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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 46
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OP
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 46 |
Need help working with midi file.
How do you play a externel midi file and have all the tracks and chords avaible.
Whe i used ,,, open special midi it loaded at the correct tempo and chords but all channels are on the same Biab track . It sounds good but how do i seperate out the 16 tracks ?
When i ....drag a midi from windows file manager... into a new song i get a dialogue box showing me alll the channels. i say ok. When it loads , it is the wrong tempo, no chords , i get all the midi tracks plus a bunch of extra tracks (5) at the top of the mixer. I mute these but dont have any chords and have ti guess at te tempo. it doesnt sound a good as open special
I tryed the chat line but they sent me a form that requires a rocket scientis to fill it out to get any help.
All i want is simple way of playing a midi file will with chords and mixer to edit patches .
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,838
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Expert
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,838 |
I’m not sure if this will seem simple to you or not, but this is how I do it. Actually, I use both methods on the same MIDI file.
I open it with Open Special.
Then I drag the same midi file onto this one and accept the default tracks.
After that, I mute possibly the Multi-MIDI track.
This way, I can see the chords in the grid and still have the MIDI channels properly assigned.
Biab Audiophile 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2015
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One of the issues with this is that there's no 'official' way to put chord data into midi files. Yamaha have a method using one of the text option and that's used by other companies.
BiaB can analyse the MIDI and make a good guess at suitable chords. I can't offhand remember how and am not presently in a position to check. Someone will likely givea pointer, or try ChatPG or the manual?
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2020
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JBran. for me i prefer useing pg's realband viz midi. eg...one rb feature i like... in rb i import the *.mid and BAM rb puts everything on seperate tracks and interprets the chords best it can. also neat mixing view etc etc. loads of other rb midi features that would take me pages to detail... SO read the rb manual...view vids etc etc. in pg forums is a thread detailing when rb might be the better alternative. heres the link... https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=859938#Post859938hth om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 08/22/25 05:03 PM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 46
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OP
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Thanks for the feedback i will try your suggestions.
I have never ventured into Real Band but i will. The attached article was very helpful.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
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I agree with OM. Realband is much easier and more efficient when using 3rd party MIDI files. While BIAB certainly has DAW abilities these days, its main role is to generate musical accompaniments. For this reason, working with MIDI in BIAB is a little more cumbersome than working with MIDI in DAWs. Realband is a DAW that interfaces with BIAB's ability to generate accompaniments. It's definitely worthwhile learning how to use it.
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I agree with Noel on this. It's a case of 'horses for courses'. RealBand does some things better than BIAB, and this it one of them.
Pick the best tool for the job.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Whe i used ,,, open special midi it loaded at the correct tempo and chords but all channels are on the same Biab track . It sounds good but how do i seperate out the 16 tracks ? When you bring in a MIDI file this way, you have a few options. This will bring in the MIDI file (all up to 16 channels) to the Melody track. It will also mute any style that's loaded (to prevent channel conflicts). One thing you have to be careful about when loading MIDI files is channel assignments from the MIDI file, versus what a MIDI style might use (if you plan to use all RealTracks styles, this is not a problem). Once the file is loaded, it will be analyzed for possible chords (based on the notes in the file). MIDI files do not contain chord notation (as has already been mentioned), so the program has to figure it out And if I recall corrected, I think you only get up to two chords per bar (I might be wrong and it could be four chords, but you can see it clearly when you bring the file in). Those chords may or may not be correct. Once loaded, you can see what channels are in use by selecting "Melody, Sequencer Window for Multi-Channel Melody". From there you can do some basic editing of the multi-channel melody track (remember, a track isn't the same a channel; you can have multiple channels on a single track. If you want to separate out the channels to individual utility tracks, just right click on the Melody track (which may now have an instrument name, but will be two above the "Thru" track in the mixer window) and select "Track Actions, Copy/Move Tracks". From there, you can move the individual channels to different tracks by deselecting the ones you don't want to move, selecting the one you do, and one-by-one moving to utility tracks. Hope this helps.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 46
Enthusiast
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OP
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Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 46 |
Thanks again for your sharing your knowlwdge.
I was able to get my midi files working very well with Real Band i plan to follow the direction you provided BB to be sure i understand the realation ship between them.
I was surprised that no one from PG Music responed with their guidance to my question.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2020
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JBran.
glad you got your midi files working well with realband....rb.
read my other rb tips in pg tips forum at your leisure.
note the rb midi and audio tips of the day are highly useful.
please go through them in detail.
literally rb has soo many features it would take me pages of typing to detail them....its all in the manual.
as to your yam keyboard i'm sure some users use one from posts ive seen over the years but i dont have one. i use a dumb midi kbd with no sounds. so i would urge you to experiment with rb due to its extensive midi features.
i would also experiment with the pg synth plugins in rb eg synthmaster.
a plethora of sounds. too much to list.
just generate midi tracks in rb...loads of ways...and then use a pg synth plugin and/or some vi's ive detailed in the pg tips forum (also lots of free audio fx plugins ive tested with rb that have astounded me.).
hth.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 08/26/25 08:16 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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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.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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