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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Journeyman
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OP
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With each new release of BIAB I anxiously await any updates to the notation portion of the software. Again, I guess Santa just gave me a lump of coal.
Since fake sheet was introduced many versions back there have been only a few minor changes. We did get Repeats / endings, but even they don't work properly with more than two endings. The "Real" band is updated regularly, the sequencer function has its share of new features but the poor notation function is left well behind. Try a song with 3 different lyrics in the endings - you get the third set on the first ending.
Anyway, for me again, 100 new features and not one of them has anything to do with notation.
Maybe next year.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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I agree. In each upgrade there's less notation issues.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
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Its a good point, we should revisit notation in future versions.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Speaking of which, one thing I notice regularly is problems with enharmonic spellings.
E.G. Basin St. Blues in C - from Allanah's collection. Follow the melody line along and in bar 1 you'll find E F Gb F# Gnat. The 4th note should be G (the flat from the previous Gb still affects it. I have tried to correct this but cannot force the G(b).
It appears to be caused by the chord that is active at the relevant portion of the bar. In this case the progression is C, Dm7, Ebm7, Em7. The F# note appears under the Em7. Nevertheless, this is distracting when trying to sight read cold at tempo. Because of the change in notation there is a tendency to expect a note change when it's actually the same one.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya  --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Journeyman
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OP
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Peter
I'd like to hold you to that. Even if we can only fix the 'gliches' that have been there forever would be a boon.
There are lots - sometimes the DS al coda is missing - the sign is there to return to, but no indication from where. I had a new one today - a song with two endings , but there was only a mark on the first - nothing on the second
I would love to see dynamic bar lengths - base the length of the bar on the number of notes or the length of the lyric, not on a fixed portion of the staff length.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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I'm not familiar with notation features in Biab at all. But would it help if you take care of all that in an external sequencer, or a Notation software like Finale, and then export the midi file from them...Then, just import that midi file into Biab?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
I'm not familiar with notation features in Biab at all.
You would benefit substantially if you get acquainted with the BB notation features. By all means, BB should be self contained for everyday notation purposes - comprising compound time signatures and such issues. Sibelius ($ 699) may get involved for substantially more complex tasks than creating leadsheets.
Martin
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Often it's more satisfactory to use a series of programs that are each expert in one task, like a Sibelius or Finale for notation. I happen to use Encore since I learned it twenty years ago. There can be problems going back and forth, though, such as the MIDI resolution used by each program.
PG Music ads say this about what it will do: "You can print out your finished creation with lyrics, chords, repeats and endings, DC markings and codas, or save it as a graphics file for web publication or to e-mail to a friend." We know there are some weaknesses, including support for true 6/8 and cut time. It's great that Peter has put improving notation on the list for the future.
We've had much the same discussion over at the SONAR forum, where the notation editing has not been changed in a decade. Those of us who use notation do not expect SONAR to be as powerful as Sibelius or Finale; we just expect it will be no worse than other competitive DAW software. BIAB is different, though: Is there any software that can compete with BIAB?
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Journeyman
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I won't trade BIAB but just wish it would do better with the notation. I don't use Real anything, I don't make midi files for later, I just use the basic BIAB functions to play along to. Actually, I generally mute everything except drums and bass, and use it to back live keyboard, guitar and voice. For me the fake sheet is a key function, and as said earlier, an external software program might produce better results, but I prefer to stick with one program.
Does BIAB export the chord notation in it's midi format - and if so can finale read it? Not much point exporting a fake sheet if there are no chords on the output.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Quote:
Speaking of which, one thing I notice regularly is problems with enharmonic spellings.
E.G. Basin St. Blues in C - from Allanah's collection. Follow the melody line along and in bar 1 you'll find E F Gb F# Gnat. The 4th note should be G (the flat from the previous Gb still affects it. I have tried to correct this but cannot force the G(b).
It appears to be caused by the chord that is active at the relevant portion of the bar. In this case the progression is C, Dm7, Ebm7, Em7. The F# note appears under the Em7. Nevertheless, this is distracting when trying to sight read cold at tempo. Because of the change in notation there is a tendency to expect a note change when it's actually the same one.
Hmm. Notation window, Opts -> Is "Use chord scale for enharmonics" checked?
--Mac
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Quote:
and if so can finale read it?
If you import a midi file that has a chordal structure of any form, it would analyze and assign a chord with the proper bassline. Then, you can edit it to your liking.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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G'day Mac, Quote:
Hmm. Notation window, Opts -> Is "Use chord scale for enharmonics" checked?
You got my hopes up there for a minute mate. The box was unchecked, so I checked it and tried again - no dice. Back and forth a couple of times - even tried transposing back and forth to see if an automatic process would help but again, no dice.
Thanks for trying.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Can you get the file to me?
Maybe post it somewhere and provide the URL here?
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Expert
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G'day Mac,
PM with link sent.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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PM with link to my meddling with your file sent back atcha.
See if that's the notation you want.
--Mac
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G'day Mac,
thanks but the quaver on the 4th beat - the one that was an F# - should be a Gb (the flat should be unnecessary because of the accidental on the previous G - but you know that) instead of a Gnat and the G on the end should be the Gnat.
The problem is purely a matter of enharmonic spelling and I don't seem to be able to correct it.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Enthusiast
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Perhaps biab could import and export notation by using the MusicXML format. Then users can choose whichever complying notation program they prefer. Finale and Sibelious both support the format.
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G'day Al,
reasonable suggestion, but I use BIAB primarily as a rehearsal tool and want the notation to be "right" when I'm playin' along - especially when it's a new tune that I don't know yet.
I really don't need to spend the kind of money that Sibelius and Finale attract - especially when I have a much cheaper tool in NoteWorthy Composer that fulfills my notation requirements nicely.
I use the 2 tools for different purposes, though I am starting to use BIAB to help create the arrangements I do in NWC.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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I think its always stuck in "Use chord scale for enharmonics" mode...
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Journeyman
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I am not trying to send a chordal structure, just a melody line, lyrics and the chord letters (C, F#7, Gdim etc.)
I would also hazard a guess that the midi file would also have no indications of returns, repeats, DS al coda etc. The "notation software" would have no clue on how to print the fake sheet. Likely I would only get an unfolded version of the song which is definitely not what I am looking for.
Somehow that just seems a long way round to solve a BIAB problem
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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