Unfortunately for us, and doggone is it frustrating, there isn't any part of the MIDI standard that deals with Chord data. There are a few different programs that do chords and each one seems to use their own proprietarty system for the Chords. Boo.

BiaB does not "import" chords from MIDI files, it uses an algorithm to *derive* the chords in a MIDI file by analyzing the notes in the MIDI data. BUT - files that have more than just accompaniment and Melody can yield some strange results after the analyzation because the algorithm does not know what are leading tones, passing tones, whether or not the part is played ahead of or behind the beat, etc. So all it can do is look at all the notes in a vertical stack at each beat and name the chords to fit.

One way around the above is simple enough, pare out one or two tracks of your MIDI file, such as the Bass and Piano or Bass and a Rhythm Guitar part and then run BB's chord analyzer. Much more likely it will be able to find the actual chords like that. Of course, once you have the chords then you can go ahead and add the other MIDI parts back in.

Another way, since you already have the file in Sibelius, is to print out the chords from Sibelius and then when you open the file in BiaB, simply type those chords into the chord grid. Not all that cumbersome, actually.

For the record, I'm a long term and very happy Sibelius user. What I've told you is from experience, much experience, with both proggies.

--Mac

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