I know I could record left hand and right hand separately but that changes the interpretation. Is there ing "trick" on recording a piano piece and then separate the notation (set based on lowest allowed note for the right hand)?

After recording the MIDI piano performance, go to Notation View by hitting the 8th note toolbar icon, then select Options from the top LH of the Notation View, in the lower center of that is a dropdown listed as transpose, hit the little arrow next to the dropdown and choose the Piano notation view. Below that is the area where you can enter the Split Point.

There is also an automatic Split Point routine, see the Help file inside BiaB on setting that up if you like. I usually use the above method.


--Mac

I thinks Mac's first suggestion applies to the entire song. So if at one point in your song the left hand played an E4, and at another point the right hand played a E4 (or D4), this approach will not be satisfying - you can make it correct at either point, but not both points.

The Piano Hand Split feature can be found under Melody/Edit Melody Track/Utilities. I don't have any experience with it, but it sounds like an "intelligent" approach, but may still be flawed in some cases. Worth a look.

I don't think there is a measure-by-measure or note-by-note means to control the notation hand split, or note clef assignment, in BIAB.

Anyone know otherwise?

kelso is referring to that "other automated" keysplit I referred to in my post. Thanks, kelso!

It really depends on how complicated the two-handed piano part happens to be, for example, if you are wanting to correctly notate a complicated Grand Staff where the LH may crossover into what is normally RH territory or something like that, you likely won't find joy trying to use BB for Notation in those instances. Better to fid and use a fullblown Music Notation Software that is designed for that purpose.

However, for practicing purposes, or for printing a LeadSheet or even a Grand Staff chart, BB can do the job for the simpler arrangements using the single assigned or automated Split Point.

I like to say that Band in a Box is an AutoAccompaniment Program with Notation Features, not really a Music Notation Program with AutoAccompaniment Features, if you follow my drift.


--Mac


--Mac

Mac's right. If you are making a transcription for yourself, you can probably live with BIAB. If you are making a transcription for real piano players, they not be so forgiving of BIAB's shortcomings in this matter (I can tell you with high confidence), so best shop around for a real notation program, or tell them to fake it.

If interested, take a look at MuseScore - it's free, good, and recognizes BIAB files and so will import BIAB chords with BIAB files.

Regarding the automatic split point, I use it regularly, and find it a feature that is missing from even the high end notation programs. I have yet to find a notation program that can do this job as intelligently as PG music's BIAB, Power tracks or Real Band. I have produced well over 300 live played (jazz) piano midi files that have been added to the instructional videos I have on my website (http://www.bushgrafts.com) and on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/user/jazz2511 ). These have all been done using PG music software. I have had over 10 million hits with these videos on youtube, and all of the notation has been done using these programs.
While not perfect, the software will initially produce a playable piano transcription. Going through and editing is slow, but quite easy to do. The chosen overall resolution can be adjusted - the resolution of each beat can be individually 'quantised' (right clicking on the line above the notation screen while in edit mode). I do use Real Band or Power Tracks however, as one of the slight advantages of these over BIAB is the ability to instantly swap a note from one clef to the other by clicking on a note while holding down 'A'.
There are lots of things that I would love PGMusic to add - (more than one 'voice' per clef, being able to show grace notes, and what would be most useful of all, the ability to export as MusicXML), but am grateful for the programs and what they can do.
Doug

The first two have been implemented and are in my 2013 version.

XML handling is on the Wishlist, fingers are crossed all around.


Good work there, Doug,


--Mac

Hi MAC

What I was hoping for is the ability to add grace notes as in a smaller font with diagonal slash.
Also I meant the ability to separate a voice on the one clef so that (for example) a bass note might be played with the little finger and sustained through the bar while the other fingers of the left hand play an arpeggio. The held note will be heard as sustained, but the notation will not show it. Most other notation programs would show this with stem direction reversed for each separate voice. I imagine this might be a difficult feature to add.

Doug

Doug,

There is a free Notation Software that allows import of BB files and chords as well. MuseScore.

It also can allow you to edit for those held notes over other notes as well as add true Grace Notes, rather easily.

Don't sell it short because its free, it is now at the point where it is rivaling or bettering the expensive notation softwares, all due to open source method.

http://musescore.org/


--Mac

Thanks MAC - I'll try it!

Doug