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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5 |
Over the last few releases, MusicXML import in BB has vastly improved, to the point where it's now quite usable in general. The last remaining semi-roadblock for me is that repeat directions seem to be ignored, as far as I can tell, so I generally have to unroll the import by hand. I ideally would like two different input settings: 1) Respect repeat directives, and translate them into BB repeats 2) Unroll repeats on import and translate them into a linear BB file (because BB repeats themselves are rather tricky to operate with). Even if we can't have both, either one of them alone, working reliably, would be a considerable improvement over the current state. Specifically, I'd like these MusicXML elements respected: Start of Repeat (The relevant element is <repeat>, <bar-style> is only the visual aspect). <measure number="2">
<barline location="left">
<bar-style>heavy-light</bar-style>
<repeat direction="forward"/>
</barline>
</measure> (The relevant element is <repeat><measure>
<barline location="right">
<bar-style>light-heavy</bar-style>
<ending number="1" type="stop"/>
<repeat direction="backward"/>
</barline>
</measure> (No <repeat> element, so the song continues) <measure>
<barline location="right">
<ending number="2" type="discontinue"/>
</barline>
</measure>
BiaB 2025 for Mac
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,568
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,568 |
That’s a great post. I’ve been annoyed by this and just lived with it. In theory, Music XML should be uniformly implemented both on export and import. In practice, many programs say they support it but only partially implement it.
+1
Suggestion: add a signature that shows you have a Mac version, in case it makes a difference. I have no idea if there are any differences between Mac and Windows versions with respect to Music XML implementation.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5 |
As the author of a program that uses MusicXML as its native format, I'm quite sympathetic to the difficulties of implementing the import/export correctly. And there is the additional problem that in any interoperability problem, it's not 100% clear whether the problem lies with the importer, or with the program generating the MusicXML.
One debugging method I often employ is to round trip the MusicXML import/export of a particular program, but that doesn't help here, as BiaB does not seem to export repeats either (unless this requires some flag I haven't discovered yet). And BiaB exports partwise scores, while my program uses timewise (I'm already grateful that BiaB does a decent job importing timewise scores).
Thanks for the signature suggestion. It's definitely a good idea, though it appears that you're seeing the same behavior on Windows as I'm seeing on Mac.
BiaB 2025 for Mac
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,038
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,038 |
Thinking out loud here.
As I understand the use of repeats with Band-in-a-Box or BiaB, the primary purpose of repeats is to minimize the amount of printing that needs to be performed when printing song project components like the Chord Sheet. During playback the program logic "unfolds" the Chord Sheet to playback the Chord Sheet in a linear manner while also following preference setting guidelines such as "vary middle chorus".
I haven't used Music XML so I'm surprised the translation of a BiaB song project with repeats works as well as you say.
Multiple forum members use Music XML with BiaB so PG Music has spent some time and energy to get the two to work together better.
I hope my thought helps you understand why repeats don't always translate to Music XML.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,662
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,662 |
As the author of a program that uses MusicXML as its native format, I'm quite sympathetic to the difficulties of implementing the import/export correctly. And there is the additional problem that in any interoperability problem, it's not 100% clear whether the problem lies with the importer, or with the program generating the MusicXML. Indeed. MusicXML is pretty complex and convoluted. It's a format that tries to wrap both music notation and MIDI data into one overarching format, which is pretty tricky and open to all sorts of interpretation mistakes. Repeats are a place where that interpretation is clearly ripe for issues. MIDI is a format really intended only to flow forward in time, whilst repeats are a notational feature to allow the notation explicitly to not flow only forward in time. Quite how best to reconcile those two differing aims is an interesting challenge, "left as an exercise for student" 
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 Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,568
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,568 |
Gordon, you're a jazz guy. Try exporting a 7alt chord. Since that chord leaves open to the player the choice of altering the fifth and ninth up or down, this is an example where BIAB had to just pick one to export as Music XML. I have over the years reported other odd results.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,662
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,662 |
Gordon, you're a jazz guy. Try exporting a 7alt chord. Since that chord leaves open to the player the choice of altering the fifth and ninth up or down, this is an example where BIAB had to just pick one to export as Music XML. I have over the years reported other odd results. Where jazz is concerned that could apply to almost any chord. Good examples of why using MusicXML has challenges.
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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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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Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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