I have done some more testing on importing MusicXML generated by SongMaster Pro into BIAB.
As mentioned in posts above when importing a MusicXML file that has been generated by SongMaster Pro directly into BIAB it only loads root chords no extensions.
But maybe there is a workaround.

If I import the MusicXML file into MuseScore it loads all chords correctly. If I then export the same score (the MusicXML just loaded) out again as MusicXML from MuseScore and then load it into BIAB it may work. But it did NOT!

If I copy the same score (the MusicXML file I just loaded into MuseScore) into a fresh new empty score in MuseScore and from there export it out as MusicXML from MuseScore and then load it into BIAB….

… It seems to Work FINE.. (all chord extensions are there).

It seems that MuseScore4:
1) exports scores that have been created from scratch in MuseScore correctly in a format that BIAB can read (ie it includes both the ”text string chord extension names” as well as the <kind> chord extension definition parameter).
2) but when exporting a score that has been loaded from MusicXML it seems just to just export exactly the same MusicXML file that was originally loaded.

I don’t know what the standard states or which of the software that need change or maybe both (but MuseScore seems to import MusicXML files correctly both from SongMaster Pro and BIAB)

So there might be a workaround a bit heavy but it seems to work.

EDIT ------------
To me it looks like that the chord extention is specified by:
1) the <kind> chord extension parameter in MusicXML but also
2) an optional ”name text string” parameter (it is only my guess that it is optional I don’t know if it is mandatory)

SongMaster Pro only adds the 1) the <kind> chord extension parameter and not the 2) ”name text string” parameter.

But this seems to work fine with MuseScore (as well as GuitarPro8 and Notion 6) and it loads correctly with the correct chord extensions These programs do not seem to need the 2) ”name text string” parameter, they work fine with only the 1) the <kind> chord extension parameter.

But this is not the case with BIAB it seems not work without the the 2) ”name text string” parameter. it seems that BIAB requires the 2) ”name text string” parameter in order to interpret the chord extension and BIAB seems to ignore the 1) the <kind> chord extension parameter if it is given alone without the 2) ”name text string” parameter.
(but as said this is only my guesses I don't know what the standard states).

EDIT2------------
I had to experiment with the BIAB load special settings: ”BB song bar offset” and ”Number of bars in XML to skip” in order for the chords to align correctly in BIAB. It seems to depend on if there is a non complete bar at the beginning of the song. The setting that worked for me was ”BB song bar offset=2”, ”Number of bars in XML to skip=1” and the first bar was only 1 beat (in the original song from SongMaster Pro via MuseScore). The file that I tested had chords spread over various beats 1,2,3,4 and they seemed to align correctly. Only thing it will miss the first bar with only one beat.

EDIT3 ---
It seems to work fine with the default settings as well ie ”BB song bar offset=2”, ”Number of bars in XML to skip=0”. Only thing is that the 3 first beats will get an C chord since my song only begin with one beat in the first bar.

Below attached are screen shots:
1) SongMaster Pro first 20 bars
2) Imported MusicXML from SongMaster Pro into MuseScore after copied over to new empty score
3 New MusicXML exported from MuseScore and imported into BIAB with default settings ie XML bars to skip=0.

Attached Files (Click to download or enlarge) (Only available when you are logged in)
Last edited by shlind; 04/04/24 03:52 AM.
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.