I've been experimenting with 'repeats' but seem now to be stuck with a repeat I don't want. When I go into the repeats dialogue box it tells me there are no repeats (I 'deleted all' earlier) but the first 32 bars are repeating 3 times? Also the next (last) 6 bars are marked as the end but I didn't consciously do that?
By default, a new song will have a chorus of bars 1-32, repeated 3 times. This is perfectly normal, and you can change the number of choruses to 1 if you prefer. There's a box for this on the toolbar.
When you have a minute, I'd highly recommend clicking on the Help menu, going to Help Topics, then Tutorials, and reading #3: Inputting New Songs, it explains all the basics like setting the length and number of choruses.
Hi Kent - thanks. I've upgraded to 2018 and it is a little more intuitive ... I think .... but I am still stuck with an end marker at bar 23?
I have unchecked 'generate 2 bar ending' in the song settings and also the 'allow any endings' in the song arrangement window but my end marker is still there.
There are spaces on that toolbar for setting the first bar of your chorus, and last bar of your chorus, and 32 is still selected for the last bar. This isn't a big deal, just look for a 32 and click on it. It'll be to the right of the song and style names.
Regarding the automatic endings in Song Settings, I'd highly recommend leaving them activated, or the ending of the song will be very abrupt and will sound awful.
Ok. I've never known of an instance in the forums where the File Manager option for posting graphics has not been visible to select. I wonder if it's a restriction that's placed on new members for a short period of time?
Another way to post an image is to use an image hosting site on the web and then to post the image's link using the 'IMG' command. To do this, have a look at the graphic below...
...The URL for the image needs to be sandwiched using square brackets, forward slash and img exactly as shown in red below.
Hi Noel - here is the song ... ehhh .... I don't have the option to open file manager and upload a local file ??
P.
What type of local file? You can upload a screenshot (image file) on the forums, but uploading an actual BiaB file may be problematic. The File Manager option on the forums is restricted (both in size and type).
I *think* to share an actual BiaB file, it may need to be uploaded to Dropbox or some other file sharing option instead. And then linked to there. But a screenshot (image) of the issue would be allowed .. as long as it is not too large of a file.
Just mentioning in case either of these could be the issue.
Make your sound your own! .. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Hi Kent - I don't understand this reply. The end mark is on bar 23?
Hi Patrick,
Sorry, I misread your comment. There'll be a 23 in that box on the toolbar then. Depending on which toolbar style you're using, it'll be in one of the locations shown in these screenshots:
or
These numbers represent the first bar of your chorus, last bar of your chorus, and how many time you want the chorus to play. I'm guessing yours is set to 1 - 23 x 1.
I watched your video and your issue is with the numbers Kent with PGMusic staff has posted a photo of above.
You may be having an issue with BIAB terminology as well.
A 'Chorus' is what Biab calls the first two numbers Kent marked. For example with Proud Mary - set the third number in that sequence Kent marked to 1. In his example, that third number is currently set to 3. Change the third number to 1.
The first two numbers in the sequence Kent marked above should be equal to the number of measures you have entered the chords onto the chord sheet for your song project, start to finish. For instance, assume you have entered chords into a total of 78 blocks (bars/measures); Set the first two numbers in the sequence as first number - 1 and the second number- 78
Once you have done this, all of the chords will be one color and none greyed out.
In Song Settings - be sure the generate 2 bar ending box is checked. This will place the 'End' marker at Bar 79 and Biab will generate an ending for your song.
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Alternately, a very easy way to create accompaniment backing tracks for commercially released songs such as "Proud Mary", is to google the title of the song you wish to make a cover for as a free midi file. Example: Proud Mary free midi file
download and open the midi file - F7 opens midi files.
This will populate the chord chart, set the key signature, tempo as well as the style type.
The entire midi file will have imported onto the Melody Track in the mixer.
Mute the Melody Track and be certain the style in the Style Box is enabled. (if the Style is preceded by X -the style is disabled. Rt click and uncheck the style enabled selection)
Open the Style Picker and set the search parameters to the same as are displayed on the Chord Chart. Example: Proud Mary settings could be Key: C Tempo 110 4/4 ev8 and 78 measures have chords. or you can do a search for Proud Mary and Biab will locate styles that fit the correct settings for the song Proud Mary.
Select a Style you like from the list.
Hit play and the selected style will play Proud Mary
This is much easier than it reads... It narrows down to import midi file, select a style, mute the midi track (Melody) and hit play. You do not actually have to mute the midi file, you can use all or parts from the midi file to enhance the Biab performance but that is a bit more detailed than I'll cover in this post.
I also recommend you google as search for your commercial song title choice and include Band in a Box in the search. This may yield a Biab file for your song that someone has already completed.
Hi Charlie, ok so in BIAB terms, the chorus is the song ... is that right? So if your song happens to be 240 bars long, your chorus should be 1 to 240 times 1, i.e. no repeat.
So the notion of chorus is really only relevant to the notion of creating repetitive backing track chord sequences - is that correct?
In a real song, the chorus can be repeated several times throughout the song but maybe that is more of a printed presentation issue when printing the structure of the song ... is that the terminology difference that I am struggling with?
Yes. It's terminology based in jazz to my understanding.
In its default start up state, Biab will be 1-32-3 in the box Kent with PG staff posted earlier in the thread.
You will note in bar one there is a straight line with two vertical dots on the left side.
At bar 32, there is a straight line with two vertical dots on the right side and a small 3x.
This is musical notation that tells us our complete band in a box song will play bars 1-32 and then repeat two more times for a total of 96 bars. As you see, rather than show 96 bars, 32 bars can fit on our computer screen.
It is simpler to input the chords in a linear fashion of 1-96 bars and scroll down to the higher numbered measures. This also provides the additional benefit that bars 33-96 can contain different chords than the default setting where bars 1-32 repeat the same chords for bars 33-96.
Inputting in a linear manner allows us to separate the song format into more familiar sections such as intro, verse, chorus, bridge, verse, chorus and outro.
Biab provides the blue, green and assorted other colors for use to designate the song format.
All you have to do to change between the repeating chorus format and the linear format is to change that third number to 1 and the second (middle) number to the total numbers of bars the length of your song ultimately totals. So your song project may appear 1-78-1 where the song (chorus) begins at bar 1, plays through to bar 78 where an end measure occurs to make a Biab generated two bar ending that has two additional bars for a fade.
Bar one always has a bar marker.
An example of a 4 bar intro into a verse would be to place your second part marker at bar 5. So your intro would begin at bar 1 and play for 3 more bars and then your verse chords would begin at bar 5.
If the first verse ended after playing a total of 8 bars, place your next part marker at bar 13. Noel96 posted a similar pictorial example layout earlier in this thread.
The terminology is indeed based on jazz. When we jazz players say, "take a chorus" we mean to solo once over the entire song. Chorus as used here is different from the songwriter's verse/chorus.
BIAB was originally designed to be able to play chords from jazz fakebooks.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
For Chorus you could also say "Repeated section". The first and second numbers specify the first and last bar of a section to be repeated. So you could have say, a 16 bar verse/intro then a 32 bar repeated "Chorus" and another 16 bar ending. To do this you would set the first and second numbers to 17 & 48 and the third to the number of repeats. Then enter the chords for all 64 bars (16 in, 32 repeated, 16 out). Then in the song settings menu specify a tag that starts at bar 49 and ends at bar 64 to get the 16 bars at the end.
There are ways to do even more complicated things, but you should get familiar with this first. Then come back and ask more questions (or read the manual :^)
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!
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!
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!
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.
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
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