The style is available, because if I close the song and load the style it will play.

I made the song file by entering notes in notation view. I've done this with half a dozen other songs and had no problem getting the styles to play. The only difference I can think if is that this one has 3/4 time.

Could I have accidentally changed some setting that is preventing the styles from playing?

Lesley,

I'm not fully following your predicament.

Are you saying that...

1. You load a song style, generate it and then it plays fine.

2. Now when you use notation editor to add a melody and then play the song, only the melody plays?

Did you regenerate the song after writing the melody (this may or may not be necessary depending on what's happened)?

Regards,
Noel

P.S. Also, I don't know if you saw my reply regarding ties in this thread.

Hi Noel,
Yes, only the melody plays when I load a style for the song for which I just entered the melody. Generating it doesn't seem to make any difference.

The style will load, but only the melody plays. I'm thinking I must have changed some setting, or something.

Yes, thank you for your reply about ties. It was very helpful.

Ahh...

Thanks, Lesley.

Have you checked that the style is actually set as 'Enabled'?

To do this...

1. Right-click on the style name (#1).

2. Select "Style is enabled" (#2).

Note a 'Disabled' style will have an X at the front of its name.

Unfortunately the style IS enabled, but it still won't play.

I made a recording showing how the style will play with no song loaded, but not when I load the song:

https://youtu.be/IZlAeFL2Q_Y


Styles work with other songs I have entered, or with no song, just not this particular one, Ashokan Farewell.

I'm wondering if it something to do with the fact that my external hard drive that I got when I ordered the UltraPack kept cutting out when I was entering the song, and I had to keep restarting BiaB. I just got BiaB and the external drive last week, and there is a loose connection somewhere. But I had the same problems when I put together my other videos, and did not encounter this problem of the style not playing.

Something like this could create a corrupt file.

As a test, try creating a brand new version of the song from scratch (i.e. using "File | New") and then enter (say) 4 bars of notes. Does this work?

First thing I would do is to use the double USB cable and plug it into two USB slots to ensure the drive is getting enough power (not all USB connections are created equal). If you are still getting intermittent response from the USB drive, then you may need to undo the screws on the drive enclosure and see if there is a loose cable connection (they do sometimes come loose in transit - I've had to do this a couple of times in the past).

Noel,
I think the file is corrupt. I saved the file as a midi, then imported the melody and chords into a new file, and it worked. But while I was working on the new file the external drive cut out again and the new file became corrupted. It is very frustrating


jford,
I only have one USB outlet on my computer. I've already done the unscrewing and "reseating", as instructed by someone I spoke with on the phone. I can't do it again because one of the screws is stripped.


I have tried sending email, chat and phoning. The email is not answered, the chat tells me to call technical support. I got through once to technical support this morning. The guy on the phone told me to make sure style was enabled (as Noel suggested further up the thread). Before he could suggest anything else we were cut off. I haven't been able to get through since.

I have read all the trouble shooting stuff. The only thing I haven't done is try a new USB cable. I don't have one, so I guess I will have to go out and buy one--probably cost $20 CND.

I'm worried that I'm being charged for all my phone calls, since I think my plan only has free calling within Canada. Every time I call I get a message saying everyone is busy and to call again. The last few times I have called I get a message saying their mail box is full. It would be better if I just got a busy signal since I wouldn't get charged for the call then.

This is getting so it isn't fun any more.

Lesley,

Could the reason the USB drive cuts out be due to your antivirus software constantly checking the drive when you read/write?

Regards,
Noel

Maybe. How could I check to see if this is happening?

What is your antivirus software?

I think the problem might have been the cord connecting the external drive to my computer. I replaced it and so far it has worked.

No, it turns out it wasn't the cord. The external drive just seems to be unstable. I have given up and installed the complete program on my work laptop, which has lots of room. I made sure everything stayed perfectly still while it installed from the external drive, and it worked.

But now I have to bring my work laptop back and forth from work every day so I can work on BiaB nights and weekends.

I'll try calling again next week. Do external drives simply not work if you are holding a computer in your lap? The external drive was on a table beside me, but it was attached to my laptop by a cord, and the cord moves when the laptop does.

Lesley,

Sometimes USB drives are faulty. There have been a couple of instances of this on the forums and PG Music have looked after the people involved.

I suggest you contact Sales staff and send them the URL of this thread.

Regards,
Noel