I'm thinking about using biab for gigs but have a problem: I have some singers that come up and want to do a song in "their key", not mine. On my keyboard, I can easily hit a button to do that, while I play the chords I'm used to and see on my charts.
If I use biab, I can't find a way to transpose the sound without changing the chords guiding me. I know I can change the display without the sound in the notation window. And I've changed the key with transposes the sound and display. But no way to just transpose the output!
Also, regarding changing the key signature: What is the effect of changing the key signature without transposing? I was thinking that it would affect the display without the sound output, but it doesn't appear to do anything except just change the key signature.
How do other players handle transposing the sound output?
Let me see if I have this right. For example, let's say your song is normally in F concert. The singer wants it in G. You want to continue to play it in F and make it sound in G. Correct?
Use one of the ways to transpose the song; the easiest is the key signature pull-down, on the LEFT side. Change C to D, or if it's already F, make it G.
Then go into Options, Preferences, Notation and enter -2 for Transpose.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Thanks, at least there's a way it can be done. Too bad it isn't just as simple as having one transpose control that can do any combination of changing output or notation.
Still, what's the point of the right side column which changes the key signature but nothing else? Does it affect solo/melody generation?
You could post a Wishlist request if you want a one-step rather than a two-step solution. I think the subset of users who want this may be small, but for playing live with BIAB, it makes sense. As it is now, there are several ways in BIAB to transpose, and I could see this becoming even more confusing to novice users. Perhaps there could be a single dialog where you specify what you want to see and what you want to hear.
The right-hand column was added a few years ago primarily for those who do not set the key signature when they create the song, and realize they should add one later. Yes, it does seem to make a difference sometimes in what the program generates, and if nothing else, it improves enharmonic notation.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
When I change the key from C to D I get a yes/no popup that says "RealTracks on Soloist or Melody track are audio, so do not transpose. OK to erase the RealTrack?"
I click NO and the RealTracks soloist is still there, nicely transposed! (same thing true even if I answer YES (and it doesn't erase the track either). Is this an inoperative message leftover from an old version that didn't support transposing RealTracks?
Another interesting thing is that after I changed from C to D and adjusted the notation, the Key signature now reads "G-2". At least it alerts you to the change because these changes get saved with the song if you save.
Thanks Pipeline! The dialog box that comes up when clicking the key signature (and all other places where transposition is involved) could be made simpler, and more comprehensive.
Just have one column to select the target key and two checkboxes: X Adjust notation to new key X Adjust output sound to new key
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