I'm trying to write out "Spain" by Chick Corea. How do I get a good Samba rhythm in Cut Time(2/2)?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
I used the Familiar Song Title filter in the StylePicker, and entered "chick corea spain" and it offered many styles, all 4/4 (but this can be adjusted in the Editable Notation window). I further filtered the search specifying "samba" - the top 5 results are: _TRIPEAR (from Loops-with-Styles PAK 1) _RAMBHA (from Xtra Styles PAK 11) _HEATWAV (from Xtra Styles PAK 2) =DOGS_BJ (from Realtracks Set 11) DogSamba (from MIDI Styles Set 17)
(feel free to give this a try on your own installation of course)
Once you've chosen your Style, pop into the Editable Notation Window to adjust your time signature from 4/4 to 2/2, for Cut Time.
I think changing the time sign in the "editable notation" window will be the answer that I'm looking for.
Will the Real Tracks reflect this change, as well? Or does that not even matter in this instance? (I'm not near BIAB until at least tonight)
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
If you are looking for notation in Cut Time, while not perfect, this might get you a little closer. (Don't worry that the Style Time Signature still shows as 4/4 after setting your song to 2/4)
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
By the way, if you're looking at Spain, do check out Yohan Kim's version (he's about 14 years old when he performed this):
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
If you are looking for notation in Cut Time, while not perfect, this might get you a little closer. (Don't worry that the Style Time Signature still shows as 4/4 after setting your song to 2/4)
So, I'm not sure how that all works. If I do what you've suggested, should I notate the melody in double time, with half notes equalling quarter notes, 8ths becoming 16ths, etc.?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
Cut time, or Alla Breve is a meter time where each beat is a half-note (or minim) value, and there are two of these beats per bar.
I don't think that BiaB natively supports 2/2 time signatures. Certainly it can be notated in 4/4.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
I used the Familiar Song Title filter in the StylePicker, and entered "chick corea spain" and it offered many styles, all 4/4 (but this can be adjusted in the Editable Notation window). I further filtered the search specifying "samba" - the top 5 results are: _TRIPEAR (from Loops-with-Styles PAK 1) _RAMBHA (from Xtra Styles PAK 11) _HEATWAV (from Xtra Styles PAK 2) =DOGS_BJ (from Realtracks Set 11) DogSamba (from MIDI Styles Set 17)
(feel free to give this a try on your own installation of course)
Once you've chosen your Style, pop into the Editable Notation Window to adjust your time signature from 4/4 to 2/2, for Cut Time.
-Callie
How do I adjust the tune sig to 2/2?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
I've picked a Samba style, gone to Editable Notation window, found 2/2(cut time). However, no joy. Time sig in the main window still says 4/4, and for whatever reason, the notation doesn't work out with the chords correctly. What am I missing?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
I've picked a Samba style, gone to Editable Notation window, found 2/2(cut time). However, no joy. Time sig in the main window still says 4/4...
If it's the one shown below, this is the time signature of the Style. Changing the notation to a different time signature doesn't change the time signature that the Style was created in.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Okay, give up. Given the lead sheet that I posted, how does one generate "Spain"?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
I've picked a Samba style, gone to Editable Notation window, found 2/2(cut time). However, no joy. Time sig in the main window still says 4/4, and for whatever reason, the notation doesn't work out with the chords correctly. What am I missing?
What does your notation look like? Is that what you have shown, or is that the notation from elsewhere that you are attempting to duplicate?
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Okay, give up. Given the lead sheet that I posted, how does one generate "Spain"?
Is this close to what you want?
Last edited by AudioTrack; 02/22/2412:33 AM.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Okay, give up. Given the lead sheet that I posted, how does one generate "Spain"?
Is this close to what you want?
I'm not understanding the reply. I entered the notation the way it's shown on the lead sheet, but it doesn't generate correctly. My question is, how can I generate this tune, which should use a cut time samba groove?
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
Okay, give up. Given the lead sheet that I posted, how does one generate "Spain"?
Is this close to what you want?
I'm not understanding the reply. I entered the notation the way it's shown on the lead sheet, but it doesn't generate correctly. My question is, how can I generate this tune, which should use a cut time samba groove?
Most step-entered notation will never sound the same as the music created by 'real musicians'. It will lack nuances that give it the human touch.
Is the problem that it sounds too rigid, too fast, too slow. Please explain what 'it doesn't generate correctly' means.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Most step-entered notation will never sound the same as the music created by 'real musicians'. It will lack nuances that give it the human touch.
Aye, stepwise notation always sounds artificial, sometimes almost robotic. It lacks the subtle timing and touch/feel aspects.
I suspect the only sensible way to get the subtleties is to use MIDI from an real musician. In principle one could edit the piano roll, but that's hard work as one needs to make small adjustments to an awful lot of notes.
FWIW, I learned something about how BIAB works when I imported a MusicXML file of a Latin piece with syncopations and many short rests ... BIAB was just dropping the rests from the notation and even when I reinserted them manually, they would keep disappearing. In my case it was auto-hiding rests of a full 3/8 duration!
From another thread:
Originally Posted by Gordon Scott
I can only imagine that it's to hide subtle timing effects from the notation, i.e., when someone is playing ahead of or behind the beat. One doesn't want hundreds of 1/64 notes or rests all over the notation. If one looks at the underlying data for styles, it can look awful.
The notation in BIAB is normally, very sensibly, presented as it would be written, ignoring the subtleties of the played track.
Edit: BTW the omission of rests as per my imports can be controlled with an option "minimize rests", but of course it doesn't resolve the issue of stepwise/played input. A manual search should find it.
Last edited by Gordon Scott; 02/22/2403:28 AM. Reason: addendum
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Are we seriously arguing about the rigidness of step entry? Is no one understanding the problem here? The tune is in cut time! The time signature is wrong and can't be changed. The pulse of the song is wrong. Jesus, how does one enter the chords and melody, whether step entry or otherwise, so that the pulse is correct? Double the length of the notes and double the tempo of the tune? There seriously has to be a better way to deal with cut time. Is "Spain" not common enough a tune to warrant someone wanting to make a backing track?
This is like the twilight zone.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows Version 2026 (1237) 64 bit application RealBand 2026 (4) Windows 11 Home Intel(R) Core(TM) 5 120U (1.40 GHz) 12.0 GB (11.7 GB usable)
Are we seriously arguing about the rigidness of step entry? Is no one understanding the problem here? The tune is in cut time! The time signature is wrong and can't be changed. The pulse of the song is wrong. Jesus, how does one enter the chords and melody, whether step entry or otherwise, so that the pulse is correct? Double the length of the notes and double the tempo of the tune? There seriously has to be a better way to deal with cut time. Is "Spain" not common enough a tune to warrant someone wanting to make a backing track?
This is like the twilight zone.
Quote
Jesus, how does one enter the chords and melody, whether step entry or otherwise, so that the pulse is correct?
That part can easily be undertaken. Forget step entry. Just connect your keyboard to your BiaB MIDI input, press Record and just play the song. When you play it back, it will be exactly as you have performed it, note-for-note, nuances and all.
Other solutions are above my pay-grade (which, by the way is free).
Another suggestion is to try support@pgmusic.com
Let us know how you go. Good luck!
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Double the length of the notes and double the tempo of the tune? There seriously has to be a better way to deal with cut time.
BIAB's time signatures are all constructed from some subset and/or combination of 4/4 time. There are workarounds, but they're imperfect, e.g., 5/4 is done as a pair of bars 3/4 + 2/4.
On the Song Settings dialog there are options to allow some interpretation, notably the options "allow RealTracks Half-time/Double-time" (and also the general use of triplets for swing, 6/8 and the like). That may help your quest.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 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 22 requires the 2026 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.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 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 22 requires the 2026 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.
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Norton Music
![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=27466&filename=2024-02-22_11-39-23.jpg)
![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=27473&filename=2024-02-22_16-28-58.jpg)
![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=27477&filename=SpainTest.jpg)
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean