PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box VST and Pro Tools/AAX DAW Plugin (Windows) Plugin sketch / rendering.

Thanks, Pipeline! Dragging a MIDI file into my DAW is how I currently get the tempo map imported, and it didn't occur to me to try that with a plugin MIDI track. Should have known you would have found a way :-)

JJJ,
"But in reality this plugin is not nearly as "stable and capable" as Kontakt. Nor is the GUI as user-friendly. So, given those facts..."

Well, I rather see it become stable and capable (and perhaps pretty too) than settle for the one that does something only half way. I was out of discussion, because I felt first release was way to raw. Recent update was a big one and in a way a good pivoting point. All I am saying, little steps will not bring it home. One more BIG push is needed to make it right, not specifically to me, but for future users.

*Volumes are NEEDED! (Pans would be nice too)

All my whining about plugin because I feel it is still young and there still a time to correct the mistakes of youth, before it is way too late. I would not write this if I did not care about it or just to argue for the sake of argument

What if you take feedback from users to add/modify things they would use in the example GUI then using skins the user can select what they need or don't need to use. If they just want a basic thing they can hide the volume pan sliders/levels. Though the code to add simple wav playback levels/meters via the vst would be simple and basic to do as it's just adjusting the playback level of the generated wav in the local folder as it may be a lot louder or softer than other tracks, as mentioned all the time spent on the Plugin for the last 2 years was not spent on the GUI. You must have a decent GUI and not make do with something homemade.
You know how VideoTrack made the Concept video and that led to the Ctr+T compact view with Tabbed icons in Biab.
It has taken 2 years for user feedback to have any effect on the BiabPlugin GUI, this way it can be built here then when it's done can be implemented into the actual BiabPlugin GUI.
Creating Skins

I posted this in beta for Mac:

So let me run this by everyone for your thoughts. They are ready to start the 2021 version. if you notice 2.9.41 can only go a bit more before it becomes 3.0

I would love to see them spend whatever time is left this year before they move on to other projects on fixing the few little bugs left. Then we will see what suggestions, and or ideas they implement in 2021.

Here are few asks from the forums that many favor.

1. Real Synchronization with the DAW clock. ( this would require them to use the zplane time-stretch .ddl in real-time to stretch audio playback to the host for true ins sync follow the clock synchronization. ) right now it only follows until there is a change then must be reset. This is really in effect tempo mapping

2. ARA2 Chord/key communications to share or send the chord chart back and forth to the DAW. What a game changer that would be in truly tying this thing to the DAW like it is in RB but instead in Logic/Reaper/Studio one/Cubase/etc

3. Cleaned up and modernized GUI (see the ideas from Pipeline and Rusty Spoon)

4. The support for Multitrack drums or as Tobin called them stems. what a cool add in tool that could be.

5. More BiaB RT features with in the plugin. I.E. Direct in or Medley function. These have been ask for repeatedly

6. Add in Volume/Pan sliders. Many want them many don't still it they are there then you can either use them or not.

7. Tabbed bar for the chords and tracks windows. What a useful feature it cleans up workspace and adds functionality


We all know that just about every change made this year brought back bugs that were fixed earlier or even last year. Changes bring issues, issues slowly get handled. Stabilize it now with bug fixes and the develop these features for the next release now only a few months away..

I also propose that in 2021 when the new release hits there is a install option to allow the user to install the new 3.0 along side whatever stable version we end up with this year. This is so that while the growing pains of a new release are in full swing we can still use the stable one without new bugs and not having to roll back.

Pipeline.
The tab view... (Thank you Videotrack!) I believe you were the one to show it to me I strongly disagree with the interface with those huge colorful buttons. I mentioned this in another post which fully mirrors what you said. Modular is the way to go Biab or Plugin. Display and use what you need, hide the rest. Tabbed view solved that well in BIAB, why not use same or similar idea in plugin? For example "custom" tab can be used to add custom views or functions/shortcuts.

___

Rob,
If the "stabilizing" will leave ample room for future development sure! But I was under the impression from other discussions that the further you are into programming, the harder it is to go back to make room or adjust to implement core features.(I do consider volumes as a core feature)

Rustyspoon, thanks for the suggestions and graphics. Much appreciated.
btw) We have a new release of the plugin 2.8.41 (June 22, 2020) that has a lot of new features.

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=603296#Post603296

There’s a video describing it too https://youtu.be/2KY4-VTk-ks

Thanx Peter for sharing that video. It looks like the VST is going to very useful to me now!

Peter,
Thank you for your feedback!
Yes, I tried the latest release. It is a huge step up, but I feel it needs one more BIG push to make it prime.

Also I kindly ask you to think about the graphics. I feel that amazing piece of software is diminished by the looks. And "looks" are the easiest of all tasks to tackle. My skills are VERY mediocre, but if needed I will gladly help making buttons or such.

Misha.