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Ok ..... I purchased 2014.

Why, oh why is there still no 64 bit version?

It seems that jumping from DAW to BB is still the only way to utilize VSTi's etc. etc.

There are going to be many disappointed users.


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I think a statement from PG regarding this would not be out of place


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Yes, indeed ZeroZero.

Considering the amount of interest on the forum and the number of requests I can only assume that it has been shelved for now because of the time factor.

That does not alleviate or compensate in any way the disappointemt and complete lack of response from the BB team.


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Give them a break guys. I imagine "swamped" is an understatement right now for team PG. I wouldn't be expecting an answer the instant you post.

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I am not expecting them to post 'in an instant' but I am saying that some kind of statement regarding 64 bit would be reasonable - given the overwhelming interest and expectation for months, even years.


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I don't for one minute think that the 64 bit request has gone unnoticed. Peter notices everything.

However, the request for the updated GUI outdates 64 bit by several years at least.


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mmmmmm.....????? I have ordered 2014 but the new GUI has got me worried. I liked the old one! My worry is that I have never been able to use MS Word or Sibelius with the same facility since they changed the interfaces to those dopey Ribbons. They are so slow. tired


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With respect Mac,

Well 'several years' to update a GUI is a very slow progression Mac.

Scuse pun .... but very intentional.

I can live with any GUI but would far more prefer to have my life made easier with x64 bit. Then I really can use all the VSTi's to full potential.


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Hi Graham

Nice to hear from you. The new toolbars are not ribbons. They are just toolbars, and are fast. Moreover, the menus are still there ( unlike ribbons, that have no menus )


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So far every request for 64 bit is to use 64 bit plugins. If we add support for using 64 bit plugins within our 32 bit program, via a wrapper solution, are there any other advantages for BiaB to be 64 bit?

Last edited by PeterGannon; 12/01/13 03:52 PM.

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Originally Posted By: ZeroZero
given the overwhelming interest and expectation for months, even years.


Overwhelming?? Overwhelming by whom?

How many requests does it take to qualify as overwhelming? Five? Ten? A hundred?

About the most number of complaints I've seen here over the years is maybe 10 people. PG has thousands of customers all over the world. I wonder how many of them are "overwhelmingly" demanding 64 bit? It's true there are some who really do use high end VST's with Biab but I think that number is pretty small. The vast majority of users (90% maybe?)use one of the basic GM synths like the Coyote Wavetable, the Forte DXi, or hardware modules like a Sonic Cell or the Ketron none of which have any use for 64 bit.

I see Peter posted while I was writing this. Peter, my understanding is the reason to use 64 bit plugins is to take advantage of Windows 64 use of ram. Would the ability to use a 64 bit plug within Biab's 32 bit structure allow for the use of more than 4 gigs of ram on a 64 bit system?

Bob

Last edited by jazzmammal; 12/01/13 04:02 PM.

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Thank you for your reply Peter.

I think the option/or a choice of a x32/x64 bit would prove an enormous and beneficial advantage. In fact out of all users of Band In A Box I would go so far as to suggest most, if not all would, utilize a x64 bit version of the software.

Surely would not x64 bit option run more efficiently than a wrapper?

I use jBridge occasionally in DAW's to bring in some 32 bit plugins that I consider too good not to use, they just didn't go x64 bit. It isn't the ultimate solution though .... just a temporary solution till the software was updated to 64 bit.

Being able to stay within BB, rather than resort to switching repeatedly to DAW's is a very tiresome task. I do it because X64 bit plugins offer speed, and much higher sample rates, that result in much better sound. This is memory intensive and simply not possible in x32 bit applications.

I would love to try a 'wrapper' but sincerely hope you will offer x64 bit in the near future.


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A well designed 64 bit wrapper should offer the same RAM usage as native 64.

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@jazzmammal

With respect,

I don't see 'complaints' .... rather, requests.

..... and I have to disagree with your assumption that 'The vast majority of users (90% maybe?)use one of the basic GM synths.' or 'there are some who really do use high end VST's with Biab but I think that number is pretty small.' More and more musicians are using good sample libraries simply because of the quality.

Band In A Box could be the ONLY solution for users of VST AND VSTi users, however 'high end'. This would make the software unbeatable in every respect. Maybe a wrapper could work. I suspect not though.


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Originally Posted By: Mac
A well designed 64 bit wrapper should offer the same RAM usage as native 64.


With all due respect sir I know of no 64 bit to 32 bit wrapper that allows the VSTi to use the extra ram. If the host runs in 32 bit then doesn’t all the VSTis and VSTs also run in 32 bit? I know that last time I tried that it did.

In addition with every other piece of music software, DAWs, VSTs and VSTis, going 64 bit doesn’t make our beloved BiaB look like a non-professional product? Which of course I know that it is a pro product but prospective buyers may not even look at it while it is still 32 bit.

I’m not trying to start a war, I’m just stating my opinion. BiaB is my third most used program behind my DAW and 64 bit VST/VSTis. I would love to be able to use my 64 bit stuff in BiaB so I could get a better handle on what my music would sound like during regenerations prior to my DAW. As it is now I must guess prior to going to my DAW and excellent sound sources.

I am going to upgrade because of the new SuperMIDI tracks and RTs I just wish that a 64 bit version was also offered.


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Originally Posted By: MarioD

With all due respect sir I know of no 64 bit to 32 bit wrapper that allows the VSTi to use the extra ram. If the host runs in 32 bit then doesn’t all the VSTis and VSTs also run in 32 bit? I know that last time I tried that it did.



With the same due respect, sir, the people complaining here are running 64 bit machines.

So the wrap would be from native 64 bit plugins on native 64 bit machine and 64 bit OS to be used via the single BB 32 bit host.

I stand by what I said above for that instance.


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I'm beginning to lose some respect Mac.

I cannot see a wrapper working ... as i've already stated.

I also reiterate ..... I don't see complaints, I see requests.

Thank you for your common sense MarioD.

@Mac ..... I would hope your hypothesis might work. I think rather it would not. It does sound somewhat backward thinking.

I wish my C++ was more knowledgable .... I hope you understand my BB thinking.

Last edited by malevans; 12/01/13 09:43 PM.

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Originally Posted By: malevans
I'm beginning to lose some respect Mac.


Nice comment.

Quote:
I cannot see a wrapper working ... as i've already stated.


Irrelevant - Nobody could "see" RealTracks either, until PGMusic released same.

Quote:
I also reiterate ..... I don't see complaints, I see requests.


There are more posters on this thread than yourself. Read the way some of the other posts put things, I called that a complaint, maybe so, maybe not, that is just my viewpoint.

Arguing semantics like that gets us nowhere, really.

Quote:
@Mac ..... I would hope your hypothesis might work. I think rather it would not. It does sound somewhat backward thinking.

I wish my C++ was more knowledgable .... I hope you understand my BB thinking.


It is not my hypothesis.

And, it would be better worded as to knowledge of the 64 bit Windows OS.

I'm not defending use of Wrapper vs Native, but since Peter Gannon has already weighed in with the idea of a wrapper, was simply hypothesizing on how that could be accomplished.

A full rewrite of all the legacy code inside BB in order to make it all run well in the 64 bit OS environment would indeed be a daunting task, it would not be an easy thing for any development team to do. Note that I did not say it is impossible. But thinking about human resource allocations and such, I said, "improbable".


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Peter: I have used Jbridge since it came out, admitedly 64>32. It never did support all plugins. A wrapper in my opinion is not the answer. All my plugins bar one and indeed all my system apart from BIAB are 64 bit. BIAB is a great program, but is very buggy and still full of anomolies, even after the new GUI we still get banjos that are called guitars. I tried using my current 32 bit VST in the current VST slots and they crashed. There are other areas such as the score, which could do with a good rethink and redsign - mine breaks up into squares.
Giving new fonts, hiding the MIDI cotnrols and making the mixer visible at all times is not an updated GUI in my view (I dont mean to offend but I do mean to be honest) frankly I found the update very underwhelming, except for user RTs.
The program needs a rewrite for the twenty first century. Yes we got user RTs a big bonus, and we got some excellent musicians on the Rts - which is worth the money in its own right, but if you rethought the program from the ground up writing in 64 bit there are many improvements that could be made and have been suggested, no need to list them here. its a pity that there was not considerable improvement in this update. I think that those that ask for 64 bit are not just asking to use their 64 bit VSTs but they are asking for a fresh new application.


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32-bit applications will work just fine for the foreseeable future -- except in the cases of applications that have a lot of add-ons (like music programs). It seems that most musical add-ons nowadays are 64-bit.

I have to venture that changing from 32-bit to 64-bit for a smaller corporation like PG Music is resource and cost/benefit driven. My main product is built using a 32-bit development platform, but I am now starting the big move to a 64-bit platform. It will probably take me all year since I am also learning new languages (C# and asp.net).

If I were PG, I would recognize that 64-bit is inevitable and start the transition now (if it hasn't already started).


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