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DrDan Offline OP
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I have my chord chart in a "ChordMark) format. This chord text format is described here: https://chordmark.netlify.app/docs/getting-started

I need to convert this to BIAB chord format text. (described on page 104/408 in the manual).

I can only admit I have some level of cognative decline with age. I can not do this conversion manually and chatGPT has been a total failure in achieving this.

Here is the ChordMark formatted text. Can some one convert for me and then if possible show me an automated way to do this in the future. I will be forever grateful.

key Cm
4/4

#C
NC.Cm. NC.. Ab.. Bbsus4. [Bdim Cm] Cm Cm
Cm Cm Cm Cm

#A
Cm Cm. Fm... Fm... Cm. Cm
Cm. Gsus4... Gsus4.. Bb. Cm. Cm Cm. Fm...
Fm.. Ab. Gsus4. Gsus4. Gm... Gm. G... Gm... Cm.
Cm Cm. Fm... Fm... Cm. Cm
Eb. Gm... Gm.. Fm. Cm. Cm Cm. Fm...
Fm... Ab. Ab.. G.. G. Cm... G.. Cm..
Cm.. G.. Cm Cm... Fm. Fm
Fm. Cm... Cm... Gsus4. Gsus4. Fm. Gm.. F. Cm...
Cm... Fm. Fm Fm. G... Gm.. G..
G... Cm. Cm Cm... Fm. Fm
Fm. Cm... Cm... Gm. Gm G/F. Cm...
Cm... Fm. Fm Fm. Ab... G... Cm.
Cm.. Gm.. Cm/G. Fm... Fm... Cm. Cm
Eb. Fm... Fm... G.

#C
G G Cm Cm
Cm... F. Gbm. G.. Cm. Cm Cm. Fm...
Fm... Cm. Cm Cm. G... G... Cm.

#B
Cm Cm. Fm... Fm... G. G
G G... Cm.

#A
Cm Cm. Fm... Fm... Cm. Cm
Cm. G... G... Cm. Cm Eb. Fm...
Fm... Ab. Ab.. Ab/C.. Ab/C. Cm... Cm
Cm Cm. Fm... Fm... Cm. Cm
Cm. G... G... Cm.

#D
Cm Cm. Fm... Fm... Ab. Ab
Ab.. G..

#C
G... NC. NC. Eb. Ab. Cm. Cm Fm.. Ab. Cm.
Cm Gm. Fm. Eb.. Bb/D. Cm... Cm... NC.


BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.

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BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.

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I'd imagine it wouldn't be difficult to write a VB macro or use regex, something like that. I don't use either of these so I'm not sure what the formatting requirements are.
Even chatGPT should work ok if you tell it what needs changing. e.g, "change all # into ... (whatever)". I've done some very quick conversions like that in chat.

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DrDan Offline OP
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Originally Posted by Lee N
Even chatGPT should work ok if you tell it what needs changing. e.g, "change all # into ... (whatever)". I've done some very quick conversions like that in chat.

Only one time out of a dozen trys was Chatgpt able to do the conversion. Even though it admits to knowing, it does not know what to do to match BIAB format requirements. So I have to explicitly tell it each time. It is totally unreliable since I apparentlly can't give it the magic details it wants to know (before we timeout together). Someone must do this routinely and have an answer?


BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.

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I had a look through the chormark page but got tired having to read an entire essay for what could be broken down into a simple key/legend. Same with the BIAB manual. If nobody else already knows of another way, I'll take another look later, I would think I could come up with a quicker way.

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Any chord chart can be saved into the chord text format from the file | Save Special | Save song on clipboard or to file

A dialog window appears with settings for all the elements.

Here's the ZZJAZZ.STY demo displayed as a Chord Chart.txt file

[Chords]
|:a) BbMaj7| Gm7| C9| F13| BbMaj7| Fm7 Bb9| EbMaj7|%|
|b) Ebm7| Ab9| Am7b5 D7#9| Gm9| C7sus| C9| Cm7| F13|
|a) BbMaj7| Gm7| C9| F13| BbMaj7| Fm7 Bb9| EbMaj7|%|
|b) Ebm7| Ab9| Dm7| Gm7| C9| Cm7 F13| Bb69|%:3X|end) Bb69|
[ChordsEnd]

Here's the dialog window. This should help you get your chords into a proper BIAB chord chart file.

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Song to Text.jpg (38.25 KB, 23 downloads)

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DrDan Offline OP
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Ya, BIAB does a good job at EXPORTING text files - even provides optional formats. But not so much with IMPORTING them. Now that I have taken some time and will have a thorough chord chart example of both the ChordMark and BIAB Formating, I will stare at them to ID what is going on. However, as I mentioned, I am aging and these fine detail tends to get lost in translation. I need a push button workflow these days. I don't listen to tapes and records any longer in order to transcrible and learn solos. grin Actually, bringing in chord charts into BIAB from other music apps should be Drag and Drop! But that may just be me! crazy

I also note that you example shows chords on beats 1 and 3 only. Guess that is jazz! smile

By the way, I am always dissappointed in the accuracy of bring in chords via Midi, XMP or even ACW. I need help assigning the chords to the beats. Now in this current example, this is a true 6/8 compostion, which I am working with in 4/4 only due to BIAB limiations. That may be why you see the chords jumping aroung on lots of the beats and why I need them to be accurate. But my initial listening to this in BIAB tells me it may be worth the extra effort.

Thanks for the input.

Dan


BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.

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