Frequently Asked Questions

BMW Gold does have different codes than the earlier BMW format for a few items, such as ties and triplets. Although the old codes for these items still work, you should “hand convert” them to the new codes after the automatic conversion has been completed; the result is a better looking output.

BMW Gold will not convert BWW files to the old BMW format, but then why would you?
 

In the meantime, Dougie Lindsay of Glasgow, Scotland, has written a program which will convert from .bgp (Piob Mhor format) to .bww (BMW Gold format), but with some limitations. The program is freeware and is available on Dougie's website: http://www.free0004983.free4all.co.uk.
 

The most common example is a tune such as “P/M Bigshot of Smalltown”, where the / character is not permitted in the file name.

To solve the problem, just remove the illegal character from the file name (not the tune title), then save the tune again.
 

The space is useful for putting separation between notes and for pushing notes around inside a bar, especially when you are using Align Bars.
 

• Setup a tune with the Title, Type, Composer placements and font settings that you want.
• In the Code Window, select the codes from the start of the file down to just before the first music code. Press Ctrl-C to copy it to the clipboard.
• Click on File, New to open a new tune window. Select the codes in that window and press Ctrl-V to paste your settings into the new code window over the existing codes.
• Save these codes in a file, such as: "Title Centered 18 point.bww".  You can build up several templates of your preferred settings using this method and open one of them when you start a new tune (just remember once you start entering music symbols that you must Save As to a new file name).

We will consider adding a “template” feature to the next release of BMW Gold.
 

• At the main Windows screen, click on Start, Settings, Control Panel.
• Double click on Display icon then click on the Settings tab.
• In the Font Size area, change to "Small Fonts" from "Large Fonts" OR in the Desktop Size area, increase it to 1024 x 768 (if your monitor can operate at that resolution) or higher.
• Click OK then click File, Close.
   

To fix this problem:

• Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, NotePad.
• Click on File, Open. Change Files of Type to "All files *.*"
• Navigate to find the problem BWW file and open it.
• Correct the placement of the tie codes and File, Save the tune.
• Click File, Exit, run BMW Gold again, and open the fixed tune.
   

• In BMW Gold with your tune on screen, click on File, Save As Midi. Change the name of the MID file, if you desire then click Save.
• Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, Multimedia, Media Player. Click
  File, Open, navigate to find the desired MID file and click Open. Click
  Play to play the tune. Click File, Exit.
   

Creative Labs^® AWE32, AWE64, Soundblaster LIVE!,  and Soundblaster LIVE! Value cards support Real Bagpipe Sounds. We understand that EMU-8710 or EMU-8710PS PCMCIA sound cards, produced by E-MU/Ensoniq^® will allow you to get Real Bagpipe Sounds out of your notebook computer.
 

STEP 1
Convert the existing BAGPIPE.SBK file (SoundFont 1.0 format) to BAGPIPE.SF2 file (SoundFont 2.0 format) as follows:
(If your SoundBlaster Live! soundcard did not come with Vienna SoundFont Studio software, see below ***)

• Click on Start, Programs, SoundBlaster Live!, Vienna
• Click on File, Open. In File of Type select "SoundFont 1.0 Banks (*.sbk)"
• In the "Look In" area, navigate to the C:\Program Files\Bagpipe Music Writer Gold. Click on BAGPIPE.SBK and click Open.
• Click on Yes to the question "Do you want to convert?"
• Click Convert in the "Converting file to SF2" dialog box
• Click OK in the dialog saying that the file has been saved in C:\Program Files\Bagpipe Music Writer Gold\bagpipe.sf2
• Click File, Exit.

Note: Step 1 needs to be done only once.

STEP 2

Installing Real Bagpipe Sounds into the SoundBlaster Live! card using BAGPIPE.SF2
(this replaces instructions found on page 5 of the manual)

• Click on Start, Programs, SoundBlaster Live.
• Choose "SoundFont".
• At the "SoundFont - AudioHQ" dialog box, choose the "Configure Instrument" tab.
• In the "Select Instrument" drop-down box, choose "109 - bagpipe".
• Press the "Load" button, and find the sound font file "bagpipe.sf2" in the C:\Program Files\Bagpipe Music Writer folder.
• Highlight the sound font file "bagpipe.sf2" and press "Select".
• The "bagpipe.sf2" sound font file should now be in the "Instrument Stack" area of the "SoundFont - AudioHQ" dialog box - it should be at the top of the list, with an arrow on the left hand side pointing to it.
• Click on Quit to exit the program and return to main Windows screen.

Note: Step 2 must be repeated each time the computer is restarted.

STEP 3

Playing using Real Bagpipe Sounds on the SoundBlaster Live!
(this replaces instructions found on page 13 of the manual)

• Run Bagpipe Music Writer Gold.
• Open the tune to be played.
• At the main screen select the MIDI device "B: SB Live! MIDI Synth".
• From the main menu, click on Configure, Set Play Options.
• In the "Play Music Setup" dialog box, make three changes:
• In the "Note Mapping Defaults" section, press "Set" for "Low A at B Flat".
• In the "Drone Settings" section:
• Change "Chanter Instrument" to 109.
• Change "Drone Instrument" to 109.
• Press "OK".
• Click on File, Save to save the changes to the tune.
• Click on Play and enjoy the performance.

Note: Step 3 needs to be done to every tune you want to play using Real Bagpipe Sounds.

*** If your SoundBlaster Live! soundcard did not come with Vienna SoundFont Studio software, you can download it from www.sblive.com/liveware/goodies/vienna.html

You will need PKUNZIP or WinZIP to unzip the file. You can then install the program.

If you don't want to go through this process, contact us and we will email you the BAGPIPE.SF2 file.

When you are using the Real Bagpipe Sound font with BMW, make sure that under <Configure>, <Set Play Options>, you have set <Low A at B flat> and that you have set both Chanter Instrument and Drone Instrument at 109.
When not using Real Bagpipe Sound font, make sure that under <Configure>, <Set Play Options>, you have set both Chanter Instrument and Drone Instrument at 71.
 

1. Left-click on the SB Live icon in the bottom right corner toolbar.
2. Select SoundFont from the pop-up menu.
3. In the Configure Bank screen that opens, select Load.
4. Go to the directory that contains the bagpipe.sbk, highlight then click Select.
5. A dialogue box will open called AudioHQ SoundFont Control. It will say SoundFont version 1.0 needs to be converted to version 2.0 before proceeding. Click OK.
6. A Save As dialogue box will open and Save the file as bagpipe.sf2.
7. Now you will be returned to the Configure Bank screen but a new Bank stack called User Define Bank will exist.
8. Go to Configure Instrument, select Instrument 109, and click Load.
9. Select bagpipe.sf2.
10. It will return to Configure Instrument. You can now select Close.

This procedure creates a new user defined sound bank, with SFU Bagpipe as instrument 109. This user defined sound bank becomes the default and loads every time the computer is turned on so you do not need to repeat this procedure again after doing it once.

When you are using the Real Bagpipe Sound font with BMW, make sure that under <Configure>, <Set Play Options>, you have set <Low A at B flat> and that you have set both Chanter Instrument and Drone Instrument at 109.
When not using Real Bagpipe Sound font, make sure that under <Configure>, <Set Play Options>, you have set both Chanter Instrument and Drone Instrument at 71.