The Style picker uses leading characters to indicate the specific style 'type', e.g. > Real Styles are prefaced by an underscore: _ > An asterisk (*) or (^) caret means the style is a "perfect" or "good" match > Styles with Real Tracks are prefaced by an equals sign: =
So you can have many variations such as: *= ^= *_ ^_ _ ^
Seeing that there is some unused 'real-estate' on the Style picker form, to reduce the cryptology of these characters, and save having to often go to Help for a refresher, it would be useful for this information to be shown there as a hint for users browsing through styles, maybe like this:
BIAB & RB2024 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
I'd love to see a floating window like the screenshot. It would really reduce some of the learning curve. Great suggestion and the screenshot really helps to sell the idea.
I endorse this idea, but isn't the real problem that these names are limited to the 8.3 convention?
Hi Matt
When 2013.5 didn't turn up, I was sure that at least some of the previous 12 months development time was being spent upgrading all those DOS legacy things, and that we were going to see no more 8.3
With the new style preview they put in for 2014 I just use that and I can hear the style without trying to figure all those symbols.... I am so lazy......
Yes, the Style Picker window could be better for searching those special things. I myself nowadays want to use more often MIDI Styles, because I want to try out a new Sampler Miroslav Philharmonik for Classical music. Would be very useful when there would be more things to search for, the things that are in the memo text for example. Instrumentation of styles and so on.
The Style picker uses leading characters to indicate the specific style 'type', e.g. > Real Styles are prefaced by an underscore: _ > An asterisk (*) or (^) caret means the style is a "perfect" or "good" match > Styles with Real Tracks are prefaced by an equals sign: =
So you can have many variations such as: *= ^= *_ ^_ _ ^
Seeing that there is some unused 'real-estate' on the Style picker form, to reduce the cryptology of these characters, and save having to often go to Help for a refresher, it would be useful for this information to be shown there as a hint for users browsing through styles, maybe like this:
I find all this "asterisk means this and tilde means that so utterly forgettable. An interface should make things apparent - not make you consult some kind of internal dictionary.
The whole screen needs radical surgery of course. Why not use color?
In the list browser there are better ways to signify all these variations. And since ages we can have really long filenames which could be self explaining.
The Band-in-a-Box StylePicker has received a makeover in 2019. It would be nice to see PG Music take one more look at the StylePicker and implement this suggestion.
As a newer user of BIAB (6 years or so) I can tell you these markers are essentially useless. Completely non-intuitive so I just ignore them (like lots of obscure or poorly documented BIAB features unfortunately.) I suspect I am not alone among non-BIAB-old-timers. I just stumble around in the program until I get some RealTracks I like for my song, export them as WAVs and exit the program as quickly as possible!
This wishlist request has been here as long as I have and it would be so simple to add as it is nothing but a list of definitions. Why they have not done it is baffling!
BIAB is just like windows .... the flaws make it wanted and marketable.
Everyone buys the upgrades and even downloads eagerly all the updates, with hopes bugs and wishes are fulfilled finally.
Alas, this will never happen: hackers will get away with a perfect program to distribute for free, and PG has no income anymore.
Perhaps the most cynical statement (other than my own) I've heard around here recently! So you are saying they intentionally leave in/introduce flaws and bugs to thwart piracy? You might have a point with Windows but since BIAB releases new content every time which is far more important than the features/fixes I'd say that "logic" doesn't apply here.
5 1/2 years later I still believe the idea is worth implementing.
The "new" StylePicker is still undergoing revisement through program updates so now is a good opportunity to add the suggested style labeling definitions.
Seeing that there is some unused 'real-estate' on the Style picker form, to reduce the cryptology of these characters, and save having to often go to Help for a refresher, it would be useful for this information to be shown there as a hint for users browsing through styles, ...
Originally Posted By: VideoTrack
Well, despite a lot of support for this "very easy to introduce" feature, it never got a shot for 2015.
I somehow wonder if PGM staff ever read this forum (!?).
(What was that comment about a wishing well?)
Hi VideoTrack - another excellent suggestion! It has been passed along to the "powers that be".
Now if only we could get that "your wish is my command" feature working ...
Thank you, Alyssa, for advocating for these requests and giving us a response here.
I fear that this request, and the 255-measure limit, are in the class of problems that probably require structural changes to the song files and some fundamental and original parts of the program. The developers must know already and must be stymied in some way from making these fixes while keeping compatibility.
I am not speaking for anyone else, but I would happily forego all new features, styles and RealTracks etc. for a year if these and other known core obstacles were successfully addressed. In my opinion it would put BIAB on a more firm footing for the future.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
Thank you, Alyssa, for advocating for these requests and giving us a response here.
I fear that this request, and the 255-measure limit, are in the class of problems that probably require structural changes to the song files and some fundamental and original parts of the program. The developers must know already and must be stymied in some way from making these fixes while keeping compatibility.
I am not speaking for anyone else, but I would happily forego all new features, styles and RealTracks etc. for a year if these and other known core obstacles were successfully addressed. In my opinion it would put BIAB on a more firm footing for the future.
I'm with you Matt.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up. Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
... I am not speaking for anyone else, but I would happily forego all new features, styles and RealTracks etc. for a year if these and other known core obstacles were successfully addressed. In my opinion it would put BIAB on a more firm footing for the future.
As per Mario's endorsement, you actually are speaking for me and I'm sure many others.
BIAB & RB2024 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
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.
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!
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
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So you are saying they intentionally leave in/introduce flaws and bugs to thwart piracy? You might have a point with Windows but since BIAB releases new content every time which is far more important than the features/fixes I'd say that "logic" doesn't apply here.
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