Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,584
jford Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,584
Now that both BIAB and RealBand have awesome audio stretching capabilities that allow both for transposition and time stretching (while preserving pitch), I think a cool optional feature for ACW would be to do tempo normalization.

So after you go through and click F8 to determine all the bar lines, you generally end up with different tempos on each bar, but close to each other. It would be nice if ACW could normalize to the tempo to whatever you specify, adjusting the underlying audio to that normalized tempo, and resulting in an arrangement that now plays as if it were recorded to a click track.

So if bar 1 were 96 bpm, bar 2 were 97, bar 3 were 95, bar 4 were 96, I could normalize the tempo to 96. In which case everything between bar 2 and 3 were slowed down from 97 to 96 and everything between bar 3 and bar 4 were sped up from 95 to 96, all the while preserving the pitch of the underlying audio file. Bars 1 and 4 are already 96, so no changes are required there.

Then, when you exited ACW back to BIAB (or RealBand), you would have a song with a constant tempo of 96 throughout, and the underlying audio would be in sync. Seems to me it's just simple math, but I could be wrong.

I hope that made sense.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA

BB2024/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
It's doable, John. Propellerhead Reason introduced that a version or so back. In fact, as of version 8, it does on the fly, automatically. "Start playing and pick your tempo later," is how they put it.


"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,584
jford Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,584
I figure it shouldn't be too difficult to incorporate. I would think it would make working with styles and RealTracks after getting the chord grid a lot easier than dealing with a tempo map of changes every bar. I would think that moving from BIAB to a different DAW would be easier, as well.

I do believe it should be optional, though.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA

BB2024/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
It's optional in Reason, John. I didn't mean to suggest that it's active all the time.


"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,115
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,115
You've raised some interesting questions here. Replies will depend somewhat on your use of the audio being processed through the ACW and how the audio was recorded. Will the audio be used in your production or are you just determining the chords, progression and tempo to create a backing track? How much drift in timing will be more of a determining factor than whether the recording is commercial or a track you played.

Each of these scenario's use a bit of different approach than the other. If the audio processed through the ACW will not be used in the final production, the actual tempo map is irrelevant to the final production all though it may be used throughout the various stages of production before finalizing your song or cover. The average tempo determined by the ACW is all you need. If the audio is a commercial production, it has likely used either a click track or quantization has been applied in a DAW at some point and the variations you mentioned can be tightened up in the ACW prior to exporting the tempo map into BB.

If this is a current project you are working on or something that's been a frustration in past projects, give a little more detail and I'll be glad to share my approach to getting things to match up.


BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2024:RB 2024, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,584
jford Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,584
This is in the realm of letting computers do what computers do best.

One example of where this is useful is that I have a number of recordings done by my former choir director where he sings in the left channel and the pianist plays in the right channel (he got one mike, she got the other).

We would like to make some arrangements made from these recordings using MIDI and/or RealTracks. Not really even looking for the chords in this case (since I already know them), but looking to line things up (which ACW does nicely in addition to chord recognition). These recordings were not done to a set tempo, but we would like the final result to be. And in the end, I would use his vocal performance in the final result, so it all needs to match. The tempo deviations aren't big, but it would be much easier to work with a consistent tempo. I can make this work using other means, but I would rather spend my time working on the arrangement than on readjusting individual bar lengths, which a computer should be able to do nicely on its own.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA

BB2024/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
IMHO, that's a job for Reason. Here's why:

https://www.propellerheads.se/reason

The page is pretty deep, so keep drilling down on the tabs and headers.


"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 697
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 697
Are you using Reason 8 or Reason 8 Essential??

Just curious.


Win 10, 64 bit, love my Lenovo T420, BIAB 2019 (613), RB 2019 (2)

Short term memory is getting shorter.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
DEeddy, I'm running Reason 6.5.2. I have the upgrade to 7 but haven't installed it yet, and couldn't afford 8. I'm on the Props mailing list, though, and try to stay current on features.

Richard


"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,921
By the way, your avatar is intriguing. I just got a 2012 Country Gentleman.


"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,115
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,115
Here is an experiment I just completed a few minutes ago and the results.

I have a solo rhythm guitar track that varies between 106 - 114 bpm according to ACW results. (I didn't record it -- Promise)

I imported the track into track 1 of RealBand. Executed ACW using the existing song and answered no to the keep existing bars question since I want ACW to develop the tempo map.

The ACW determined the chords, progression and tempo. The average tempo was 107.xxx I can't recall the exact number but it's not necessary since my intent is to use a whole number for the tempo. The chords were imported onto the chord chart.

My first attempt resulted in the chords not being in proper alignment so I ran the track through the ACW again and reset the first bar and imported the ACW results back into RB.

I selected the whole track and opened the time shift/pitch correct menu and ran it on the track setting the old tempo at 106 and the new tempo at 107.

Once that process completed, from the tempo map radio button I set the tempo at a fixed 107bpm.

Because of the variance in BPM's of the original track, I selected the entire track and made a minor alignment of the first chord with the first bar.

My track was now aligned at the fixed 107bpm. But the chords were now off by a bar because of the alignment. I had to re-enter the chord chart. However, near the end of the song, again, I believe due to such a large variance of bpm of the original track, the chords began to drift off from the proper bar alignment. It drifted about two measures of the four measure bar.

If I was planning to use this as John mentioned above with his choir director tracks, I would split the track and move the remaining measures back two beats and time stretch the last bar before the split so that any RB/BB generated RT's would be in time.

But looking for other solutions, in the EDIT/track menu was the option to align a track recorded 'free time' to a click track. I attempted this but the click track must be a 'C' note. I generated a generic click track in Audacity that RB could not read.

According to the help file, this advanced feature will likely accomplish what John would like to do with his choir director's recordings without jumping through all the hoops I jumped through.

I'll eventually try the alignment with click feature to see for myself.


BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2024:RB 2024, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 18,464
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 18,464
The ACW is a sensational piece of software and gives reasonable results, but there is always room for improvement, and this would definitely be one.

+1


BIAB & RB2024 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,827
S
Expert
Offline
Expert
S
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,827
Great idea, must have !

I needed that in RB so many times but ended up doing it in Reaper, just do the ACW then
just write the metronome to a midi track, drag export midi track to Reaper then drag in the original audio.
Then I use Stretch Makers to Quantize the audio.
1. Set Project Tempo.
2. Grouped all tracks if more than 1 like drums.
3. Actions > Show Action List > New > Create an Action Hotkey to move to "Go forward one beat"
and "Item: Add stretch maker at current position" then Shortcuts for selected action > Add.
4. View > show Master Track.
5. Right click on Tempo points > select all
6. Right click on Tempo points > reset points to zero/center
7. Highlight track/s from start to end.
5. Item > Stretch markers > Snap Stretch Markers within time selection to grid.

Back to RB, remove the tempo map, just set the constant tempo and drag the Quantized audio rendered from Reaper into RB.



Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,985
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 20,985
+1

I would like to add one thing to this suggestion and that is having an option to either create a constant tempo or create a MIDI tempo map based on the audio file.

I could use that tempo map in BiaB to create backing tracks, copy the MIDI tracks to my desktop, and have Sonar load the MIDI file. I would then have the correct tempo map for the pre-recorded audio file.

PS - If anyone knows of a program that will do this please let me know. Note that I find Sonar's process very complicated, I have had limited success using it.


My goal this weekend is to move just enough each day so that no one pokes me to see if I'm dead or not.

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,461
C
Expert
Offline
Expert
C
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,461
+1


BIAB 2024, latest build.
Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,781
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,781
+1, if not but for the fact that we already got ACW and it works on our platforms. I'd rather see my current set of software improved than need to add more software.


There's only one thing to do in crisis like this - Sleep on it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BBox 2022 Audiophile, Mac Pro Intel, OSX 10.6.8, 800x600 (TV VGA)
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 French for Windows is Here!


Band-in-a-Box® 2024 apporte plus de 50 fonctions nouvelles ainsi qu'une importante de contenus nouveaux à savoir : 222 RealTracks, des RealStyles nouveaux, des SuperTracks MIDI, des Etudes d'Instruments, des Prestations d'Artistes, des "Morceaux avec Choeurs", un Set 3 de Tracks Jouables, un Set 2 de RealDrums Jouables, deux nouveaux Sets de "RealDrums Stems", des Styles XPro PAK 6, des Xtra Styles PAK 17 et bien plus encore!

Tous Packages | Nouvelles Fonctionnalités

Video: Making a Song with Band-in-a-Box®, ChatGPT, and Synth V

Take your Band-in-a-Box® project to a whole new level when you incorporate ChatGPT and Synth V to add lyrics and vocals to your song!

We wanted to demonstrate how this is done with our video, where we show you how to go from nothing to a finished "radio ready" modern pop song by combining the features of Band-in-a-Box®, ChatGPT, and Synth V!

Listen to the finished song, so you get a listen to the finished product: https://demos.pgmusic.com/misc/behindthefame.m4a

If you like it, watch the video. Either way, let's hear your comments!

Henry Clarke: Revolutionize Your Band-in-Box® Tracks with Regenerating Function

One of the new features added with Band-in-Box® 2024 is the Tracks Window, which will look familiar if you've worked with other DAWs.

Henry Clarke explains why he loves the Re-generation function within the Tracks Window in their video Revolutionize Your Band-in-Box® Tracks with Regenerating Function.

Watch video.

Learn even more about what the Tracks Window can do with our video Band-in-a-Box® 2024: The Tracks Window.

User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®

The Bob Doyle Media YouTube channel is known for demonstrating how you can creatively incorporate AI into your projects - from your song projects to avatar building to face swapping, and more!

His latest video, Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box, he explains in detail how you can use the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box with ACE Studio. Follow along as he goes from "nothing" to "something" with his Band-in-a-Box MIDI Melodist track, using ACE Studio to turn it into a vocal track (or tracks, you'll see) by adding lyrics for those notes that will trigger some amazing AI vocals!

Watch: 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!

Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!

Learn more about this free update for PowerTracks Pro Audio & download it at www.pgmusic.com/support_windows_pt.htm#2024_5

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

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,886
Posts738,440
Members38,610
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
Kendiatta, smokeybirdsept2679, Barry Thibault, jodanko, Palomeke
38,611 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 163
rsdean 117
musocity 110
DC Ron 96
dcuny 94
Today's Birthdays
Cole Yee
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5