Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#23865 05/21/09 04:20 AM
Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
kelso Offline OP
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
I have a bunch of scales and modes info (like a list of note names C D E ... for each scale) stored in an Excel spread sheet. I'd like to hear each of these scales played in midi, preferably by just clicking any one at will. Of course, I could convert the list to midi note numbers or any other form. I can't see a way to get excel to play midi. So does anyone know of a way to get Excel to play midi, or any way to copy and paste Excel data like this to some other program that could. I don't want to manually enter the notes into BIAB or other sequencer. Thanks for any insights.


kelso

Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,439
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,439


--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya laugh --=--
You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
Off-Topic
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
R
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
R
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
If you know any visual basic programming (VBA for example that ships with MSOffice products), you could interface with with the API that allows you to do this. There are several 3rd party programs which will allow you to hook to the midi instructions to play the notes you have in your files.

FMOD is one that I used very briefly in my previous employment: http://www.fmod.org/index.php/download

If you don't know VB programming, or any programming for that matter, then I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you.

-Scott

Off-Topic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
kelsoz

Probably the easiest way to accomplish your goal without any VBA programming would be to do the following.

1. Use Biab to produce a midi file playing the notes of each selection.
2. In Excel, create a hyperlink to the appropriate midi file in the 1st cell of each selection.

When you click the link the cell will play.

BTW:
1. This will also work with mgu and sgu hyperlinks, but will launch Biab when clicked.
2. For those of you who use Biab for gigs, using Excel and this method provides another way to create "playable" set lists that can be easily edited. Open Biab in the top half of you screen and your Excel playlist in the bottom half and you are in business.

Hope this helps.
Blatz


________
Lawrie

Thanks for the DailydoseofExcel.com link.


Last edited by JBlatz; 05/21/09 08:51 AM.

JBlatz
Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
kelso Offline OP
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
Thanks Blatz - but if I'm hearing you, this will do the opposite of what. I don't want to trigger Excel to play a biab or midi file. I have a hundreds of scales in an excel sheet. In my dream world, I want to click in the excel cell to play any one of the scales.

If I had a life time, I would just program each scale into biab or any sequencer and play from there. The trick it to get some program (excel, biab, ....) to read the excel sheet. I would also be happy to copy/paste all the data from excel to some program that would recognize and play the scale sequences.

In the good old Commodore 64 days I could do this in basic.


kelso

Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
If you learned them, then you wouldn't have to program them.

While there may appear to be *hundreds* in your spreadsheet, that is not really the case.

Investigate the Tetrachords, which are the four-note groups by all possibilities of half, whole and 1-1/2 steps for every four notes and then understand that any scale is but a combination of any of the two Tetrachords.

If you don't have time to program them, you don't have time to learn 'em anyway, so what's the point? Just being able to play back hundreds of scale or mode possibilities won't help here either.


--Mac

Off-Topic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Why do I think this is how BIAB started?

R.


"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
It ain't.

Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
kelso Offline OP
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
What makes you think I want to learn them? I am a musician, physicist, and number freak. I just want to explore, group by common elements, compare with chords, etc. And I have some other applications. It's just a hobby. While I appreciate your always-helpful approach on this and other forums, ignoring my query and suggesting a solution to some other problem is not real helpful. So, do you have any ideas to get a list of scale data in excel to play a midi sequence?

Off-Topic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
Your welcome, kelsoz.

I was only trying to suggest a method that did not require VBA programming. Since you mentioned you were familiar with basic and VBA is Visual Basic, might I suggest examining the information contained on the great "dailydoseofexcel" link Lawrie provided. I bookmarked the page and downloaded John Walkenbach's "midi-player.xls", but I'm on my internet linux machine and haven't had time to transfer it to Windows and examine it in Excel. However, from what I've seen in Open Office on this Pc, it looks like it might provide you with the copy & paste functionality you seek. Also, one nice thing about using Excel and VBA is that you can always change the program and the spreadsheet to your specifications.

J Blatz


JBlatz
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
I just couldn't fathom why you wanted to hear them...


==Mac

Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
kelso Offline OP
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
So why not ask "Why?" instead of dismissing my request for some help?


kelso

Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Look, I am sorry if you think what I said was a dismissal.

I tend to think as a musician about such things and I freely shared with you what I know to be the best way for a musician to approach the subject.


--Mac

Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
kelso Offline OP
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 479
Thanks Mac - I was a little prickly as well. I used to write little sequencer and patch editing programs for the Commodore 64 and Amiga before there was much out there. Being a scientist/engineer, I am inclined to categorize, chart, and graph everything, and this tendency lends itself well to music. So I am sometimes happy to spend many hours sifting through data and when finished, have nothing of value to show for it. So scales, chords, microtonality and tunings, wave forms, and on and on give me endless hours of entertainment. Then I also try to play a little jazz and pop.

BTW, I have found some programs characterized as "text to midi" that are aimed at doing what I want. But, so far, it appears that they are all DOS based, and not that usable.

Later,

Last edited by kelso; 05/22/09 05:53 AM.

kelso

Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 888
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 888
I have sent a PM that may lead to a solution. Check your mail box.


PM
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 888
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 888
For those who might be interested.

I have about 80 per cent of the code worked out for routines in excel that will play midi info as defined in john original post.

It would be something that you could play around with riffs and scales in excel. It allows you to define a note patter (scale or riff) a play pattern (a combination of volume and durations), select a midi player form your system, and a midi patch.

Not really sure it will have much in the way interest to most users. John presented it as something he was looking for and I had written much of the code years ago when I was first looking at midi and have begun to wrap that code into a package that actually does something useful, we, useful for at least on user's interest.

It is written in VB/VBA and so may be of some interest to people playing around in that particular environment.

Have a good one.


PM
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 888
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 888
Quote:



For those who might be interested.

I have about 80 per cent of the code worked out for routines in excel that will play midi info as defined in john original post.

It would be something that you could play around with riffs and scales in excel. It allows you to define a note patter (scale or riff) a play pattern (a combination of volume and durations), select a midi player form your system, and a midi patch.

Not really sure it will have much in the way interest to most users. John presented it as something he was looking for and I had written much of the code years ago when I was first looking at midi and have begun to wrap that code into a package that actually does something useful, we, useful for at least on user's interest.

It is written in VB/VBA and so may be of some interest to people playing around in that particular environment.

Have a good one.






I should have noted, I have the working version, that plays midi from excel, and am 80 done a version with a user interface that allows determining how the scale/riffs in excel are played. Patch change, duration of notes, volumns, midi player, etc. etc.


PM
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
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.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®

With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!

These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!

This Free Bonus PAK includes:

  • The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
  • 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)
  • Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:


  • 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)

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Video: New User Interface (GUI)

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!

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac 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 Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac 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.

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.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,294
Posts790,687
Members39,854
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
StratMan1965, CPIA2002, janhardo, Minstrel, Deb D
39,854 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
jpettit 321
MarioD 216
DrDan 211
Noel96 161
DC Ron 146
Rob Helms 127
Today's Birthdays
Kara Music Production, Алик
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5