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#173923 09/21/12 07:00 AM
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Got a newbie question. When I open midi files from the web, all instruments appear to be in the "Melody" track. Is there a way to separate the bass, piano, drums, etc. from each other?

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That's correct and the way BIAB works.

The other tracks are for BIAB instruments based on the current style loaded. The MIDI gets loaded into the melody track, but you can access the various channels used by selecting the Sequencer icon. From there you can do various things to each channel (change instrument, rechannel, delete, etc). Be aware that the channels used in the MIDI file can conflict with channels used by the other BIAB tracks.

If you are just wanting to work with the MIDI file, then it's best to work in RealBand.

What most people do with BIAB, however, is to load the MIDI file, let BIAB figure out the chord progression, then remove the instruments that would be handled by the other BIAB tracks (usually leaving the melody and maybe some specific riffs or solos), change style to suit, and then create your own version of the song.


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Quote:

Got a newbie question. When I open midi files from the web, all instruments appear to be in the "Melody" track. Is there a way to separate the bass, piano, drums, etc. from each other?




While Realband is certainly more comprehensive when working with standard MIDI files, Band in a Box does allow for a certain amount of control over the MIDI sequence imported to the Melody track.

Locate the big round green "SEQ" button in the toolbar and hit it.

There you can see all the channels of an imported MIDI file, choose to mute some if you wish, change patches, etc.


--Mac

Mac #173926 09/21/12 10:33 AM
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Thanks, John and Mac, for the info!

-- Steve

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Quote:

Thanks, John and Mac, for the info!

-- Steve




+ 1

Stan


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Mac #173928 09/25/12 12:52 AM
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Quote:

Locate the big round green "SEQ" button in the toolbar and hit it.

There you can see all the channels of an imported MIDI file, choose to mute some if you wish, change patches, etc. --Mac



I didn't know that. Good tip.
However, when I tried it I couldn't hide the channels I didn't want?
Could someone check if this is working in build 357.
Thanks
Col


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Hi Col,

I have Build #357. I loaded in a MIDI file and deactivated "Play" and "Show" using the SEQ button. It worked like it should.

If you opened the MIDI file using "File | Open MIDI file ...", the file would have been loaded on the Melody track and it's necessary to select "Sequencer on Melody track" when you click the green SEQ button. That might be the problem.

Regards,
Noel


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Quote:

Be aware that the channels used in the MIDI file can conflict with channels used by the other BIAB tracks.





To simplify removing the conflict - I know that BIAB assigns MIDI channels in the 1-8 range, plus 10 for percussion. What I do after importing a MIDI file to the Melody Track is go to sequencer for the Melody Track (this shows all the tracks of the imported MIDI file), then for each channel there that is less than 10, I rechannel (Edit/Rechannel)each channel to the range of 11-16, thus removing any conflict. That way I don't have to think about avoiding BIAB-assigned MIDI channels. Not needing to think is good.


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When a MIDI file is opened properly using the "Open MIDI File" command, (which should be done after hitting "New") the Style should become disabled. Look for an 'X' in front of the Stylename in the Style window slot.

If there is no X there, then the Style will also attempt to play along with the MIDI file and is likely going to be sharing some of the channels used in that MIDI file.

A Rightclickk on the Style slot and select "disable Style" can manually do the same thing.


--Mac

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Quote:

...However, when I tried it I couldn't hide the channels I didn't want?
...




If you only see one track in the SEQ window, there is a possibility that you have a MIDI "type 1" file instead of MIDI type 0 (zero).

A type 1 MIDI file has all the channel information on one track.

Type 1 file can be converted to type 0 in Realband using the Extract Channels to Tracks command and then saving as Standard MIDI file. Then try opening that in BiaB.


--Mac

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