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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Journeyman
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OP
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I have been needing to create a lot of 6/8 time songs lately and I have to say that I'm really displeased with the way that BIAB expects you to implement it. the instructions in the time signature box say to use 4/4 time and choose a style with a triplet feel.
Why is this still the way BIAB implements 6/8 time instead of actually creating a real 6/8 signature availalbe with real 6/8 styles? at this point I'd even be happy with MIDI only 6/8 styles if the implementation of 6/8 were TRUE 6/8 instead of 4/4 with a "triplet feel."
ok - now that my rant is out of the way, do you have any tips on how to implement these the best way? I have a hard time with tempo and especially with the endings on 6/8 songs implementing them in 4/4. how do you guys handle this?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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The only way I can work with songs in 6/8 is to find a midi file and open it BB. I needed some tarantellas, found 'em on the Internet and deleted all but the chords and melody in BB. The Celtic styles work very well and the Realdrums sound great. However, I rarely refer to the notation.
Any other methods are too challenging for me;
Percy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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thanks for the reply, Percy. so the MIDI files you're finding on the internet are already IN 6/8, I assume? that's an interesting approach. I could certainly create a 6/8 MIDI file to my liking in piano first then import it into BIAB. thanks for the tip, that might help.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
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The original midi files are sonically 6/8; the notation is in 4/4 with triplets on the quarter notes, but the midi plays correctly. So if you can create even just the melody (or other parts) in 6/8 on another sequencer, the midi should sound correct once in BB, RB or PT. Then just select your style.
Percy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Newbie
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Newbie
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I want to create backing tracks in 7/8 and 9/8 time. I posted a thread about it and didn't get many answers. I agree, it should be easier.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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thanks again percy
bobl - I agree! I wish they would implement true time signature features for any meter. I'm sure having real tracks for all time signatures would not really be possible, but I can't imagine why MIDI implementation of any meter would not be easily programmed. I know it would require a change to the main engine as well to allow the measures to work correctly, but I personally would rather see that implemented than some of the other features.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Apprentice
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Apprentice
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I written arrangements for quite a few 6/8 classical guitar pieces wehre I use two 3/4 bars to equal one 6/8 bar. Works pretty well for a number of sytles.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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that's very interesting, Joe. how do you handle the tempo for that scenerio? would that be 1/2 normal?
thinking further about this it doesn't seem like it would work right. I'm not saying you didn't get it to work that way, but maybe I'm missing something. I can see where 2 measures of 3/8 would work correctly, but I'm not sure how it would work out correctly with 2 measures of 3/4?
Last edited by Beagle; 03/04/11 01:33 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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It works with 2 bars of 3/4 because you would enter a quarter note in place of the eighth note. So across the two bars, you have 6 beats; some of the waltz styles do give a pretty good 6/8 feel, but not all of them.
So, instead of 6 8th notes in one bar, you have 6 quarter notes across two bars. Obviously the notation isn't going to show 6/8, but it should sound okay. Basically, the work arounds (just like using tripletized 4/4) works sound-wise, but not visually. Been that way a long time and has been on the wish list to fix it for a long time as well.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
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PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
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The recommended way would be to use 6/8 as 2 beats of a 4/4 style.
Look at a style like ZZIRISH.sty (an old MIDI style). It is 4/4, with a triplet feel on each of the beats. So it is like 2 bars of 6/8.
Search the stylepicker for the phrase 6/8 or 12/8, and you'll find other examples.
Same with 12/8 = 4/4 (1 bar of 4/4 = 1 bar of 12/8)
9/8 = 3/4 (waltz time, with each beat having a triplet feel).
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Newbie
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Newbie
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Peter, one of the limitations of your suggestion is that you can't change which beats are emphasized. I would like to create backing tracks in 9/8 but I want the emphasis to be 2-2-2-3. I have played around with putting three measures of 2/4 with one of 3/4 and speeding it up but it is very cumbersome for a new user like me.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Journeyman
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OP
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Quote:
It works with 2 bars of 3/4 because you would enter a quarter note in place of the eighth note. So across the two bars, you have 6 beats; some of the waltz styles do give a pretty good 6/8 feel, but not all of them.
So, instead of 6 8th notes in one bar, you have 6 quarter notes across two bars. Obviously the notation isn't going to show 6/8, but it should sound okay. Basically, the work arounds (just like using tripletized 4/4) works sound-wise, but not visually. Been that way a long time and has been on the wish list to fix it for a long time as well.
I see, John. thanks, that's helpful!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674 |
Quote:
The recommended way would be to use 6/8 as 2 beats of a 4/4 style.
Look at a style like ZZIRISH.sty (an old MIDI style). It is 4/4, with a triplet feel on each of the beats. So it is like 2 bars of 6/8.
Search the stylepicker for the phrase 6/8 or 12/8, and you'll find other examples.
Same with 12/8 = 4/4 (1 bar of 4/4 = 1 bar of 12/8)
9/8 = 3/4 (waltz time, with each beat having a triplet feel).
Peter - thanks for your reply. I think I understand this so I guess if that's the only real "tip" there is then my thread just becomes a complaint that true 6/8 and other odd meters aren't implemented and I truly would like for that to be included in BIAB.
another question, however, is how do I handle the tempo? for example, if I have a song in 6/8 that I want to create backing for in BIAB and it's tempo is 60bpm. is it still 60bpm using 4/4 time with a triplet feel in BIAB?
Last edited by Beagle; 03/06/11 11:49 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,976
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,976 |
For odd time sigs, as mentioned most 6/8 and 12/8 feels can be done well in 4/4. And most 9/8 works in 3/4. But of course there are exceptions to that, and many other time signatures. We have support for lots of odd time signatures. This is present in Styles disk #38. http://www.pgmusic.com/styles38.htm<< I would like to create backing tracks in 9/8 but I want the emphasis to be 2-2-2-3. For example, the style "98_4_5.STY 9/8 Meter style" likely has the 9-8 feel that you are looking for 2-2-2-3 http://64.40.109.185/pgmusic/audio/sty38/high/98_4_5.wmaNote that the notation for these styles isn't 9/8, so if correct notation is a "must have", then this styles disk won't help. But if you want to play all kinds of odd-time signatures in BB, including things like 19/16 etc., then you should explore the styles on this disk.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
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