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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
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OP
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Has anyone used the XML feature to export a song to finale notepad and successfully print a fake sheet?
Does it successfuly move melody, lyrics, chords, repeats, first / second endings, DS al coda, and more importantly, are they recognized and acted on by the receiving program?
Thre has been many requests on this forum for a better print option and XML was expected to be the most likely route. Has PGmusic achieved this?
I have held off upgrading for several years in the hope of getting more professional looking prints. The Real stuff is very nice, but a nice, clean, good looking fake sheet is top of my wish list. Should I upgrade this year, or wait?
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Dave, there are plenty of good reasons to upgrade even without Music XML.
My experience with Music XML in all programs is that it is a standard without complete accuracy. In other words, every application of it brings quirks. Thus, it's hard to figure out fault.
To your specific question: I don't have Finale Notepad so I don't know.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647
Journeyman
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OP
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Posts: 647 |
Thanks Matt
Almost there, but not quite it seems. If any of the free / cheap packages would work, I would consider them. I don't need FINALE, it would be overkill, but having played a little with Musescore, Notepad seemed the best, although I haven't seen anything from Noteworthy Composer lately. But if they don't properly communicate, BIAB will have to do.
I know that there are lots of reason to upgrade, but to be honest, I uses a very simple set of functions in BIAB. It's my backup 'band' and usually just drums and base. I use a small subset of real drums, even though midi is fine. The horns sound great, but just not with my band.
I don't create backing tracks, or even use RB. I have only recently got into making my own styles with the editor. There are TOO many styles for me, so I made about 30 hybrid styles that cover most of the music I play.
I do need a printed score - I used to be able to memorize my music, but now I need the notes, chords and lyrics. So whether I update or not really comes down to one function, and if it's not there I have no real need to upgrade. It would be money spent on a "LIKE" rather than a "WANT".
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Of the thousands of styles available, I too use surprisingly few for my compositions of Brazilian jazz and Latin jazz.
We are in the beginning days of exporting (and importing) Music XML with BIAB. I fully expect things to improve as it shakes out. I made a few early reports during testing, and MuseScore seemed to fare best of the few notation programs I tried. If memory serves, John Ford uses Noteworthy Composer. I'll ask him if he's tried it yet.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Noteworthy Composer doesn't have native Music XML, but because it supports user tools and user-created plugins, someone did create a tool to convert from NWC to XML and vice versa. However NWC does not natively support chord objects; you have to enter text objects as chords, and so chords won't come in properly to NWC (unless the tool is updated to make the appropriate conversion. I love and user NoteWorthy Composer a lot, but it does have some limitations, but it's the quickest for note entry among the lot. That being said, I took an original song from BIAB, which was all MIDI and played nicely, and saved it as MusicXML. The results are as follows (which full score PDF links provided for each notation package - click on the program name to see the PDF file): I imported the file into Finale 2012 (I never upgraded to 2014) and it created a somewhat workable score, except I had to re-assign all the instruments and lyrics and chords appear on almost every staff. But the parts seem to be there. I then imported the file into Presonus Notion version 5 and that was a mess. It was like the timing was all off and many of the notes doubled in duration (cause extraneous notes at the ends of each bar. Surprisingly, because Notion usually does a pretty good job with MusicXML. Just like Finale, everything came in as Piano, so I had to reassign the instruments. Lyrics and chords came through, but the extraneous notes make it totally unworkable. I then imported the file into MuseScore version 2. Again, the chords and lyrics are there, but again on every staff. The instruments all came in as piano, so needed reassigned. This was probably the cleanest looking score, but would still need a lot of cleanup. I then tried Sibelius 7 (I never upgraded to 7.5, nor the new version 8), and I understand version 7 (and even 7.5) might be a little squirrelly on Windows 10. But it did import the file. As with the others, the instruments all came over as piano, so those needed reassignment. In none of the scores did the title and composer information come across. Chords and lyrics appear on all the staves, not just the melody staff. IMHO, MusicXML export still needs work. Hopefully this helps.
Last edited by jford; 12/22/15 12:41 PM.
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
Posts: 647
Journeyman
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OP
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Posts: 647 |
Thanks John
As i only need the melody track, since using the software is for printing only, I guess I could eliminate the extraneous staves / instruments. I do need the chords and lyrics.
How do they deal with repeats and endings?
Based on what you have said it seems better to stick with the devil I know for notation, at least for now. It's hard to tell if the problem is with BIAB or the notation software. As Matt said, it may be a matter of an incomplete standard.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I don't think the problem is the standard, I think it's a matter of how the standard is implemented. Notation has lots of nuances that aren't represented in a MIDI context. So as BIAB's support for Music XML matures, I'm sure they will figure out better ways to turn the parts into proper notation. But as can be seen from my pdf's, you do get the melody line with chords and lyrics in a number of popular notation apps. But it's a pretty good start from nothing to a new feature that's been asked for for a long time.
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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Yes, John is making the same point I apparently wasn't successful in making above: there appear to be various small problems introduced by programs when they try to implement the Music XML standard.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Holiday Weekend Hours
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
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Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
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Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
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