I enter my songs into BIAB I use single notes because I am a poor keyboardist, and this reduces the number or mistakes I make. The problem is that I am left with a "thin" melody. I do not want to go into "Editable Notation" mode and add the notes manually. That would take way too long.
It seems to me that BIAB could introduce a feature that will add notes to single-note melodies to enhance the sound. For all I know, it may already be in the program, but I have not been able to find it. Is there such a feature?
If not, does anybody think this would be a worthwhile addition to BIAB? I think so.
I wouldn't be surprised if everyone reading might have a different interpretation of this request. Could you give a simple example?
In the early days of MIDI, people developed some incredible scripts. I recall some that I think were called CAL files. They could take a MIDI melody and arpeggiate it, or randomize the timings and volume to make it more realistic; functions like that. Once BIAB brought in RealTracks featuring actual musicians playing, I think at least in the BIAB community, such features were deemphasized. But tell us more detail about what you want.
And I need to put in a good word for the BIAB Editable Notation feature. I've used all the notation editors and written music for just about everything up to and including a symphony orchestra. I think the way BIAB does note entry is the best I've ever used.
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Firstly, the image below shows the standard view of BIAB. To switch between standard and full-screen views, press CTRL+T, or use the "Window" menu.
When in standard view...
1) Click on the Harmony button (#1 on the image). 2) Select Melody Harmony (#2). 3) Choose from the list of available harmonies (#3) – I suggest "Electric Piano in 3rds" as a starting place. 4) If you want to return to the melody without harmony, select "No harmony" (#4).
Also, if you want to write the harmony to the melody line, select "Write harmony to melody track". Be warned, though, that this will overwrite your melody with a harmonised melody. Before you try this feature, I recommend saving the file with a slightly different name so that you can return to the original file if you need to.
Thank you. I have been doing for a long time what you recommended. However, it is not the same thing. Look at my previous post from a few minutes ago and you will see what I am talking about.
Using the Harmony Maker as you suggest adds to what I already have, but that is just a layer on top of my usual "single-note" melodies. I want flush out the single-note melody to a fuller sound.
No, that is not correct. I am familiar with the Soloist and Harmony function in BIAB. They will not do what I want.
Here is what I do:
Hit NEW. Enter the chords. Select the tempo. Pick a style that seems appropriate. Then on my Kurzweil 20600XS I play the song into the sheet on BIAB. I almost always just use my right hand and usually for simplicity's sake, play a single note at a time. Since I am rather limited on ability, I do it this way to reduce the mistakes that occur when I try to play the melody with more than single notes.
So, I might have a song with the notes: C, E, G. I want BIAB to develop a function that will change them from C, E, G to something like this (imagine the following notes stacked on a stave on a sheet of music):
G, C, E E, G, B C, E, G.
The bottom C being C4. This is a simplistic representation, and it is just adding to the original single notes to produce a fuller melody sound.
I could go into the Editable Notion mode and laboriously add notes manually to get what I want. There are two problems with that:
1) It is laborious and tedious. 2) I do not know enough music theory, nor do I have the innate ability to know which or how many notes to add to the original stave so that it sounds good.
You know, I am reading this, and I can see why it is so confusing.
Sorry. At this point, I would not blame you for ignoring my post.
Once we understand, we should be able to either tell you how to do it, or help you refine your Wishlist request.
You are describing inversions if you are talking about chords. A C major triad chord can be spelled, from lowest note to highest note, C E G. But E G C is also a C major chord, just a different inversion. Are you possibly talking about how to make BIAB do that? For example, you could write C/E to get the sound of E G C.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
So, I might have a song with the notes: C, E, G. I want BIAB to develop a function that will change them from C, E, G to something like this (imagine the following notes stacked on a stave on a sheet of music):
G, C, E E, G, B C, E, G.
The bottom C being C4. This is a simplistic representation, and it is just adding to the original single notes to produce a fuller melody sound.
What you describe above is exactly what the MIDI Harmony button does that I mentioned in my above post. Harmony can be generated using the button and then that harmony can be written to the melody track to create the blocks of chords that you describe. In what way does this not do the job for you?
The image on the left (below) shows the melody before I wrote the harmony to the track. The image on the right shows the block chords after I've told BIAB to write the harmony to the Melody track. (I've used Nashville Piano (3 part) harmony.)
It appears that you are looking to harmonize your lead lines, right? If so then Noels suggestion should work for you. If it adds notes that you don't want just delete them.
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I realize that I have done exactly what Noel recommended but did not consider it "exactly" what I wanted as the harmonization is applied exactly to every single note in the melody. This makes the particular song that I just tried it on sound somewhat similar to those "Ooohs and Ahhs" voices. Noel had two clips showing the before and after. I am not seeing that on the song I just tried it with. Only the same before. Have you any hints how you see the after?
There used to be a saying that went like this, "Close, but no Cigar!" It is close but not quite the complete package I was seeking.
I am using BIAB 2024, Build 1114, and it appears to be different than yours. There is no MIDI - Melody Harmony button that I can find on my BIAB. I am going to do a screenshot or shots of what I have and perhaps you can instruct me how to set the harmony so that I can see a printed representation of it.
I note that there is a Melody Harmony (Select) and a Thru Harmony (Select). What is the difference in these and does that have anything to do with my problem.
I hope the three screenshots come through. I am so inept at this. Sorry.
How I find it doesn't matter, though. My option is exactly the same as the one you have found under the "Harmony" menu called "Melody Harmony (Select) Alt+F10".
• Click on this option in the Harmony menu • then follow my instructions in my previous post (link below). Doing this will write the harmony to the melody track and you will be able to print it out as a hard copy.
IMPORTANT... Before writing the harmony to the melody track, make sure to save your song with a slightly different name so that you can get back to your original single-note melody if you want to try other harmonies.
Also... the differences between the "Melody Harmony (Select)" and the "Thru Harmony (Select)"
• The "Melody Harmony" works with the Melody track. • The "Thru Harmony" works with the Soloist track. According to the Help file, "Thru Harmony" also works with the Thru track. The 'Thru track' is the one you hear when you play your keyboard into BIAB. I don't have a keyboard hooked up to my computer test if harmony is added to live playing. You might like to try it out.
The option you want to use is the "Melody Harmony" one. This will modify a melody and also write the extra notes to the melody.
Thank you, Noel. I am going to try and decipher your instructions and work my way through them,
I did not know that "having fun" could be such hard work. Maybe if I had grown up in the "technological age" it would be simpler.
Other things I am having problems with:
BIG LYRICS has no lyrics. Supposedly the "techies" are working on this.
When I play back my songs, the red that fills the melody notes is very sporadic and intermittent. This is the second time I have been plagued with this malady. The "techies" cured it once, but this time seems more serious as they have been "working" on it for six to eight months.
Time passes quickly when you are having fun. Time also passes quickly even if you are not having fun.
I hope to get back to the harmony in the next few days; I am very busy now.
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