You can try export to MusicXML, open in Reaper and select the notation editor in the piano roll as it has some good editing features and pdf export, or musescore 2
You can try export to MusicXML, open in Reaper and select the notation editor in the piano roll as it has some good editing features and pdf export, or musescore 2
Thanks Pipeline. I've made a note of this.
I use Reaper and also have Musescore 2.
My starting point is usually BIAB and from there I move to Reaper. But I try to save time since I've already entered the chords.
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
I gave up with the BIAB repeats and just pen them in myself.
Thanks Ray.
Yes I remember the nightmares with printing BIAB repeats from years ago.
I tricked BIAB this time! YES!!!!
First I got it to put in a simple repeat for AA. Then I deleted one A from the screen. Kept B. And deleted the last A.
I wasn't going to fight it with the DC al fine. It just wasn't working, because it didn't like that I wanted my fine to be at the end of the repeat!!!
So I left out the fine, knowing it's best to do it by hand later.
But the problem was the greyed out bars and last bar of the song. I was telling BIAB that 54 was the last bar. The print preview was showing 52 as the last bar!!
So I tricked BIAB!
I told it that 56 was my last bar! Sure enough, it put in my bars 53 and 54 now.
Printed. YES!!!
Last edited by BIABman; 06/25/1805:50 PM.
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
You can also save it to midi in BB, in the midi options save Part Markers to the midi file, when dragged into Reaper after you have the Chords from BB's musicxml, it will give you the Part Markers as midi markers in Reaper.
For the most part, I have had no problems with the print function in BIAB. It's not wonderful by any means, but it does work.
This is my workflow. I typically have a 32 bar song which repeats 3 times, almost always with just one set of lyrics, but sometimes with 2 or 3 different verses.
I always start by creating a "linear" version - that is 96 bars with a 4 bar intro. There are no repeats. I get this working first. You can add lyrics as you go, or wait till it's all finished. I use note-based lyrics, but it's probably not relevant.
Once this is all done, it's time to start on the print layout. I use Fake Sheet with 1st, 2nd and 3rd endings, usually 4 bars long. This makes for easy viewing if you are careful. I occasionally use repeats and DS al coda. But they are just print functions.
The repeat dialogue is pretty straight forward. Where does the first pass start, where does the first ending start and how long is it. You also define the length of each ending - the can be different. Repeats are much the same, and DS needs to have the jump from, jump to, and destination.
save the song regularly, but remember you have changed the original music, so you can go back. There are lots of other tricks to pretty up the final print such as number of bars per line, height adjustment for lyrics and chords, but the key is to develop the song in a linear fashion first. The rest is just decoration.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
This script will import BB's musicxml chords into Reaper also.
...You can also save it to midi in BB, in the midi options save Part Markers to the midi file, when dragged into Reaper after you have the Chords from BB's musicxml, it will give you the Part Markers as midi markers in Reaper.
Thanks Pipeline, I've made a note of these also!
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
For the most part, I have had no problems with the print function in BIAB. It's not wonderful by any means, but it does work.
This is my workflow. I typically have a 32 bar song which repeats 3 times, almost always with just one set of lyrics, but sometimes with 2 or 3 different verses.
I always start by creating a "linear" version - that is 96 bars with a 4 bar intro. There are no repeats. I get this working first. You can add lyrics as you go, or wait till it's all finished. I use note-based lyrics, but it's probably not relevant.
... There are lots of other tricks to pretty up the final print such as number of bars per line, height adjustment for lyrics and chords, but the key is to develop the song in a linear fashion first. The rest is just decoration.
You make it all sound so simple Dave.
I think the key is what you mentioned. Start with a linear song not putting in any repeats at all. Just get it to sound right. Save song and get your .wav/midi files exported.
Then rename song to maybe 'Song-Print' and start messing around with repeats. As mentioned, BIAB balked at a DC al Fine just because the Fine happened to be at the same place a repeat was!
So don't count on getting all of the repeats or DC's to work properly. Better to print it out, pencil in the signs that BIAB won't cooperate with and let it be.
Unless you've got a few spare hours with nothing better to do.
A BIAB user for more than 30 years (if you can believe it) !
When entering a repeat using BIAB's "Repeat/Coda etc" function, don't delete any bars.
Under Fakesheet mode (#1 on image below), just active "Display chordsheet in fakesheet mode". You many need to use CTRL+T to switch to standard view so that Fakesheet mode is visible.
Repeated bars are grayed out (#2) with chord symbols present. When "Display chordsheet in fakesheet mode" is activated, the grayed out bars are then 'folded' back into the chordsheet. They never disappear, though, they are always part of the song structure.
Under Fakesheet (#1), there's an option to automatically detect repetition. I find that this works well.
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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