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#312623 10/02/15 09:51 AM
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I'm a TOTAL newbie, just got this. (Windows)-I am completely stuck trying to figure out how to get my form right. I've been directed to various tutorial videos, and have gone through them several times, but I guess I must be dense. I have a song with a 4 bar intro, 16 bar verse, 20 bar ch; -after 2nd chorus, it goes back to last half of verse(BR),then another ch. I'd likely need a 3rd ending. I never seem to have enough measures and I can't seem to add any more. I've gone to the edit 1st/2nd endings coda place, but right now I have a bunch of fine's and a misplaced D.S.scattered about and don't know how to erase them or even how to correct things if I could.
All this before I even begin to get to what it seems everyone is doing! Looks overwhelming at this point. P.S. I am an experienced musician, so it's even more frustrating.

Hohnerman1 #312625 10/02/15 09:56 AM
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in expanded form you are limited to 255 bars in biab -- is that what you are running up against? You are already trying things I don't know how to do (ha, ha). Maybe start off with an easier one?


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Hohnerman1 #312631 10/02/15 10:08 AM
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Select the option to EXPAND to ONE CHORUS.... that takes it out of it's default folded up form and lays it out in a linear manner....easier to see and work with.

In BB ... click EDIT...scroll down to UNFOLD (convert to one BIG chorus) ...that's how I work everything I write.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Hohnerman1 #312632 10/02/15 10:08 AM
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It does sound like you would be better off working as one long piece instead of using repeats....

Go to the Edit menu and choose "Unfold (convert to one BIG chorus)". As long as you stay under the 255 measure limit, you can do thing the way you want, when you want...

In the future, when you start a song, choose "1" in the "Choruses" box (set your end to something like 125 - then adjust as needed)

Hohnerman1 #312633 10/02/15 10:09 AM
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apparently Herb get there a bit before...(but don't choose "EXPAND" - that is something different)

Last edited by floyd jane; 10/02/15 10:16 AM.
Hohnerman1 #312637 10/02/15 10:22 AM
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First, welcome to the forum. Harmonica or melodica?

You have good advice above.

BIAB does have a measure limit of 255. When you are ready to try it, be aware RealBand, the free sequencer provided with BIAB, reads BIAB files directly and does not have that limit.

You may have hit that 255 limit, but more likely you are just in the gray area and Floyd gave you the solution: enter a number for Bar at End of Chorus that is well beyond the default 32. You can always change it when you know the real length.

Tip: get the song form correct before entering anything in Melody or Harmony tracks, because it can be hard to adjust that later if you change the form.

I've worked in BIAB for well over twenty years and never used the 1st/2nd endings. What I do use, in addition to Edit Unfold, is the Tag function in Song Settings. By using a Tag, I've never come up against the 255 bar limit.

Take it slow, and ask us anything. We're here. You're not dense; this program has a steep learning curve because it is very powerful, which makes it worthwhile learning. And if we get stumped, know that you can contact PG Music Support - they are really exceptional.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Hohnerman1 #312676 10/02/15 02:43 PM
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hohnerman,

Welcome to the forums.

You'll find it much easier follow the above advice and to set your song out linearly, exactly as you'd like to hear it played.

From what I read, the biggest stumbling block you're experiencing is that you are presently thinking in terms of how this would be set out in sheet music. Sometimes that approach will work fine with BIAB. More often than not, though, it's more productive to think in terms of how the audience would hear a band play a song. All an audience is aware of is that the song starts at the beginning and ends at the end. It's a single journey. That's how I always set out my songs in BIAB.

For each new section of a song, simply click on the bar number an a part marker will appear that shows the beginning of the section. These part markers are mostly blue and green. The green ones will change the backing to a more energetic version of the style you've employed.

Regards,
Noel.



MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2025
Noel96 #313165 10/05/15 02:57 PM
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Thanks to all who answered. Have gotten to the unfold version now on to other things. Will definitely be back here as needed.

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