I have some audio tracks recorded in the key of "F" to a 60 BPM click track at 2/4. Both the RealBand and Band-in-a-Box Audio Chord Wizard (ACW) interpret the audio as 120 BPM at 4/4.

I've tried setting BPM, key signature and time signature in both RB and BiaB prior to clicking on the ACW icon but I can see the first action both programs performs is to return the values to default (140-4/4-C) and then open the ACW window. I assume ACW then reads the defaults as starting calculation values.

I know I can manually set ACW bpm, manually set key and time signatures and tell ACW to recalculate using half time but I shouldn't have to if I set values in the programs. So I'm just trying to get a better handle on what's going on and determine if I may have found an ACW operational glitch. Will somebody confirm what I'm seeing? +++ HERE +++ is a copy of the audio file I'm working with.

I don't think ACW looks at your BIAB settings, because it's job is to look at the WAV file and figure out the tempo, key, and chord progression of the WAV file. And yes, sometimes you have to adjust half or double time when it doesn't get it right, as well as key signature and chords. Then, you can send that information back to BIAB to set BIAB accordingly (which may result in a tempo map that changes every bar). But the WAV file ACW receives does not have any of that information in it.

Tempo is determined by looking where the "beats" in the WAV file form are. It's up to you to verify it (through the use of setting bar 1 and using F8 to tap out each beat, for example). It might be what you set in the main program interface, or it may be something completely different. When you leave ACW, you have the option of sending the new information back to BIAB (or not, in which case the BIAB generated music will not line up properly with the WAV file).

That being said, maybe you should make a wish list item to perhaps change the behavior (but it should also be able flag it if it thinks you set it wrong based on what it then finds in the WAV file).

There are times when you know a lot of information about an audio file but there might be additional information you're seeking. In this case I know key signature, time signature and beats per minute. I hoped that by providing what information I know, the information ACW returns will be more accurate. My observation is that did not happen in this case.

I like to determine if my observations are correct before I make a wish list request.

Since both Band-in-a-Box and RealBand have the Audio Chord Wizard tool, which wishlist forum section would be best to post a request in?

I think they share the common code base, so I'm pretty sure if it goes in one, it'll make it in the other. Or just enter it in on wishlist and then reference the first in the second. Either way will get to them.

Jim,

I had a listen to your backing track and ACW's interpretation seems legitimate to me. Because it analyses the wav file, it's picked up the bass-chord-bass-chord strum and has made a guess that these events occur on the beat. This is a reasonable guess.

When I tapped the time of the strum in BIAB, the program came up with 120.

Since you created the file, you are aware that it's only the bass that's on the beat and that the chord comes between beats and hence gives a tempo of 60 bpm. ACW, on the other hand, doesn't have this insider's knowledge. As John says, this is a case where human intervention is needed to help ACW.

In relation to 2/4 versus 4/4... that's a tough one. Since the same total number of notes are played in each time signature when they are set to the same tempo, it's not always easy for anyone to identify the writer's intent regarding which time signature was used. For example 60 bpm in 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4 means that 60 quarter notes are played in a minute and this is independent of where the bar line sits to group the notes.

Regards,
Noel

Yes, I suppose you could call it a bug, if you expect it to behave as you describe.

In my experience, when the ACW first opens there is a pop up asking if you want to preserve the tempo/bars and just calculate the chords .. maybe this is what you are missing?
Sometimes RB pop ups appear and we brush them off, when they can be an important key to the performance .. or expected performance.

I'm not sure if the same pop up occurs in BiaB, but I'm pretty dang sure it occurs in RB, unless this changed recently (very doubtful).
I know there are posts of mine referencing this pop up, so next time you try it, see if you are missing that somehow.

I just tried it again. My steps were: 1) Open RealBand. RealBand opens as an untitled project with key of "C", 120 BPM and 4/4 time signature. 2) Press ACW button. Window opens to last used folder. 3) Select audio file and press okay. File loads into track 1 of RealBand. Information window states ACW is analyzing file, ACW window opens and is populated.

Rharv I didn't see the question window on your screenshot.

2nd try. My steps were: 1) open RealBand. RealBand opens as an untitled project with key of "C", 120 BPM and 4/4 time signature. 2) Use F3 (Open) command. Window opens to last used folder. Select audio file. Audio file loads to track 1. 3) Set key to "F", tempo to 60 and time signature to 2/4. 4) Select ACW button. Small ACW information window opens with "Open audio file" selected so change selection to "use existing file" and press Enter. 5) Window asks if want tempo map or just chord sheet. The key was correct (F) but ACW did not capture 2/4 time signature or 60 BPM.

It seems I must use F3 "Open" to import the file in order to get the question window. ACW captures the song key signature setting but does not capture song tempo or time signature settings.

If I let ACW import the file I don't get the question window and none of the song settings are captured.

The Audio Chord Wizard operates inconsistently depending on how the audio file is imported.

Noel, ACW gave me the same settings as it gave you. I agree human intervention is needed to obtain the correct settings. However if you provide the settings to RealBand prior to importing the audio file into ACW, and depending on what steps you take to import the audio file into ACW, the key signature setting may or may not be ignored while tempo and time signature settings are always ignored.

I dislike inconsistent operation. Inconsistent operation makes it difficult to obtain consistent results.

Thanks everyone for your replies. It was a great help toward verifying my initial impressions.

Strange, I get that question every time I open ACW.
Using the button (icon) works the same.

I don't think I've ever not seen that pop up right after the audio imports.