When you say "open a song", are you meaning opening an audio file (such as an mp3, wav, etc.) or do you mean opening a BIAB file (i.e. those that have .SGU or .MGU at the end of their names)?
In the meantime, I find myself wondering if what you are experiencing is the "auto open" of the lyric window.
To double check if this is the issue, have a look at the images below. These show how to disable the 'Big Lyrics Window' auto-open.
In my attempts to solve my problem, I did come across the settings that you so kindly included in 5-step graphics and I had already set the exact scenario that you have pictured. But no, my question has nothing to do with lyrics or the lyrics window.
By "opening a song" I'm talking about the basic BIAB .MGU songs with MIDI melodies and program-generated Real Instrument accompaniments.
Every time I open one of those and there's a video file with the same name in the folder, the program also opens a "Video Window" of that same song with a replica of the main program's Chord Window, and then, I have to manually close the Video Window in order to get rid of it.
I'd like to disable the Video Window from opening automatically because, if I need it, I do know how to manually open it in the Video Player via the Video button on one of the icon ribbons.
I'm pretty sure there is someway to turn off the auto-opening function of that window but I just don't remember how I got this done in my previous BB2018 version.
Maybe it's a sign that Alzheimer's is sneaking up on me!
Thanks for the extra information. That really helps.
If there is an audio file format in a BIAB song's folder that has the same name as the song file (with the audio file extension -- e.g. .wav, .mp3, etc) it will automatically open when the song file is loaded. This is how BIAB works. I haven't yet tried it but I'm guessing that this is also set for audio-visual files now.
Try this and see if it helps...
1. Open "Options | Preferences".
2. De-select "When opening BIAB song, open mp3/wma with same name"
Thanks again for the reply but that didn't do the trick for me.
I've attached a picture of the Video Window which auto-opens and sits itself right on top of the main programs chord sheet. This "Video Window" is completely superfluous in this setting since it displays the exact same data that's presented on the main chord sheet.
I remember that my 2018 and 2017 versions did the same thing but after having grown tired and annoyed at having to manually close it after dozens of times, I'd found a way to toggle or disable the "auto open" nature of this window. I just can't remember how I did it. Was there a toggle switch in "17-18" that's been located in "19"?
Now I don't want any admins or anyone to read me wrong because I DO appreciate having all of the video capabilities on-board and I do use them to post videos (100s) on my website for my students.
However, when all I need and want is just the chord sheet of the main program (which is most of the time), this auto-opening of the Video Window has become a nuisance to me because, not only am I forced to manually closed the window over and over and over again, the info it displays is totally redundant in this setting!
So, in lieu of someone telling me of a way to suppress this auto pop-up window that's already present in the program, some type of toggle switch to disable this function would be great in future update!
Thanks for the additional graphic. It helps paint a much clearer picture.
An alternative to Trevor's solution would be to slightly change the name of the video file...
for example, if the songfile is SONGFILE.MGU, rename the rendered video to SONGFILE_V.AVI -- it won't load then.
Also, the naming system above means that the two files are close enough in name so that when using File Explorer, they should sit beside one another and be easy to locate.
Thanks for chiming in. Yes, I have hundreds of BIAB files with corresponding video files with the same name. It's not like I have only one or two folders! The "Practice" folder is just one of dozens of music/teaching folders I've created and they're spread out over the landscape of several hard drives in my system--and each of those folders have tons of BB files and video files with the same name.
In addition to the "general" music student exercise video accompaniments I've made (like the series I did and posted on the three "Hanon Complete" finger exercises book), I've created many non-posted/private exercise videos that are tailored for each of my students and over the years, since this video capability was added to BB, my collection has grown into hundreds of files that are located in many folders on my hard drives.
Yes, I can see and understand that your suggestion to slightly rename all of my video files would definitely keep that Video Window from auto-opening, and what you said about the files remaining next to each other is true. However, as I said in my reply to Video Track, I've made hundreds of files! It would be so much easier for me and a more efficient use of my time to have a toggle switch to disable/enable the auto-open function.
So for now, I'm going to regard the "slightly rename file method" as my "nuclear" last-resort solution and keep it on the shelf for the moment while I contact the support team before I finally submit the toggle switch idea as a wish list item and then wait for an update or two to go by before going "nuclear" (Smile)! Otherwise, your suggestion may be my only way to stop the inconvenience that the automatic pop-up window is causing me.
So with everything that's been said, it looks like it's time to consider this thread at an end, unless someone has another solution that doesn't involve the process of having to rename over 1,000 files.
... unless someone has another solution that doesn't involve the process of having to rename over 1,000 files.
Why not create a folder named 'video accompaniments' or similar and move all the videos to that folder? This would save renaming them all and they wouldn't open with the song. They'd all be in the one place and easy to find if required. You could optionally have multiple video folders if that was more convenient.
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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.
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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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