I'm thinking of getting band in the box. I know nothing about it and have some questions. I use a program called noteworthy. It takes midi music and displays it so I can have
the written music. It does not show you the chords to use. I see there are different prices out there from 99 up to 500. Since I am just thinking of buying I would assume I do not need the higher price ones. I have watched Youtube. They say you can load MP3 and wave into it but does not mention midi.
Can anyone that uses it give me a brief run down on what it does and how hard it is to use. Just getting the chords for a song would be worth it. Thanks to anyone that responds to this. RC

Hi
I use BIAB to create lead sheets from a midi . A bit of a learning curve but very useful. Attached is a zipped file with the Original Key and the Original Key transposed to C.
I have just the basic BIAB on a Mac, also works well on a PC

Ron

... what's "a midi?"

Hi RC:

I don't use BIAB but I sometimes hire a demo singer/producer who employs it with other tricks of the trade to create demos of my original songs for me to use in "pitching" them to publishers, artists, labels, etc.

He squeezes so many things from that "package" to enhance his work and make the songs sound as though they had come from a big name studio... and naturally, his vocals add a great deal to the package, mixing in some great harmonies from other software or firmware compatible with BIAB.

Good luck with whatever version you choose... and yes, I'm told there is a pretty steep learning curve... but it can be worth it if you have the drive and patience to master it.

Then of course, Arranger KB's are becoming so sophisticated, you may want to "stay the course" and consider an arranger. Most will tell you the chord you are playing, etc.

Good luck, no matter your choice.

----Dave Rice

Uncle Dave, I have a suspicion you know what a midi is. Try it you'll like it.
Dave Rice. I have a pa4x. I want to use BIAB to enhance the music that's being produced with the Pa4x.if that's what it does. I use the sequencer on a lot of songs. I try to keep the background as close to the original songs as I can.

He knows what a midi FILE is. Midi is not a noun is what he's trying to say.

RC - I have been using BIAB since the 80's... it is an amazing program! Yes, you can load midi files into BIAB and see the individual parts on manuscript and print them if you desire. Easily transpose from original to any key.

The MIDI portion relies on your keyboard or sound module to create the backing tracks - or you can use a PC-based virtual synth that is included with BIAB to create the audio. A good while back they implemented "Real Tracks" which are recordings of studio players comping (or soloing) over chord changes. The "Real Tracks" are organized by style and BIAB assembles the chord audio snippets into the changes you enter (based on style) and creates the backing for you. Works the same way when generating backings via MIDI - just without any studio audio.

The prices do vary based on the content of the package you buy. The most expensive version of BIAB (Audiofile version I believe it is called) includes all WAV recordings for the hundreds and hundreds of "Real Tracks". The lower priced versions employ MP3 versions of the audio recordings.

BIAB is an amazing tool which is probably a mandatory tool for all the jazz students at Berklee and North Texas jazz programs. Sure makes it fun and easy to work up any tune and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Hope that helps...there are many tutorials available and PG Music has a great forum where they answer questions on the features included.

PS - if you use the PA4X, it is not hard using BIAB to generate a complimentary set of accompaniment tracks - just enter the exact tempo you use on PA4X, select the BIAB style that would most closely match the PA4X style, enter the chords you will be using on PA4X, and generate the backing...you can then save off the individual tracks from BIAB and use just one or more to augment the PA4X backings....

Have fun!

From WIKI:

MIDI (/ˈmɪdi/; short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and related audio devices for playing, editing and recording music.

I have used BIAB since days of floppy's and version 6.0. AS to simplicity, All you have to do is type in the chord changes and select the style to create a simple backing track. For complexity, the manual is only 518 pages. I still don't know how to use the more advanced features. It is a huge and very powerful program. The difference in packages is primarily the number and variety of real tracks in the package. The program also comes with a separate DAW called Real Band.

One of the biggest features is the website at pgmusic.com. It has a huge user base on the forum with the author of the program getting involved in answering some of the more complex features. Also they offer a no questions 30 day money back guarantee.

I personally can't imagine having to enter in every part of a basic arrangement to create a simple track!

Notation Composer does an excellent job in converting an SMF to notation - much better than BIAB and I have used BIAB since its beginning. Some neat online tools here https://solmire.com/chordfinder/

Yeah ... what HE said!
You can USE MIDI, or create WITH MIDI, but there's no entity that exists as "A" MIDI. Like Don said ... it's a file. MIDI describes the file. It's not a thing on it's own.
(I know, I know - pet peeve of mine)
Carry on ...

I had used BIAB years back to generate lead sheets and to play along with to get certain tunes learned. Not sure why I never continued using it, but it’s a great program. I know from my conversations with Saxxman, he’s got a great handle on its’ use.

Hi,
I’ve had Biab from the day it became available . Don’t use it a great deal, but I have still kept it updated over the years.

The main difference in pricing is to do with the audio tracks and other add ons. The basic version only has a few. Depends whether you think you will use them.

For many years I didn’t bother with them, because I was only using the midi styles not the audio styles. I was creating user styles for my keyboards from biab styles.

For songs , the audio styles sound good, the midi styles are more basic.

Biab does have a soft synth sound source, but you can also midi your Pa4x to it and use Pa4x sounds for midi tracks

Best part, if it’s not for you, they have a 30 day money back, according to website.

The forum is very helpful , and pg are great to deal with.

https://www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.htm

If you're considering buying, it's worth waiting until late December when they usually offer a hefty discount. Somewhere in the neighbourhood of 40% off, I believe.

Thanks everyone for all of the information. This is very help full. Again thanks everyone even Uncle Dave. I also like https://solmire.com/chordfinder/ I don't know how you guys find all of this stuff.

Aw ... thanks for the shout out! You knew I was messin' with ya, right?
My other pet peeve is the word "gig" ... seems to diminish the legitimacy of my craft. Sounds too casual to represent my commitment to the art of entertainment.
I know I'm in the minority on both topics, but hey - I'm an artist. We're weird in many ways.Enjoy BAIB. I've had it on my MAC for years.

Thought it was just me-never liked the word either.

GIG DEFINITION

Give it up Donny. My point stands

Gig is slang for a live musical performance.

So if Dave doesn't want to use slang, so be it ...

BIAB is a very capable program, but not for live/stage play..

Here is an example how I have used it.

Lets say you have a new song you want to do, but are not familiar with it.. You can record the song from any source or download it from youtube , save as a mp3.. Load into BIAB, select analyze chords. It will show chords for the whole song.. Now you use these chords and select styles from BIAB.. making the song your own. You can also select audio instruments triggered via MIDI.. Save as a SMF or save as an audio file.
You can also print the score of the song you just programmed (without a single music ability) even in a fakebook form.

BIAB has a feature called conductor that vastly improves its play-ability live. Well I agree that most users that rely on it tend to create mp3's they use when performing there are many who are using it successfully to play live while playing melody on other instruments. If you go to the forums at pgmusic you will find hundreds of users that use it in all different ways. It diffently not as spontaneous as a good arranger but with effort will almost always produce better results.

BIAB Discussion