But I really love the new plugin feature recently added in the new versions of BIAB. One feature that I feel would be awesome in the VST version as well would be the "Import Chords from MIDI" and "Import Chords from MIDI Clipboard" etc. that the standalone program allows you to do. Having to jump between the standalone and DAW to incorporate this feature is a little tedious.
Regardless, I appreciate all of your guys hard-work.
Thank you for the feedback Reskent! This feature is actually already on our to-do list but it has been backlogged while we work on higher priority items. Check back in the release notes for updates.
So for ToDoList 478 would you just open the dialog Interpret Chords from Midi file in BBW4 and send the chords back to the Plugin ? Maybe have a drop import spot on the plugin. Then to create midi chord export from the Plugin (ToDoList 479) set BBW4 to Output Chords and save in midi file then save midi file from BBW4 to SavedTracks folder and have a drag export icon in the Plugin, though BBW4 don't have save chord names to midi markers yet (ToDoList 987). I think ACW was ToDoList 520
Do you guys plan to implement the "Audio Chord Wizard" into the VST as well ? because if so that would be a game changer.
Be able to grab chords via audio or midi in the VST version would be super convenient as going back and fourth between the the standalone and DAW would be minimal.
A workaround would be to use the ACW in BiaB and save the results as a .sgu file then just open in in the plugin inside the DAW. It is only one more step, and actually not really because it is a excellent practice to save file frequently to avoid loss. So process the audio till your happy even add styles and such in the main BiaB program where all the tools are, save and open that file in the DAW plugin.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
Stumbled upon this thread today as I was moving midi files (chord progressions) back and forth between Reaper, Scaler, BIAB and EZKeys. This has become a recent workflow change for me as I explore different and new ways to compose my music.
I find I can drop and drag midi content between Reaper, Scaler and EZKeys. It is just wonderfully easy to do. 16 bar chord progessions made in any of these apps, edited and or played in any of the other ones. It is a joy and has opened up new thoughts for my music making.
So why is BIAB excluded from this fun. First of all, the BIAB-VST, forget about it. Ya, you can drag midi out of it, but not straight chord progressions only performance midi tracks. There are work arounds, but not worth the bother. Best to go back to the standalone BIAB where you can "output chords". But if you have done this you know the problem with it. You want only the chords track, but you get six other tracks which have to be deleted to clean up the file.
OK, back to this thread. It appears the OP and Pipeline are asking the same question, why doesn't BIAB do this better? The answer appears to be, "we are working on it". Yiieps. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
Unfortunately, it takes work on both the DAW side and BaiB to create a standard for chord exchange. The DAWs implementation is unique per DAW and doesn’t universally support a MIDI export of chords.
The BiaB plugin does not either. If they did offer a MIDI export it would only solve half of the problem.
Celemony and Presonus developed a standard in ARA2 for chord interchange but that is forthcoming.
Studio One (latest version), Win 11 23H2 , i9 -10940X 3.3 GHz, 32GB Mem, a 4K 40" monitor, PreSonus Studio Live III Console as interface/controller. secondarily test on Reaper, Cakewalk, and S1 on Surface Pro 3 Win 10 (latest versions).
This has been my workaround for a few months now but it just gets a little tedious when wanting to just explore a multitude of different saved MIDI progressions. I'm usually not committed to the first progression I import so when I want to try a different MIDI file that I have saved, I have to repeat these steps all over again.
Open BIAB -> Import Midi -> Save to SGU -> Open DAW -> Open BIAB VST -> Import SGU
It be a lot easier to just "import a midi file" into the VST
Just going to bump this post. Figured i'm going to do this once a month now because this feature has been backlogged for a while now. Thanks Pipeline though ! I've defiantly seen your contributions and advocacy for a bunch of ideas and proposed features that might need implementation in future updates. Also thanks for helping everyone (including me) on any assistance with issues we may have with BIAB.
This is an important feature for my workflow also. I use "importing chords from BIAB midi sequences" to drive several of the VSTi instruments in my DAW. May have to take this to the wish list and put it in line.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
The problem as Jeff mentioned above, is there is not a universal chord protocol that works with all the different types of DAWs. So adding features like this to the plugin does not solve the issue. The current path would be to work out the sound we want in either the plugin or BiaB and when we get it to taste then move it to the DAW. Some DAWs will read the chords from audio as well.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
...Having to jump between the standalone and DAW to incorporate this feature is a little tedious...
If you are doing it already with Biab main app then the BiabPlugin bbw4 will be able to do the same thing for you. You can use the BB Chord Output midi file to get chords into other applications like Reaper, Cubase, RapidComposer, EZKeys, EZBass and it seems to work fine except for a few 7,9 chords that BB puts out the same. The BB import chords from midi works good so as said the Plugin bbw4 will do the same job. BB still needs to output/input chord names to/from midi markers. These can then be imported into Reaper, Studio One etc.. though I did make 2 scripts to import the chords from BiabPlugin to Reaper % Studio One.
I have used the script for studio one before it does work fairly well. What I mean by no protocol is that it does not always come up with the same answers coming and going as the DAW chord reader does at times they don’t match so it takes a little adjustments. Still useable.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
The BB import chords from midi works good so as said the Plugin bbw4 will do the same job.
Thanks for replying ! Yeah this has been a method i've been implementing it's just the steps involved are a little excessive especially when you have over 1,000s of saved midi progressions that you want to cycle between. I'm on FL Studio btw so the switch between BBW4 plugin and FL is very janky sometimes. However, the ease, integration and synchronization of the BIAB DAW Plugin in FL is a little more convenient. Entering the chords into the VST is great but it would be kind of nice to be able to just load .MIDI progressions rather than going through the steps to bring them into BIAB and convert them to SGU format especially, like mentioned before, when you have over 1,000's of midi progressions you want to just cycle through. Which I believe really comes back down to work flow and inspiration.
The new Melodyne 5 has a chord track and midi chord track export. To get the chord track from Melodyne 5 into Reaper Export > Format > Lead Sheet(.mid) ReaTrak chords from midi item.lua
To get chords into Biab File > Import > Import Chords from MIDI file.
New update has been released for the BIAB plugin and looks like there is still no "Import Chords from MIDI" feature Hoooowever, the recent changes to the plugin are a MAJOR update and I am grateful with all the new features. The plugin is really looking promising and can only see it getting better from here on. Thanks for all your hard work.
Originally Posted By: Adar - PG Music
Thank you for the feedback Reskent! This feature is actually already on our to-do list but it has been backlogged while we work on higher priority items. Check back in the release notes for updates.
I hope ARA2 can be added next year that would give better transfer between plugin and DAW. To me that would add exactly what you are asking for. ARA as you well know is why melodyne works directly with the DAW where it formerly took a file transfer.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
Ah man lol it's officially been a year since this feature was addressed.... please for the love of GOD can we please have a midi import feature into the VST version pleasssssseee haha
Originally Posted By: Adar - PG Music
Thank you for the feedback Reskent! This feature is actually already on our to-do list but it has been backlogged while we work on higher priority items. Check back in the release notes for updates.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
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Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
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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.
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Hoooowever, the recent changes to the plugin are a MAJOR update and I am grateful with all the new features. The plugin is really looking promising and can only see it getting better from here on. Thanks for all your hard work. 
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