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.

Last edited by Charlie Fogle; 04/05/19 07:50 AM.
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