Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#74521 05/31/10 01:57 PM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 321
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 321
I'm trying to arrange Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Joe Zawinul in the key of A in Band-in-a-Box. I'm having a problem in the second to last bar of the last section. I'm try to input a F#m chord for 1 1/2 beats (dotted quarter) followed by an E chord for a half beat (eighth) followed by a F#m chord for 2 beats.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Frank

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
R
Expert
Offline
Expert
R
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
I don't know the song but BIAB can have 4 chords per bar. If your song is in 4/4 time, one chord per beat the most you can do. By default, BIAB accepts 2 chords per bar. If you separate the chords by a comma, you can get 4 chords. For example: C, Am will put the C chord on beat one and Am on beat two.

By using Pushes, you can 'push' the chord earlier by either 1/8th or 1/16th. To enter a push, you type a ^ (1/8th) or ^^ (1/16th) before the chord. Try playing with those and see if you can get it to work.

There are other games you can play to get more (perceived) divisions per bar such as Edit|Expand but maybe using Pushes is your answer.

R

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 134
R
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
R
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 134
Norton has some styles that let two bars work as one.
Double the tempo, and use two bars to make one.
It will sound right, but the whole song will look funny.

BAIB isn't a great tool for doing arrangements.

You could do most the work in BAIB then export the midi into another program for final editing.

There's no midi standard for chords, so exporting and trying to import into another program won't work. A program like Sibelius is easy to re-enter the chord names.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141
E
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
E
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 141
Hi Frank,

You can do this by modifying the bar settings to double the tempo for those measures as follows.

For the bar containing the F#m you need to press the F5 key to get the bar settings dialog and then set the "% change in tempo" box to 100%. Then in that bar and the following bar type the following chords as shown:

bar 1:
F#m...<enter key>,E
bar 2:
F#m...<enter key>,E

That gives you the F#m on beat 1 and the E on beat 4 (now 2-1/2). Finally in the following bar restore the tempo to normal by typing -50 in the "% change in tempo" box and typing F#m on beat 1.

I am using the RB_EDDIE style for this song btw.

I hope this makes sense. If you still have problems I could email you the version I have if you send me a private message.

Ed

Last edited by Ed J.; 05/31/10 05:43 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 321
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 321
Thanks Ed...sounds like a good way to do it.

Frank

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 207
M
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
M
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 207
Ed's system works like a charm; I've used it a few times. The drummer sometimes sounds a little strange, but otherwise it's perfect.


Mike Laatz
Cape Town
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
I accomplished it with "just" the common Pushes way back when I entered that song.




--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,607
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,607
In the second bar from the end, you can't get <dotted quarter-eighth note-dotted quarter-eighth note. Norton may have a style that can do that. When I used to play that tune, my arrangement was much the same as Mac's. Since I'm a keyboardist, it really didn't matter that BIAB couldn't play those eighth notes as long as I did. Later, Ray


Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Yeah, you have to fudge it at that point.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,607
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,607
Hi Mac. How do you post a pic in this forum like you did "Mercy"? Later, Ray


Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Someone beat me to it when you asked in the other thread, Ray. Follow their good advice.

And try not to put the exact same question in two different posts in future, please.

Thanks,

--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,705
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,705
I would love a BIAB file of this tune . . . if anyone here would care to share theirs just send me a PM and I will provide an email address.

Thanks in advance,

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1
B
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
B
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1
Double the measures, the melody duration and the bpm rate. Then you have 8 chords to play with.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11,335
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 11,335
Answering a question that is over seven years old. That's got to be near a record. And with a very first post. Bob, welcome, what a guy grin


Dan, BIAB2024, SoundCloud Win11, i7(12thGen), 32GB, 1TB SSD(M.2 NVMe SSD), 2TB Libraries, 1 TB(WD-Black), 2TB SSD(M.2 NVMe SSD)Data, Motu Audio Express, Keystation 61, SL88 Studio, Reaper

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,080
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,080
Mercy me, a 7 year old post.

With contributions from my dear old friend Mac, who I assume is no longer with is (I miss you buddy). I hope he has just moved on to other non-BiaB adventures and has not gone to the great gig in the sky.

About the problem for the new guys...

Band-in-a-Box only allows 4 chords per measure (bar). Furthermore, BiaB will not allow the user to put a chord both on the beat and the eighth note before the beat. Unfortunately, this makes Band-in-a-Box incompatible with thousands of popular songs.

To overcome this problem, in the mid 1990s Bob "Notes" Norton of Norton Music invented EXPANDED styles.

I like to think of each bar (measure) of BiaB as a "cell" instead of a bar, and it will be referred to as a cell for the rest of this memo.

By expanding the song in BiaB AND using a Norton Music EXPANDED style, each cell contains a half measure. Each EXPANDED style will treat each BiaB cell as a half measure, too.

Since two expanded BiaB cells equal one measure when using an EXPANDED style, this doubles the number of chords you can fit in a measure of music (two cells). So you can fit up to 8 chords in a single expanded measure PLUS you can put a chord on any beat and the eighth note before the beat.

The styles are written to play correctly when EXPANDED so they sound right.

Problem solved and limitations overcome!!!

PLUS as a bonus, this gives BiaB an effective resolution of 240ppq, double the resolution of non-EXPANDED styles.

To audition Norton Music's EXPANDED Styles, go to:
http://www.nortonmusic.com/styledemo.html
and look for the word EXPANDED in the table.

Insights and incites by Notes


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 321
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 321
Since I'm the one who started this post seven years ago...wow it's been that long! I felt like I should at least chime in.

Ed's solution worked great, and I still play the tune at gigs. Actually I just played it last night.

And yes Notes, it was good to see Mac's post. He's definitely missed!

Frank

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,705
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,705
Mac is the cat the who turned me on to BIAB and that was the beginning of a mutual respectful long distance friendship.

I am forever grateful to Mac, a true gent in every sense of the word.

Catch ya on the other side Mac!

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,800
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,800
Danny, if by the ‘other side’ you meant Mac is deceased, I don’t think that’s the case. He simply stopped posting here, citing lack of time. But that was several years ago...


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
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,080
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,080
I can't see Mac not posting here for that long because he got too busy.

I sent him some e-mails when he disappeared which were never answered, which was out of character for Mac.

I e-mailed his bro and got no response, but I understand that's typical.

So it remains a mystery, and I suspect Mac has gone to the great gig in the sky, but I hope I'm wrong about that.

Notes


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,609
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,609
His brother may have gotten tired of the inquiries; he's a busy guy.
He did reply to me a couple years ago:

Quote:

Hi Bob,

He's doing better. It's been a long recovery from his illness last year. I will forward your email to him.

Marshall.

I am not sure if he is gone now, but I do believe it would take something preventing Mac from responding or participating here for it to last this long.
Who knows, maybe he does check in here once in a while anonymously .. if so; we miss ya old buddy.


Make your sound your own!
.. I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!

If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.

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."

Happy Easter! Holiday Hours...

2024 is well underway - it's already Easter Weekend!

Our Customer Service hours this weekend are:

Friday, March 29: 8-4
Saturday, March 30: 8-4
Sunday, March 31: closed

Regular hours resume Monday, April 1st - no joke!

Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Video: Volume Automation in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®

We've created a video to help you learn more about the Volume Automation options in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows.

Band-in-a-Box® 2024: Volume Automation

www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024full/chapter11.htm#volume-automation

Video: Audio Input Monitoring with Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®

We've created this short video to explain Audio Input Monitoring within Band-in-a-Box® 2024, and included some tips & troubleshooting details too!

Band-in-a-Box® 2024: Audio Input Monitoring

3:17: Tips
5:10: Troubleshooting

www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024full/chapter11.htm#audio-input-monitoring

Video: Enhanced Melodists in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®!

We've enhanced the Melodists feature included in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows!

Access the Melodist feature by pressing F7 in the program to open the new MultiPicker Library and locate the [Melodist] tab.

You can now generate a melody on any track in the program - very handy! Plus, you select how much of the melody you want generated - specify a range, or apply it to the whole track.

See the Melodist in action with our video, Band-in-a-Box® 2024: The Melodist Window.

Learn even more about the enhancements to the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024upgrade/chapter3.htm#enhanced-melodist

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,398
Posts732,534
Members38,442
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
danielsk, Mark Morgan, zagrajbarke, Ernest J, Izzy
38,442 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 200
Al-David 124
DC Ron 115
rsdean 85
dcuny 85
Today's Birthdays
(charlie), WobblyGstring
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5