I've looked all through my 2019 copy of BiaB, and I've done a search here, and I haven't found any info on how to schedule backups of my files. You know, like any word processor does (and Cakewalk does), where you can set the program to backup the file you're working on at a given interval? I like 5 minutes.
I've been a BiaB user since 1998, and I can't believe I haven't noticed this before. I guess I've never had BiaB lock up on me during a critical moment when writing a piece of music. But it's happened to me twice now in the period of a few days, twice where I've lost a fair amount of work because BiaB decided to lock up and I hadn't saved the file yet.
So, somebody please tell me I just haven't found out how to do this yet. Cuz I have a hard time believing that BiaB doesn't have a periodic backup feature. And if it doesn't, then this is an item that should be placed at the top of the "I want this now!" list.
There are few things I find more infuriating than losing work because a program locked up.
Never seen anyone request this feature in over 20 years of following the forum. Which suggests to me this is not a "I want it now" item. I am almost certain this does not exist in BIAB. Backup of the data on my drives is done with other tools and generally at a much higher level than just the BIAB files. But you may feel differently.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
Backing up a drive is an entirely different process done for entirely different reasons. All I'm asking for is the same thing any word processor has.
BiaB may be some of the buggiest software I've used on a regular basis, but it's actually pretty good about pulling itself out of (not responding) situations, so that may be why folks don't feel the need for backups. But BiaB does lock up on occasion. And this does result in lost work. You may not see this is a priority, but I do, and a rather high one. Because BiaB has no backup feature I now get to go back over a file and spend an hour or more redoing what I lost. Infuriating. There's no excuse for not having this feature -- or at least an equivalent to what Cakewalk does when it crashes. It asks the user if they want a backup copy created. And if the users sez "yes" the backup is created in the same directory that the original file is located. Plus, the backup is up to date to the second the program crashed. This is a workable alternative.
I believe you (and Dan) are correct that there is no 'save every x changes' or 'save every x minutes' like in some software. While I always feel reassured by this feature, I've learned not to rely on it after being burned when it let me down. Far better to adopt manual methods of file handling, including saving under multiple version names as you develop a song.
BIAB does have Edit, Undo. The number of levels can be up to 99 in Options, Preferences. It won't save you in a program crash, though.
So why not make a post in the Wishlist Forum? I would support it.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
I have a chord progression I am working on. A few days ago, I decided to muck around with it much more than I normally do. The outcome was terrible. If that tinkering was saved I would have had to start over.
Realband (not BIAB) doesn't have an auto-save, per-se, but it does have a setting under preferences to create a backup file when overwriting a .SEQ file. You can specify how many backup files to keep (default is 5). So, as long as you "save often", you can get back to a previous version of your file.
If they can't do autosave, maybe they could add this feature to BIAB as well.
RealBand also has an optional feature to automatically backup the most recently recorded take on a track. That way, if you accidentally recorded something to the wrong track and overwrote existing content, you can get it back.
John
Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA
I believe you (and Dan) are correct that there is no 'save every x changes' or 'save every x minutes' like in some software. While I always feel reassured by this feature, I've learned not to rely on it after being burned when it let me down. Far better to adopt manual methods of file handling, including saving under multiple version names as you develop a song.
BIAB does have Edit, Undo. The number of levels can be up to 99 in Options, Preferences. It won't save you in a program crash, though.
So why not make a post in the Wishlist Forum? I would support it.
In response to DSM and you, I use the Edit/Undo feature quite a bit, but just because a program has a timed backup feature, this doesn't nullify the Edit/Undo's. At least, it doesn't in Cakewalk. So you can have both.
Back in the dark days of early DOS software, there was no such thing as timed backups and one just had to develop the habit of saving a file early and often. I'd just as soon not have to revert back to those dark days. But if BiaB keeps locking up on me as it has recently, I will have little choice, I suppose, but to adopt those habits from the dark past.
I shall post a wish (heh, a demand!) in the Wishlist forum. But I wanted to post a message here first because I wanted to make sure that this feature either did or did not exist.
For incremental saves you could make one of them with AutoHotKey, it will send Save As to Biab every so many min/s, when the dialog comes up it will append the file name with with the next number. This would happen very quick as it's scripted.
Try this AutoHotKey, if you don't have AutoHotKey install it https://www.autohotkey.com/ set it to Always On Top, it will save every 2mins (120000)
Code:
#Persistent
SetTimer, BiabSaveAs, 120000
return
EDIT: corrected to 120000 is 2min this is just a basic test model, a timer selector can be added to adjust time between saves, but for now just edit the script in Notepad to change the milliseconds. Close the GUI to stop saving. If BB is playing it will pause and save then continue playing. Try it on a test song that is a copy of your original. You should get:
my song.SGU my song[001].SGU my song[002].SGU my song[003].SGU etc...
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Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
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Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
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MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
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New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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