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Tanton Offline OP
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Can BIAB automatically generate a melody based on the chords I enter?
If so, what are the steps to get this done?

Last edited by Tanton; 04/08/09 05:47 PM.
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Yes, BB can do this. Type in the chord progression that you want, and then press the Melodist button (Shift F4).

Then notice the "Chords and/or Melody Group Box" - make sure that "Generate Chords" is NOT selected.

Choose the style that you want for your Melodist (pop, jazz etc) in the list at the left.

Then press OK, and you'll get a melody composed for your chord progression.


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Peter Gannon
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Thanks Peter...

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Speaking of the Melodist . . .

I notice there are 1,753 Styles.
However, there are only 217 Melody Styles.
So, regardless, of what Style one's song is in, if one wants BiaB to generate a melody, the song has to be in one of those 217 Styles.

For example, I had a song in a heavy metal style.
I tried a melody called "Rock 12 String Guitar."
And the memo said "Rock 12 String Guitar * autoloads C_EAGLES.STY."
So the song automatically goes to the C_EAGLES style.
Correct?

Another thing I noticed.
The first pass through ("chorus") the melody sort of sounded like a 12-string guitar (not really).
But the second time through the sound changed to something sounding a little like a xylophone.

I'm lost. What's happening?

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Quote:


So, regardless, of what Style one's song is in, if one wants BiaB to generate a melody, the song has to be in one of those 217 Styles.




In the Melodist window, simply uncheck "Allow Style Change" -- and the Melodist will generate a song using whatever Style file you have already selected in the main BB window.

Quote:

For example, I had a song in a heavy metal style.
I tried a melody called "Rock 12 String Guitar."
And the memo said "Rock 12 String Guitar * autoloads C_EAGLES.STY."
So the song automatically goes to the C_EAGLES style.
Correct?




Just checked using my copy of BB2009 and if I uncheck the above, any style aready loaded sticks with the newly generated song.

Quote:

Another thing I noticed.
The first pass through ("chorus") the melody sort of sounded like a 12-string guitar (not really).
But the second time through the sound changed to something sounding a little like a xylophone.

I'm lost. What's happening?





Make sure you didn't have the Generate Solo box checked in the Melodist, sounds like it generated a solo using vibes or something.


--Mac

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Well, I actually decided to take a look at the online Soloist/Melodist tutorial video:

http://64.40.109.185/pgmusic/wmv/BBSolMel128K.wmv

It seems, it turns out, that BiaB has a different definition of “melody” than I do.

According to the video clip, the Melodist is used primarily to “create a new song” by “Generate Chords,” “Generate Intro,” “Auto Titles,” etc.

In other words, one click creates a whole new song from nothing.

Even if it’s used to create a melody from an existing BiaB song, what I hear is not a melody.
It sounds exactly like what the Soloist does.

To me, a melody is a series of notes (usually) to be sung often around a central motif or theme.

What the Melodist is producing is noodling over a particular scale or chord change.


300 posts. Hhhmmm...

Last edited by FirstBassman; 04/22/09 06:14 PM.
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There are More settings and Edit to the Melodist that you can use to simplify its parameters.

I'd say that you have to generate quite a few songs to get a real winner, much like songwriters who write prolifically must do.



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Hi Firstbassman

The video clip you are referring to, is more of a Soloist than a Melodist and is not a good example - I have managed to get some really good melodies or ideas for melodies from using the Melodist features - it can generate a proper melody format as opposed to a Soloist

As Mac states - you need to try many times before a good one pops out - sometimes I might try 20 times with no acceptable tunes or ideas and then within a couple of try's in another session you get something to work on

jazzman


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