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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457 |
I run into an occasional problem where I disagree with the way BiaB voices a chord. Like when I specify a D9 for example, and BiaB insists on "jazzing things up" and playing a D#9 instead. Well, I learned how to reel it in from doing that (Song Settings/Force Song to Simple Arrangement). Right now I'm having an issue with the way BiaB insists on playing sus2 chords, e.g., just plain 2 chords, according to BiaB's text terminology. I tried forcing it to simple arrangements with the sus2 chords, but it didn't work.
According to the music theory I recall, a suspended 2nd chord has no third. It's just the root, the 2nd and the 5th, at its simplest. But there should be no 3rd. Yet, when I type 2 chords into the BiaB text page, and play them back, they sound funny. So I go check the voicing, typically on the keyboards, and, sure enough, BiaB is sticking a 3rd in there. A D2, for example, will have a D,E,F#,A, or inversions thereof. So, not only is this incorrect chord voicing, it destroys the mood I'm trying to convey through the use of sus2 chords.
Quoting Wikipedia: "A suspended chord (or sus chord) is a musical chord in which the (major or minor) third is omitted, replaced usually with either a perfect fourth or a major second."
It is annoyingly difficult to edit, say, the keyboard track to get rid of the 3rds because you can only edit Melody and Solo tracks. So one must copy the kb track over to the solo track, edit it and then copy it back to the kb track. This is a tremendous amount of bother. It would be so much nicer to tell BiaB to play chords correctly. It would be even nicer if I didn't have to tell BiaB to do things correctly.
So what I want to know is, is there some sort of global edit function, where I can get inside BiaB's head, if you will, and tell it NOT to include 3rds in 2 chords? I tried the Chord Builder, and it's no good for this cuz you can't specify the exact components of a chord like this one.
If there isn't a global way to change BiaB's penchant for voicing, then I'm requesting to the PG Staff that they correct their mistaken voicing of sus2 chords. Sus4 chords get spelled correctly, so it's only fitting that sus2 chords get spelled correctly also.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457 |
A brief follow-up. I sent an email to the support staff regarding this, reporting the way BiaB includes a major 3rd with a sus2 chord as a flaw that should be corrected. I'm curious about the response I will get.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Hi Michael,
BIAB does not offer and easy way around voicing chords.
With MIDI, it's possible to manually alter chords on any track using Piano Roll or Notation Mode and then to have those changes remain in place by freezing that track.
With Realtracks, however, the only way that I can think of to effect such a change is to create a Performance Wav for a particular track and then edit that wav in a pitch-shifting program such as Melodyne. (Performance Wav is a rendered audio file that linked to a particular track.)
From BIAB's perspective, X2 and Xadd9 are treated the same. This means that D2 will sometimes give Dsus2 (D E A) and sometimes Dadd9 (D F# A E).
If a user is using a mix of Realtracks and MIDI tracks, one solution for suspended seconds is to add the suspension in the MIDI voices by manually editing and freezing the tracks and with the Realtracks to use X5 chords (e.g. D5). The X5 chords are often called 'power chords' and they consist of only the root and the 5th (thus D5 = D A -- no F#) and thus will play comfortably against the MIDI chords with suspensions.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457 |
With MIDI, it's possible to manually alter chords on any track using Piano Roll or Notation Mode and then to have those changes remain in place by freezing that track.
Yeah, that's another way to do it, but it's still a pita. From BIAB's perspective, X2 and Xadd9 are treated the same. This means that D2 will sometimes give Dsus2 (D E A) and sometimes Dadd9 (D F# A E). Well, I submit then that BiaB is creating this confusion. If BiaB would allow one to spell a Dsus2 chord in the chord edit window (and have the chord spelled properly on the staff) instead of insisting on truncating it to a D2, this could be avoided. And your "Dadd9" -- I tried spelling that in BiaB just now to see what would happen, and guess what? BiaB changed Dadd9 to Dadd2. Okay, so I went ahead and plugged Dadd2 into a couple places to see how it was spelled on the staff. No joy. D2 and Dadd2 are the same spellings. Which annoys me even more. There are two ways to spell a "Dadd9" but no correct ways to spell a Dsus2. If BiaB is going to truncate Dsus2 to D2, then it should jolly well spell it as a Dsus2 on the staff. If a user is using a mix of Realtracks and MIDI tracks, one solution for suspended seconds is to add the suspension in the MIDI voices by manually editing and freezing the tracks and with the Realtracks to use X5 chords (e.g. D5). The X5 chords are often called 'power chords' and they consist of only the root and the 5th (thus D5 = D A -- no F#) and thus will play comfortably against the MIDI chords with suspensions. Yeah as a guitarist from way back, I'm familiar with power chords. Same difference in terms of work to get things to work, though. I suppose, once I've edited a portion of a track, I could do copy and paste to complete it. That would minimize the tedium.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,199
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Michael,
One thing that I forgot to mention above is that there is a musical relationship between 'sus2' and 'sus4' chords that you can use to your advantage.
Csus4 (or Csus, as it's often reduced to) = C F G
Now if I rearrange those notes to.... F G C (I have the notes of an Fsus2 chord)
Thus, to get an Fsus2, it's worth trying Csus4/F
That is, in theory, any sus2 chord can be obtained by using a Xsus4/Y where...
X = suspended 4th chord a perfect 5th above the required suspended 2nd chord
Y = the root note of the suspended 2nd chord
For your example of a Dsus2, using the above approach, try Asus/D. It may or may not work for the musical texture you need.
Regards,
Noel
P.S. I'll put this over in "Tips and Tricks" as it's a problem that arises a few times throughout the year.
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2025
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457 |
Hey Noel, now that's the kind of thinking I can appreciate. I wonder how long it would have taken me to figure out the relationship between those two chords. Maybe never, yet now that you point it out, it's so obvious.
Well, this is a workaround I can live with and I'll give it a try tomorrow. I've retired for the evening and am posting this note on my laptop. My only concern is that with some styles the /X (specified chord element in the bass) can be somewhat de-emphasized. But I'll definitely give it a go. Still, though, I hope that this error in chord theory is something PGM will address in an upcoming build.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
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The bottom line is that X2 (Xsus) and Xadd9 are two different chords and should be handled as such.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457 |
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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.
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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.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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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!
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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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