This is probably a pretty dumb question but I'm afraid I do need to ask it. Are the backing tracks generated by BIAB using both the chords and the melody line?
Thanks for your patience,
Narayano

Narayano,

There's no such thing as a dumb question. Never hesitate to ask about whatever you need to know. Also, rest assured that there will be others who also want to know the answer.

The backing is generated from the chords that are entered on the chord sheet. This is BIAB's default behaviour.

That said, it is also possible to get BIAB to analyse a melody and then generate some possible chords. These options are not default behaviour. They're found under "Edit | Chords".

The above information is based on BIAB 2018 (Windows edition).

Hope this helps,
Noel

• my latest song: He’s An African Rhino (2018)

Hi Noel,

Thank you, that is indeed helpful. Especially about asking dumb questions as I can feel hesitant to ask something that I think is probably obvious to everyone else. I know that without the help that I've received from people like yourself on the forum I'd be floundering in BIAB by now.
I've got BIAB 2018 megapak. I'm learning to play traditional music on the chromatic harmonica and while there is obviously quite a lot of styles included in the Megapak I am considering upgrading to the Ultrapak, but, considering the cost and the fact that I'm only using the backing tracks for my own pleasure/entertainment I am a bit hesitant and shall continue to explore the contents of the Megapak for the moment.

best wishes

Narayano

Hi Narayano,

Yes it may be obvious to everyone else but only after we have asked the same question. I'll lay odds that everyone on these forums have asked a question that was obvious to someone else. BUT the different here is that you actually will get help in a form that you can understand. You will never get a Read the Manual answer. That is the answer you will get on some sites but not here! EVERYONE is helpful here so feel free to ask any question that you may have.

Hi Narayano,
Hope you are well.This is an interesting question in the sense that it appears to me for whatever reason that Biab generates better backing tracks (for the want of a better word)when you generate the backing tracks from a "midi melody" than of the chord sheet.It sometimes appears that at least a feel of the melody is in the backing track when you use a midi.
Forum member icelander discussed this last year and the thread below might help you out urs Hugh
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=417858&gonew=1

BiaB backing tracks are based on styles, which in turn are based on patterns entered into the StyleMaker. Accompaniments of live players may take melody lines into account and may thus support some melody lines. The BiaB StyleMaker, however, offers nowhere an entry for melody lines - it's all in the patterns.

It may be possible to create styles paraphrasing melody lines within their patterns.

A viable field for experimentation here might be the creation of styles from midi files via the Style Creation Wizard. This wizard creates styles from midi files and may thus take midi melody info into account for its created style patterns.

The BiaB Soloist supports an entry 'Solo Mode/Around Melody'.

It really is a pleasure to be a part of this forum - the friendliness and the amazing help is priceless for a beginner like myself.
Thank you
Narayano

Many thanks Hugh - I shall check that out.

Narayano

Actually that is an excellent question. You bring up a point of view or question that i really never thought of in reference to " backing tracks " .

The answers provided by the many gurus of the Band clarified several important points about the " backing tracks " as they are commonly referred to.

Hi Hugh,

For future reference, the chords you enter, and some settings in RealTracks Settings and Song Settings are the only things that affect how RealTracks generate. Any MIDI melody you enter is ignored completely.

RealTracks are audio recordings of live musicians playing complete phrases on physical instruments, and can't possibly follow your MIDI notes in any way.

It can sometimes sound like they do, since the RealTrack and your melody are following the same chord progression, but any other similarities are coincidental.

Thanks
Kent
PG Music

Thanks for your answer, Kent. I agree with your assessment.

And yet...

I have a vague memory from years ago of someone from PG Music saying the MIDI melody did influence the particular phrase chosen from among the many alternatives in a particular RealTrack. Perhaps that was what Noel was describing, letting BIAB create a chord progression from a melody. But I have a nagging thought that it wasn't just that.