Goodmorning everyone! This is my first post. I have open midi file in RB. The midi file(type 0) was opened in RB by separating the piano track (chn 1) the drum tax (chn 10) and the bass track (chn 11) in RB I see chords and notations of each track. This operation I could not do in BIAB then I used RB. Now my wish is to save the file from RB in BIAB format and see in BIAB, as here, the three separate tracks with their notation, chords, ecc. I tried to look at the manual but I did not find a solution to this problem.
The default file format for Band-in-a-Box is "(Song Title).SGU" when the song project does not have a melody and "(Song Title).MGU" when the song project includes a melody. Give the imported song a title and press "F2", press "Ctrl + S" or "File" > "Save Song" to save the file to the default saved file location you programmed in your file settings during program installation and set-up.
RealBand also uses the "(Song Title).SGU" or "(Song Title).MGU" file formats by default. However, RealBand has a setting to change the default to the more "saves more features" friendly "(Song Title).SEQ" file format if desired. You open RealBand's preference window by pressing "Ctrl + F5" or "Options" > "Preferences". Then press "3" or select the "Files" tab to access the default file format checkbox.
The midi file opened like it did in RB because RB is more akin to a DAW.
BIAB is primarily designed for use as backing-creation software.
Because of this, when you load a midi file into BIAB, it still loads as individual tracks, just like in RB, but those tracks are located on either the Melody track or the Soloist track. The Drums, Bass, Piano, etc., tracks in BIAB are primarily reserved for BIAB and are used for backing creation.
To see each track individually, it's necessary to use Piano Roll mode and then select the channel. See the #1, #2, #3 on the image below.
If you do want to work with midi in BIAB, it's possible to load the midi onto the Melody or Soloist track and then transfer it elsewhere, channel by channel. See the image below that shows how to use "Copy special | Copy/Move Tracks".
If you transfer it to any track other than the Melody or Soloist, though, make sure you freeze the track because if you (re)generate BIAB, the copied/moved track will be over-written unless it is frozen.
Cubalibre, when you use Real Band you already have access to almost everything Biab has to offer and a lot more.
Try this, keep your midi file on the first three tracks. Highlight an empty track (track 4 maybe). Then right click on that track and click Generate. That opens a menu where you can select a Real Track part, a Real Drums part or a midi instrument part. All of those parts can be in any style. Listen to each track of your midi file. Maybe the bass is using a certain pattern. You could find a RT bass that fits that style, sounds a whole lot better and you want to keep it. Fine, mute the midi bass track and use the RT track. Same with all the instruments. Many times I'll like the midi drum part (using a good synth of course) but I'll add a separate percussion track to it.
Or, you like all three parts of the midi file but you just want to add to them like rhythm guitar, some keyboards, whatever. No problem you keep the midi tracks active, select whatever new parts from the Generate menu with each one using a new empty track. And, since RB has 48 tracks to work with you can create several different versions of each instrument, check them out, decide which one works best and delete the left overs.
Seriously you could start with a basic three part midi file and create a 36 part orchestra around it using RB and all the different Biab style parts.
You don't need Biab at all for this in fact Biab can't do a lot of this without jumping through a lot of hoops, this is exactly what Real Band was created to do. You're midi file is already open in RB, just stay there and keep working.
Well ... now I know what you told me. For the moment I see that the sound of the MIDI tracks offered by the Coyote synth is ugly. Brass midi are cardboard sounds. As soon as I have other things to tell you I'll be alive. Thanks
The default Coyote synth is just your basic Windows synth sounds. Using this you are pretty much just letting Windows play the MIDI. The Coyote FORTE is much improved, but still just the first step in the improvement chain.
I love one of my my Roland synths for horns (fairly inexpensive Juno-G that uses the Fantom sound set). But there are also many other hardware and software synths available to handle your MIDI sounds.
Also worth noting; there is a fairly new Realtrack for 'Big Band Horns' that is impressive if that is what you are after.
But my basic point was the sound you hear comes from the synth you are using. BiaB/RB include the Coyote so you have at least something to start with. They also give a free 30 day trial for Coyote Forte (the next step up) so you can compare. For the price (about $40) it is worth it to many of us. I don't usually use it in a final render, but when working with MIDI it's still handy to have and sounds MUCH better than the regular Coyote.
There are also free Soundfont players .. these are simply another sound set format, and sound fonts offer MANY free sound samples for any given instrument. You'll likely find one you like but it may take a little time investment spent searching the internet and auditioning them. I remember years ago I really liked the Chaos 12meg SoundFont set (it was GM compatible and could be edited), but again it took a little time to get set up initially.
The sound font player in this case is acting as your synth, which is what makes the actual sound you hear, so you can improve this easily and inexpensively if needed. Or get a nice professional sounding hardware synth. Your MIDI will have a whole different sound, but that costs a bit more..
As far as format to save in; BiaB can open MIDI files (.mid). so that's yet another option, unless you've added realtracks or other audio tracks. I prefer to just stay in RB once I'm to the point you describe. It has better control.
Last edited by rharv; 08/06/1708:27 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Ok I will try 30 days of Coyote Forte and then for $ 40 I will buy it. I'm also interested in soundfonts but I do not know how to handle them and if I have to disable the coyote when I use the soundfont? How do you say RB or BIAB to use the soundfonts I do not know.
There is a lot of information on the net. And that's why, if I can, I'm here in this Forum to make life a little simpler and go right away to find the right way to handle soundfonts. Then the soundfont file to choose from, that will be my decision.
In the end I will also try a hw expander if I'm not happy
Don't forget about sforzando. It also comes with BiaB/RT and it is a step above soundfonts, but it is not GM so you have to assign each track to a SFZ, a sforzando instrument.
The rule of thumb when it comes to MIDI is the better the sounds the more it is going to cost.
I work almost exclusively with MIDI so if you need help feel free to ask.
Good luck.
My wife had her driving test today. She got 8 out of 10. The other 2 jumped out of the way!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
You can select it as your default synth once it is installed.
Click Options - Preferences (in BIAB) then click MIDI Driver tab, and where you see your current default synth click it to edit it. In the resulting popup you'll have a drop down option (again where the default synth name appears).
See sample screen shots
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
I 'kind of' interpreted it as meaning "I'll try to get it fired up", as in 'to try it out'. I think (hope) something got lost in the translation somehow.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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