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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Hi,
I`m not a Midi person, so here`s my question:
* I downloaded a free MIDI file from the internet and opened it with BIAB. All the Instruments are only on the Melody track, but the different instruments are triggered properly (I hear a guitar, drums ect with the correct sounds). How can that be? And most of all, how can I change that, so I have the several instuments appear on their according track to further edit them.
I need this urgently.
Thank you so much!
Sandra
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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You can't in BIAB but you can in RB BUT in BIAB if you press the green SEQ button you may be able to do what you need.IN MIDI there are 16 channels. Each instrument gets assigned a channel. The synth plays the sounds according to the channel.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Ok, got you (I do actually know a little bit about MIDI, but not that much).
When I open the Piano roll, I can select the channels and see what each instrument is playing, BUT, the are som ehow all assigned to the MElody track.
I want the Pinao to appear on the piano track, the Bass on the bass track, etc. How can I do that, without having to copy all of the channels one by ones?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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You can't. Just the way BIAB works.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Silvertones is right Sandra...open the midi file in RB...it's probably a type 0 midi file. When you open it in RB, it will ask you if you want to assign each instrument to a separate track. Answer, yes and you can see and change each instrument. Here's a brief summary of the two types of midi files:
"There are two variations of the Standard MIDI File format, called Type 0 and Type 1. Both variations contain the same data, but the arrangement of the data within the file is different. Type 0 is a single track of data; Type 1 is multi-track. Many of the popular sequencing software packages available can import and export either type of file.
In the Type 0 Standard MIDI File, all data is saved to a single track without regard to its MIDI channel reference. The file plays normally, but accessing the individual components is a bit more difficult. If editing is needed, the user can open the Standard MIDI File in the application of choice and copy/paste individual channels of information manually as needed.
A Type 1 Standard MIDI File outputs a separate track for each MIDI channel in the original sequence. This format greatly simplifies editing once the sequence has been transferred from one sequencer to another."
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Contrary to the answers you got so far you definately can do this in BiaB.
Press the green Seq button and select Melody track.
Click the elipsis button beside the track you want (say the bass) to move and select move to soloist track. It will ask if you want to make the soloist track multi channel. It doesn't really matter at this point so click yes.
Now go to the Notation|Event Editor and make sure you are editing the soloist track.
Using the event filters remove the patch changes and other superfluous commands such as chorus and pan.
Next use the Edit|Copy/Move Tracks command and move the Soloist to the Bass Track. Note: use move, not copy, so you don't leave midi on the soloist. The Move Tracks command will freeze the Bass track so that it won't be re-generated when you press play.
Finally set the Bass track patch using the standard radio button/drop down or GM button.
Repeat on any other tracks you want.
Now remember if you unfreeze the tracks you moved in the future you will lose the midi info to what BiaB generates based on the style so be careful.
In addition I have found the most success if you leave some tracks, usually the rhythm instruments, to BiaB. This way the song won't sound too structured if you are using it for accompaniment.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks, pwarren, you saved me from having to say all that, plus you outlined it better than I could have done.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Wow, this is excellent pwarren, thank you so much. I will try it immediately!
Sandra
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Yea thanks.I wasn't aware of that. I gave it a try and works fine but I couldn't see any real benefit of doing this as opposed to just using the SEQ button on the melody track. Seems like a lot of work. Unlighten me so I'll know as well.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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wow,
I learn something new every day on this forum.
Thanks!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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One additional teensy tip: If you loaded that midi file via File=>Open Midi File.., the current style will be disabled. If it's disabled after you transfer the bass channel, for example, to the bass track, the track won't sound. So at the end of the above procedure, make sure the style is enabled. (Support is considering making this automatic.)
Also, note that while it might be helpful to edit the data on the Soloist track, it's not technically necessary to do so. Data can be moved/copied directly from Melody to the target track.
HTH -Ron
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hey Pwarren, that's a interesting approach...didn't know that...I'll give it a try in BIAB...thanks.
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Wow, this is excellent pwarren, thank you so much. I will try it immediately!
Sandra
You're very welcome. I've been creating all kinds of good covers to play along with using this new feature. It makes turning midi int BiaB so much easier.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Yea thanks.I wasn't aware of that. I gave it a try and works fine but I couldn't see any real benefit of doing this as opposed to just using the SEQ button on the melody track. Seems like a lot of work. Unlighten me so I'll know as well.
By putting some tracks onto the BiaB standard tracks you can use VSTi and VST plugins on them which you can't if they are left on a multi-channel track. This is great for covers.
In addition, midis never regenerate with a different arrangement. When converted into a mix of frozen tracks and BiaB tracks they sound less rigid than plain midi.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
One additional teensy tip: If you loaded that midi file via File=>Open Midi File.., the current style will be disabled. If it's disabled after you transfer the bass channel, for example, to the bass track, the track won't sound. So at the end of the above procedure, make sure the style is enabled. (Support is considering making this automatic.)
Yes, I forgot to mention that point. It will be nice if support can make that automatic.
Quote:
Also, note that while it might be helpful to edit the data on the Soloist track, it's not technically necessary to do so. Data can be moved/copied directly from Melody to the target track.
True. It's not necessary but I found lots of problems if you don't. The first and biggest is the patch changes. If left in the target track will always change to the patch in the midi file rather than what you expect/set.
Second, setting like pan, chorus and volume make unexpected changes and can be confusing. I leave volume alone if it's necessary to the qualityof the track and modifiy it with the piano roll. Otherwise I remove volume commands.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Hey Pwarren, that's a interesting approach...didn't know that...I'll give it a try in BIAB...thanks.
You are welcome. It's a great new feature. I am biased a bit since I suggested it in the wish list but it's great none the less. <g>
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Apprentice
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Apprentice
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THanks pwarren
1. I moved the bass track from melody to solist
2. then from soloist to BB bass track
3. I see the data is moved, but no playback (sound)...and there is a sound patch selected for it
Playback (audio) works only on the melody and soloist tracks
help!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
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RP,
I think I finally got the hang of this.
Initially, I selected the desired style before I opened the midi in BB. What I didn't notice before was that the style defaults (at least in my case) to a ZZBOSSA and has the X in front of it, meaning it;s disabled; as such, no sound from any BB parts other than soloist and melody tracks.
Subsequently, I selected the desired style, moved the midi piano to the BB piano and VOILA !
I followed PW's advice - the additional step of moving to soloist first, but I've got a lot of tunes to work on and will let you know if I can leave out this intermediate step.
Good luck, RP.
PW- Great suggestion you made to PG Music.
This little tool saves me a lot of time from all the previous importing/exporting between the BB programs.
Percy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Feb 2008
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Expert
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Expert
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Quote:
THanks pwarren
1. I moved the bass track from melody to solist
2. then from soloist to BB bass track
3. I see the data is moved, but no playback (sound)...and there is a sound patch selected for it
Playback (audio) works only on the melody and soloist tracks
help!
You need to select a style in order for BiaB to create midi on the BiaB tracks. It doesn't matter which style if all your tracks are frozen but if some aren't select a style that'll sound good with your frozen tracks. Answer yes when asked if you want to activate the style.
BiaB 2013 b366, RB 2013 b4, WinXP Pro SP3, Toshiba M70, 1.8GHz 2GB RAM 100GB HD. Focusrite Saffire 6 USB, Ketron SD2. BiaB Wiki
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 223
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2008
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aahhhhh Thanks again  Rally
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