I just installed Band-in-a-Box yesterday, so I still don't know what I'm doing. I loaded a simple song and tried to save it as a midi file. I only got the melody. What am I doing wrong?
It sounds like the song you created was made up of Realdrums and Realtracks. These are audio tracks and not MIDI tracks. If you want to save an audio production, "File | Save Special" will open a menu that lets you save the song as wav, wma, mp3, etc.
BIAB has both MIDI capabilities and Audio capabilities. Did you specifically want MIDI files?
Regards, Noel
P.S. Just in case you haven't stumbled across the below PG Music webpage that's full helpful video clips, here is a link to the Windows tutorials.
I would like to load a melody from a midi file, add chord names, then generate a midi file complete with an accompaniment created by Band-in-a-Box. Is that possible?
Absolutely, Yes. Will depend a bit on the type of .mid file you have and the using all the proper options in BIAB 2022. It may be a multi step process.
Start here and let us know how it works out. It will be a challenge for a newbee,
I believe I did all the things you said. I chose a style. I synchronized the melody with the two measure drum beats. I was able to play the song. I liked the way it sounded. I was able to save it to wav. The only thing I was not able to do was to create a midi file of the finished product. You say that the accompaniment I generated was audio, rather than midi. Is BIAB able to generate a midi accompaniment from the melody, chords, and style that I chose?
You need a BIAB Style which defines what accompanying instruments you will have and how they will play.
Also, if the goal is to create a MIDI file, be sure to choose a MIDI style. "RealStyles" use audio recordings which probably have but may not have corresponding MIDI available for export.
I believe I did all the things you said. I chose a style. I synchronized the melody with the two measure drum beats. I was able to play the song. I liked the way it sounded. I was able to save it to wav. The only thing I was not able to do was to create a midi file of the finished product. You say that the accompaniment I generated was audio, rather than midi. Is BIAB able to generate a midi accompaniment from the melody, chords, and style that I chose?
Wow, you must be gifted to pick this up so quickly
OK, I hear you. You want a midi file for final song. Therefore you have to have all midi tracks. Meaning no RTs (no audio). All the accompaning instruments have to be midi. Then you can save the entire song as a midi file. Very doable. See the menu item for saving your song as a midi file.
Today your post got me motivated and I did much this same thing - except my final version included patches to Kontact for high qualilty midi patches and then save as Audio to my DAW. ....... - This is created from a midi melody with a BIAB midi style accompanyment. You likely with not have the Kontakt VST but your midi synth should substitue to default player. Oh, also no RD's for your final midi file. Look for an all midi style to start.
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.
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.
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