((==ORIGINAL POST (from some years ago) ON MY INSTALLATION OF BLUESTACKS, MIGHT BE OUTDATED IN SOME DETAILS==))
Hello all Windows users who want iReal Pro!
I am running iReal Pro in BlueStacks with (almost) no problems.
Here goes:
Install Bluestacks
Install iReal Pro
(Google Play is included in BlueStacks - just click the "search" button,
type "iReal", and choose "Play Store" button - buy, or sign up
with usual Google account to download free)
Install Dropbox
(not necessary, integration with Windows is tight for saving files -
but it's necessary if you also have a handset with your main library of songs)
Install a file manager to access folders shared with Windows from within BlueStacks (I use
Total Commander; they suggest ES Explorer)
Make music!!
I deleted all content and settings within the app before the import of my extensive library. Got all songs (with a caveat - see below), and all playlists (albeit in alphabetical order).
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DISCLAIMER:
I don't have an Android handset or tablet with which to compare behavior, so all information here is
FOR BLUESTACKS ON WINDOWS 8.1 & 10 ONLY!!!
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IMPORT OF SONGS:
Import of songs with a "+" (augmented 5th quality, both triad and +7) creates jumbled layout - everything ok except that each "+" becomes a space, and you lose the augmented chord quality
Somehow my 5442-song library became 5444 songs...I haven't hunted the two extraneous ones down, yet... And it happened again a month later: import creates 2 additional songs: which ones? Who knows...
Happened again at every import - iRP adds two songs...
SHARING:
saved files from iReal Pro ("save to disk) go to /storage/sdcard/iRealPro
"sharing" within the app means having access to Windows "save to..." dialogue box, so a file can be placed directly in system without hassle.
EXPORT OF AUDIO:
On my system perhaps audio isn't what it's supposed to be, so exporting to AAC format produces a slight "burp" at the end of the audio file. Nothing scandalous! ;-)
[edit: lower the system sound settings for notifications - will go totally silent, but hey...]
At the end of the audio file - after lowering volume - there's a silent tag of 10-15 seconds.
It is not possible to export a LOOP. When you select a measure to start playback by long-press, the song chart expands, and it is not possible to select the "export/share" function.
PDF EXPORT:
PDFs made on BlueStacks are bigger and wider than the ones made on iPhone, plus they're not as whiter. MAJOR ISSUE: the pdf is exported with the same colors you view on screen (night-mode or modified with color wheel), NOT like on iOS (always white and "as big as chord chart").
They're also at a lot smaller definition, and they're HUGE compared to iOS exports (1+MB, compared to 50KB). Not an issue, just FYI.
[EDIT: with BlueStacks 2 (as of January 2016) you can resize the app vertically or horizontally - the PDF export varies accordingly, that is, you get a PDF as big as the Android screen (vertical or horizontal), complete with empty space if there is some]
LICENSE:
If PC offline, sometimes the app keeps querying internet to "verify license"
[not sure if relevant, with public release regularly bought on Play Store - I have beta]
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Hope this helps. I've been enjoying iReal Pro on Windows for some months, now, and am darn happy about it!!!
Will link to this post from other threads regarding BlueStacks, for more coverage on installation.
Cheers, and happy playing
Live freely. Respect the planet.
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