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#85209 09/12/10 10:01 PM
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Hi

I have 2010.5 Windows with the Sunmmerpak and its great for creating backing tracks of Piano, Bass and Drums for my little group to play over--Baritone,Tenor, Alto, Soprano, Trumpet, Guitar

What I now want to achieve is to enter the notes of a song from my Bb fake book over one of my backing tracks then print it out in Bb, Eb and C--I just want to print the sheets not actually make an audio track with the melody in it

This way I can give each player their respective lead sheet without me having to hand scribble all the transcriptions, as BinaB should be able to change the key for both chords and notation and print the result--I hope to be able to do some arrangements as well

I have managed to enter notes using the Notation window--some of the triplets are tricky, and the auto note duration calculation takes a bit of getting used to-- but as soon as I hit play to see that it sounds OK I loose all the notation and it just plays the backing track again

I'm obviously missing something in my understanding of how BinaB works--how do I save the notation--do I have to save it as an audio file??

Tx

Phil

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BTW, I do have the "load notation layout with songs" ticked on notation options, but it doesnt save the notation as the next time I open the song there is no notation there

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You can certainly use BIAB to do what you want. It is great for transcribing and then transposing melodies.

It sounds like you must be entering the notation in the wrong track. Use only the Melody track or the Soloist track. All other tracks get regenerated each time you press Play, or each time you reload the song (unless you freeze the track, but I don't recommend that option for what you are doing). Make sure, when you go into Notation Edit Mode, the box marked M or S (the second one) is used in the string of letters: BDPGS(trings)MS(oloist). The program defaults to M.

And do not assign a Real Track to any track onto which you want to write your own notation; it must remain a MIDI track.

If you are doing all this correctly and still lose your work, write back and give the specific steps you are following.

I recommend you place your melody on the Melody track, and then you can use the program to generate harmony for the Soloist track. Depending on the genre you are looking for, something like 74 Jazz Messengers makes a very cool harmony for several horns.


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Hi Matt

Thanks for such a prompt reply

I think the problem is that all the current backing tracks I use are all using realtracks so we get a great sounding backing track

From what you have written I should make a new backing track using MIDI only using the same chord structure and then use that as the one to enter the notation over then print in each of the relevant keys after getting BinaB to transcribe.

Is that correct??

Regards

Phil

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Not exactly. You may use a Real Track on any instrument track except the one on which you are writing your notation. This is a perfectly normal way to use BIAB, by the way.

If you really need all seven possible instruments to be Real Tracks (which seems unlikely to me), and still need a MIDI melody track, then you can do it in Real Band.


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Tx Matt

No dont need that number

I am getting there I think--one thing though, when I am entering notation it keep putting slurs in that I cant seem to get out nomatter what I do to the note--can I switch that off and put them in under the "event" button

I'm a bit trial and error at the moment but thats probably the best way to learn

BR

Phil

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Sorry, its putting ties in that I cant remove

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That's the beauty of the FAST and EASY notation entry method that is one of BiaB's joys.

When you click to make a note, you will get a whole note tied to a dotted half note (if it is the first note entered in the bar).

Don't worry right now about all that, just click the NEXT note on the dotted vertical line you want it to be on, and watch the tied note disappear.

The new note will now be of a long value that will fill the rest of the bar. Again, don't sweat it, just click where you want the next note and watch it automatically make the previous note the correct duration again.

This method is wonderful IMO. Just keep on clicking the new notes (or in the case of a Rest, check Rest up above and click on the lines) and you don't have to be involved with picking the right note durations, BB does it intelligently!


--Mac

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Hi Phil,

I suspect that the slurs you are getting are all part of the normal note-entry process. Initially the note-entry process is confusing, but once you get the hang of it, it's very quick.

Below is a link to a video I found on the PGMusic Support site that might help with understanding the way BIAB notation works. If you scroll down, you'll find the below-named file about halfway down the page.

Band-in-a-Box 2007.5: Editable Notation

There's also another video a little further down called "Entering Notation". This too might be worth watching.

Regards,
Noel

P.S. Do not be concerned that this indicates BIAB 2007.5 because notation in 2010.5 is exactly the same now is it was in 2007.5.


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Noel96 #85218 09/13/10 06:38 AM
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EUREKA!!!!

Thanks guys for all you help

I have now printed out the C, Bb, Eb parts for Nat Adderly's "Work Song"---simple one to start with

Get the rests in blue but realise thats cos I forced the rests at the beggining of a bar and didnt let BinaB do them for me

This is Dam clever!!!!

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Quote:

EUREKA!!!!
...

This is Dam clever!!!!




Yes, it is indeed.

I've said it before here, this notation entry method should be in use by the BIG notation softwares.

And Peter should PATENT it and offer it up for licensed use by other software companies if not done so already, IMO.

It is simply the fastest method I know of for music notation entry w/computer, once you get the hang of it.


--Mac

Mac #85220 09/13/10 08:29 AM
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I agree, BIAB has a fantastic note entry method. I make money doing transcriptions (including some for PG Music) and I always use BIAB to write the melody first, even if it will go to a dedicated notation program after that.


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Since I got Sibelius before BIAB, I sort of "fought" learning to enter notation in BIAB. However, when I learned about the "QWERTY Keyboard" method, I was sold. With it, you simply tap in the rhythm and then go back and put the notes on the correct lines and spaces. Sounds like a lot of work, but it's a lot faster than I thought it would be. Check it out in the BIAB help section, manual.

Oh, and if you don't already know this, you change octaves from "Utility" in the drop down Melody menu. I use this feature a lot for my wife's flute parts. FWIW

Stan


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Hi Guys

Thanks so much for all you help on this--The auto note duration does take a little getting used to--which of the 3 vertical lines do you put the 1st semiquaver on etc--but once you play with it a while its fine

I have now got it printing out the Guitar tabs and also the piano parts from the Real Tracks--we do have a piano player with us sometimes--havent tried the Bass part yet

Couple of fine tuning bits
I know that if I force a rest it shows blue on the screen but it would be nice for it not to show in blue when you print

When the 1st note in a bar is a semiquaver accidental the accidental sign overlaps the bar line when I print--any ideas

Finally the big question--can I print out a combined lead sheet arrangement showing all the instruments

Running before I can walk I suppose but I love this thing now

Regards

Phil

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Oops Sorry guys

I have sorted out the printing issues--I was printing from the Notation Edit screen

I also now realise that you can only print out the Real Track part if it says it has one--the Bass Real Track I was using didnt have notation-I assume you just find a substitute that does have notation attached

Still interested in full instrument lead sheets

Tx

Phil

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