band in a box chord questions

[leighbeynon]

hi,
ok im thinking about getting this programme, what i need is jazz chord progressions, as its cheaper than hiring a keyboard player everytime, can you export the chords as midi files so you can apply them to different programmes and use vst with the midi parts ??

i already know about chord playa

thanks leigh

[BertKoor]

Yes, BiaB can export midi files. What I do sometimes is make a sketch version in BiaB (just enter the chords, pick a style: presto!) and refine the midi parts in any other sequencer / host.

[leighbeynon]

really this is good news for me, so i need different jazz chord progressions, over 16 bars or so, if you can export this i am really impressed and can start building some ideas,

can you send me a few midi examples ??
but doesnt biab just add chords hitting on each bar ?
which is fine i can rearrange and edit but could be limited, i could just get a large collection of jazz chords in midi and construct progressions my seldf so long as i know what root key im working in

thanks leigh

[BertKoor]

Just download the demo and have a play: http://www.pgmusic.com/demo.htm
Fully functional until April, only "save" is disabled. Loads of demo songs are included.

but doesnt biab just add chords hitting on each bar ?

The matrix on the main screen shows you four bars per line.
In each bar there's an entry field for the first half and second half of the bar. But if you enter e.g. "C7, Am" in one cell it gets interpreted as C7 for the first quarter beat and Am for the seconc quarter beat (or third/fourth if it was the second cell for the bar.) When you leave out the first chord (so enter ", Am") then it continues the chord of the previous cell. Re-entering the same chord results in accents being placed.

So you can have four different chords per bar. BUT: chords can be pushed back 1/8th or 1/16th, and you can order some instruments to rest, or hold the chord, etc etc. A screenshot of the chord options (right-click on a cell) of the ancient version I still use:


Maybe you should also look at some of the promo videos:
http://www.pgmusic.com/bbdemovideos.htm

[dougsyo]

BIAB can export MIDI files (I use it that way all the time, and drag them into Sonar).

It can also host VST/DXI instruments, if you want to hear how it sounds before you export the MIDI file.

Doug

[leighbeynon]

great so long as i can get some nice jazz chords and export them out to use with some rhodes plug ins etc


thanks leigh

[elkay13]

great so long as i can get some nice jazz chords and export them out to use with some rhodes plug ins etc


thanks leigh

I am new to this forum, but I noticed this question about BiaB. I use the latest version to take relatively simple MIDI files, add various styles, export the resulting MIDI tracks and then import into Cubase to finalize the arrangements and use better instruments. In fact, I'll usually import multiple, but somewhat similar, styles of the same song into Cubase and then mix and match to generate interesting arrangements. For example, I've found some interesting arrangements when you mix a classical style with a smooth jazz style.

You might also be interested to know that the latest version of BiaB will extract the chord progressions from an audio file. I don't really use this feature and can't vouch for how well it works, but did run through the tutorial/demonstration that came with the latest version.

Another new feature in the latest version is the ability to use real drum samples that sound much more realistic than previous versions of BiaB. They call this feature Real Drums. In fact, I really like the ability of BiaB to generate decent drum tracks that work well with EZDrummer and DFH Superior when I get them into Cubase. Hope you find this info interesting.

<:) LKA

[leighbeynon]

yeah this is all interesting stuff, and could be very helpful for me just as inspiration tools and to help me learn about musical structure,

not sure about the drum side of things i kind of like to programme myself and get some nice shuffle and groove
but its a nice addition to the programme...

ill down load the demo if there are no restirctions on exporting midi and find out for myself if i can get the resutls im looking for..

thanks for the info mate,

leigh

[BertKoor]

I think you cannot export midi files with the demo. All save / export functions are disabled me thinks, and that's fair enough. You will get a good impression of what it can do nevertheless.

And there's a work-around to get midi files out of the demo:
* install MidiYoke from www.midiox.com (virtual midi cable)
* select MidiYoke port 1 as output device in BiaB
* select MidiYoke port 1 as input device in your fav midi sequencer
* press Play in BiaB while your sequencer is recording

[leighbeynon]

well might be worth a go on the demo to see what it has to offer, i dont want it to create me amazing tracks just to help insipre me with jazz chords that i can rearrange edit myself and have control over

thanks leigh

[gizeh12]

So how evolved are the voicings of the chords it generates?? Especialy for jazz, can it generate those nice open drop 2, 3 and Oscar Petterson voicings???

[gizeh12]

bump,,, anyone?

[BertKoor]

Dunno about Oscar Peterson, but it's not bad. Just check out that demo version (you could have done that by now) and see weather it's up to your standards or not. And you can create extra styles yourself, make it as complex as you want.

[kovacs]

I had the standard version of BIAB and upgraded to the Megapak version - it has tons of styles based on various famous bands/composers and also add-on packs with famous jazz players. It is a versatile tool for composing, although I find it severely lacking in the GUI department...but for a quick AABA development tool it's quite up to the task.

[leighbeynon]

so can you just create random chord progressions in key and style you want, this is really all i want, i have books on chords but it takes me an age to get my finger positions and get anything recorded, but once i have a nice progression i can build on this easily

l