You need to be logged in to post
Options
Index
#766183 - 05/22/23 03:28 PM [Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh] Multiple Major '23 Mac Woes - Help!
Registered: 03/24/22
Posts: 29
ejdecker Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 03/24/22
Posts: 29
I've had '20, '21 & '22 Mac BIAB with little or no hiccups in loading or running BIAB. I'm always thrilled & excited by each new version.

'23, however, is so frustrating! Others seem to be having fun, but mine is a nightmare.

Yes, I've hit Rebuild at least a dozen times to no avail. Hasn't helped.

1) It's running verrrry slowly on the same desktop all the others ran smoothly on... 2012 iMac, 24G memory, macOS 10.15.7. Never saw the 'Beachball of Doom' w/ the earlier versions. Now, it's taking 15-20 secs to complete at least half the instructions I give it in '23.

2) Clicking the play button: sometimes the tracks start playing but it's out of sync w/ the moving chord box shading, so by the time they align, 8 or 12 bars in, I have no idea where I actually am in the tune.

3a) RE-GENERATE IS NOT WORKING!! I've lost the ability to add or update various instr tracks. '23 correctly plays any track that I placed there earlier in '20-'22. BUT -- when I need to add an instr now, I cannot get it to play correctly (despite it being a perfect match for the style picked, per genre, time, tempo, style, feel, etc.) -- i) I cannot get any instrument to play on correct pitch, time or feel (even w/ turning on the Fix Key & Chord buttons in the Track edits dialog); ii) it won't just be off-pitch, it's completely out of sync w/ any other track & painful to listen to. In the past, I've simply hit re-generate over & over -- and that would bring a new instr into line w/ the others & sound great together within 2 or 3 re-gens. Now I'm sitting there trying it 9 - 10+ times & it's not even getting close. It remains totally unusable.

3b) This is bad enough in trying to add a new instr track, but when having to update the re-generate on a long established track (by adding a few bars or otherwise updating the structure, etc.), I now LOSE THAT long-perfect track. Not just that one performance pass -- now that instrument itself will no longer work & creates the same problem as the new instruments. And I can't get it back, if I've saved something else along the way.

3c) I've been forced to completely re-arrange 3 or 4 songs now simply b/c of BIAB '23 blowing up on me! UNACCEPTABLE!

4) Upon opening a track I'd labored on, installing tricky bar lyrics into while in '22, Voila! Opening it in '23, all the lyrics are gone. Just not there.

5) Sporadic dropping out of saved instruments when opening a file in '23. I rarely use Utility tracks & will place instr. on the main tracks. So, I'll have a certain well-considered & chosen guitar or something else on some track, fully saved. I open that song file in '23 & it's GONE. Only the white empty Guitar, Strings, Melody, etc. track. I've always relied on BIAB's ability to save, & am paying for it as I have no recall as to which of the 10,000 RTs I had in that spot.

I sincerely do NOT like to complain & I've been totally blissed out by BIAB '20-'22. But I'm finding '23 nearly totally unusable. I haven't even had a moment since installing it to eagerly explore all the new aspects of '23, as I'm still battling all the destruction of what I've had in the earlier versions.

Please help. I'm at my wit's end...
Much appreciated!

E.J.
NYC

Top
#766305 - 05/23/23 10:59 AM [Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh] Re: Multiple Major '23 Mac Woes - Help! [Re: ejdecker]
Registered: 05/16/02
Posts: 6517
Loc: Victoria, BC
Andrew - PG Music Offline
PG Music Staff

Registered: 05/16/02
Posts: 6517
Loc: Victoria, BC
Quote:
Now, it's taking 15-20 secs to complete at least half the instructions I give it in '23


Could you confirm that have "speed up generation of RealTracks" checked in the RealTracks Preferences?

Also, I would suggest that you close BiaB, duplicate your Preferences folder to back it up (e.g. Preferences_saved), then delete all the files in your Preferences folder and see if the same problems remain. If not, please zip up your Preferences_saved folder and send it to us.

Quote:
Sporadic dropping out of saved instruments when opening a file in '23.


Next time it happens, could you send us the file?

I'm not sure what is going on, but hopefully there is a clue there and we can get to the bottom of this. BiaB 2023 should be just as fast or faster than 2020-2022. Also the Activity Monitor (Applications - Utilities) on your Mac and see if you spot anything unusual there..
_________________________
Andrew
PG Music Inc.

Top
#766520 - 05/24/23 05:25 PM [Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh] Re: Multiple Major '23 Mac Woes - Help! [Re: Andrew - PG Music]
Registered: 03/24/22
Posts: 29
ejdecker Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 03/24/22
Posts: 29
Originally Posted By: Andrew - PG Music
Quote:
Now, it's taking 15-20 secs to complete at least half the instructions I give it in '23


Could you confirm that have "speed up generation of RealTracks" checked in the RealTracks Preferences?

Also, I would suggest that you close BiaB, duplicate your Preferences folder to back it up (e.g. Preferences_saved), then delete all the files in your Preferences folder and see if the same problems remain. If not, please zip up your Preferences_saved folder and send it to us.

Quote:
Sporadic dropping out of saved instruments when opening a file in '23.


Next time it happens, could you send us the file?

I'm not sure what is going on, but hopefully there is a clue there and we can get to the bottom of this. BiaB 2023 should be just as fast or faster than 2020-2022. Also the Activity Monitor (Applications - Utilities) on your Mac and see if you spot anything unusual there..


Thx, Andrew. Yes, 'speed up RT Gen' is clearly checked in RT Prefs.

I don't know what you're referring to on "Pref folder" points. I'm afraid you're gonna have to talk me thru that one. I don't see any PG/BIAB Prefs folder; either on the external PG HD or on my MAC HD -- merely my Mac Prefs folders & there's no PG/BIAB subfolder in there... You're gonna have to steer me better on that one... You're talking MAC, right?

For its dropping out of '22 RTs when opening a '22-created tune in '23, I don't have one handy, of course, b/c I just dealt w/ the problem on the spot each time (2x). But, if/when it happens again, I'll send it along...

Any thoughts on my biggest woe? The inability to add new tracks / update current RTs as noted above in my original post? That's my biggest heartbreaker of the moment... it's got me rather dead in the water.

Thanks for the help, Andrew.

Top
#766537 - 05/24/23 09:31 PM [Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh] Re: Multiple Major '23 Mac Woes - Help! [Re: ejdecker]
Registered: 05/16/02
Posts: 6517
Loc: Victoria, BC
Andrew - PG Music Offline
PG Music Staff

Registered: 05/16/02
Posts: 6517
Loc: Victoria, BC
Quote:
I don't know what you're referring to on "Pref folder" points.


I mean the Preferences folder in /Applications/Band-in-a-Box. Do you have Band-in-a-Box installed on your internal Mac hard drive, or are you running it from an external drive? I can't recall if you've told us either way. Let's assume you have it installed on your Mac drive. The idea is to try running Band-in-a-Box at (or close to) factory settings to see if the problem still happens.

1. Close Band-in-a-Box. Go to the /Applications/Band-in-a-Box folder, and you should see a Preferences folder in there.
2. Click on the folder and press Command+D to duplicate it. Name it "Preferences_backup_may24". It doesn't matter what you name it, this is only to keep a backup of the folder with your previous preferences in case you need to send it to us or do further testing, or restore your previous settings.
3. Open the Preferences folder and delete all the files in it.
4. Run Band-in-a-Box now and see if there's any change.

Quote:
Any thoughts on my biggest woe? The inability to add new tracks / update current RTs as noted above in my original post?


No, I don't recognize this problem at all, it's very strange. However, often even the strangest problems turn out to have simple solutions once you figure them out, so hopefully that will be the case here. One question: is it only happening with certain songs? Does it happen for example if you load in a RealTracks demo song?
_________________________
Andrew
PG Music Inc.

Top
#766721 - 05/26/23 01:15 PM [Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh] Re: Multiple Major '23 Mac Woes - Help! [Re: Andrew - PG Music]
Registered: 03/24/22
Posts: 29
ejdecker Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 03/24/22
Posts: 29
Originally Posted By: Andrew - PG Music
Quote:
I don't know what you're referring to on "Pref folder" points.


I mean the Preferences folder in /Applications/Band-in-a-Box. Do you have Band-in-a-Box installed on your internal Mac hard drive, or are you running it from an external drive? I can't recall if you've told us either way. Let's assume you have it installed on your Mac drive. The idea is to try running Band-in-a-Box at (or close to) factory settings to see if the problem still happens.

1. Close Band-in-a-Box. Go to the /Applications/Band-in-a-Box folder, and you should see a Preferences folder in there.
2. Click on the folder and press Command+D to duplicate it. Name it "Preferences_backup_may24". It doesn't matter what you name it, this is only to keep a backup of the folder with your previous preferences in case you need to send it to us or do further testing, or restore your previous settings.
3. Open the Preferences folder and delete all the files in it.
4. Run Band-in-a-Box now and see if there's any change.

Quote:
Any thoughts on my biggest woe? The inability to add new tracks / update current RTs as noted above in my original post?


No, I don't recognize this problem at all, it's very strange. However, often even the strangest problems turn out to have simple solutions once you figure them out, so hopefully that will be the case here. One question: is it only happening with certain songs? Does it happen for example if you load in a RealTracks demo song?



Andrew,
I just sent an email w/ the subj line: '23 Mac Woes.
I've already trashed & regenerated my BIAB Prefs folder in my '23 BIAB HD.
The song file here contains a track w/ emblematic problems I'm having w/ '23, w/ adding or updating RTs sounding horribly off. Don't know the tech reason but the aural effect is being off-pitch & off-feel and not coming into alignment no matter how many times I regenerate the track. This, when all the aspects (time, style, genre, tempo, etc.) SHOULD by rights work fine. I'm not shoving obvious square pegs into round holes -- these tracks SHOULD work, have worked in the past but are not now working. I cannot fathom why.
I hope this clarifies.

Many thanks!
E.J.

Top
#766725 - 05/26/23 03:24 PM [Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh] Re: Multiple Major '23 Mac Woes - Help! [Re: ejdecker]
Registered: 05/16/02
Posts: 6517
Loc: Victoria, BC
Andrew - PG Music Offline
PG Music Staff

Registered: 05/16/02
Posts: 6517
Loc: Victoria, BC
Thanks for sending the file. It sounds great, but maybe you sent the wrong file. This file has a Horn Section track that is frozen but completely empty, and has no guitar track.

However there is something strange - The song is set to the key of Eb but it playing in D. This could have happened if the song was generated, frozen, and then the key was changed later without unfreezing and regenerating again. If I unfreeze all tracks, unmute the horn section at bar 9, and re-generate, all tracks sound good, along with the Horns.

I'm not noticing anything else strange with it here.
_________________________
Andrew
PG Music Inc.

Top


ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Review - Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Windows is Overflowing with Features!

Dennis posted his very thorough Band-in-a-Box® review recently, where he dives into some of the new features added with version 2023: Sound-Guy's Band-in-a-Box Review

Read his thoughts on the Download & Install Manager, partial track regeneration, Playable RealTracks, Audio Editing, the addition of SynthMaster, the VST DAW Plugin, and more!

"Band-in-a-Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is, without negative connotation, a monster of a program. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. No DAW can do some of the things BIAB does, while BIAB can do a lot that DAWs do."

Band-in-a-Box® Tutorials for Low-vision and Blind Program Users

Our friends at EyesFree_Tutorials have just released their Band-in-a-Box Tutorials, Bundle 2!

Created for low-vision and blind program users, this collection of Band-in-a-Box for Windows tutorials includes 31 audio instruction files and 19 music files for practice, plus help documents. Specific topics include "ABACA, let's make a song form," "Recording melody and lead-in," "Playing and editing: part markers; the handy clipboard. The play function. Search and replace," and more!

Learn more about their new tutorials, and connect with Roy & Gudrun to order the Band-in-a-Box Tutorials, Bundle 2 here.

Introducing... ChatPG!

Looking for answers to your questions about Band-in-a-Box? From "How do I ____?" to "What do I ____?" to "What is ____?" and more, you'll find your answers when you ask ChatPG!

We will be constantly updating the resources for this powerful addition to our website based on suggestions & feedback, as well as all of the questions that have been asked by program users and website visitors.

Videos! Get To Know XPro Styles PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16 for Band-in-a-Box® 2023

XPro Styles PAK 5 adds 75 new RealStyles for rock, pop, jazz, funk, and country, and 25 styles based around MIDI SuperTracks that utilize the SynthMaster plugin!

Here's just a taste of what XPro Styles PAK 5 has in store: electronic Latin funk, spacey dancehall grooves, soulful Americana ballads, heavy house beats, vibin' cool jazz, rollicking country train beats, playful pop country jams, gritty blues rock, modern disco funk, moody synthwave, subdued bossa nova, lo-fi jazz, and many more! Pick up XPro Styles PAK 5 today!

What are XPro Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2023 (or higher). Each PAK includes over 100 styles!

XPro Styles PAKs aren't exclusive to Pro users, there's a huge range of RealStyles available for everyone - even Audiophile customers! That's right, XPro Styles PAKs can be used with ANY Band-in-a-Box® 2023 package!

XPro Styles PAK 5: https://youtu.be/QdhS9tc0y_s


Xtra Styles PAK 16 includes an absolute plethora of styles... 200 to be exact! 50 new styles each for Jazz, Country, Rock & Pop, and Praise & Worship!

Take a gander at what you can expect to find: modern disco funk, exciting gospel shout, busy jazz fusion, soulful R&B ballads, various Americana styles, modern pop country, blistering heavy metal, uplifting worship rock, lo-fi hip hop, a plethora of progressive rock, old-timey autoharp, modern surf rock, and many more!

What are Xtra Styles PAKs?
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2023 (or higher). With over 2,600 styles included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-16, the possibilities are endless!

Xtra Styles PAK 16 requires the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® version 2023. They won't work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the 2023 UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition..

Xtra Styles PAK 16: https://youtu.be/KP1svm_RMfI


How do I know if I have XPro Styles PAKs or Xtra Styles PAKs?
You can find out in Band-in-a-Box® by clicking the "Add-ons" button in the StylePicker. Show me how.

Just Released - XPro PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16 for Band-in-a-Box® 2023!

We're back with 300 new RealStyles included in XPro Styles PAK 5 & Xtra Styles PAK 16!

XPro Styles PAK 5 adds 75 new RealStyles for rock, pop, jazz, funk, and country, and 25 styles based around MIDI SuperTracks that utilize the SynthMaster plugin!

Xtra Styles PAK 16 includes an absolute plethora of styles... 200 to be exact! 50 new styles each for Jazz, Country, Rock & Pop, and Praise & Worship!

Amp up your Band-in-a-Box® 2023 experience when you add XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs!

Each PAK can be purchased for $49... Order XPro Styles PAKS | Order Xtra Styles PAKs

Mac User? Click here for your OS specific announcement.

Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Mac - Translations Available!

The Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Mac German, French, and Italian translations are complete!

Already using the English version? Download a language patch here.

Have you been waiting to order a translated version? Here are some handy links for you:
German: www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=mac&lang=de
French: www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=mac&lang=fr
Italian: www.bandinabox.com/bb.php?os=mac&lang=it

The New Band-in-a-Box® 2023 for Mac Update is Ready!


If you have already installed Band-in-a-Box 2023 for Mac, be sure to download the most recent update!

Our development team has reviewed program user feedback and applied update to the program. These include enhanced Freeze features, an updated filter for the RealTracks Picker, resolution of the CopyFrom/To option for Lyrics, and various other enhancements.

Learn more about the latest free update for Band-in-a-Box 2023 for Mac, which also includes updated DAW Plugin features!

Forum Stats
37900 Members
67 Forums
79187 Topics
706318 Posts

Max Online: 2537 @ 01/19/20 07:09 AM
Newest Members
VitoAmbro, BED, bassforse, aels, Lbe

37899 Registered Users
Top Posters (30 Days)
MarioD 112
rayc 83
Rob Helms 79
rsdean 75
Janice & Bud 74
Rustyspoon# 67
BabuMusic 58
musocity 57
Bass Thumper 52
floyd jane 50
Today's Birthdays
Genaro Imperatore, Jack McCarty, SMaron40