Interesting topic.
My opinion on the “ghost town” or “what will get more users back/generate more new users" is the right marketing and getting the word out. That’s one reason why I suggested a “PGMusic Grammy Award” playlist available as a YouTube featuring the best songs across every genre. Young folks simply may not be aware of all it can do. And if you're not a BiaB user, it's unlikely you're listening to the Showcase or BiaB Radio. But the idea went nowhere mainly because it would be a "popularity contest"; which is exactly the point. The most popular, well-produced songs get chosen for the purpose of attracting young, fresh talent.
PGMusic Grammys? So I decided to ask my AI assistant for an opinion; which of course is trained on data scraped from the internet.
Q1. What is the most popular music arranging and accompaniment software tool among young musicians today?A1. Ableton Live 10 Suite, Ableton Live 10 Suite, Avid Pro Tools.
Q2. Why is Band In A Box not on this list?A2. Band-in-a-Box is indeed a notable music software tool, and I appreciate your mention of it! It’s a versatile program that excels in automatic accompaniment and music arrangement.
[Note that this is not answering my question.]
Q3. What are the drawbacks of Band In A Box?A3.
1. User Interface (UI): The GUI of Band-in-a-Box might appear dated to some users. It resembles an MS-DOS program from the '80s. While this retro aesthetic has its adherents, others find it less visually appealing
2. Learning Curve: BIAB is feature-rich, which can be overwhelming for beginners. Although its core elements are straightforward, diving into its extensive functionality may take time. Users might need to explore the user manual or online resources to unlock its full potential.
3. Complexity: While BIAB is not a full-fledged digital audio workstation (DAW), it still offers a plethora of tools and features. Navigating through all these options can be daunting, especially for those new to music production.
4. Library Limitations: BIAB relies on its built-in libraries for RealTracks and RealDrums. While these are high-quality, users might eventually feel limited by the available styles and sounds. Customization options are somewhat constrained by the existing content.
5. Style Repetition: Some users find that BIAB’s generated accompaniments tend to follow certain cliché styles. While it’s excellent for quick arrangements, it might not always yield highly unique or innovative results.
6. Installation and File Size: Downloading and installing BIAB’s add-ons can be time-consuming. The UltraPAK, with its substantial library, can be quite large (around 140 GB). Users with slow internet connections might face challenges during installation.
Items #4 and #5 resonate with me which is why
a) I tend to include one or more tracks in my songs recorded on a physical keyboard to break-out of the standard styles available in BiaB and
b) I think a “grammy-level” YouTube or other format, showcasing the variety and depth of BiaB, might go far in attracting new users.
As for the bugs and occaisional instability, what useful program has zero-bugs?