the first containing the chord sheet and the second the recording of that exact chord progression.
When I open a new file, select my usertrack, enter some chords that I know are there and press play it works. But when I save the file and open it again biab crashes as soon as I hit play.
Also when I open a file I created earlier with a realtrack and I want to add my usertrack. The program crashes as soon as I try to select a user track or the moment I press play.
I’m using a Mac OS Sierra version 10.12.6 and Band in A box Pro 2018.
I don't think Pipeline was implying you posted in an incorrect part of the forum as much as he is thinking there are more people that know and understand the Mac Band-in-a-Box software in the Mac forum.
The difference in file types (aif versus wav and MP4 versus wma) and differences in operation between the Windows and Mac software editions generally means that advice from Window users may not be of much use to you.
Ok, I see but I really don't think this is Mac related so I'd equally like to hear from a Windows user who has had this or a similar problem (and fixed it).
Because the weird thing is that the 'Accordion, Rhythm Crossover Sw16 075' user track works fine and all the files (including file types) look exactly the same!
Never mind the content, these are just test files. I was planning to make larger charts and multiple files once I know it works. Also: this is test number 4 or 5, I started with the template Song_1m_Jazz_1.sgu and it crashed just the same.
When you say 'They both generate up ok' do you mean you opened these files and you can play them? That is not the problem. The crash happens when you start a new file select my usertrack save the file, open it again and then press play.
After messing around trying it on WinBB and MacBB 2018, it crashes on MacBB 2018 as you import an audio file so as you go to play it will try and read the audio file and crash ! It works fine on MacBB 2017 so as Jim & I said earlier go to the MacBB forum and report the 2018 BUG. * Make sure you set it to 1 chorus when you record the usertracks > Edit > Song Form > Unfold, that's why the other had so many blank bars.
The safest way to minimise the crashes related to new Usertrack (and the word 'new' is the important part of that sentence!):
1. Use NO OTHER AUDIO FILES on the first song you apply a Usertrack to, not even Realtracks! 2. It's best to do a throwaway 8 bar "initiation" song for the first generation of a new Usertrack, and have any other tracks as midi only instruments for its first generation. 3. After this has been done successfully at least once, you should be safe to use the UT as any other Realtrack, but the most safe way still for future uses is to generate any other track first and freeze them, and then add the Usertrack last into the song.
The primary cause for these crashes - which the above instruction is attempting to minimise - appears to be due to how BBox must create additional .bt files to go with the Usetrack files the first time you generate the track (which is why 'new' is key word here and explains why the pre-existing Accordion worked fine). Something in this process seems to be very straining on the program, so if it also has to generate other Realtracks and/or waste precious horsepower on additional audio tracks = BOOM!.
Solution, until a proper fix is found - avoid straining the program.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BBox 2022 Audiophile, Mac Pro Intel, OSX 10.6.8, 800x600 (TV VGA)
I tested your solution Icelander and I'm afraid it doesn't make any difference. Step 1 and 2 are correct but step 3 is not, it's still not safe to use user tracks.
So I'm going with Pipeline's conclusion that it's a bug in the 2018 version.
Apparently I'm the first to try making user tracks in the 2018 version cause the support people were scratching their heads over my report.
Thank you both for your help! I'll keep you updated.
It's been more than two weeks now. Still not fixed. Still not working with the program I bought to speed up my process. So far it's only been working against me... Not a happy camper...
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