|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21 |
I have continually upgraded Band-in-a-Box for many years, and I just installed 2012 on to my internal hard drive. There appears to be many duplicate files -- that is, files that are the same in size and content but have different names.
So, my basic question is: are they really duplicates or are they just similar files of the same size with different names?
Here is an example of what appears to be a file with five copies of it, but all with different names. These particular files are in my bb\RealTracks - Demos\ directory:
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 #1074 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 (Bluesy) #1077 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad delay Ev16 065 #1078 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad dry Ev16 065 (Bluesy) #1167 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 #1076 band.wma size 1215006
I believe the program I used to find the dups discriminates among files of the same size but with different structural content since there were files of the same size that were not identified as duplicates.
For example:
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 #1074 band.wma size 1215006
Pedal Steel,Soloist ContryPaul Ev 065 #1667 band.wma size 1215006
Just wondering.
Overall I found of the 108,850 files in C:\bb\ and 3,644 of the files accounted for 11,098 duplicates.
Thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11,427
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11,427 |
Interesting analysis, seems you have a little spare time on your hands.  I guess I would never suspect that files with different names would be duplicates. The fact that the size is the same is linkly not unusual for a audio file which differs only in effects. But don't know for sure? do an experiment and render the same song serval times wiht a different effect, will bet the size does not vary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
songs with the same length in time and same encoding will have the same exact size whether it is one track or a thousand mixed down (i think).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,651
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,651 |
Go play those files in Media Player and see if they are exactly the same. If they are, I probably still wouldn't delete them as they may simply have markers in different locations that affect how BiaB uses them in different styles, so they may appear the same but be different in ways that are not obvious.
Make your sound your own!
.. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 187
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 187 |
Google on "binary file compare utility" for freebie programs that will compare 2 files and report if they are an exact match.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,935
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,935 |
TG, Quote:
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 #1074 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 (Bluesy) #1077 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad delay Ev16 065 #1078 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad dry Ev16 065 (Bluesy) #1167 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 #1076 band.wma size 1215006
As far as I can tell, these are individual files based on the same parent file. The "Dry" file, #1167, is the original recording and the other files are a result of adding effects (chorus, delay) to #1167.
As others have mentioned above, with audio recordings it is the length of the recording that determines the size. Since these files all sprang from the same source (#1167), they are identical in length and thus identical in size. That's my take on it, at least.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,037
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,037 |
Hi there, I agree, not only the file names are not identical, which may indicate that they are not exactly the same files, but on two of them there is a difference that indicates that is a "bluesy" way of playing maybe the same set of notes. Well that is nothing new, there has been some Real Tracks with that distinction before (since 2011 or maybe 2010 version). So yes, I wouldn't erase them at all.
Mike B.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21 |
Thanx Hog Time -
Never would have thought of doing this if you hadn't suggested it!
I downloaded a trial version of ECMerge which is a full-featured visual file comparison and merging utility. It provided color-coded, side-by-side binary comparison which appeared to be a hexadecimal display of the files (this utility provides an option to compare either text files or all other file types, so I chose the other option since these are not text files).
I compared the first file listed below to two other files, as shown:
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 #1076 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 #1074 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 #1076 band.wma size 1215006
Piano, Electric, Soloist SmoothJazzBallad chorus Ev16 065 (Bluesy) #1077 band.wma size 1215006
ECMerge told me the files were all identical.
But don't delete any files just because they're identica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't recommend anyone delete any files since the program calls within the RealTracks algorithyms are most likely made by filename, and if you delete any file, there is a chance the program might not work correctly. Even though there may be another identical file residing in same directory, the identical file would not have the filename the RealTracks algorithym would be looking for (since it would have been deleted).
Thinking through this issue, I suppose PG Music addressed this as a sub-issue within the context of an overarching issue: distribution of the program.
Perhaps the distribution of the program on self-contained hard drives from which the program can be run negated the need to consolidate the RealTracks program calls and as well as the need to remove identical files which most likely would not have freed up enough data to continue distributing via DVDs anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Henry Clarke: Revolutionize Your Band-in-Box® Tracks with Regenerating Function
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Paket | Was ist Neu
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums66
Topics81,748
Posts736,942
Members38,562
| |
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean