This may be the problem with PG not having a sense of urgency about this. People who are at a higher level musically are already using dedicated software while the average Biab user doesn't care about it. If the average user really cared this issue would all over the forums on a regular basis. People like me and some others are in the middle.
It is an advertised function and it should at least work as advertised. Of course define the word work. The 1st, 2nd endings. the DS and Coda sign do work they just look like crap and are unusable to try to read at a gig. That means it really doesn't work if it's intended use is actually useless. That and the confusion between Print Options, Leadsheet Options and Notation Options as far as printing is concerned.
I am not even sure PG Music even understand the problem and what that can mean to the users
When they say "The DS al coda sign is there, it's just buried in the fakesheet of the 3x repeat" suggests to me that they don't see it as a problem.
This problem has been around since the fakesheet mode was introduced in 2004 (I think). They can build a new 64 bit application, develop amazing realtracks, write a brand new VST DAW plugin, but suggest Repeats, codas, and endings are difficult feature to program in Band-in-a-Box. Come on - own the problem and get it fixed. No more excuses This is a bug in a function that doesn't work well anyway.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
Keep pushing JazzMammal...I completely agree. Its a function that I use many times and have been frustrated many times. It's a feature that don't work!
Thanks, and I'm disappointed that a staff member hasn't jumped in here. Maybe it does work better and we just haven't figured it out yet but I doubt it. If that's true then it's even more incentive for them to clean up those windows and make the instructions clear.
For anyone interested here's the workaround I use for charts with endings and codas. Look at a standard realbook chart that has that stuff. In your mind remove the repeat signs, DS, and coda signs. You're left with just staves and chords. That's what I load into Biab, print it and then handwrite all that stuff on the page then copy that for band members. It sucks to have to do that because now the song doesn't play properly, it's not all done in the computer and I can't use the print to PDF function and email it out or email the songfile to anyone with Biab.
when you open Leadsheet Options have it clearly say this is display only, not for printing. Notation Options would be the same. Notation Options should be for how the Notation looks when you're either looking at Notation or editing/creating Notation. Nothing to do with printing.
It would be easy to indicate somewhere that Leadsheet options are for the Leadsheet window and not for printing. I disagree with your opinion that Notation Options should not carry through to printing. Let's say you set your clef split, chord font, etc. in the Notation options. When you go to print out your song, do you want to again set all these options? That would be very confusing and alot of work.
Perhaps we could rename the "Notation Window Options" dialog to "Notation Options", and rename the "Lead Sheet Options" dialog to "Lead Sheet Window Options". This would make it more clear that the Notation options are global notation settings. Also, maybe there are some settings in the Notation Options that ONLY apply to the on-screen display specifically in the notation window (?) and we could have a separate section in the dialog for those.
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You have font size in Leadsheet Options and Notation options as percentages. Print Options has it as a default of 24. Why percentages in two of these and a simple number in one?
This is the overall font point size, which is relevant for printing, and fonts are measured in points. If you have visited the Notation Options and have made your chords 200% of the default (twice as large) and the lyrics font 50% as large, you can still adjust the overall print font size, and the proportions will be retained.
Quote:
You're in Print Options, jeesh. You have to open Notation Options and reset the chord spacing there.
We could add a button to the Print Options to open the Notation Options
Regardless, I certainly agree that more intuitive dialogs are desirable. I do think there needs to be three separate options dialogs in some form though. What settings do you think should be moved?
Thanks Andrew this is great. I'm away from home writing on a tablet and can't do the quote and reply routine.
Re notation options. I still think print should only be in a print options window for simplicity. So yes, maybe have a checkbox there asking "import notation options for printing"?
Re fonts. Few especially here, have an understanding of all that imho. You change the percentages and view it in print preview. To me that should be it, you like it print it. If you really think having a font point thing is important then put a balloon popup explaining it.
Any possibility of fixing the 1st 2nd endings, repeats, codas etc spacing issue?
... Regardless, I certainly agree that more intuitive dialogs are desirable.
Generally i think a lot of the menus and submenus in BIAB could use some kind of intuitivity related & structural overhaul ... sometimes i find a really useful thing implied, but under some hidden 'floormat'. Sometimes been there for years even, just never discovered it. Lately been messing with stylemaker and again the soloist, which's functions i find very confusing and hard to get useful results with. Good for the free jazzers however?
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!
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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."
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