Why not add some very simple top level GUIs on top of the standard BIAB user interface.
This could probably simplify the introduction of the software to new users as well as could be some very useful tools for the experienced user.
The option would be to enter the standard interface or some of the specific simplistic top level interfaces. And when the work is finished on the top level one could easily switch down to the full BIAB level interface to continue the work with all the tools that are available there.
1. One example could be to add a simplistic Top Level GUI in the style of “ChordPulse”. I just found out about ChordPulse. It is a very simple and intuitive little program that makes it very easy and quick to start sketching song structures and to find an overall idea of the grove and style of a song. This could then be used as it is as a simple backing track or as a starting point to be refined further going down to the next level to the full BIAB GUI within all the tools of BIAB. I really like the CLEAN and simple entry level with an easy and quick way to enter song forms, chords, and selecting styles from the clean organization and presentation of styles to the user. (I know it can be done in BIAB as is). I really like the matrix style by genre of presenting styles and the simplicity in how the styles can be audited in real time against my song/chords whilst it is plying, just by clicking another style.
This is just one idea for a top level gui. There could be several more reflecting different aspects of the workflow that users might have problems with or spending a lot of time with.
2. Another example that probably would be very useful would be a simplistic Top Level GUI that in steps could guide and support the user in finding out "the Grove" of a song that he might hear in his head. I don’t know how to do this, all I know is that I am spending so much time searching styles and auditing styles in BIAB in order to find something close to what I am hearing in my head, but most of the times I just give up. So the idea is to find a way to guide the user in this process (the current search approach from the style picker list does not work efficiently and neither searching the drum lists or other lists).
A clean and simple GUI that step by step trying to nail down the “grove” and characteristics that the user hears in his head.
I guess it many times starts from the drums and bass. But the dialogue needs to be an iterative guiding with examples and feedback to narrow it all down further and further and eventually to suggested some good matching styles to the user.
BIAB 2026, Studio Pro 8, Song Master Pro, Win11 Home. i7-9700K CPU, 32GB, ESI MAYA44eX, ZOOM UAC-2, Guitar Pro 8, Transcribe, (EZKeys2, EZD3, SD3, EZBass, EZMix3) Amateur: fiddle, guitar, vocal, beginner on bass.
Band-in-a-Box presently has two user interfaces classic and new. You can switch between the two using the keyboard command of Ctrl+T for Windows or Cmd+T for Mac.
The new GUI is pretty streamlined. The "Custom" tab above the mixer can be customized to display only the icons you desire.
I believe you are wanting more of a song building wizard than a GUI change. Am I correct?
Yes, I guess it is the song building wizard I meant as an example. I just tested ChordPulse and was very impressed by the simple clean interface for the specific task at hand that impressed me. So easy to use without any prior knowledge about the software at all and with good results.
I mainly used it as an example of a very simple clean user friendly down to task interface that leaves me the user focused on the creative task at hand.
It is very easy to put in chords in BIAB as well and I think what I found so different with ChordPulse was how easy it was to navigate and audit the styles and configure the song format and chords.
I used it mainly as an example for a "top level interface" approach that could help the user with a specific issue in the workflow. I think it would be very useful if an new approach could be addad for helping the user to find the "grove and characteristics" of the song he has in mind.Something interactive with feedback narrowing it down to a selection of good matching styles and highlightning the key components that makes the grove the grove.
BIAB 2026, Studio Pro 8, Song Master Pro, Win11 Home. i7-9700K CPU, 32GB, ESI MAYA44eX, ZOOM UAC-2, Guitar Pro 8, Transcribe, (EZKeys2, EZD3, SD3, EZBass, EZMix3) Amateur: fiddle, guitar, vocal, beginner on bass.
Chord pulse is a beauty (I was early adopter), but is Midi only and you are bounded to the the handful of midi styles owner assembled. There are some interesting case uses, but it is very, very limited compared to BIAB.
You can hide/unhide BIAB mixer in one click to make GUI cleaner. See attached. Just enter (or change or delete) your chords and hit play, or other transport buttons for basic operation.
While there could be effort made to reduce complexity of various deep menus and make them more consistent, but as far as actual minimalistic GUI of BIAB I see no issues with it, except for Radio buttons on top, that are a bit annoying, as there is no way to hide or minimize them.
------------- I will give your topic a 1+ because I do think BIAB needs more love toward overall workflow.
Have you ever seen or used a looper? It can either be hardware like +++ these +++ or software like +++ this +++. A looper lets a user sequentially build an audio phrase or pattern in real time one audio track at a time.
ChordPulse reminds me of a looper because ChordPulse also works in real time. It's a great example of a software interface but, as Rustyspoon# noted, it only works with MIDI.
Having a "build a song" wizard is a neat idea. I'd love to see PG Music pull it off.
There are a lot of style demos to double click ! If you maybe had something like few second auto preview playback of each of the search results and be able to mark any that maybe acceptable rather than double clicking all day long. With the RT RD pickers and the RTs RDs having midi notation you should be able to create a beat/bass pattern/strum finder like toontrack.
Look at the reaper media explorer it can be set to auto play and using the up/down cursor key they play instantly from one to the other without the delay that Biab has when doubling clicking the next demo. I think a lot of media players have an option to preview each song in the playlist for so many secs. I could be making a cup of coffee while they are previewing and just go back to the one I liked and mark it then continue on.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
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