I am trying to import chords from a midi file into BIAB. Sometimes it works fine othertimes not. I am not really sure what is going on. I have created a simple test file 4 bars with F/C, F/C, C7, empty, in wo versions with different rythms.
The simle quarter notes file works fine. Chords are imported as above. The 2:an version with triplets (rest and 8th) does not import the chords correctly as far as I could see. The result varies depending on whick length of the chords I select.
1 beat => F,F,_Em7b5 (3 bars with chords) 2 beats => F,F,F/E C7/E, Em7b5 (now it populates 4 bars with chords)
There is probably some good explanation within the music theory but I am confused and it is not what I did expect. Maybe someone have an explanation.
Also added how the problem file looks when opened with open special from mid
Hi. No program can import chords from a MIDI file because the MIDI standard does not include chord data. The best a program can do is load the file and try to interpret the chords. BIAB guesses well most of the time.
I’m surprised the rhythm of the chords isn’t accurate, though. Is there a Melody track? If not, consider adding one to your original file with some dummy quarter notes (or maybe even whole notes) so the start of the measure is clearly defined. See how BIAB imports that, then delete the Melody track.
Music XML would be a better choice, if it’s available for you to save your file in that format instead of MIDI.
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; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Thanks, then I know. I will try out the suggestions.
I have the melody and the whole song as well in midi. I just wanted to see if I could load upp the chords from the piano track only (the instrument playing the chords). It worked out fine for some of the songs but not for all.
I have just tried out to add some dummy quarter notes as well as a whole to set the start, but it still iterprets some of the chords and rythm incorrectly. I guess it is the tripplet timing that might cause the problem.
I leave this for know, I just wanted to know. No big deal to type in the chords manually.
BIAB 2026, Studio Pro 8, Song Master Pro, Win11 Home. i7-9700K CPU, 32GB, ESI MAYA44eX, ZOOM UAC-2, Guitar Pro 8, Transcribe, (EZKeys2, EZD3, SD3, EZBass, EZMix3) Amateur: fiddle, guitar, vocal, beginner on bass.
I'm quite sure PG Music would appreciate a report with your examples so it could correct this. Send an email to support@pgmusic.com and reference this thread. It could help all of us.
ps a PG Music staffer was not pleased with me when I said here that BIAB doesn't read MIDI chord info (because it's not there to be read) and I think they would like this import function to work accurately, even if it is interpreting the notes to create the chords. You may be onto something about the triplets. However, be aware triplets can be challenging in BIAB. Just because it doesn't look correct doesn't mean the sound is incorrect and vice-versa. In the leadsheet mode you can turn on triplet feel, which is on by default in swing styles but not straight-eighths (what they call even) styles. You can not only switch these appearances, but you can also manually adjust the timing to make rhythms appear correct. And there's quantization... Lots more to try.
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; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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