Is there a way to have the Band-in-a-Box Melodist generate chords and melodies that match a modal scale?
I've been wanting to learn more about modes by producing music using them and having Band-in-a-Box create starting points. I can't find anything that directly references scales other than major and minor.
One idea I had -- a rather oblique one -- was, as an example: - Have Melodist generate chords in Dm to establish a tonal centre. - Fix up the chords manually to match a Dorian mode. - In Melodist again, tell it to produce a melody only in C over the new chords.
Have I missed a feature completely? How far off base have I strayed?
My understanding is this is not possible in BIAB. Of course you could still construct backing chords which emphasize the modal charateristic notes, but these extensions and voicings will likely not be followed by BIAB which builds solos based on key (major/minor) and not chords. Look to Scaler2.
So here is 8 bars of my G-Dorian Backing in Scaler. And then I took the Scaler Midi track and opened it is BIAB. You can see what happens in BIAB since is just can't handle the extensions. It got the Key right (F) but I have no aspirations that if will stick to the my G Dorian Scale directives. On the other hand Scaler does what it is told. Every chord is optimized, voiced and extended (well to the level of knowlege I have) to emphsize G-Dorian. Scaler will write the perfomance tracks with G-Dorian in mind.
So here is 8 bars of my G-Dorian Backing in Scaler. And then I took the Scaler Midi track and opened it is BIAB. You can see what happens in BIAB since is just can't handle the extensions. It got the Key right (F) but I have no aspirations that if will stick to the my G Dorian Scale directives. On the other hand Scaler does what it is told. Every chord is optimized, voiced and extended (well to the level of knowlege I have) to emphsize G-Dorian. Scaler will write the perfomance tracks with G-Dorian in mind.
One great feature of Studio One Pro is that you can take a BiaB input and force them to conform to your chords. Thus you take Scaler chords either type them in or put the sequence in Studio One Pro and extract the chords from them and then you can force all tracks to follow those chords. I do that with Scaler, Toontrack's stuff, and other programs. Those programs, BiaB, and Studio One Pro make great combinations.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up. Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Is there a way to have the Band-in-a-Box Melodist generate chords and melodies that match a modal scale?
I've been wanting to learn more about modes by producing music using them and having Band-in-a-Box create starting points. I can't find anything that directly references scales other than major and minor.
One idea I had -- a rather oblique one -- was, as an example: - Have Melodist generate chords in Dm to establish a tonal centre. - Fix up the chords manually to match a Dorian mode. - In Melodist again, tell it to produce a melody only in C over the new chords.
Have I missed a feature completely? How far off base have I strayed?
Could be.
I'm not at it right now, but here's something you could try that might lead you right. Every mode of major has a major scale (a relative major scale?) that shares all the same notes. C Dorian and Bb major, for example. Between your chord choices and "slashing" the modal root you might get melodist to cooperate better. Worth a try.
I think all you really have to do is learn or reference the chords for the key and mode you want to use.
For example D Dorian is from C Major scale. So in D Dorian your tonic i chord is D minor. From there you just climb the C major scale for your chords. So your dominant fifth chord is v A minor and your seventh chord is VII C major. All the chords don't necessarily work well in each mode. For example your sixth chord is now vi B diminished in D Dorian. But there are conventions of substituting parallel chords or foregoing the use of a particular chord depending upon which mode you are using.
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Video: Enhanced Melodists in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®!
We've enhanced the Melodists feature included in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows!
Access the Melodist feature by pressing F7 in the program to open the new MultiPicker Library and locate the [Melodist] tab.
You can now generate a melody on any track in the program - very handy! Plus, you select how much of the melody you want generated - specify a range, or apply it to the whole track.
This new panel offers built-in specific support for the Reaper® DAW API allowing direct transfer of Band-in-a-Box® files to/from Reaper® tracks!
When you run the Plugin from Reaper®, there is a panel to set the following options:
-BB Track(s) to send: This allows you to select the Plugin tracks that will be sent Reaper.
-Destination Reaper Track: This lets you select the destination Reaper track to receive media content from the Plugin.
-At Bar: You can select a bar in Reaper where the Plugin tracks should be placed.
-Start Below Selected Track: This allows you to place the Plugin tracks below the destination Reaper track.
-Overwrite Reaper Track: You can overwrite previous content on the destination Reaper track.
-Move to Project Folder: With this option, you can move the Plugin tracks to the Reaper project folder.
-Send Reaper Instructions Enable this option to send the Reaper Instructions instead of rendering audio tracks, which is faster.
-Render Audio & Instructions: Enable this option to generate audio files and the Reaper instructions.
-Send Tracks After Generating: This allows the Plugin to automatically send tracks to Reaper after generating.
-Send Audio for MIDI Track: Enable this option to send rendered audio for MIDI tracks.
-Send RealCharts with Audio: If this option is enabled, Enable this option to send RealCharts with audio.
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