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I am finding that starting up RealBand is very slow which is due to the intialization of BIAB functions.

The screen is blank during this process and it is difficult know what is happening.

I have always thought that initialization should take place when required as an option, not every time the program is started up. Fortunately, there is a solution which I have used previously until, for some reason, the setting was overwritten during the testing of the 2016 version.

Open a NEW file in RB and select a style - doesn't matter which and save the altered song file to the RealBand folder as $Options.seq. The $Options file opens at the start up of RB and the Style is recognized as being saved by the program previously and which ignores the Initialization of the BIAB functions. Later on, accessing BIAB functions will result in the program being connected to BIAB at that stage, but it is no quicker. It is very slow.

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If it doesn't say "Initializing accompaniment engine..." (or something similar) than it means the BIAB functions aren't being initialized, so I'm not sure why it would be slow at startup if you don't see such a message.


Jeff Yankauer
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Hi LynB

I also had this problem until I did the following. You may have already tried this, but I offer it as a suggestion. I got this idea from somewhere in the forum and was happy to see it worked!

1. I opened up my security suite, in my case, Microsoft Essentials (anti-virus, etc.). Yours should have similar settings.

2. I went to settings, then “Exclude files and locations” and put in the named files you see below for exclusion.
C:bb
C:\bb\bbw.exe
C:bb\bbw3.exe
C:RealBand

3. Then I went to “Excluded file types" and put in:
SEQ. File

Doing this eliminates the time it takes for the security program to search for file viruses in the BIAB & RB programs and in any of my SEQ file(s)when Real Band is opening. I trust BIAB and RB programs and my SEQ files to be virus free. It makes my BIAB and Real Band programs open up much faster.

Don

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LynB Offline OP
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Hi Jeff,

A Yellow Peril Message appears which lasts for a short while before vanishing. The user can be excused from thinking that something is wrong.

It may be a good idea to insert an Option in Preferences > File to allow users to switch off Initialization at Startup if preferred.


Hi Don, Thanks for the information. I have saved a copy of your post for future reference.

Lyn

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Originally Posted By: Jeff Yankauer
If it doesn't say "Initializing accompaniment engine..." (or something similar) than it means the BIAB functions aren't being initialized, so I'm not sure why it would be slow at startup if you don't see such a message.


Now that you mention this, Jeff... I have a question.

I have a bunch of songs for gigs that I load one at a time. MOST of them load quickly. Every now and then one of the project files generates the message above "initializing accompaniment engine..." and the song takes a lot longer to load.

What puts that in motion? It happens on the same files, every time. In playback mode, I'm not invoking any of the features used to generate real content, so I guess that's why I don't usually get that message until I reach certain files.

I have started over and recreated some of the problem files and the message went away... but if there's an easier thing to identify and remove, I'd rather do that.

Its bad Juju standing in front of a live audience waiting for a song to load. ;-)

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It's possible that it's using the engine for something as simple as determining the long style name (the description of the style) from the short style name itself.


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Hi Pat,

Watch the Style names. I have found that when putting together a show, I make all the style names the same thus getting an uninterrupted performance. RB goes into the Initializing mode when the style name changes from the last saved. I believe that there should NOT be an automatic initialization process thereby giving the user full control of this function.

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Originally Posted By: LynB
Hi Pat,

Watch the Style names. I have found that when putting together a show, I make all the style names the same thus getting an uninterrupted performance. RB goes into the Initializing mode when the style name changes from the last saved. I believe that there should NOT be an automatic initialization process thereby giving the user full control of this function.


hmmm... interesting.... especially since I order my set by changing filenames to make them sort the way I want for the gig

01_against the wind.SEQ
02_learning to fly.seq
03_take it easy.seq
etc

in fact, I just reordered them last night after my practice session.. It will be interesting to see if when I practice today I get the initialization message

PS: what do you mean when you say you "make the filenames all the same?"

Last edited by Pat Marr; 12/10/15 04:14 AM.
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He said make the Style names all the same (before saving) .. not the file names ..


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Originally Posted By: rharv
He said make the Style names all the same (before saving) .. not the file names ..



ohhhhhhhh! (smacking head against wall)

at least that explains why changing the file names didn't generate errors. ;-)

But seriously, thanks for noticing that I misunderstood and for redirecting my understanding! I do appreciate that!

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Hi Pat,

I hope you didn't harm your head too much?? As soon as I finish the setup of a song with BB data, tracks and sounds ready for recording etc, I change the Style Name to "Dream". I open files in the last used folder at RB start up, but not open the last Seq used. I can always return to BB processing on a one off basis.

Rarely, does RealBand go into the initialization process and only when a song is loaded with a different Style name to Dream. Using this method, RealBand starts up in approximately 5 seconds. As I have posted before, I think that there should be a method of switching the Initialization of BB components ON or OFF. Maybe an option in Preferences.

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Thanks Lyn, this is really helpful information! I'll go thru all my songs today and make sure the style is the same before my gig tonight!

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Originally Posted By: LynB
I am finding that starting up RealBand is very slow which is due to the intialization of BIAB functions.
.... It is very slow.


Compare that to calling your buds at 10:30pm and asking them to drop what they're doing to help you lay a few tracks on an idea you just thought up..... oh yeah, and bring some beer and chips.....

I think RB is way faster but it won't pick up the chips and beer either.


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Quote:
but it won't pick up the chips and beer either


Of course, there's this!


John

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If someone made that into a VST plugin they'd be rich!


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