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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 112
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 112 |
Hi
I hope this will have a simple answer ?
I have a song in 4/4 time, I need to enter 3 quarter note triplets over half a bar - thats it ?
I know how to enter triplets on a beat by changing the line from 4 to 3, but how do I do this over half a bar and add 3 triplet quarter notes.
Glen
Intel i7 3770K @ 3.50Ghz, 16GB Ram, Windows 10 64-bit, BIAB 2024 UltraPak, Cubase 13 Pro, Yamaha Genos 2 Arranger Keyboard.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,488
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Hi Glen, 1. Go to "Editable Notation Mode". 2. Select "Opt" as shown below.  3. Select the "triplet resolution" (1) and set the "Tick off-set" to 0 (2).  4. Enter the notes on the dotted lines shown.  If the notation doesn't look correct after you've regenerated, it will probably mean that the tick off-set needs returning to zero. This should do the job. Regards, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 112
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 112 |
Hi Noel
Thanks for pointing this method out. However when I go back to 'even' notation for the rest of the song, the triplet notation changes.
I'm surprised this hasn't cropped up before and BIAB has a simple way of doing it. I would have thought 3 quarter note triplets would not have been that uncommon, mixed in with even notes.
Thanks again Noel.
Glen
Intel i7 3770K @ 3.50Ghz, 16GB Ram, Windows 10 64-bit, BIAB 2024 UltraPak, Cubase 13 Pro, Yamaha Genos 2 Arranger Keyboard.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,506
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Veteran
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Glen, be sure to read Support, Frequently Asked Questions, #25. That may help you. Look for Support at the top of the page.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 112
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 112 |
Thanks Matt, I keep forgetting about the FAQ section. It does point out that triplet quarter notes do not display that well if most of the song is even.
To be honest I'm only really interested in getting the note spacing right as opposed to how it looks, I wont be printing it out, just need it to sound right.
I suppose for that (triplet/even) bar I could use the Piano Roll, haven't used it yet but if its anything like other music software it should be fairly easy to put in 3 equally spaced notes in half a bar - I hope.
Glen
Intel i7 3770K @ 3.50Ghz, 16GB Ram, Windows 10 64-bit, BIAB 2024 UltraPak, Cubase 13 Pro, Yamaha Genos 2 Arranger Keyboard.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 603
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 603 |
Glen, just don't ever switch back. Stay permanently in triplet notation. You can still show ordinary notes that way.
Maybe you're already aware that once you've entered triplets, they sound the same, no matter how notation shows them? And you can enter notes ignoring the grids? This is not the deep hassle it seems at first.
Larry
______
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,488
Veteran
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Veteran
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Glen,
In addition to what the others have said, if you only need the music to sound right and not look right, the method I gave will have the triplets sounding correct.
You mentioned Piano Roll Mode. I encourage you to have a look at how to use this. I prefer to enter unusual types of note groupings using this mode.
Under "Help" there's an option called "Tutorials"; #15 deals with the Piano Roll.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,506
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,506 |
Instead of the piano roll, which certainly has its uses, I just stay in Editable Notation mode, right-click on the note and adjust the start timing manually. After doing this a bit, you get to know what the numbers have to be, like 40 or 80. I wouldn't do this for dozens of notes, but it's a quick way to fix a few problem timings.
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.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
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An even faster way to get them to sound right involves using a MIDI keyboard controller or other MIDI instrument as input on the Thru channel and invoking the Metronome feature to click throughout, then Record to MIDI in realtime, just playing the notes in.
This can also be done using the qwerty keyboard wizard to get the timing entry right, then dragging the notes to the right lines and spaces quickly. This process, too, is outlined in the BiaB FAQs and is much faster than entering notes one at time IMO.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18 |
has anyone mapped out the actual notes each key of the qwerty keyboard enters?
T = G#
G = B
B =C
Q = A
A=B
Z=C
It seems they could've paid a bit more attention assigning them as one could color two rows white and black and play like a keyboard...but no, the assignments are haphazard.
I think I'll get a midi piano keyboard.
Everything Pak 2013 for Windows. w/16-pak add ons.
Jazz Guitar Masterclass
Instruments: Guitar and Piano
B.A. music from HSU 2001
M-Audio Keystation 49 USB MIDI controller
Dell Latitude E6500 4GB RAM Windows 7 32bit
ASIO4ALL
Coyote WaveTable
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392 |
has anyone mapped out the actual notes each key of the qwerty keyboard enters?
T = G#
G = B
B =C
Q = A
A=B
Z=C
It seems they could've paid a bit more attention assigning them as one could color two rows white and black and play like a keyboard...but no, the assignments are haphazard.
I think I'll get a midi piano keyboard. Never used qwerty but just curious. NO FLATS?...Except for Ab (G#)??? In any event, your suggestion that the keys should be across the qwerty keyboard is spot on...and the TOP row of letters (below the numbers row) typically has 12 keys (that aren't function keys like ENTER/BACK.SHIFT etc.) which, of course, would be ideal. Sounds like a Wishlist item. (-: Jim (-: Jim
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,488
Veteran
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,488 |
Hi Oggy,
When I activate the "Wizard Playalong Feature" (under the the "Play" menu) on my keyboard (standard QWERTY with US mapping; BIAB 2013), the notes use the bottom two rows of the keyboard as follows ...
C = C
F = C#
V = D
G = D#
B = E
N = F
J = F#
M = G
K = G#
< = A
L = A#
> = B
/ = C
This is just like a piano keyboard over the bottom two rows of keys.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,610
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,610 |
Didn't know that existed. Thanks, Noel
Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
The QWERTY Keyboard Wizard is not a one-for-one static representation of notes to qwerty keys.
The note selected at the time is dictated by algorithms that examine the chord entered in the chord grid at the time the key is struck.
This makes the note played *harmonic* - or in other words, never a "clam" note. Since the QWERTY Wizard will play a different note to suit the entered chord and key signature of the particular songfile at hand, attempts to "map" the keys to notes as see here are futile as they will change accordingly. The reasoning behind the QWERTY Wizard is a well thought out method for users who do not have a MIDI instrument - or do not know how to play a MIDI instrument - to enter a Melody rapidly. As with other features found in Band in a Box, such as the Notation Entry method, it does not work as one might assume it should work and that's not a kill, for once understood, it works better and FASTER than a static entry method could. The process is done by simply tapping the keys - ANY of the keys, in proper rhythmic time to suit the Melody desired. At this point, the notes won't be the "right" notes for that Melody - but more importantly, they will be the right rhythmic values. After recording the QWERTY wizard notes to the accompaniment, we are told in the manual, in the FAQs and likely several other places as well, such as the Help file, to open the Notation Editor and use the mouse to drag the notes to their proper notename values to get the desired Melody at playback. When we drag the notes, one at a time like that, we also get to HEAR the note, which makes it a rather quick process and intuitive. The QWERTY Wizard can also be used with a MIDI keyboard, as well. Again, see the Help, FAQs, Manual etc. for how to accomplish that simple hookup.
Make sure that the 'Wizard Playalong Feature' is enabled (check under the Play menu).
Press Record (MIDI).
While the song is playing, tap in the time of your melody on any key in the bottom two rows of your computer keyboard. Band-in-a-Box will record what you are tapping. Don't worry about the pitch of each note right now. Just worry about getting the timing right.
When you have finished recording, open the Notation Window in editable notation mode.
With your mouse, drag each melody note vertically to the proper pitch.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259 |
I struggled with the BIAB notation feature for years. I would always go back to Sibelius (I now have Finale'). At various intervals in time, I would return to BIAB notation after reading posts on this forum about how much better it is. For whatever reason, it took me some time to "get it." I continued to have problems entering notes because I could not get my mind out of the linear rut. Finally, I gave the wizard a try. The song I did was "Calendar Girl". I wish I had tried it years ago because it was both easy and fast. I just entered the rhythm and moved the notes to their correct positions as Mac points out.
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18 |
useful tips. thanks for the feedback. I see why they were "haphazard" because I was entering them over a chord progression I already entered. Noel96 must've entered them without a progression so they came out in a visually recognizable pattern. But as soon as you play over a progression it enters an intelligent design mode as described by Mac. I think there are advantages to this method but since I can play piano and I have space I'm going to enter the notes with a midi piano as it's faster. I'm making fake book backing tracks to some sheet music I own but I also want lead sheets with lyrics to reduce or eliminate page turns.
Everything Pak 2013 for Windows. w/16-pak add ons.
Jazz Guitar Masterclass
Instruments: Guitar and Piano
B.A. music from HSU 2001
M-Audio Keystation 49 USB MIDI controller
Dell Latitude E6500 4GB RAM Windows 7 32bit
ASIO4ALL
Coyote WaveTable
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