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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2014
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Hello again,
I continue my quest as to how best to take advantage of what BIAB2015 can do for me a newbie to the field of music software and composition. Please bare with me again.
I have MIDI files of simple melodies that I want to play on my hammered dulcimer. When I load a MIDI file BIAB2015 analyses the music and notates the melody line and the chords. The melody line is coming out correct with the exact notes and timing. The chord sheet is not correct. This is a simply one voice melody with a simple chord structure such as G-C-D throughout. My chord sheet is coming out with D7, Bm7, F#m7, Am7, Em7 scattered throughout in between the G, C, and Ds. Even the correct chords are not in the correct places. When I play the song back with a specific band style, the accompaniment sounds awful. BIAB has detected the correct key and the general correct chords but the assorted chords and the incorrect timing throws it all off. I am using the default settings when loading my MIDI file. Are there any specific chord analysis settings that I need to change?
I have not been successful in getting through to PG Tech Support phone lines for 2 days, hence I am asking you folks for your sage advice. I am disappointed in the apparent low number of tech support personnel they have working at any one time.
Thanks
Larry
Oregon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Larry, I may be wrong, but my understanding that for the best interpretation of chords, it's necessary to have a midi file that includes both accompaniment and melody. Have you tried such a midi file to see the difference? Also, under the "Window" menu on the upper menu-bar, there's a function called "Reharmonist". This would be worth trying out, too. Regards, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 58
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OP
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No, the MIDI files I have are just played to give the basic melody line so there is no accompaniment. I guess I could see where it might be difficult to hear the chord changes with just single notes to go from, but that was where I was hoping that the software was smarter than me. I can easily erase and rewrite the correct chords in. I was again hoping to let the software do it all in one step. Life ain't easy is it?
I shall try your other option to see if that helps.
Thanks again!
Larry
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2000
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to add on to what Noel said, you need more than one note to determine the chords. Sure, it can guess, but it will probably be wrong.
If I play just a C, how is BIAB to know whether that's a C chord, a D7 chord, an Am chord, a Bb9, a Gsus4, etc. BIAB doesn't "hear" the melody being played, it only has the notes presented to it. You need to provide it with chorded notes for it to more intelligently figure out the chord progression.
I might would look for another MIDI version of the song that sounds more like accompaniment. Use that to generate the chords; you can always use your original file to get the melody, and then it's just a matter of lining it up if the arrangements are a little different.
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: Jul 2000
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Larry, if you were talking about analyzing the chords with the Audio Chord Wizard, BIAB sometimes works well but other times does not. Differences in style and audio quality matter. It sounds like your material isn't using complex chords, which should have worked pretty well, so I'm surprised.
As far as the timing, it is critical that you press F8 to indicate where Beat 1 of the start of the song is. For even more accuracy, press F8 at each measure as you hear it.
EDIT [This assumes again that you were using the Audio Chord Wizard. Based on the direction the thread took while I was writing this, I don't think you are.]
Last edited by Matt Finley; 02/09/15 09:30 AM.
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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Larry, you need to understand what midi is. It's not audio. It's simply mathematical computer commands. The first thing to know is chords are not part of the midi standard. You cannot embed chord information in a midi file. Biab pioneered the ability to analyze a midi file to try to discern the chords and of course the more chord information there is the better it will work but too much information will mess it up too.
To start you have to set the correct key signature. Many times people who create midi files let the software default to C when in fact the song is in E or any other key. That alone will mess up chord detection. Biab will allow you to change the key without transposing the notes to correct this.
From what I can tell all Biab does is look at all the notes being played at any given instant in time in your midi file and try to get a chord out of it based on the key sig. The basic chord could be a CMaj7 but the melody has an A note and the bass has a C# grace note so what the heck is that? Will Biab call it some kind of C# chord because of the bass note or what?
Same problem in reverse. If all there is is a melody note and nothing else, forget it. It's liable to come up with anything.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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