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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2016
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OP
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So - I am sure this is an easy one, but how do I change the time signature to 2/4 time?
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Are you meaning for a bar or range of bars or for the whole song?
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2016
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I have the same question. It seems like the time signature would be one of the more important pieces of information about a song, perhaps to be found in the Song Settings.
Although I gather from the manual that the time signature may a function of the Style chosen.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647 |
At the beginning of the 2 beat bar, click F5, select number of beats per bar as 2, click Ok
On the next bar, click F5 and select 4 beats.
If you want a number of 2 beat bars, just click in the first non 2 beat bar. No need to worry about the style, it will adjust automatically
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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I tend to think of each spot in the BiaB matrix as a cell instead of a bar of music.
So Dave'a approach (above) would have been my first suggestion.
But unless you need to print the music, there is another way.
Consider each BiaB cell as 2 bars of music. Consider the first 2 beats in that cell one bar, and the second 2 beats another.
Which way do I prefer? That depends entirely on the style that I'm using. I use my ears. Some styles seem to sound better with the first method, others with the second.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
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& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647 |
I use it mostly when the song calls for 1 bar of 2 beats in the middle of several bars of 4 beats. It happens in several Paul Simon and Beatles tunes.
If I am writing a complete song in 2/4, I tend to ignore the time signature and write as 4/4 and pick a style that plays double time.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 10
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Hi, I have what may be a variant of this question.
I'd like the whole song to be in 2/4. When I go to style picker, I don't have any styles that show up in 2/4 so I can't choose them. Is this because I need to get additonal styles?
I was able to change the first bar of the song to 2/4 and have it play fine,
but I'd also like the leadsheet to print nicely.
Thanks.
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382 |
Hi,
If you change the number of beats per bar to 2, then your leadsheets will be in 2/4, that shouldn't be a problem. Not all 4/4 styles will sound great with the last 2 beats chopped off of each measure but the notation should look fine.
Which style of music are you working in? We have quite a few klezmer and polka styles, for example, but they're written in 4/4 since we don't make 2/4 styles, just 4/4 and 3/4.
Thanks
Kent
PG Music
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Feb 2017
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Hi,
It's bluegrass/oldtime Americana music.
The structure of the song is that it is 10 2-beat chords long. So converting it to 4/4 presents its own challenges.
The problem is that the leadsheet prints badly because the letter for the first chord (in this case, a G) and the time signature, which is now inside of the bar rather than outside, are superimposed so neither is readable.
Thank you!
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382 |
Hi Ihenze,
Right, our bluegrass styles are all in 4/4 or 3/4. You can force them to play in 2/4 using Bar Settings if you like, but the phrasing might sound funny, since you'll just be cutting out the second half of phrases written in 4/4.
Regarding the chord/key signature display issue, the chords are usually displayed above the staffs, and the time signature is usually below the treble clef. Are the chords in the second line of the Leadsheet running into the time signature of the first row? If not, can you please post a screenshot in this forum thread, or email it to support@pgmusic.com? Once I see what's going on, I should be able to tell you how to fix it.
Thanks
Kent
PG Music
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2021
Posts: 1
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 1 |
Hi!
I'm new to BiB and need to have one 2/4 bar in the middle of a 4/4 song. I tried F5, set the # beats this bar to 2 and press OK. But the drum part keeps going in 4, and my next chord starts playing after 4 beats instead of 2. I don't know if it is me using a Mac that creates this problem. I need help!
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766
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Hi Bassjan, this seems to be a bug in BIAB. I'll report it to the development team.
I work here
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,929
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,929 |
Hi Bassjan, this seems to be a bug in BIAB. I'll report it to the development team. Please do but you might find that it's an old issue. There's someone with 3rd party libraries for BIAB and he addresses the inability of 2/4 to behave. I'm forgetting his name at the moment.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 14
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Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 14 |
Mike, I think you do that by going to Song and when the button comes up you can change the song to 2/4 done it a couple of times being Country Music based.
Burton Trent
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,929
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
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… you might find that it's an old issue. No, really, 2/4 is an old issue and has been addressed — finally. New in BIAB 2021 New Notation Features
The time signature button has a better menu with options to select alternate notation display and to open dialogs like Set Time Signature and Edit Settings for Current Bar to change the time signature.
A hint is added to the time signature button.
A button is added for the visual transpose. Click on the button and type a number of semitones to transpose.
Track selection buttons for each track have been replaced with a single button. You can press it and select a track from the menu, or just hover the mouse cursor over it and use the mouse wheel to quickly switch tracks.
If the song is in 4/4, there is an option to display it as cut time. For example, a bluegrass song that is currently displaying with 16th notes will display using 8th notes. This allows easier readability and is ideal for displaying the notation of songs that were specifically written in cut time.
If the song is in 4/4, you can display it as 2/4 instead of 4/4, without changing the main time signature of the song to 2/4. This special 2/4 notation display mode lets you continue to generate better sounding RealTracks, etc. than if you had switched the main time sig of the song to 2/4.
The time signature displays with a better size. The height of the time signature fills the whole height of the staff.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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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!
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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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