Hello BeatBuddies! 
We here at BeatBuddy central hope that you are all enjoying your BeatBuddys, and are jammin’ away day and night!
We are working on the BB Manager user guide (as well as releasing a new version of the software containing some cool updates that will hopefully be released soon), and while we are working on getting it all completed, we decided to include some dynamic tutorials in the mean time for everyone. What this means, is that we are going to post some step-by-step instructions here and hopefully we will cover all the bases. However, we are looking for your feedback! We’d love to know what we should add to this, what could be explained better, what we left out, etc. We are working on creating the most comprehensive, easy-to-understand manual possible, so your feedback is very important and appreciated.
Please also keep in mind these important points:
- The BB Manager doesn’t (yet) have the following features: drag ‘n’ drop, undo/redo, copy/paste
- The minimum system requirements of the BeatBuddy Manager (for optimum functioning) are as follows: Windows Vista (or later), Dual Core CPU, At least 1 GB of RAM, At least 1GB of free disk space
Now let’s start!
First and foremost, please make sure that you have read the entire post at http://mybeatbuddy.com/forum/index.php?threads/beatbuddy-manager-version-1-33.1524/ (created by ‘DavidPackouz’), and make sure that you have followed ALL of the instructions to the letter! This will give you all the basic info on getting your BB Manager up and running.
Also, here are some VERY good YouTube videos that show you live how to use the program that will get you off to a good start (including by one of our own users ‘Psalm40’ - Thank you!):
Basic introduction and overview to the software (by David Packouz):
Installing the software (by Psalm40):
Using the software (by Psalm40 - VERY well explained!):
Now, let’s get on to the tutorial!
[NOTE: This post will not cover every single aspect of the software just yet, and is a work in progress. It is based on several emails that have been sent to support in the past few weeks that have inquired how to achieve specific objectives. We will be adding and modifying certain parts of this tutorial based on feedback we receive and certain updates. So please check back here every so often.]
IMPORTANT: With every change or alteration you make, you need to save changes (you can press ctrl+s)! To make sure those changes show up in your BeatBuddy’s SD card, you must ‘synchronize’ the project. The synchronize action is done by ‘Import-Export’ >> ‘Synchronize Project’
Explanation of “Step 1 >> Step 2 >> Etc”
Anytime an instruction in this tutorial tells you to follow a sequence of navigational actions it will be in the following format: Step 1 >> Step 2 >> Step 3 >> Etc – in the majority of cases, the first step will refer to the menu options
So for example, when you create a new folder, the navigational action instructed is: ‘Organize’ >> ‘New Folder’ - this means
All other forms of step-by-step instructions will be a numbered list. Keep in mind that one sequence of navigational actions (i.e. Step 1 >> Step 2 >> Step 3) can be ONE step to be taken on said list.
Reorganizing/Reordering Songs
You can change the order of the songs by clicking the arrows on the most left side of each song.
Changing the Default Drumsets and Tempos
This is where you can change the default drumsets and tempos for each of your songs. Keep in mind that if you just want to see how certain tempos/drumsets sound on a specific song without making changes, please skip this part and go to the next one (titled: “Testing Different Tempos…”)!
Testing Different Tempos/Drumsets on Each Song without making changes
If you want to just hear how the specific song would sound if you were to make a change to it (without actually making that change), this is how you would do that:
Creating a New Folder
If you’d like to create your own personalized folder, so you can have a specific set of songs in it: ‘Organize’ >> ‘New Folder’ (you can also rename it by clicking on it once in the side list)
Importing Songs to a Folder
Before you import a song into a folder, you must export it first! After it is exported, you may import it into the desired folder.
These are the steps you would take:
First, you EXPORT the song
- Go to the folder within the software where the desired song is located. (e.g. If you want ‘Blues 2’ go to the ‘Blues’ folder)
- Click on the song you want to export so it is “selected”
- ‘Import-Export’ >> ‘Export Song’
- Name it as you wish (please remember the location it got saved at, which most likely will be MyDocuments/BBWorkspace/user_lib_songs)
After exporting, you need to IMPORT the song
Go back to your ‘New Folder’ now (within the software), and once inside:
- ‘Import-Export’ >> ‘Import Song’ (it should most likely bring you to MyDocuments/BBWorkspace/user_lib_songs where by default it should be saved)
- Choose the song that you have saved previously.
- Import it.
Adding/Deleting/Rearranging Song Parts
If you would like to add additional song parts to a song, you would just click on the ‘+’ signs on the left of the song parts.
You can also set the order of the song parts by clicking on the little arrows to the left of them -
You can also delete song parts -
What other aspects would you like to see in the tutorial (and in the upcoming user manual)? What do you wish could be explained thoroughly and as simple as possible?? Do you have any trouble with any of the above instructions? Do you get stuck? Let us know by replying to this post!