<< "This seems to be the case - of the files Jonel posted that I checked, the ones that didn't work were all misaligned or free tempo. This is fine if you're simply playing the MIDI, but when importing it into BB or any DAW you need to manually align things." >>
Same here. Another possible solution is to create a tempo map using the ACW. BIAB has a feature on the Master Track in the Mixer to create a mix and open it on the Audio Channel.
Opening the ACW then has the audio wave file automatically loaded and ready to create the tempo. Normally, the chords have also been analyzed, the key set, the Style muted etc. The midi file opens imported onto the Melodist Channel. I use the normal open command (F3) for this.
The Audio File can be muted or erased once the tempo map has been created.
Charlie, according to your pics you have turned off the Style! That eliminates BIAB from actually "play along" with the OPs midi. I think it is admirable that so many users have weighed in on this matter to help the OP, but I stand by my original comments.
The photos were a mock up to show menu locations made after I had tested. I decided to post my findings later after I had discarded the original file.
You're correct. The same as with the Stem Splitter, the imported material has to be synced with BIAB. When I open a file and use the Master render function and play it along with the imported midi file on the Melody Track, they are synced. BIAB disables the Style.
Creating a tempo map of that audio follows the same process the Stem Splitter syncs the separated tracks to BIAB.
I've opened two random midi files from my PC and then LX version of Jonel's "Old Rugged Cross" and the audio render and Melody Track Midi sync for each one.
I persevered and finally got the midi to work with a BiaB style.
The problem I initially had was when I opened a midi file (using special), I was able to frame the chordshhet with part markers and all worked OK. This was expected of course because the midi was stored in the sequencer. I wanted to split the tracks out from the sequencer so that I could eventually bring in a BiaB style. I had watched Henry Clarke do this by simply dragging the intitial midi file back on to BiaB and this was meant to automatically split the tracks over to the Untility tracks. It did do this but I discovered it was all out of sync with the original midi in the sequencer. I viewed the Utility tracks in the Tracks view and it was clear that tracks were not in the same position as the orginal.in the Melody track After a lot of messing about I tried doing the job manually using the Track Copy/Move feature. A bit laborious but it worked.
I don't know if there is a bettter way to do it. It did work OK for Henry though
It would seem that there is some inconstancy in the way BB treats midi when using the Open Special > Open Midi File and how BB deals with drooping the same midi file onto BB. It looks like Henry Clarke may have been lucky in his choice of midi file (or I was unlucky in my choice). Anyway, this is how I manage to get it work for me for a range of midi files.
I opened BB for a new song as per the manual and BB detected the chords and populated the chord sheet accordingly. At this point I checked/corrected the chords and part markers. I then switched to Track view to confirm that the multi-track midi was stored on the melody track. I set the cursor to mark the position of the first bar of the midi song.
Now it was time to drop the same midi file onto BB. I first used a midi file that had been problematic in syncing. When I dropped the midi file onto BB and accepted the defaults for importing into the song, I could see the Utility tracks being populated by the Melody midi tracks, as expected. But what I noticed was that the individual tracks started exactly one bar after the Melody midi had started. This was the problem I should have noticed before. So, I repeated drop operation and modified the ‘number of bars to insert’ parameter, in this case it required -1. When I did this then everything worked as expected. I tried this with other midi files and found the sometimes I needed -1 or 0 or +1 (so far).
The Open Special command doesn’t provide for any offset so something is going on there I think with regard to synchronising how the midi is interpreted. But I’m overjoyed that I can get this to work every time.
It would seem that there is some inconstancy in the way BB treats midi when using the Open Special > Open Midi File and how BB deals with drooping the same midi file onto BB.
There are several ways to open/import MIDI and there definitely are differences. Some of those differences depend upon how you reached the open/import stage. Those differences may also depend upon the MIDI file type.
The first two are the ones Henry uses, I believe.
File->Open Special->Open MIDI File Appears to import all MIDI data onto the Melody track, but analyses and inserts what it believes are suitable chord symbols.
Drag & Drop MIDI Separates out the MIDI channels and puts them into individual utility tracks in BiaB. Chords not analysed.
There are also the following with preset default actions.
File->Import->Import Melody from MIFI File Opens the track filter and defaults all tracks to BiaB's Melody track. The destinations can be changed. Chords not analysed.
File->Import->Import to soloist part from MIDI file Opens the track filter and defaults all tracks to BiaB's Soloist track. The destinations can be changed. Chords not analysed.
Melody->Edit Melody Track->Import Melody from MIDI file Same as File->Import
Soloist->Edit Melody Track->Import to Soloist from MIDI file Same as File->Import
There is also a selection of File->Import->Import chods from... options, the third of which seems to do much the same as the File->Open Special->Open MIDI File, also importing all of the tracks into Melody.
Most of those appear to me to make odd assumptions about which MIDI channel should go where and what patches to use. Probably there's some logic, but I lost patience.
I think Henry uses the File->Open special to analyse the chords, but then ignores the aggregated melody track. He then uses drag & drop as the easiest way to get the tracks separated out into a series of utility tracks where thay can be individually managed.
All those variations realy just show how features have been added with only modest regard for regularity and consistency.
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 .
Importing with the midi would have been the method to use if it had performed chord analysis. This provided the ability to make the midi sync with the BB chord movement but does not provide chord analysis. Dropping the midi onto BB provides track separation but no chord analysis but gived no provision sync to BB. So the combination of Open Open Special > Open Midi followed by dropping the midi file onto BB is really the only option in my case. But, as I already said, this sometomes gets the Melody track midi out of kilter with the tracks the have bee split out to the Utility tracks.
Henry Clarke could overcome this by simply ignoring the Melody track by muting it, but this has drawback. For a start it would mean the BB chord cursor would be out of sync with the utility clips and perhaps with the new RealTrack generation. The problem really is BBs way of generating the sets of midi. They should be be the same because both are sourced from the same file.
As I think you said, maybe the MIDI files themselves also affect this. I did try with only a couple of files.
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 .
The midi file might have an effect but, in this case, both features are working on exactly the same midi file. The Open Special does not allow for any parameter input from the user so you get what you are given. The subsequent dropping of the midi file onto BB does ask for offset parameters. The second feature with an offset of 0 should be provide the same alignment as the first. Fortunately it's easy to spot in the Tracks view and correct using further drops with an offset +/- dependending on the direction of misalignment. This is definitley a BB issue.
Instead of using the Open Command, try Import Chords Command. This allows access to chord analysis, tempo, the number of bars, and key signature synced with the BIAB Style which defaults to disabled and must be enabled.
Use File->Import->Import chords from Midi File (Midi Chord Wizard )
I opened three of Jonel's LX files from his zip folder: "Abide in me"; "old rugged cross", and "take my hand" as well as three midi files from my hard drive.
All six files synced and played correctly between the midi file and BIAB Style.
<< Most of those appear to me to make odd assumptions about which MIDI channel should go where and what patches to use. Probably there's some logic, but I lost patience. >>
Gordon is correct here. In this instance the user might have to manually set a channel because the midi composer may not use generally accepted channel designations such as Melody on Channel 4, Bass on Channel 2, Piano on Channel 3 or Drums on Channel 10 and so forth.
There are two options, let Import Chords automatically set the channels and place the melody channel. (Default)
or
Import the chords and place all of the midi file channels on the Melody Track.
If the midi file is imported onto the Melody Track and the user doesn't know the instrument placement channels, open the Sequencer to display all of the midi channels and numbers. Then the user can manually set the correct channels and import again to overwrite the current settings.
The Sequencer is an option to easily determine the channels and set these channels to match the midi file.
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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.
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