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#148977 01/31/12 05:42 AM
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In no particular order:


1. Implement visual markers on the main chord window.





2. Interface rework, with a more modular approach, drag&drop support, simplified and reorganized menus and Style/Tracks pickers, more modern appearance...; if that’s not possible, I really would like to see a new Stylepicker window, allowing easy reorganization of the categories and styles (via D&D), user comments, style renaming, midi tracks preview...

3. More than 256 bars.

4. Music XML support, to allow exporting BIAB projects to external notation programs.

5. More versatility in Real Styles; Jazz, Rock and Country Real styles are great, but these styles are, IMO, pretty well covered in comparison with other genres like, say, reggae, funk, disco, soul, ska, tango, latin music, new age, or even live hip-hop or electronic music. Broading the spectrum of covered genres not only would increase the program’s value for existing users, but would probably attract new potential users who, right now, could see BIAB as “too much jazz/country” oriented.

6. Allowing partial regeneration of Realtracks, on any track.

7. Preferences finder and custom shortcuts. Having such a high number of options is one of the program’s strongest points and reveals its real power; however with so many options is often difficult (even for experienced users) finding the right one between the different menus and preferences windows. Having a built-in preferences finder in BIAB would make this tedious -and often frustrating- task much easier. In the same way, allowing the user to create his own custom shortcuts would help a lot.

8. Allow navigable loops folders and subfolders.

9. An unique BIAB file format. MGU / SGU difference comes from the days when you only could use the Melody track for MIDI melodies; since the Realtracks days, having two different file formats not only makes no sense, but it’s annoying (at least to me): I’m the whole day trying to find and deleting SGU “versions” of my projects.

10. Fix these bugs:
* Undo feature seems to work only for certain kind of actions.
* Preview button on Style picker window actually loads the style.
* “Copy from..to..” feature deletes settings on target bars, even if “Copy bar settings” option is unchecked.
* A muted (F5) track or part shouldn’t be regenerated when pressing Play; it’s useless and consumes time.
* Pressing "Save" sometimes behaves as "Save as"

Thanks, PG Music for such a wonderful program and for considering these requests!

Last edited by Cerio; 01/31/12 06:53 AM.
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I'm pretty sure #6 already exists. Regarding #7, I've been asking for customizable menus for years as a part of reworking the interface. I have also asked for the ability to hide or 'gray out' options which I will never use.


"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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I recently switched from Windows to MAC.
The MAC BIAB does not have the 'Wood Shed' option, in which you can play /record a riff and then propagate it in all 12 keys..
I certainly make use of this feature and it is sorely missed in the MAC version.
When will this be introduced in the MAC version ?


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Quote:

I'm pretty sure #6 already exists.




In v. 2012 you can only partially regenerate certain bars on the soloist track, but only if you use the "Soloist" feature. However, it's very difficult (if not impossible) to get usable tracks this way, because you don't have fine control over the phrases as you do in RB (it's easy to get "cutted" phrases) and because the "Undo" feature doesn't seem to work here.

Quote:

Regarding #7, I've been asking for customizable menus for years as a part of reworking the interface. I have also asked for the ability to hide or 'gray out' options which I will never use.




+1

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Quote:

Quote:

I'm pretty sure #6 already exists.




In v. 2012 you can only partially regenerate certain bars on the soloist track, but only if you use the "Soloist" feature. However, it's very difficult (if not impossible) to get usable tracks this way, because you don't have fine control over the phrases as you do in RB (it's easy to get "cutted" phrases) and because the "Undo" feature doesn't seem to work here.






I was indeed thinking of Real Band. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

R.


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Quote:

In no particular order:

1. Implement visual markers on the main chord window.



Oh the heck yeah. And I suddenly had a mad vision, one that I'm sure will never happen, but I have to say it aloud: Imagine an "arrangement tree" off to the left, with the structure:

Song
> Intro
> Verse 1
> Chorus 1
> Verse 2
> Chorus 2
> Bridge 1
> Verse 3
> Chorus 2
> Chorus 1
> Tag 1
> End

Imagine now that you can edit the chords, styles, Real Tracks, Tempo, KEY, etc., of each of these sub portions individually. Drag-and-drop to organize or copy them as you please, rename 'em, repeat or loop 'em, etc. You want to see the whole thing at once, click on Song.

Quote:

2. Interface rework, with a more modular approach, drag&drop support, simplified and reorganized menus and Style/Tracks pickers, more modern appearance...; if that’s not possible, I really would like to see a new Stylepicker window, allowing easy reorganization of the categories and styles (via D&D), user comments, style renaming, midi tracks preview...



{nods} And reorganizing the toolbars, and allowing them to be hidden, would be great. Transport, Real Tracks/Drums, MIDI, VST, Educational, Songwriting Tools (notation, Soundtrack, lyrics, etc.)....

Quote:

3. More than 256 bars.



Ahhh, an old fave. If they ever do a 64-bit version, I think this is gonna be necessary. At the very least, while importing the old file format is great, a new file format that allows more bars is vital.

Quote:

5. More versatility in Real Styles; Jazz, Rock and Country Real styles are great, but these styles are, IMO, pretty well covered in comparison with other genres like, say, reggae, funk, disco, soul, ska, tango, latin music, new age, or even live hip-hop or electronic music. Broading the spectrum of covered genres not only would increase the program’s value for existing users, but would probably attract new potential users who, right now, could see BIAB as “too much jazz/country” oriented.



Classical (I still think basing new classical styles on Garritan Instant Orchestra is a killer idea), grunge, garage, r&b, diva piano (for lack of a better phrase -- I'm thinking Alicia Keys, Alanis Morrisette, and Tori Amos), Classic Rock (Queen, Hendrix, Stones, Boston, Eagles sound-alikes), drum & bass, ambient (again, perhaps better as a MIDI style, using some basic ambient instruments and suggestions of free or cheap ones -- ask me, I've got a bunch)....

Quote:

7. Preferences finder and custom shortcuts. Having such a high number of options is one of the program’s strongest points and reveals its real power; however with so many options is often difficult (even for experienced users) finding the right one between the different menus and preferences windows. Having a built-in preferences finder in BIAB would make this tedious -and often frustrating- task much easier. In the same way, allowing the user to create his own custom shortcuts would help a lot.



A side-bar tree-based pref system would indeed help a lot.

Quote:

8. Allow navigable loops folders and subfolders.



Indeed. We're well past the point that we should have an integrated media window, preferably with Favorite files and folders and a graphic audio preview.

Quote:

9. An unique BIAB file format. MGU / SGU difference comes from the days when you only could use the Melody track for MIDI melodies; since the Realtracks days, having two different file formats not only makes no sense, but it’s annoying (at least to me): I’m the whole day trying to find and deleting SGU “versions” of my projects.



Not to mention that we're back with the possibility of 257+ bars.

Quote:

Thanks, PG Music for such a wonderful program and for considering these requests!



+1 gazillion


Best,
Tom Smith
Win10/64 • i7-8700K • 24 GB RAM
BIAB 2026 • Reaper 7.57 • Izotope MPS
AKG C1000S • IK iRig I/O Pro
filkertom #148983 02/10/12 08:28 AM
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Click on the little triangles on the right side to hide the icons you don't use.


Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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Click on the little triangles on the right side to hide the icons you don't use.




Yes, but there is little point in it, since it doesn't make more room on the screen; even if you use floating windows, the empty space is still there:



Last edited by Cerio; 02/11/12 01:52 AM.
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I have also asked for the ability to hide or 'gray out' options which I will never use.

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Great wish list. For me, the #1 wish would be to include the StyleWizard functionality on the Mac version, which automatically enables to create a Band-in-a-Box style from a MIDI file. It is a huge time saver – no knowledge of the StyleMaker is required.

It has been available on the Windows version for many years. The only solution so far for a Mac only user, is to buy a Windows computer and buy BIAB Windows version to run it. Not acceptable to me.

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