to update is a 64 bit version of the program.
I remember back in the day when I could upgrade BIAB for $39.95 (or something like that?) and there was no copy protection key stuff. With that business model I put no expectations on pgmusic. But today, things have changed. With the higher prices of the software and all the copy protection stuff I guess I have raised my expectations a bit.
Last edited by MJames; 12/09/14 09:02 AM. Reason: Added Comments
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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.........When I saw the 64 Bit VST bridge thing in BIAB 2015. I said to myself, enough is enough. BIAB is not an inexpensive piece of software it should have been 64 bit a long time ago.
I know, some of you are going to defend pgmusic and say you really don't need it. But you're wrong. Especially in light of the VST 64 bit bridge software. More of the program could run in memory ect... 64 bit cpu's have been out for over a decade. I think it's time to make the switch to 64 bit pgmusic.
mj Fully agree .... and especially counting all the dough i paid up since Atari days. I run a 64bit system for over 3 years now, and BTW own a licensed Jbridge already ..... there's something serious missing with this 2015 update. Also to think that BIAB still is not able to sync in slave mode to f.i. cubase causes a lot of extra time for up and down transfers of generated wav files when composing stuff. - F
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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))) More of the program could run in memory etcetera The program already runs 100% in memory, that wouldn't change in 64 bit. What is the "etcetera" reason you are referring to. The only reason I know of is to support 64 bit plugins, and BB 2015 now does that with jbridge. Of course you don't need to tell us a reason, but people like me looking for reasons to make BIaB 64 bit someday, would like to see a reason more than "etcetera" . Many people don't understand what a 64 bit OS is, and when they see etcetera listed as a reason, they think that there are lots of important reasons. BiaB 2015 - runs on 32 bit and 64 bit OS. If it was 64 bit, this would be 64 bit only. - supports both 32 bit and 64 bit plugins -64 bit programs have to use 64 bit implementations of hosts, plugins, drivers etc., and these are rather new, and typically not as stable and mature as the 32 bit ones. This same point is made by Ableton on their discussion of the issue. https://www.ableton.com/en/articles/64bit-myths-facts/
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks Peter for your clarification !And I understand your point of view.
Reach for excellence
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One mans meat -- etc.
Go to 64 bit and keep MJames as a customer but lose me??
I'm not about to change my XP based PC any time soon - too many "old" programs that work perfectly and won't on Win8.
Peter, no matter what you do, you won't please all of the people all of the time.
Ian
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Apprentice
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Thanks Peter and for the link to explain.
+1 to you.
-1 to those who complain without the full facts.
Hope everyone takes the time to read Ableton write up.
Cheers
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Peter,
FINALLY, I'm glad to see you jump in here on this.
I am not as hard over as either Sixchannel on the 32 bit side (but like him I have some of the same HW/SW issues - that's why my desktop is still dual boot from separate HD's Win 7/Win XP with a Win XP VM plus keep running my WIN XP laptop), or, clearly, as much as MJames on the 64 bit side.
You won't lose me as customer either way, but I am just one vote.
Frankly I have yet to NEED 64 bit or have a work stoppage in BIAB, RB, PT (or Sonar X3 Pro - I've only installed the 32 bit version) due to inability to run 64 bit APPS.
So, I won't jump on the "64-bit or death" bandwagon (but then I still shoot cap&ball black powder muzzle loaders, as well as that newfangled smokeless stuff like .338 Lapua)
BIAB/RB/PT is not perfect no single app is or that app would have already cornered the ENTIRE music making/production market.
I really think with all the yap, yap, yap last few years about 64 bit BIAB what they REALLY want is the DAW portion (RB and/or it's parent PT) to be 64 bit, but in PG's case I guess it's "in for a penny in for a pound."
Larry
Last edited by Larry Kehl; 12/08/14 07:00 AM.
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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Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, and most people on this forum are far more technically and musically sophisticated than me, but my humble opinion based on my own needs and abilities is that I am very fortunate to have this program, and each year I jump sight unseen at the chance to get whatever extra icing on the cake is offered. I run 64-bit applications like Sonar Producer X3e and SampleTank 3 on a power system, and I'm able to do what I need to with what BIAB presently provides. I can ask/"wish" for things, but I would never not upgrade.
www.LawTunes.com: The LawTunes - The Musical Scales of Justice - Original Lawyer Rock & Roll www.SurfChords.com: The SurfChords - The Endless Summer Continues and The Wave Never Ends
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Hope everyone takes the time to read Ableton write up.
Cheers I read it. Bottom line; Live provides both the 64-bit version of Live for machines with a 64-bit operating system and a 32-bit version of Live for the 32-bit operating system. As does Reaper and many other music apps. Just sayin...
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+I for 64bit, it is the 21st century now.
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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I have no issue with asking for 64 bit, and you/we can all vote with our Dollars/Pounds/Euros/Pesos/New Taiwan Dollars,...and I hope next year you all see, at a minimum, a 64 bit version of RB (and PT). But sorry the "21st century" thing is not an argument, in fact it is an non sequitur, it is as logically consistent as saying that "it snows somewhere in December so get moving on 64 bit." 
Last edited by Larry Kehl; 12/08/14 09:28 AM.
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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We are living in the 21st century and XP is dead now and needs upgrading for MANY reasons! I've been servicing XP since it came out.
I recommend Windows 7 over Windows 8 and it is still available to buy.
Regarding 64 vs 32bit. The fact that its only a memory issue, what is the big deal here? You can see from my computer spec listed below that mine is a Hi End PC yet I have no problems at all. So whats the big deal with 32bit BIAB?? Storm in a teacup comes to mind.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I'd like Sizeable/Movable/hideable toolbars 32bit or 64bit either way is fine 
iMac, 3.7 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i5, BIAB MAC2024 (802), Audient iD4
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Actually, Win XP was not released UNTIL this the 21st Century! (August 24, 2001)
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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Actually, Win XP was not released UNTIL this the 21st Century! (August 24, 2001)
Your right about that Larry of course, what I mean, watching my p's and q's is that this is the 21st century, 13 years since 64 bit,. Now there is Android, tablets, phones, touch sensitivity and a whole lot more slick a feel to a program of this price. The program needs a reconceptualization and a rewrite, there needs to be a sixty four bit and a 32 bit edition. I really want it to succeed and I don't think doggedly hanging on to 32 bit architecture, some of it built decades ago, is going to do PG's future any favours. Yes, your old trousers will do, they have got a lot of life in them yet, your familiar with them even comfortable in them with all their quirks and funny buttons, but would you go out and buy old trousers? If there were competition I don't think PG would be thinking this way- ah well... Z
Last edited by ZeroZero; 12/08/14 11:06 AM.
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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We are living in the 21st century and XP is dead now and needs upgrading for MANY reasons! I've been servicing XP since it came out.
I recommend Windows 7 over Windows 8 and it is still available to buy. Trouble is, of course, to dump my XP I would have to buy all new softwares (recording for instance) that cost good money on Day 1, work perfectly, give me what I need. All that starts to look like another Money Pit, especially as one can't trust Microsoft to put out a system that isnt riddled with issues. Maybe some Clever Soul can come up with an Emulator (is that the right word?) so I could use my beloved old Progs on WinWhatever. And I just wonder what the End Of Support Date is for Win7. There will be one. Ian
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Z
Don't get frustrated, I'm sure PG is looking at this from a sound business perspective and that ALWAYS includes satisfying as many customers as possible, irrespective of OWS propaganda about business!
But as you so rightly pointed out, at least for the BIAB portion: there is NO COMPETITION. And frankly and factually, there is no real burning need for 64 bit for BIAB. Yes, nice to have and maybe even lead to a few less hic cups here and there.
It could much more easily be argued that RB and PT will soon need to be 64-bit for the ever increasing complex productions and/or multiple memory heavy synths & FX - if they want to keep that business, but even Apple Logic and Pro Tools HAVE LIMITs!
Also If/when (?) PG wanted to expand BIAB to a full 16, or 32, or 64 and beyond "band" instrument set then they WOULD need to go 64 bit, memory alone would clearly become an issue otherwise.
Sixchannel
You are so right at some point WIN 7/8 (and their offspring) will have an end of life support date and this will start all over again.
Every time there has been a major change (DOS to Win 3 to Win 95/98 (not so much) to Win XP (a lot) to WIN 7/8 (modest cost hits) has been a freaking money pit of new HW and SW - not to mention the wasted time reinstalling, reconfiguring, re-learning, and re-hacking to get work arounds for the inevitable gotcha's.
BTW that's why I STILL use mostly external synths, like my guitars and amps they don't care what OS I run!
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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If there were a compelling advantage to re-writing BIAB as a 64-bit app, I would jump on the bandwagon, but actually I see none (except for plug-ins) which appears to be inexpensively rectified. I am not a big plug in user, personally.
I would prefer to see resources spent on modernizing the UI, and making it more cutomizeable , adding Music XML or enhancing the notation (which Music XML would satisfy.)
The new Realtracks, etc. are great, but I don't consider them FEATURES per se compared to changing the functionality of the base code. I would really never tell the difference between running 2014 and 2015.
Demanding 64-bit just because this "is the 21st Century" is not a valid argument IMO. If it does not enhance the speed or usability of the base program, it is nothing more than "bragging rights." I never see BIAB swapping to disk because it is running out of RAM.
Really, the program does more than I ever need (for its intended purpose.) Again, all I would ask is more user-customization to fit various scenarios (live performance vs. composition etc.)
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I would prefer to see resources spent on modernizing the UI, and making it more cutomizeable , adding Music XML or enhancing the notation (which Music XML would satisfy.) +1. And fixing the bugs!
Latest BIAB version, latest build.
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