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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5 |
When I try to export or save a midi file sometimes I get a file 20K to 60K in size which works fine. More often the file is 1K to 2K in size, containing no useful data. When this happens '1K "Standard MIDI File" successfully prepared' appears in the 'Choose Destination for Standard MIDI File' dialogue box.
Probably related to this, I can't send MIDI data to an external device. If I open the 'MIDI Output Driver Wizard' and select 'Use my external...', then either of my sound interfaces, then run the Piano test, there will be MIDI output. Once I click OK and try to play a tune from the main screen there is no MIDI output (although I can hear the audio output). On re-checking the 'MIDI Output Driver Wizard' I find that the selection I made as described above has gone.
I assume I'm doing something wrong but can't see what it is. Please help.
Band-in-a-Box® for Windows
Version 2016 (437)
Microsoft Surface, Win 10
Presonus Audiobox USB 96
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20
Last edited by alanofoz; 02/06/20 01:15 AM. Reason: Added a detail
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 6,974
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 6,974 |
I don't think these two issues are related at all. I can't send MIDI data to an external device. If I open the 'MIDI Output Driver Wizard' and select 'Use my external...', then either of my sound interfaces Could you describe your setup? Do you have an external MIDI synth hooked up to a USB MIDI interface? What type of synth is it, and what are your options under MIDI Output, in the MIDI Options dialog? More often the file is 1K to 2K in size, containing no useful data This could happen if you didn't Play/Generate the song before saving as a MIDI file...
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5 |
I can't send MIDI data to an external device. If I open the 'MIDI Output Driver Wizard' and select 'Use my external...', then either of my sound interfaces Could you describe your setup? Do you have an external MIDI synth hooked up to a USB MIDI interface? What type of synth is it, and what are your options under MIDI Output, in the MIDI Options dialog? Hi Andrew, thanks for your response. The setup I'm using right now is a Presonus Audiobox USB 96 connected to a Microsoft Surface, with a Roland SC-55 sound module connected via a MIDI cable to the Audiobox. Headphones connected to the SC-55. The piano test works when I run the driver wizard from BiaB and select the Audiobox (Use my external..., select the Audiobox). Once I click OK, this setting is lost and no MIDI signal is sent to the external device. If I can prevent the above setting being lost I'd expect it to work. How do I do that? BiaB does output audio, presumably via the MS GS wavetable synth.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5 |
More often the file is 1K to 2K in size, containing no useful data This could happen if you didn't Play/Generate the song before saving as a MIDI file... That's what I thought too, however I had made a point of clicking the "Generate and Play" button before posting my query. I've now double-checked that - no change. Further testing suggests the problem is style related. I can get meaningful MIDI files using some styles, but not others. _CSWSSAJ and _CSWMSAJ are two that always fail, Literok2 always works. I have been changing styles using the StylePicker.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,988
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,988 |
I think the problem is that you are trying to export midi from a style that contains no midi information. _CSWSSAJ and _CSWMSAJ are Realstyles with no midi. Literok2 is a midi style.
Forgive me if you know this already but midi tracks are simply digital information that tells a synth what note to play for how long and on what istrument. A RealTrack is an audio recording that plays like a tape recording.
Have a look at what Lloyd S posted this in another forum (you'll need to chack the current manual for the up to date info which may differ I don't know) and you'll see that you are trying to send midi information that doesn't exist in the two styles you quote. That's why you can't create a midi file and maybe why you can't drive a synth - the information jsut isn't there.
! : A guitar style
_ : (underscore) A RealStyle, i.e. with RealTracks
= : Style with some MIDI tracks and some RealTracks
- : (begin with minus sign/dash) Styles with RealDrums
~ : (tilde) Style with drum brushes OR ...
~ : (tilde) "(Style)... could be changed to a different RT style at a higher tempo."
* : (asterisk) "Perfect" match for "Prototype Style" in Style Picker window
^ : (caret) "Good" match for "Prototype Style" in Style Picker window OR...
^ : (caret) RealDrums styles ending in a caret have variations. E.g. "-DISCO^1", "-DISCO^2" etc.
IN BIAB 2014 WINDOWS - In the Style Picker window, RealStyles have a light brown background. MIDI styles have a white background.
Last edited by Bob Calver; 02/07/20 07:14 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 6,974
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 6,974 |
Further testing suggests the problem is style related. I can get meaningful MIDI files using some styles, but not others. _CSWSSAJ and
_CSWMSAJ are two that always fail, Literok2 always works. I have been changing styles using the StylePicker.
That explains it, _CSWMSAJ (for example) is a RealStyle containing one Piano RealTrack. Now this does have RealCharts (MIDI notation) so you can save it as a MIDI track - you need to open the RealTracks Preferences and check "Save RealCharts in MIDI files", then it will work. Note that the main purpose of this is for notation... as it is just a transcription we did of the piano part, not the actual piano part that was played. If I can prevent the above setting being lost I'd expect it to work. How do I do that? You should go to Opt | MIDI Driver Setup, and select the Audiobox under output, and make sure "Use DXi/VSTi synth" is unchecked.
Andrew
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5 |
I think the problem is that you are trying to export midi from a style that contains no midi information. _CSWSSAJ and _CSWMSAJ are Realstyles with no midi. Literok2 is a midi style.
Forgive me if you know this already but midi tracks are simply digital information that tells a synth what note to play for how long and on what istrument. A RealTrack is an audio recording that plays like a tape recording. I forgive you.  It had crossed my mind RealTracks might lack MIDI, but I see that Andrew has provided the solution I was looking for. Have a look at what Lloyd S posted this in another forum (you'll need to chack the current manual for the up to date info which may differ I don't know) and you'll see that you are trying to send midi information that doesn't exist in the two styles you quote. That's why you can't create a midi file and maybe why you can't drive a synth - the information jsut isn't there.
! : A guitar style
_ : (underscore) A RealStyle, i.e. with RealTracks
= : Style with some MIDI tracks and some RealTracks
- : (begin with minus sign/dash) Styles with RealDrums
~ : (tilde) Style with drum brushes OR ...
~ : (tilde) "(Style)... could be changed to a different RT style at a higher tempo."
* : (asterisk) "Perfect" match for "Prototype Style" in Style Picker window
^ : (caret) "Good" match for "Prototype Style" in Style Picker window OR...
^ : (caret) RealDrums styles ending in a caret have variations. E.g. "-DISCO^1", "-DISCO^2" etc.
IN BIAB 2014 WINDOWS - In the Style Picker window, RealStyles have a light brown background. MIDI styles have a white background. Thank you - very useful.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5 |
Further testing suggests the problem is style related. I can get meaningful MIDI files using some styles, but not others. _CSWSSAJ and
_CSWMSAJ are two that always fail, Literok2 always works. I have been changing styles using the StylePicker.
That explains it, _CSWMSAJ (for example) is a RealStyle containing one Piano RealTrack. Now this does have RealCharts (MIDI notation) so you can save it as a MIDI track - you need to open the RealTracks Preferences and check "Save RealCharts in MIDI files", then it will work. Note that the main purpose of this is for notation... as it is just a transcription we did of the piano part, not the actual piano part that was played. Thanks, I'll look closely at that; a quick look suggests that it's not quite what I'm searching for unfortunately. If I can prevent the above setting being lost I'd expect it to work. How do I do that? You should go to Opt | MIDI Driver Setup, and select the Audiobox under output, and make sure "Use DXi/VSTi synth" is unchecked. Thanks, but that's exactly what I've been doing. Never mind, I was just looking for an alternative to exporting MIDI files, i.e. capturing the MIDI output. But if the non-RealTrack styles are my only real option there's no need - I can export those.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box® 2024 German for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
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For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
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Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
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The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
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We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
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