Hello i am new to my biab 2019 and am confused by the user manual. I want to know can biab create a full accompaniment(and poss alterative accompaniments) from a simple midi melody line ? If so could you please point me in the right direction on how to go about it ? I have tried searching on youtube tutorials but to no avail. I am sure it is probably staring me in the face but I just cannot figure it out
Thanks Paul

BiaB requires a chord progression to generate an arrangement. The MIDI standard (currently) doesn't natively support chords, so therefore that is not a direct option. However, if you want to interpret chords from a MIDI file, use the File > Utilities > Import Chords from MIDI File.

The Import Chords from MIDI File option uses the MIDI File Chord Wizard to interpret chords from a MIDI file.

Depending on how basic the melody line is, that might work for you.

Perhaps my favorite BiaB moment...Realtracks jamming off the (MIDI) melody for Hotel California!

https://soundcloud.com/user-423212678/biab-jamming-hotel-california-inspired-solo

At first I thought - the Eagles would be turning over in there graves if they heard this (and if they were dead). But wait, hold on... I had to wait for it for a bit. There it is.... I'll be darned the melody is there buried in the mix. How much time did this take you?

lol my midi melody is just a simple one finger played tune _very original though ! - and the midi file chord came up with a few chords but timing was wrong and all a bit iffy Thanks anyway videotrack.It has given me a starting point .

Deaconblues09 - hey that sounds incredible! Now please if you have the time explain the procedure of
.Realtracks jamming off the (MIDI) melody for Hotel California!
How advanced was the midi melody. I am just trying a simple twinkle twinkle little star type melody and am thinking maybe i am asking the impossible to have a suggested backing for it...
thanks for all your help

I would look through all the video tutorials for the new features from version 7 on up. Everything introduced even in those early video's seems to have stuck around, so they really are not outdated. That's what I'm doing and everyday I learn something new that I didn't even know existed in Biab.
Support/videos. The other aspect are the realtracks I think are created sort of in the image of that performer so I don't think they have the flexibility that the original 77 midi styles had which would let you input any chords. Also there is a difference between the default notation and the jazz notation. They input chords differently. I'm not sure if a filter is attached that forces a different reflection of the naming of the chord or either one of the notations is legal. Other people on this can take it further than I can. So hopefully they will continue the conversation

thanks methodman sounds a good method man -Sorry couldn't resist it:) Now the video tutorials...unlike other DAws ( i know this is unlike any DAW!and goes way beyond!) don't seem to be in plentiful supply. The videos you mention i guess are on the pgmusic website. They look the business and unless any other thoughts it looks like plowing through them is the best bet.

Hi justgetitdone,

BIAB can create chords for a single-note melody and it can also offer alternatives. The image below is taken from the "Help" (I clicked on "Index" and typed in REAHARMONIST). Make sure that when you load the midi melody, that you put it on the Melody track.

This tool, in addition to associated variations of the tool, are found under "Edit | Chords (w)" in my 2019 version of BIAB.

Because adding chords uses just a single note melody, it is possible that once chords are determined, it might be necessary to change some. The reason for this is that a melody can have multitudes of harmonisation possibilities and some chords could well sound better than others. That said, the Reharmonist is a great starting place.

Hope this helps,
Noel

Thanks Noel
Will check it out tomorrow - its midnight here in Wales UK -midday where you are i think!
Am looking forward to trying it out and as much as possible master biab as i have literally hundreds of original melodies songs ideas that i have kept under wraps for years. I got put off the music business in the eighties due to lots of my music taken by big writers performers. I think it was seen as fair game back then but it did cause me to stop visiting a&r folks and performing. Anyway, with this band i can work on all this material once i get to manage the band LOL