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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14 |
Hi, I'm fairly new to BIAB, and am trying to set up a MIDI out to an external synth module, as I really like the sounds it produces. I've connected my USB linked MIDI interface to my Macbook Air laptop, and installed the correct driver. It shows as connected, but when I playback the song(s) from BIAB I can't get it to send out MIDI to the interface.
I realise there may be settings to change both on the Mac and on the BIAB setup screens, but I've tried various things and come up short. I know that MIDI is not getting to the USB MIDI interface - if it was, there would be flashing LED's.
I do have BIAB set up with playback to an amplifier without MIDI. I bought a jazz fakebook set of tunes from Bob 'Notes' Norton, and I understand that these are really MIDI files? Though they seem to be SGU suffix not MID.
Can anybody please offer any advice?
Thanks!
Rich
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382 |
Hi Rich,
In Band-in-a-Box, click on Options, then Select MIDI Driver or Apple DLS Synth, choose MacOS X CoreMIDI, and click OK.
The Select Ports/Instruments window may appear. If it doesn't, click on Options again, then CoreMIDI (Choose Ports).
In the Select Ports/Instruments window, choose your MIDI interface beside Bass, click "set all ports to this", then OK. As long as the synth is General MIDI-compatible, it should just work right away.
The Norton songs will be Band-in-a-Box song files (SGU), and will use MIDI styles, but won't be MIDI files.
Thanks
Kent
PG Music
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14 |
Hi Kent,
Thanks very much, that all makes sense!
I went through the process, and I still am not seeing any flashing lights when I play back the song(s), so MIDI info is not getting to my USB interface. Could part of the issue be that I am simply not playing back a MIDI file?
What Bob had said to me about his Fakebook BIAB files was "All the styles assigned to my fake disks are MIDI tracks. Often BiaB will suggest you substitute a particular Real Tracks style for the song."
So I'm a bit confused - I can see they are .SGU file not .MID format and so I guess he is referring to 'styles' not the songs themselves?
Cheers
Rich
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382 |
Hi Rich,
Right, some Band-in-a-Box styles use RealTracks, which are audio, and some styles are MIDI-based, so all the tracks will be MIDI, but this doesn't mean that the songs are MIDI files. They just use MIDI styles.
What color are the track names at the top of the screen (Bass, Piano, Drums, etc)? Green means RealTracks, yellow indicates MIDI.
What exactly do you have selected for all the tracks in that "Select Ports/Instruments" window now?
Thanks
Kent
PG Music
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14 |
Hi Kent,
The tracks seem to all be green.
All instruments are still routed to 'Port A' in the 'Select Ports/Instruments' sub-menu.
I had the impression from Norton that it would be possible to route the audio out via MIDI to trigger my hardware modules, and I'd like to try to achieve this, if possible. I've only previously come across MIDI tracks, so I'm not clear what it means if only the styles are MIDI, in terms of output of the track data via MIDI.
Ultimately my aim is just to get the best sound I can, and it may be that RealTracks / RealBand is as good or better than MIDI. So far, it hasn't sounded that great to me for some reason - even though I'm going out to a high quality speaker / amp setup.
Cheers,
Rich
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393 |
Rich,
If I may, let me try to explain. .SGU and .MGU are BIAB files. The BIAB program can play those files with output either as midi or as audio (or even as a mixture of the two). Whether the BIAB output is midi or audio is determined by whether you are using "Real" instruments or "Midi" instruments within the BIAB program. Those green instrument headers tells you that currently BIAB is outputting as audio, thus there is no midi data being sent to your external synth (or anywhere else for that matter).
To change the BIAB output to all midi, you need to select a midi style. Open the style picker, and under the "type" selector, pick "midi only". Then select one of those styles. Now all those instrument headers should be yellow.
Oh, I think the BIAB program default is to substitute "real" drums, so the drums may be green. If so, click on the "Real Drums" icon, and deselect "automatically substitute real drums for midi". Now the drums header should be yellow as well. If you now generate and play your song, all the output will be midi (BIAB will not output any audio, only midi). The sound you hear now comes from whatever midi synth is selected as Kent outlined above.
Bruce
Macbook Pro 2018
2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM
OS Monterey
BIAB for Mac 2022
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14 |
Hi Bruce,
Thanks, that all makes perfect sense and I'll give it a try when I have time this weekend. It may be that the Real Tracks sound better, but for some reason they are not sounding particularly good on my system...
Cheers
Rich
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 14 |
Thanks Bruce,
I tried it and it works!
I haven't yet found the correct setting for the drums. I thought I had, but it didn't actually change the drums from green (real drums) to MIDI, even though I clicked 'Generate & Play'.
Cheers
Rich
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,382 |
Hi Rich,
If you click the RealDrums button, then RealDrums Preferences, and uncheck "Enable RealDrums", you'll get MIDI drums on every song.
Thanks
Kent
PG Music
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Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 393 |
Cool, Rich. Glad you got it working!
Macbook Pro 2018
2.6 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM
OS Monterey
BIAB for Mac 2022
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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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Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
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.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
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."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
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!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed!
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