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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1 |
I'm new to this forum, and only a few months into BiaB, but this seems like a mostly friendly group, so I'll throw this out. I am benefiting immensely from BiaB's ability to comp my practices and to add color to songs where I can't do it myself. The internal algorithms are advanced and creative, and the program's engine is to be commended. HOWEVER.....BiaB appears to be Ford Focus frame on a Ferrari engine. (Sorry for being blunt, but that's exactly the metaphor that comes to mind when I load the program. I'm not trying to offend.)
Leaving aside the time warp to the early 90s that the UX offers, there are just too many usability quirks and inconsistencies with mainstream user interface standards. Example: everytime I want to save a file, I have to scan the (24!) options under the File menu to find Save. (Comes after Karaoke options - really?) Cutting and pasting usually leads to unanticipated results. The list could go on and on. And yes, I know there are shortcuts and key equivalents for all of these to be learned, but as a 21st century software user, I have an expectation that the program should be 85% usable out of the box w/o instructions. BiaB gets about a 40% score based on my exerience.
While I'm satisfied with what the program accomplishes, I'm dissastified with the amount of work I have to do. I can't in all good conscience recccomend BiaB to a prospective buyer either. It's simply too hard to use. Frankly, I use the program b/c it's effective, but I heave a sigh of resignation when I click the icon (and hold my breath that it doesn't crash while generating Realtracks.)
At some point, PG will have to bite the bullet and do a complete remake of the look and feel, and I vote sooner rather than later. Otherwise, fans will leave and new customers will be hard to acquire. Believe me, I know how hard this is - I've been in the technology industry for some time. Long-term loyal users will rightly howl that they need to change habits, customer support costs will skyrocket for a while, developers will be diverted from new features to usabilty designing, etc. Been there. But I also know it has to be done.
FWIW, here at a minimum is what I would change, and I invite others to chime in:
-Contextual icons: over 1/3 of my screen space is occupied by buttons, most of which I rarely use. I just counted 76 button icons, not including the instrument and playback options. BiaB should know what I'm doing and present me with only options that are relevant to the task at hand. (Yes, the icons can be hidden, but that's not the point; it's about enhancing workflow at each step of the process). One possibility is the use of tabs - this has become common in many programs, and almost all browsers, so there will be a less steep learning curve.
-The instrument selection radio icons continue to baffle: I can click Strings and yet add a MIDI generated percussion instrument, or a Banjo realtrack, and the option still says "Strings." This is an area where a more traditional DAW approach may be in order, with tracks lanes, and more easily customizable track names.
-Use wizards instead of menu dialogs. The buttons on most dialog boxes are dense, and often lack logical flow. Example, the notation dialog box. Formatting options are presented alongside transposing options, sandwiched in between guitar chord options. Takes a lot of reorienting myself with every dialog box that is open. This is one area where consitency is paramount. Give me tabs with my options, and let me find only what I need, and make the tabs the same across every dialog box.
-There must be a reason why BiaB doesn't write to the Windows registry, but I don't know what it is. This makes BiaB not play well with my system and I suspect is the reason for a lot of instability and frequent crashes. I'd suggest reevaluting this policy.
-General lack of graphic enhancement. In this era, people expect the graphics to be engaging, intuitive, exciting and useful. I can't say this about BiaB's UX presentation layer.
Don't get me wrong, I admire the program and would like to see it stay around. However, I fear that over time it will fade into the night along with its loyal long term users. A newer generation of users will be put off by an archaic interface, and find something else. I think that would be a shame. That is the intent of this posting and I hope it is taken in that light.
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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.
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User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
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!
Paket | Was ist Neu
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
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.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
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!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
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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Forums66
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