No not dense at all. When BiaB generates it starts playing before the generation is actually done. It looks ahead and then starts as the process continues. The plugin does not do that because it’s prime directive is to create tracks to be used in the DAW for those who prefer to work there. Since you can’t drag until they are generated, it completes the generation first. The actual generation time to completion is similar in both the program and the VST3, you just don’t see it. One of the reasons for the early start during generation in BiaB is for those using it to play live they can run through the jukebox feature and and keep playing files as needed with out any delay.
As far as the wave files they are created as a convenience for those who might want to drag them, just as midi charts are created with the Real Tracks. When you generate Midi only you can ignore the wave files, when you generate RTs you can ignore the midi charts. They are there if you want them.
I hope that helps you to wrap the gray matter around the process.
Lenovo Win 10 16 gig ram, Mac mini with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2022, Realband, Harrison Mixbus 32c version 9.1324, Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app, Komplete 49 key controller.
David, you seem to want a different answer. Sorry, you just need to use the .wav or ignore them cause they are there. But your suggestion is a good one. Others have suggested to minimize or eliminate the .wav generation and storage unless you pull to the DAW. It has been proposed to keep all the audio in RAM and not write to disk. This makes a lot of sense as it would speed things up. Maybe BAIB 2023?
There seems to be an apples and oranges thing going on here.
If I am in BIAB, and I am using midi tracks ONLY, and I change a few chords and hit generate it will NOT generate a .wav, only a new midi file, and it does so in a second.
In BIAB, you will only get the .wav file of a midi track if you RENDER it. That is, in BIAB there is a difference between generate and render as they apply to midi as far as I can tell.
Why is this important?
Because when I am fiddling with a song, and making numerous changes to the progression and such, I do not want to wait for the length of time it takes to generate a RT .wav or midi to .wav. So I will work in midi until I am ready to get .wavs.
But in the VST3 it seems I have NO CHOICE. I have to get the .wavs alongside the midi, even if I have a midi only style, and I have to wait, twiddling my thumbs, while it does so. And I have to go into my hard drive and erase all those .wav backups I will never use and never wanted in the first place, each time I generate.
So, what I am asking, as only an ask, is this:
Since the technology already exists, why can't I just get a midi generation in the VST just like it is possible in BIAB, without a .wav RENDER each time????
It makes the process much longer, and thus, will dissuade me from using the VST3 inside the DAW for very much because of this one quirk.
I will just say forget it, and work in BIAB, generate .wavs when I feel like it from BIAB, and drag them to the DAW when I am ready.
Ok, so be it.
But WHY can't I have the best of both worlds????
That is question I am asking.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
David, you are not alone. I gave up working on MIDI songs while using the VST because of the must save wav feature(?). All it does is slow you down and load your HD with useless wavs.
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
And from my new workflow vantage point, it would be a DREAM to have the simple midi/no .wav capability with the VST3 inside my DAW so I would have a one-stop show and never have to leave.
But now I have to leave.
Songwriters can be finicky, I know, but hey, aren't songwriters what BIAB is for?????
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
There is an option in the Render tab option to have a MIDI track that does not generate audio. It is disabled by default.
If that does not work, it may be a bug that can be fixed.
Studio One (latest version), Win 11 23H2 , i9 -10940X 3.3 GHz, 32GB Mem, a 4K 40" monitor, PreSonus Studio Live III Console as interface/controller. secondarily test on Reaper, Cakewalk, and S1 on Surface Pro 3 Win 10 (latest versions).
David, Dan got me thinking about the MIDI only option so I did some experimentation. Would you verify this method for me.
1-Load the VSTi with a MIDI song 2-Under generate/custom click on all pages (MIDI only)
I am using BiaB 2021 and when I do the above the generation is almost simultaneously. Also only the tracks' mid files are saved in C:/bb/bbplugin. No audio tracks were generated. This is a game changer for me.
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 mentioned looking at the custom drop down, and also the no audio option. I wonder if the later is broken.
Lenovo Win 10 16 gig ram, Mac mini with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2022, Realband, Harrison Mixbus 32c version 9.1324, Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app, Komplete 49 key controller.
Sorry Dave, you must feel like you stepped on a hornets nest with your simple question. So, ya the picture I posted is VST 4.0. In the past hour I have not been sucessful in playing only midi with no audio being generated. I have taken this to our develpers over in the beta forum and am asking them "what gives?". Will let you know when I know.
I just tried what Mario said in BiaB VST3 2021 on my Mac and it worked perfectly. It was immediate generation, and nothing but midi was generated. I also was able to drag and drop the midi as well. The point being that there is hope that we can figure out why your doesn't work.
Last edited by Rob Helms; 12/03/2102:40 PM.
Lenovo Win 10 16 gig ram, Mac mini with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2022, Realband, Harrison Mixbus 32c version 9.1324, Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app, Komplete 49 key controller.
When I click all pages midi only, it still generates .wav files. ..................
That is weird! I just ran a couple more tests and each time it was a fast generation with no wavs being generated.
Note my tests were done with all MIDI styles. I just tried a test with a MIDI style that contained RT drums with MIDI charts. Using the same MIDI only method I got both wav and mid files of each track. Thus it appears that this method only works with pure MIDI styles.
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
Thank you for all the great feedback! It sounds like there is a bug in version 4 of the plugin to do with "midi only" generating (from the Custom... menu or the preferences setting) that did not exist in version 3. To be clear, the function of the "Midi Only" option in the Custom... menu is to not generate the audio files for MIDI-Only styles. If you tried generating a MIDI-Only style and saw that AUDIO RealCharts (.wav) files were generated, than this is a bug. I'll look into this issue and try to fix it for the next build.
Mario you need to weigh in on this question from Adar:
Quote:
If you have generated a MIDI-Only Style and you want to hear the actual midi played by a synth, then you will need to set that up in your DAW. The plugin actually does have an embedded synth, but it is currently only being used for previewing MIDI chords in the chord sheet and chord settings dialog. In most DAWs routing midi to a synth is a simple process of just adding the instrument after the BIAB plugin in the processing chain and making sure that the plugin is outputting midi to that instrument. Having said that, it would not be very difficult for me to add a preferences setting that routed all MIDI to the embedded synth (on windows its VSTSynthFont and on mac its Apple's DLS Music Device) if that is something that you would like to see. Let me know what you think!
I have strongly endorsed this idea from Adar and suggest you and others who understand what is being proposed here, second me if you can.
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
The Bob Doyle Media YouTube channel is known for demonstrating how you can creatively incorporate AI into your projects - from your song projects to avatar building to face swapping, and more!
His latest video, Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box, he explains in detail how you can use the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box with ACE Studio. Follow along as he goes from "nothing" to "something" with his Band-in-a-Box MIDI Melodist track, using ACE Studio to turn it into a vocal track (or tracks, you'll see) by adding lyrics for those notes that will trigger some amazing AI vocals!
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!
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."
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Not sure if this is "midi tracks" or midi styles (all tracks midi). 
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