PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Beginners Forum Audio Chord Wizard formats to import?

Hello all,

I ran the BIAB 2018 Audio Chord Wizard. I tried opening songs from different sources but was unsuccessful. First I tried songs in iTunes, then from music CDs. These files weren't recognized by the ACW.

What file formats can be analyzed by the ACW?

Are iTunes and music CD songs readable with the ACW?

Thanks in advance.
Joel

Hi again, Joel.

If you go to the link below...

http://www.pgmusic.com/videos.bbwin.htm

... have a look under the "Overview" section and you'll find a video clip on the Audio Chord Wizard for BIAB 2018. This is for the Windows version of the program. The Mac version of the video is at the link below.

http://www.pgmusic.com/videos.bbmac.htm

These will help with your questions as well as give a deeper insight into using the utility. It's a fantastic component of BIAB.

Regards,
Noel

<<< What file formats can be analyzed by the ACW?

Are iTunes and music CD songs readable with the ACW? >>>

The ACW works with common audio file formats such as WAV, AIff, MP3, MP4 and WMA among others. To use audio from a cd, which the ACW cannot natively import, the file on the cd must be converted to a file type that the ACW recognizes. This process with converting cd's is called ripping and you likely have a media player on your computer that will do it. It is quick and easy. Files from iTunes is probably a similar process. There are many free software programs designed specifically for downloading audio from the internet if you don't happen to have a media player on your computer that does rip cd's.

There are also recording programs that will allow you to download audio from any site or any source your computer can hear. Audacity, a free audio editor, can do this. This method allows you access to any song on any site, Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes, CD Baby, and YouTube or any cd you play from your computer. This method does require that you record in real time.

Many commercial songs you will likely use will in all likelihood be more complex than the simple illustration used on the PGMusic video Noel directed you to. They will vary tempo, modulate key changes and just in general, contain a lot of tricks and stunts that add great interest and variety to the song, but makes the ACW analysis more difficult.

An excellent resource to practice and hone your skills with the ACW is the Users Showcase located in the Forums section of the PGMusic website. All of this music will be compatible with the ACW because all of the music is created using Band in a Box products. Also, the artist normally provides the key signature, tempo and other information so you're not completely in the dark if you run into difficulty. You can also create your own BIAB sgu chord chart and if the artist has listed the BIAB Style used, see how closely you can duplicate their song. This technique helps you practice and build your skill in creating covers of commercial releases. If you come across a User Showcase song you can't analyze with the ACW, you also can contact the artist directly through the forum for help in getting success. For instance, did the artist throw in a 2/2 bar or two into their song or perhaps use 3/4 and 4/4. Listening to User Showcase songs will also expose you to a large quantity of RealTracks, RealStyles and midi Styles used in a wide variety of different music allowing you to become more familiar with the huge library of audio contained in the BIAB library of sounds. The Users Showcase is a wonderful resource for exploring and finding instruments and ideas for your own body of work.