|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96 |
I enjoy coming up with new chord sequences. I use my guitar and go from scratch or I begin with an existing song and change things around .. or I use the BIAB Melodist Generate Chords function; my favorite and most useful preset is 58 Rock Fast, under Rock 8ths (Pop). Most of the other presets don't give me what I need. I will run 58 Rock Fast for the whole song and then regenerate bars in sets of two or more where I don't like the results.
The problem is this: I have no idea how to most effectively use all the options under the Melodist Maker Edit button. I sometimes get great final results but I have no idea why. Hit or miss can get annoying, especially when there are mostly misses.
I'd like a video explaining how to pick numbers to be inserted into the boxes for "Number of variations to choose from", Mix minor and major progressions", "Choose unusual chord progressions", and any other boxes that affect which chords get generated and how they are placed on the chord sheet. If possible, I'd like to learn how to exclude certain chord types from the generated chord sequence. Any instruction on how to get better and more consistent usable results would be appreciated.
Don L. Turner
BIAB Audiophile 2021
Studio One 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96 |
I am surprised at the lack of interest in this topic. I'm sure 58 Rock Fast is not the only useful preset (it's just my favorite), but if you learn how to use one preset you know them all. The only other possibility for low interest is folks just don't use this feature to create chord sequences for new songs. I have found it very useful, allowing me to come up with dozens of chords sequences I would have never thought of by myself.
Maybe if a video was created showing the possibilities, this feature would gain popularity.
Don L. Turner
BIAB Audiophile 2021
Studio One 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,125
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,125 |
Don, I haven't used the Melodist feature so I'm not familiar with its options or how to use it. However the description available in the manual starting at page 300 or by pressing the Help button appears to describe what each option does pretty well. There is a 15 minute video covering both the Soloist and Melodist features +++ HERE +++. The video is located in the Archive video section. An easy way to find any specific video is to navigate to the page, press Ctrl + F and enter a search term. In this case I entered the term "Melodist" without the quotes. The up arrow and down arrow next to the search box act as previous / next buttons that will navigate between occurrences of the search term. Hope this helps.
Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1111) RB (5) Ultra+ PAK DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8 Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96 |
Hello Jim. Thank you for taking the time to respond so thoroughly. I've seen the videos and was aware of what the manual says; the descriptions are too general to be helpful.
The thing I hoped for may not even be possible. The most important parts of the "melodist maker" (click "Edit..." to see it) are controlled by numbers. I was hoping to get an explanation of which numbers have what effect on the generated chord sequence. Sometimes I get great results, especially after I regenerate parts I don't like. Too often the results are uninspiring or unusable. I thought maybe certain combinations of numbers might be more useful and might have a repeatably good result.
Thank you anyway,
Don
Don L. Turner
BIAB Audiophile 2021
Studio One 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,125
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,125 |
Don,
I understand what you're saying. I think trying to provide a formula or method that suggests what numbers to change and by how much would be very difficult. In that respect it would sort of like asking a cook to define "season to taste" from a favorite recipe.
Perhaps broad strokes could be applied to the descriptions through the addition of phrases like,"lowering "X" seeks more simple phrases" and "raising "X" seeks more complex phrases". At least then a user could develop a better idea of what changes to try.
Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1111) RB (5) Ultra+ PAK DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8 Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96 |
Yesterday I used Melodist preset 58 Rock Fast once again, with the three important numbers fairly low. After some regenerating of chords I did not like, and after a little manual editing ... I once again came up with a chord sequence I would have never thought of on my own. It was an AABA song structure with B being a bridge section and A being verses, one of my favorite song structures. Somehow, the B section was in a different key but transitioned back into the song key at the bridge's end. That kind of stuff is over my head, but with BIAB's Melodist preset 58 Rock Fast I managed to make it happen.
It's a shame that I'll try a dozen more times and give up in frustration from the poor results.
It's numbers ... and how they affect a chord sequence and space between chord changes. Lower numbers do make for simpler chords but there must be a known effect (perhaps by the original programmer) of what number (or range of numbers) does what and how different numbers in different dialog boxes might affect each other in the final result.
Perhaps results are more or less random and no further explanation is possible. If that is true, then so be it. But if there can be an effective, explainable method for generating better chord sequences, it would be great to let those of us who use this function have a better, more specific understanding of how to make use of it.
Don L. Turner
BIAB Audiophile 2021
Studio One 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,687 |
Many different programs, not just music ones have controls like that. Photo editing for example. What I do is start with the lowest number, zero if it's available, see what that does then try the highest number and do that several times. That usually tells you how it works. Then put that control number back to zero and do the next one. Don't try testing 2 or 3 of them at the same time, too confusing to keep track of.
When you said the bridge section went to a different key and then transitioned back, that's standard procedure in all kinds of songs in many different genre's. Biab follows classical musical concepts and that kind of thing happens all the time. There are songs that have 2, 3 or 4 key changes going on. Biab also has a practice function where you set it to play a set of chords in all 12 keys using the cycle of 5ths every 8 or 12 bars so you can practice along and get familiar with how those keys sound relative to each other.
That's where Biab gets it reputation as a great teaching tool as well as creating songs from scratch or from what you input.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96 |
Thanks for the advice, Bob. I've been progressively changing numbers in all three areas that seem to have an effect on the chord sequence. Perhaps leaving two at the lowest setting and just changing one may give me a better understanding of what's happening. Then, I can incorporate changes to one other area and see what happens, and then to the last affecting area.
I'll try that and see if I can glean the underlying secrets of the Melodist.
Don L. Turner
BIAB Audiophile 2021
Studio One 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96 |
Well, I give up on experimenting with BIAB Melodist Generate Chords function, looking for the best method to use it. I cannot see any particular combination that gives consistently useful results (for my music needs). Perhaps, it's just a random thing, with no rhyme or reason to the numbers in the "Number of variations to choose from", Mix minor and major progressions", "Choose unusual chord progressions" or other checkboxes.
I will keep using the Melodist to generate chords and just keep regenerating all or part of the results, and making my own changes, until I get something I want.
But if there is, in fact, a more organized way to deal with the Melodist Generate Chords function, I hope that eventually it will be revealed in an instructional video.
Don L. Turner
BIAB Audiophile 2021
Studio One 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,798
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,798 |
Hey, Don just out of curiousty how much have you tinkered with the chord selector in the chord track in SD1?
by the way part of SC are you in?
Last edited by Rob Helms; 12/25/19 01:53 PM.
Lenovo Win 10 16 gig ram, Mac mini with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2022, Realband, Harrison Mixbus 32c version 9.1324, Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app, Komplete 49 key controller.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 96 |
Not very much, I'm afraid. I've been plagued by tinnitus for a long while and have not used my daw at all recently. In fact, I can only work with BIAB for a short while, provided the reverb is off. In the past my tinnitus would come and go; so far, it hasn't gotten better yet.
I know that the chord track works okay in some instances, especially with midi. And I had planned to turn one track into midi in the plugin version to capture BIAB chords in the chord track; haven't tried it but it should work.
I live in the upstate of SC; not comfortable with being more specific than that.
Don L. Turner
BIAB Audiophile 2021
Studio One 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I want a video that shows me how to ....
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,798
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,798 |
I have had fairly good results with the chord track especially with audio from the BiaB plugin. It might be advantageous to tinker with it in SD4 maybe open up a BiaB song in the plugin and transfer the chords from an audio track to the chords track then open the chord track wheel thing and poke around some.
I understand your reluctance to nail your location down. One never knows who reads here. There are several users here in the upstate. Myself, Charlie Fogle, Mountainside, to name a few. Seems the area is well represented here at PGM.
Regards, Rob
Last edited by Rob Helms; 01/26/20 04:08 AM.
Lenovo Win 10 16 gig ram, Mac mini with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2022, Realband, Harrison Mixbus 32c version 9.1324, Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app, Komplete 49 key controller.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums66
Topics81,587
Posts734,734
Members38,500
| |
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean