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Noel96 Offline OP
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THE BELOW REFERS TO A SONG IN 4/4 TIME

Quote:
BACKGROUND

If required.... in preparation for changing a chordsheet from 1 x cell is equal to 1 x bar of music, select "Edit | Song form | Expand" and this will double the length of each chord from a chordsheet perspective.

NOTE
***To appreciate the below process, it's useful to think of a cell on BIAB's chordsheet as a holder of chords rather than one bar of music.


One cell on BIAB's chordsheet only holds a maximum of four chords. Thus if the song is laid out so that a single cell represents 4 beats, then this means that only chords on 1/4 note beats are possible unless pushes are used. (Pushes still have limitations and do not have the ability to create 8 x chords per bar.)

If however, the song is laid out so that 2 x BIAB chordsheet cells represent 4 beats, then it's possible to have 8 x chords per one bar of 4/4 music and so chords can be entered on 1/8th notes.

  • That is each cell can hold 4 x chords and it takes 2 x cells to cover the 4 x music beats.

To accomplish this, one needs to double the song's tempo.

In other words, if the song has a tempo of 80 bpm when a single cell is used to represent one bar, then it will need to have a tempo of 160 if two cells are used to represent one bar.

To get this to work with Realtracks and Realdrums means either

  • using those designed for use around 160 bpm
  • or using the same original Realtracks and Realdrums but setting their timebases to "half-time" to compensate for doubling the tempo.

Time-base settings for Realtracks are obtained by right-clicking on the track in the mixer and then selecting "Track Settings | Timebase".

Below are two simple songfiles that I've created so that it's possible to compare them and to see how to do it.

The first example one is one cell on the chordsheet represents one bar. (Standard BIAB use.)

The second example has the same Realtrack set to half-time so that two cells on the chordsheet represent one bar. Regarding the second example, notice that...

  • the tempo is doubled
  • the length of the song now appears twice as long since each one-bar chord is now covering two cells
  • the Realtrack has its timebase set to half-time.

======

EXAMPLE FILES

1. one bar = one cell on chordsheet

2. one bar = two cells on chordsheet

Regards,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Noel,

Where is the quote from?


Jim Fogle - 2026 BiaB (Build 1224) RB (Build 8) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk Sonar - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
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Noel96 Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: Jim Fogle
Noel,

Where is the quote from?


It's from me, Jim! LOL! I've simply used the 'quote' mechanism in these forums as a way of highlighting a comment and also to create a friendlier visual impact for the readers (if any).

Regards,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2026
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
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Originally Posted By: Noel96
Originally Posted By: Jim Fogle
Noel,

Where is the quote from?


It's from me, Jim! LOL! I've simply used the 'quote' mechanism in these forums as a way of highlighting a comment and also to create a friendlier visual impact for the readers (if any).

Regards,
Noel
Got to love it! Cute idea.


Jim Fogle - 2026 BiaB (Build 1224) RB (Build 8) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk Sonar - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Post your own Tips and Tricks here
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Noel96 Offline OP
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HERE ARE SOME GRAPHICS TO GO WITH MY FIRST POST

Example #2 at the link in my ORIGINAL post, only had a single instrument.

If you have more than one instrument as well as drums, then each of those instruments and the drums needs to be set to a time-base setting of 'halftime'.

NOTE: Make sure that you save your file with a NEW NAME. It's always best to keep the original so that it's possible to return to it.

1. Firstly set the tempo to double (say from 65 to 130).

2. IMAGE 1 below shows how to set the time-base for Realtrack #2452 String Quartet in the style I'm using.

3. Do this for all the Realtracks and Realdrums in your style.

4. If you are using an existing song, it's necessary to expand the chords so that one bar of chords covers two cells on the chords sheets.

5. To do this, use "Edit | Song form | Expand chords by 2" as shown on IMAGE 2.

This expands the duration of the chords so that, at the new double-tempo speed, two chordsheet cells at 130 bpm (for example) play in the same time as one chordsheet cell at 65 bpm (for example).

Once the above steps are done, it will play properly and two chordsheet cells will represt one bar of music.

It's now possible to add 8 chords across those two cells.

Regards,
Noel

Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
setting time-base to half-time.jpg (249.33 KB, 55 downloads)
IMAGE 1... setting time-base settings for Realtracks and Realdrums
expanding chords by 2.jpg (191.51 KB, 55 downloads)
IMAGE 2... expanding chord duration by two

MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2026
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