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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi, I gather one of the later versions of BIAB can now handle more or any time signature rather than only 4/4 and 3/4 as my 2016 and 2012 versions are limited to. I am assuming the latest BIAB version can handle BIAB files created by versions 2012 and 2016. However can these older versions of BIAB handle BIAB files created by BIAB 2019 if the time signature is simple 4/4 or 3/4? If not are there any solutions to this such as restricting the files in some way or maybe choosing the version when you write the file out as many of the MicroSoft programs do.
Thanks,
John
Last edited by bowlesj; 12/02/18 02:36 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I’m not aware of any changes in those years in the handling of time signatures. Styles can simulate other time signatures but to my knowledge they are still based on 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4. I would expect the older versions could read songs prepared on newer versions. The hazard would be if the song used newer styles, RealTracks or RealDrums not available in those older versions. I’m not sure what would happen.
No, I don’t think BIAB can save in older formats like Word 2003 or Word 97 etc.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks Matt, I knew I read something about 6/8 somewhere so I just did a google search "can band in a box handle 6/8 time" and this link showed up. https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=460618Maybe this is what I read that made me think it has 6/8 time. Farther down I read your post in this link indicating that 6/8 is still handled by the 3/4 chord structure. The difference is my 2016 style picker has no style results for 6/8 but 2018 seems to have some. Okay so now I get it. I don't have to worry then. In other words I can upgrade if I want to get more styles and my jam group members will just convert back to whatever styles they have if they download the BIAB backing track files I put on my website for practice purposes. Maybe that is what you said but I needed an example to understand it :-) John
Last edited by bowlesj; 12/02/18 04:43 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Yes.
Basically what you are asking is, does the new BIAB have backward compatibility? Can it read songs created in earlier versions regardless of the time signature used or simulated by a style? I believe the answer is Yes.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 803
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It would be nice if BIAB some day has any time including 5/4 time so "Take Five" could be played. At the same time it would be nice if it is still backward compatible on a file basis. So as an example lets say BIAB 2020 can process files created in 5/4 time. If this 2020 version writes out a file in 4/4 time an older version such as 2016 can read and play that file but if 2020 writes out a file in 5/4 time the 2016 version simply gives an error on that file.
Last edited by bowlesj; 12/03/18 12:18 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Software in general tries to be backward compatible with the older versions, but once you do anything to change the file structure (to accommodate new features), it becomes very difficult to use content files created by the new version in an older version. Some software packages do provide a "save as previous version" feature; however, from what I've seen, most are looking forward, not back at older versions.
At least for now, (without trying it) my understanding is that most of the older versions will load a newly created SGU file, but you're still going to get errors (since the older version won't have all the content.
If some of our wishlist items do get implemented in the future, then I see the file format radically changing where it may not even work in the most recent version (for example, 8th note chord resolution, true time signature support, automatic (optional) transposition when you make a key signature change, perhaps separated and multiple additional tracks support). Since most of what is read in is math, it would be easy to load in an old file and make it fit the new format; however, going the other way would be a lot of work that they probably would rather spend time with new capabilities.
My $0.02 worth.
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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Software in general tries to be backward compatible with the older versions, but once you do anything to change the file structure (to accommodate new features), it becomes very difficult to use content files created by the new version in an older version. Some software packages do provide a "save as previous version" feature; however, from what I've seen, most are looking forward, not back at older versions.
At least for now, (without trying it) my understanding is that most of the older versions will load a newly created SGU file, but you're still going to get errors (since the older version won't have all the content.
If some of our wishlist items do get implemented in the future, then I see the file format radically changing where it may not even work in the most recent version (for example, 8th note chord resolution, true time signature support, automatic (optional) transposition when you make a key signature change, perhaps separated and multiple additional tracks support). Since most of what is read in is math, it would be easy to load in an old file and make it fit the new format; however, going the other way would be a lot of work that they probably would rather spend time with new capabilities.
My $0.02 worth.
John, I always find your $0.02 worth a million bucks. Same applies to Matt and a couple others. Thanks for all the help you give everyone on these forums. Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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