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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi - quick question here; I'm sensitive to not wanting to infringe copyright when using BIAB-generated backing tracks. The question is, if I import chord arrangements from a MIDI file, and then have BIAB generate it's own realtrack-based backing track, is that an original work? Not sure if chord progressions from a jazz standard, for example, but that BIAB creates unique basslines for, count as an original work. (maybe that's a question I should ask a music atty, just thought I'd ask in case anyone knows).
For example if a famous song has chord progressions Em Em7 G D A Em7, and I file/import chords from MIDI into BIAB, then use BIAB to generate a new bass line, does that count as an original work, as long as I don't play the copyrighted original melody etc on top of it? Just curious, as I'm trying to get a head-start on importing chord changes from various midi files to get underway.
And just checking, if I import chords from MIDI, that does just import chords, right,? not the bassline that was in the original MIDI file... and BIAB spontaneously generates new basslines from chord changes that are input, in the style used? If so that's quite remarkable, eg using jazz realtracks. It looks like it does; that's an amazing technical feat, eg click the green "genplay" button and viewing, it does generate completely new bass lines each time, and they sound good.. that's a noteworthy (pun intended) engineering accomplishment
thanks -
k
Last edited by kenjazz; 04/28/13 06:11 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Only Melody and Lyric are copyrightable.
Chord changes are not.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Re: ...For example if a famous song has chord progressions Em Em7 G D A Em7, and I file/import chords from MIDI into BIAB, then use BIAB to generate a new bass line...
k
Does the midi spec actually support the storing of 'chords'?
Midi can certainly store notes that make up a chord, but I didn't think it could store chords like 'Em Em7 G D A', (at least the way BIAB uses chords), so I'm not sure how to import chords from midi. Is this actually possible? Just interested.
Thanks
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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Hi VideoTrack,
As I understand it, BIAB doesn't import chords as such because chords are not part of the midi format and are thus not written to the midi file. BIAB scans the notes in the file and interprets chords from those notes. My experience is that the program does a pretty good job at interpreting. At the end of the process, I find I only have to tweak one or two chords to get what I want.
Under the FILE menu, there's a option called "Import Chords From Midi File" that does the job.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Noel, thanks for the fast response. You guys are a continuing wealth of knowledge. Great job - again.
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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To further clarify--
The MIDi spec does not contain Chord Data, unfortunately.
However, PGMusic developed a Wizard that allows us to "Get" the chords from a MIDI file in one mouseclick.
The way it works: Since all of the notes for a given chord stack are indeed entered into a MIDI file, one note at a time, the "Get Chords from MIDI file" can take a look at each stack on the beat and extrapolate what the chord must be.
Sometimes it works better if the user can isolate a Rhythm instrument track from the others in a MIDI file, in order to have the Wizard look at just the chords rather than other extraneous moving notes that may be part of a Melody or a Solo or transition moves. The big round green SEQ button in BB can allow us to mute any separated tracks in a MIDI file in order to find the track(S) that may contain only the chord data. If you don't do that first, you may get all sorts of "wrong" chords as the Wizard cannot tell which notes belong to those other tracks during the chord. This may generate anything from chord names with exotic extensions to chord names that are not what the rhythm instruments are actually playing.
Once the above is understood and you learn how to isolate those critical Rhythm tracks, the MIDI Chord Wizard works very well indeed.
--Mac
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Hi Mac. Whap!! (sound of heel of hand hitting forehead). What you said makes so much sense. I've tried the feature a couple of times in the past and the results were too weird. Thanks to you, now I know why. Common sense that we all need and Mac comes through again!
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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thanks for the chord import isolation tip, Mac - great idea, hadn't thought of that
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