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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 10
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 10 |
Not sure if this belongs in this category but will ask anyway.
I am trying to learn how to use Band in a Box to write my own
music.
The tutorial I found was not very helpful, so a couple of questions.
Anyone know of a detailed tutorial?
How do you input accidentals into the score?
I am using BaiB 2010, does 2016 offer any significant improvement in this area of writing notation.
I write for guitar and wish it was possible to have the score in treble clef only, although I can read and enter notes in both treble and bass clef, it is difficult for most guitar players to read it in both.
If someone can point me I the right direction, I would
appreciate it.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2000
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BIAB has it's own unique notation editor. While it has a number of features, it's really there more as a convenience to the users, as dedicated notation editing is not the purpose of BIAB. I personally use a separate notation program, and then just export MIDI from my notation program and then import MIDI into BIAB when I want the notes in BIAB. My go to program is Noteworthy Composer (while not as full featured as the big boys, still has a lot of ability and was one of the first that I learned). It costs $49. You can also get MuseScore for free. I also use Notion, Finale, and Sibelius, as the need arises, but they are not free. That being said, in BIAB, it will honor your key signature, so be sure to set the key of the song before entering notes (so in the key of D, all C's and F's will be sharped). You won't see the sharps on the notes themselves (because they are in the key signature), but the notes are correct. However, if you have true accidentals, you can just right click on the note and use the "Force Accidental" box, where you can choose sharp or flat or natural. If you haven't, you should read through the section in the user's manual. Just bring up the PDF and search for "Editable Notation". BIAB has a unique input method where you click on the staff and it enters a very long note. This doesn't mean that your first note is 6 beats long, because all you have to do is enter the next next and it shortens the first not accordingly. If you want to enter a hard rest, just click on the "rest" checkbox and click on the staff and it will again shorten the not that's there and enter a rest. Once you use it a few times, you do get the hang of it, but it's unlike any other notation program. Here are some links to Notation videos that PGMusic has produced (which unfortunately I did not have time to preview, but will hopefully help and not take up much of your time): http://youtu.be/Twyl0qNMhBohttp://youtu.be/uIv3fRmhlsQhttp://youtu.be/NolLEQNl_FM
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jul 2000
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I concur with the above solid advice by John.
About accidentals, yes, set the key signature first. But you can also use the left mouse button in Editable Notation Mode to drag a note up and down in pitch by half-steps. The accidental will be added as needed. Then, if you prefer a different enharmonic accidental (like A# instead of Bb) you can use the Force Accidental as John mentioned.
Also, I would like to add answers to your two specific questions at the end of your post:
First, no, the method of notation entry in BIAB has not changed significantly, to my knowledge, since version 2010.
Second, about the clef, a guitar is a transposing instrument in that it sounds an octave below what is written. Thus you might consider transposing your melody and/or soloist tracks up one octave to compensate, and that might eliminate notes appearing on the bass clef stave. If you need to know how to do that, there are at least two methods and we can help you.
Finally, I have used many notation software programs over three decades, even serving as a beta tester for one, and I absolutely love the initial note entry method in BIAB. As John described, it does have a few things that seem odd at first, but that prove to be tremendously powerful. As a composer and arranger, I enter ALL my songs into BIAB, and then move the MIDI into a notation program or a DAW as needed, which should tell you how much I like BIAB for note entry. PG Music asked a few weeks ago what feature we liked best in BIAB, and notation entry was my choice.
You might tell us what tutorial you used, if it's different from the links John gave.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,590 |
You would be better off looking at the free version of noteflight. I used to have a paid version but gave it up for BIAB as I no longer transcribe stuff.
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BIAB 2021 (Build 818)
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Feb 2016
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OP
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Thank you for the response. Looking over these comments, I am
thinking of a separate notation program.
I have been using Forte 7, basic version, I upgraded to the
home version but it kept crashing my computer, didn't work well at all. The basic version continues to work well, but very slow.
The workspace tools are also very small, making for a lot of mistakes.
I noticed BiaB has much larger notation size and it's unique note placement method is much faster. In short I like BiaB, but
since all or nearly all my compositions are in treble clef, then
notation programs like Forte 7 are a plus.
I will check out the ones you mentioned, Forte is not free either
but I will gladly pay for one that works. With Forte, you cannot
adjust the length of a bar, so they get very condensed, with all
16th. notes.
Is that feature available in some of the ones you use?
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 10
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 10 |
In the little bit that I have used BiaB, I agree, the note
placement system works very well, It is large,easy to see and
incredibly fast. I will continue to experiment with it.
In the meantime I am looking for something better than Forte 7.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Feb 2016
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OP
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Thank you, I will look into that.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Offgridguy - Since you don't seem to have a preference, I would probably start by using MuseScore, mainly because it is actually pretty full featured, but is also free.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Thank you for the reference to MuseScore,
this is great software, more features and easier to use than Forte, and free besides.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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MuseScore has another advantage over most other notation software: it can read a BIAB file directly. Other programs require using MIDI, or better, Music XML.
I would still like you to consider my comments about treble clef, above, before you rule out using BIAB.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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