|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42 |
Hi All,
I've been playing with the chord wizard thing to find the key of a song and the chords etc of one of my MP3 songs and I'm starting to have some success in that I can just about make out that it "resembles" the general sound of the original. I assume that if I was more practiced at using the style picker etc I'd be closer to the original on the first run through?
However, I was just wondering how close it is possible to get to the actual song (I haven't done much with RB yet!!). Just so you know I was working on Supertramps "take the long way home"....well somebody has to!!
Any comments (other than my choice of music!!), tips and maybe examples of what is possible would be very welcome.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,360
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,360 |
Hi Jed,
Chords are fair game. There's no copyright on the chords used to harmonize any song. If the chords were used to develop a signature riff (that stands outside of simply a chord change), though, copyright could well apply.
Melody and lyrics are fully copyrighted. With something like "Long Way Home". It would be possible to keep the chords the same and the melodic rhythm the same but the melody notes would have to be different to the extent that you created a melodic shape that was quite different from "Long Way Home". Lyrics would also need to be different.
A test would be to play your song and "Long Way Home" as instrumental versions. This would allow you to hear if they were similar or different.
Hope these thoughts help,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42 |
Hi Noel,
Thanks for the quick response!
I don't think I need to be too woried about copyright...I'm only doing this as an experiement and would never dream of trying to "sell" it with my voice!!
Mainly my idea was to try and get the chords and a close "copy" of the song so I can try and play my guitar along with it!
I kind of wondered if (with practice) you scaled BIAB & RB's ability to "reproduce" a song were 1 = nowhere close and 10 = perfect what sort of score would it get?
Hope this makes sense?
To be honest I think the song I chose is maybe too complex for a newbee like me to practice with!!
Regards,
Dave/Jed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 85
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 85 |
Hi Jed
if it isnt a silly question, why not just sort the chords, and then play along with the original?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42 |
Hi Tommohawk,
No silly questions only silly answers...I'll try not to give one!
Your suggestion is one of the unspected benefits I found from BIAB...I didn't expect it to be able to do that (i.e. find key of song and produce the chords etc.)! However, my first attempt to find the chords for "Bitter Creek" by the Eagles seemed to throw up some "unusual" results... i.e it didn't seem to match the chords I had already found (but I'm no wizard) and I'm sure if I persivere BIAB will do better once I improve!!
Part of my first post here is pure inquisativness (?). But also a thought it would be good to have a very close version of a song/melody (without vocals) so I could try and (for example) actually play the guitar part by muting the on in the BIAB track.
My only defense here is that it was fairly early this morning when I hac the idea!
Regards,
Dave
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
BiaB can make some great (and not so great) accompaniments for your cover tunes, but when it comes to things like melodic "hooks" and riffs that are commonly identified with a particular song, it cannot do that automatically, although there are certain few MIDI styles that do indeed tend to target a certain riff, even these won't "nail" the cover tune as the algorithm is not likely to place those things in exactly the same places as the original.
That said, it is indeed possible to get results that nail the original by use of imported MIDI files that have been made to do so. Typically you wouldn't use one of the BiaB internal Styles to do this, at that point it is like using BB to play back the MIDI file as a sequencing program would.
And there are various degrees of possibilities to be had with the Style files as well, such as recording your own MIDI tracks of the hooks and placing them on the Melody and Soloist tracks, perhaps even adding a real acoustic track to the sole Audio track in BB of your guitar or whatever as well. This latter method is not automatic and generally takes some time on the part of the user to implement, though.
You might find a good sounding MIDI file of your target song by searching the web and downloading same, then open it in BiaB onto the SEQ feature, which places all MIDi tracks onto the Melody track.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
What I do for tunes that "just need" that certain part is use a MIDI file as Mac suggested but get rid of the non essential parts and replace them with RTs & RDs.Works well. Like the original but not Dead on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42 |
Thanks for the info but it leads to 2 more questions...
Can anyone recommend a good site for midi files (sure I saw a post for this a few days ago but can't find it using "search" and eyeball!!).
Bit (more) out of my depth here...is possible to download a midi file from the web and then "modify" it in BIAB and/or RT/RD?
Regards,
Dave
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,058
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,058 |
One of the biggest problems I have found with midi or chord/lyric files is that the chords are not always correct.Some times the midi files are so simplified that it's hard to recognize the song. Because someone post the chords to a song does not mean they have the correct chord or position of that chord for the song. There can be a lot of cleanup to do. If it's for practice it will actually help to have to slug through some of those files.
To answer your last question, you can do almost anything you want, it just takes time. Wyndham
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
Quote:
One of the biggest problems I have found with midi or chord/lyric files is that the chords are not always correct.Some times the midi files are so simplified that it's hard to recognize the song. Because someone post the chords to a song does not mean they have the correct chord or position of that chord for the song. There can be a lot of cleanup to do. If it's for practice it will actually help to have to slug through some of those files.
To answer your last question, you can do almost anything you want, it just takes time. Wyndham
The good ones are few and far between. The free ones that is.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Jed, it sounds like you know little about midi. There's a lot to it and most of it is very confusing to a noob. First, make sure it's a GM or SMF (same thing) file. You can certainly work with non GM files but it's much harder at first. Second, freebies are exactly that, free. Some are very good but most are not. There's plenty of commercial midi sites that sell the songs and those are usually very good. The cost is reasonable, maybe $5-7 each depending on how many you purchase at one time. It can take many hours of surfing around the web to many different free midi sites to find what you want. You can argue it's worth it to you to spend maybe $20 for a 4 or 5 midi file package from one of the big sites or $7 for that one tune and get instant gratification.
I'm hardly an expert but I know enough about midi to take a bad file and rework it. I can't tell you though how many times I've tried to find a particular free song by doing Google searches and finding it on 20 different sites only to find it's the exact same bad file on each site. People just copy and paste thinking they're doing us a favor. People will change the name a little bit or modify the file just enough from one site to another to make the file size a bit different so you can't tell just by looking at a website if it's the same file or not. No way to tell that without downloading it and opening it in RB. Actually, that's not strictly true. You can use a standalone midi synth like the VSC to play midi files from a website just by clicking on them. The problem is that can conflict with your setup in Biab or RB so I won't do that but that's just me. I have a fairly complex set up and don't need yet another thing to keep track of.
Still, many times even a bad midi file will at least have the roadmap of the song correct and if you're lucky the tracks with those hooks you need. If you have that, then even if the rest of the instruments suck, that's ok Biab can replace those.
Bob
Last edited by jazzmammal; 01/20/11 01:21 PM.
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42 |
Hi Jazzmammal,
Thanks for info. I wouldn't go as far as to say I know little about midi, but thanks for the compliment!!
I understand what you say about free midi sites and wondered if any one could recommend a commercial site? I don't know if they are generic...my interests tend to lie in the blues and rock world.
Cheers,
Dave
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,940
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,940 |
Quote:
I understand what you say about free midi sites and wondered if any one could recommend a commercial site? I don't know if they are generic...my interests tend to lie in the blues and rock world.
If you go up one forum level, then go to the "tips and tricks" forum, about halfway down you will see a discussion about places that have midi files. This is the link (assuming I did this correctly): http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=287873&an=0&page=0#Post287873
I have got a few midi's from here: http://www.hittrax.com.au/
Here is another one (good for if you are a guitar player): http://www.myguitarsolo.com/midis.htm
Blues tracks are pretty easy to build using BIAB, many nice styles are available that fit most blues tunes. I don't think I would ever consider buying a midi track for a blues tune, unless I needed to do one that has a signature riff, such as "Born under a Bad Sign".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
"Born under a Bad Sign".
Did that say "Honest Ed's?"
John Conley
Musica est vita
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 42 |
BlueAttitude - thanks for the reply and links, have just had a quick look.
Also had a quick listen to some of your music on your web site..I think it is great, but now I now I know I have a long way to go!!
Cheers,
Dave
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,940
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,940 |
Quote:
BlueAttitude - thanks for the reply and links, have just had a quick look.
Also had a quick listen to some of your music on your web site..I think it is great, but now I now I know I have a long way to go!!
Thanks, glad you liked it! But it is not as hard as you might think to do up a nice blues track with BIAB. If blues is your thing I would be happy to help you out if you run into problems.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 85
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 85 |
A kind of related question - is there any software that can separate out the individual tracks from a music file ie wav or mp3?
Sounds a bit far fetched, but in theory it might be possible to recognise individual instruments and separate them. Any ideas?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
A kind of related question - is there any software that can separate out the individual tracks from a music file ie wav or mp3?
Sounds a bit far fetched, but in theory it might be possible to recognise individual instruments and separate them. Any ideas?
There is one program that actually works, it is called Melodyne. Do a websearch for their homepage.
And get your wallet out, it ain't cheap, but it works like a charm.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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®!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,738
Posts795,594
Members39,945
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean