My apologies if this has been discussed before. I did search for it but I didn't see any subject headings that looked relevant.
I want to use BIAB to create backing track for a melody in 6/8 time. In the Set Time Signature box, I see 3/4 and 6/4, but not 6/8. There is a note in the box that reads, "Notes: For Time signature higher than 4/4, each bar is spread out over 2 or more bars (e.g. 5/4 will be written as 3/4+2/4). For 12/8 or 6/8, use 4/4 with a triplet feel (eg. Irish). For 9/8 use a waltz." When I try "4/4 with a triplet feel" I don't get anything like the feel of 6/8 time. 3/4 isn't satisfactory either; "1 2 3, 1 2 3" just is not "1 2 3 4 5 6, 1 2 3 4 5 6". Is there any way around this utterly astonishing lack in BIAB?
Unfortunately, I don't think that real 6/8 time exists. BIAB only works in 3/4 or 4/4. It 'emulates' 6/8 time by creating a triplet feel. Real time-signatures other than 3/4 and 4/4 have been requested for many years, but the fundamental building blocks of BIAB don't allow that. The program only ever works correctly for 3/4 or 4/4. Others may know more.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
Presumably, this is the Set Time Signature dialog you are referring to:
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
With Biab time signatures other than 4/4 3/4 you need to stay in Biab as these won't fit existing tracks in a DAW. The old code prevents this along with more than 255 bars.
With Biab time signatures other than 4/4 3/4 you need to stay in Biab as these won't fit existing tracks in a DAW. The old code prevents this along with more than 255 bars.
Yes, unless you are going to play your own parts then you can import the BiaB tracks into your DAW. When I use time signatures other than 3/4 or 4/4 I know that I have to play my own instruments for any other parts/tracks.
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
For 6/8 time, which BiaB doesn't support directly, I use either:
1) 3/4 time, where each cell in the BiaB grid becomes half a bar of music
2) 4/4 time with sw 8th notes, which turns each cell in the BiaB grid into two bars of 6/8 music or one bar of 12/8
3) 4/4 time with sw 8th notes, and then use F5 to make the cell in the BiaB grid one bar of 6/8
Of course, this is both song and style dependent. Some 3/4 or sw8 styles won't fit any song, some fit different songs with different degrees of success.
As soon as you stop thinking about a grid in the BiaB matrix as a bar of music, and think of it in terms of 3s and 4s subdivided in halves or thirds, a new world of BiaB opens up.
The 6/8 time signature can be tricky in BIAB since it's not directly available. As the note suggests, you can use a 4/4 with a triplet feel, but it might not feel quite right. What you can do is manually adjust the tempo and maybe tweak the feel in the style or rhythm section. Alternatively, you could try creating your own custom rhythm pattern or use an external tool to get the exact 6/8 vibe you're looking for.
As soon as you stop thinking about a grid in the BiaB matrix as a bar of music, and think of it in terms of 3s and 4s subdivided in halves or thirds, a new world of BiaB opens up.
The problem of course is that any associated notation is almost impossible to read. The notation will not show with a 6/8 time signature. It would be much better if the program handled these time signatures natively.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
As soon as you stop thinking about a grid in the BiaB matrix as a bar of music, and think of it in terms of 3s and 4s subdivided in halves or thirds, a new world of BiaB opens up.
The problem of course is that any associated notation is almost impossible to read. The notation will not show with a 6/8 time signature. It would be much better if the program handled these time signatures natively.
+1
Yep. I've always found it close to impossible to read. The visual clues are all wrong. At least 6/8 can be done as sensible bars. My wife wanted to sing "Light Flight" by Pentangle: The verse is 5/4, 5/4, 2/4, with a chorus in 6/4. Not a hope! It's hard enough when the notation is right.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
As soon as you stop thinking about a grid in the BiaB matrix as a bar of music, and think of it in terms of 3s and 4s subdivided in halves or thirds, a new world of BiaB opens up.
The problem of course is that any associated notation is almost impossible to read. The notation will not show with a 6/8 time signature. It would be much better if the program handled these time signatures natively.
+1
The problem of course is that any associated notation is almost impossible to read. The notation will not show with a 6/8 time signature. It would be much better if the program handled these time signatures natively. [/quote]
I've never considered BiaB a notation app, for this and other reasons.
As an auto-accompaniment app, BiaB does a stellar job, and that's what I use it for.
I have an old version of Encore and I also use MuseScore for my notation needs, which are mainly “head charts”.
It would be nice if BiaB supported time signatures, but I would guess if they changed their app to do so, back-compatibility would be lost, and all the saved work we have now would be useless.
It would be nice if BiaB supported time signatures, but I would guess if they changed their app to do so, back-compatibility would be lost, and all the saved work we have now would be useless.
It's rather amazing that it was originally designed, all those years ago, with real support for only 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
try RB and see if it meets your needs. in RB one isnt limited to a few time sig numerator/denominotors. in addition in rb one can see in tracks view the divisions in the bar for example. there is a dialog in rb specifically to set odd time sigs.
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
It's rather amazing that it was originally designed, all those years ago, with real support for only 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures.
I suspect it went from a pragmatic "get something out there; we'll add that later" to "it's too hard to add it just now, it'll keep a bit longer", to "it's too hard now, we should have done this right at the start".
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
It would be nice if BiaB supported time signatures, but I would guess if they changed their app to do so, back-compatibility would be lost, and all the saved work we have now would be useless.
It's rather amazing that it was originally designed, all those years ago, with real support for only 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures.
I remember DOS 5 and Atari versions of BiaB. Three instruments, quantized limited drum grid, 24 styles, and nothing else. No user styles, no intros, no endings, no shots, no holds, no melody track, and so on.
It's come a long way, and still has back-compatibility. IMO, the back compatibility is worth the inconveniences and workarounds to get BiaB to do what I want it to do.
try RB and see if it meets your needs. in RB one isnt limited to a few time sig numerator/denominotors. in addition in rb one can see in tracks view the divisions in the bar for example. there is a dialog in rb specifically to set odd time sigs.
om
I tried RB, and while it is a nice app, I miss some of the global editing features in my sequencer of choice, Master Tracks Pro.
These features save me hours of time when working in MIDI.
Example: if I have a drum track with all the percussion instruments in it, and I decide I want the snare hits only on beats 2 and 4 to be louder, I can highlight the drum track, go to the change filter and make only the snare drum and only on those beats louder by the measure I want.
Example: If I decide I'd like to shift the 3rd beat of any triplet to be a little bit later (increase swing factor), I can highlight the whole sequence and move only the 3rd beat of every triplet a little bit later.
There are more advanced global edits than that, but I'd have to show the dialog boxes to get them across, plus a lot of words making this a long, off-topic post.
Global edits like this save a lot of time, I'd hate to do it on a note by note basis.
If I need notation, it's usually just a head chart, and I can do one up in a couple of hours or much less, depending on the complexity, using Encore or MuseScore.
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We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
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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.
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Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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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