I just spent 6 hours inputting a melody for a published song from sheet music using the mouse and keyboard. I know I can/ should be able to play right from the sheet, but I play guitar and am not good enough to play real time off a sheet from music I don't know by heart.
The reason I do this is because I'm pretty good at tab reading so once the melody is in I can play around with styles, keys, and play along / jam with my guitar by looking at the tabs.
I realize melodies are copyrighted so even though there are some free ones around to download I would rather pay someone on a by song basis to get the melody done against whatever style, like one of the built in styles or something from the Norton discs. I don't really care as long as I have the melody and can play around with the song.
Seems to me that what takes me 4 to 6 hours with a mouse would be pretty fast for someone with a piano midi that they can play and record the melody. So is there anyone who does this or would like to? I have no idea how one would go about paying the royalty or how much it would be but I figure on a song by song basis it wouldn't be that much.
David "DB" Barnes is a very proficient midi composer and according to his website, he's the same as you, a guitarist and not a keyboardist. He inputs very accurate and detailed covers of Beatle songs that are wonderful productions. He inputs each tracks individual notes and chords with a mouse and keyboard and using dated, older software. So, in my opinion, you are in very good company.
Beyond that, being a long time registered user of BIAB and also sharing your familiarity of midi with us, you may already be aware of my recommendation to capture midi melodies from midi files. Without regard to legal or moral issues, neither is my expertise, technically speaking, there are many benefits to getting melodies this way. Some are immediate while others may prove their worth in the future according to how much you progress in your musical skills and the musical path you may choose in the future.
The immediate benefit I see to you is the increase in output of finished songs to what you can currently do with the techniques you're using to input melodies. I don't think it would be difficult to increase your volume to six completed songs per hour versus the current one song per six hours. A total of 30-40 songs is not an unreasonable expectation. BIAB is designed and deeply linked with midi and is a marvelous tool to accomplish your goal to what presently appear to be practice recordings. Nearly every song you'll want to learn or perform can likely be found for free or purchase through the internet. It is not hard nor expensive to have a midi for any specific song created by a professional for purchase. There is also what I think is a huge advantage that the backing track you're performing to is unique and not the exact same track that 10,000 Karaoke performers are using too.
If you currently perform live or someday progress in skill to the point you begin to and your playlist includes cover songs and you use BIAB to create backing tracks, BIAB is a great tool for that too. Having a good collection of midi files, and especially a collection of good midi files, can be very beneficial to creating BIAB generated backing tracks that are equal in quality and superior in quality to many, if not most commercial Karaoke tracks. By creating your own backing tracks, you have the advantage of choosing how closely you want to replicate the original recording release or creating your own custom version of a commercial release. You also can assure that your backing track is in the best key for you or your vocalist to sing.
Regarding BIAB and midi melodies: Select < File\Import\Import Melody from Midi > is the first selection. BIAB will also automatically detect, analyze and load the chords, key signature, tempo, time signature and feel for the midi song.
Using midi melodies and securing them yourself allows you to do as many or as few as you want. You can also learn to include melodies into BIAB Styles you create yourself and maybe someday use them in performances. Regardless of your use of these melodies, you will have complete control to play around with styles, keys all the while jamming along with your guitar and following tabs.
You may already know most, if not all of this and have reason to prefer someone else create melodies for you rather than use melodies from midi files but if that's the case, perhaps some other person has struggled with the same issue as you have and this will help them along.
Have you tried using BIAB's Melodist to create MIDI melodies for you? I find that the Melodist gives a great starting place and I then tweak notes to suit.
Thanks a lot for the replies. Since my original post I've used some of the tips here and have gotten better at entering and editing melodies using the mouse.
What I would like to do now is to enter the melody with either a midi keyboard or the computer keyboard. Inhave learned how to do that using the midi keyboard wizard. My melody shows up on the soloist track.
What I still would like to do is to show the notes that I have played, and that show up on the soloist track, in guitar tab form. If I play a midi melody that I have downloaded from somewhere, I can select the guitar track and see the notes either as notes or as tab. But when I record my own midi I can only view them as musical notes on the treble and bass clef.
How can I record a midi melody using the keyboard and have it show up as a guitar melody showing both the notes and the tab? Is that possible?
Edit: I figured out how to do it. For those who may have the same problem, here are some tips that took me a long time to figure out. In BIAB 2017 you won't see the full menu with the MIDI button unless you hit CTRL-T. Once you hit the midi button, click on MIDI Keyboard Wizard Enabled. Then hit the record MIDI button with the melody clicked on. You may have to have the mixer window open when you record.
just a quick tip from one guitarist to another. use the transpose function on your midi keyboard and play everything as if it was in the key of C. much easier to stick to the white notes if you're playing by ear.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
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.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll also keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
From overviews of new features and walkthroughs of the 202 new RealTracks, to highlights of XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAKs 18, the 2025 49-PAK, and in-depth tutorials — you’ll find everything you need to explore what’s new in Band-in-a-Box® 2025.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac with savings of up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special—available until July 31, 2025! Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
2025 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Mac 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.
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