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OP
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I know this is probably been stated a zillion times but I went back 15 pages and didn't find it so if it has been stated, then consider this a bump.
The most frustrating limitation of BiaB for me is the chord entry screen itself. We are limited to a maximum of 4 single chord entries per measure. In most cases that has been sufficient for my needs and I'm sure for many others as well.
However, chords don't always change "on the beat". Sometimes we want a chord change on an upbeat, for example. I find this especially true more for rests than for actual sounded chords but it applies either way.
I would love to see the GUI reworked to allow for at least 1/8th note chord entry. Sixteenths would be cool too but eighths would be great. Most sequencers allow for this kind of event entry and honestly would it be so difficult for PG to rework the GUI to do this? To keep things clean they could even maintain the current look but allow the user to click into a measure and have it to expand further in another window or something.
And yes, I know you can get creative and play with the tempo and double-time features, etc to get around the limitations but how much easier would it be if you didn't HAVE to?
And what about accenting the beats? That would be helpful as well.
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Welcome to the forum!
Yes, the ability to have more than four chords per bar has been requested many times so the desire is well known. Place my vote on the side of the line that would like to see it happen. I also believe it will happen somewhere down the road.
But, to play devil's advocate for a moment, I don't agree with your reason why. While I agree most DAWs have eighth or sixteenth note capability, so what? BiaB is not a DAW, it is an auto accompany tool. PowerTracks is PG Music's DAW.
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... PowerTracks is PG Music's DAW. And so is RealBand!
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
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... PowerTracks is PG Music's DAW. And so is RealBand! So very true VideoTrack.
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OP
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Thank you for the welcome. I appreciate it.
I wasn't really referring so much to DAWs as sequencers but old-fashioned sequencers themselves. While I know such features as Real Tracks aren't MIDI, I think if such chord entry is possible on such archaic machines, then surely PG can find a way to make it happen in 2016.
Besides it really shouldn't be so hard to replace the current 4 bar entry system with an 8 bar one. The only snag I can think of (since I'm not sure of the algorithm in the first place) is that it may conflict with some of the previously-released Real Tracks. I'm not sure how tightly the marriage is between the GUI and the algorithm that creates the WAV files for the RT.
Either way a technology company that has created such amazing software should be able to find a solution since so many of their users have requested it.
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Journeyman
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Do we really need more than 4 chords per bar, or just the abilty to put them in different places.
As a guitar player, I cringe at music the expects me to change chords 4 times in a bar, i just don't see that it would be possible to do 8, and for sure, never 16.
However pushing the chord is more meaningful. So allowing 8 possible locations, but 4 chords per bar might be realistic.
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I'll bet that you have played four chords per measure before. If you have played the blues or rock songs, especially those from the 50s, you must have played something like A-A6-A7-A6 in one measure.
I think using 16th notes as place markers for chords would work. For instance you are playing the song I'm a Man you need to place chords like this: E for each 1e+,a,2e+,a,3e+,a beat, a D on the 4e+ and A for beat 4a. That would be 8 chord strums and three chords per measure.
Note one beat consists of 1e+a or one eee and a with the chords on the beats being held 1e+.
I hope this is not too confusing.
[edit] for typo
Last edited by MarioD; 01/11/16 09:34 AM.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
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Journeyman
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I certainly have played 4 chords per bar, but i can't imagine playing even 6, especially if they are 'different'
C-Am-F-G7-C-F-G7-C would be horrendous, unless it was at 30bps. But 4 chords with 8 strums is possible, or shifting the chord change off the beat, but never 8 chords.
I leave that to the drummer.
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8th note resolution would give you the ability to have up to 8 chords per bar. I can't imagine needing more than that, and with pushes, you can move a beat a 16th note to the left (wouldn't need 8th note pushes, since you would have 8th note resolution anyway). I also wish they would implement (for lack of a better term) a pull, which moves the chord a 16th note to the right. That allows for many combinations of two chords to sit next to each other.
I would think that implementing such a thing would just require identifying a file as an older, legacy file (by some flag present), and then just remapping accordingly when you open it and then when you save it back, it's in the new format. Yes, it won't be compatible with older versions of the software, but occasionally you have to let go the need to be backward compatible with version 1 twenty years later.
It would seem that the RT/RD/MIDI engines to generate the arrangements would mainly have to be adjusted to perform the appropriate math to get everything to land on the correct beat (or off-beat).
Even Jammer Pro 6 offered 8th note chord resolution back in 2005.
Of course, I could be way off-base here as to the complexity (or lack thereof) of doing this.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
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Journeyman
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I am still not convinced that we need more than 4 chords per bar, but I can understand the they need not be exactly on the beat.
Looking at note entry as an example, could we look at "triplet" resolution? You can plce the chord before, on, or after the beat. But still only 4 chords per bar. That i think is both a pull and a push.
I can't believe that it would make any difference to me but I am sure some people think it would actually be useful.
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When most us are talking about 8th note chord entry, it's not because we want 8 chords in a measure, (only in rare cases), we want to be able to enter in ie; the and of 4 to beat one of the next measure. Currently we can only enter a push to beat one and no chord on beat one, unless you use one of Bob Norton's styles or double your tempo. A case where I might want 8 chords in a measure would the the second measure of "Sophisticated Lady". I would play II-Vs on each beat for the melody line. In Ab second measure: Dbm7-Gb7, Cm7-F7, Bm7-E7, Bbm7-Eb7. Ray
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Dave, if we could do both a pull and a push, it would go a long way toward what Ray correctly identified as the problem. Even then, as far as 4 chords being enough per bar, here is a simple but common pattern I wish I could do with chords:
4 eighth notes in a row, an eighth rest, an eighth note, an eighth rest, and an eighth note. There could be a measure rest following, or a shot on beat one of the next bar. It's a common pattern that we can't do now, and even if we could, requires more than 4 chords per bar. Just one of many possible examples.
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It is not unusual for church hymns to change chords each beat and then throw in a few on the "and" of a beat, resulting in 5, sometimes 6 chords in a bar. I also have quite a number of songs that have a chord change on the "and" of beat 4 and then on the downbeat of the next bar, so it may not have more than 4 in the bar but the issue is how to place them properly.
The problem with the push is you can only push from the beat and then you can't have another chord immediately following it on the beat once you push.
I would think that 8th note chord resolution would fix 98% of the problems.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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