Software Band In A Box and displayed notation when transposing

Pegwill

Member
54
Hi Guys

I wonder if you can help once again. This post is about using Band in a Box for transposing. I used to use the BIAB function of changing the concert key. This allows you to enter a ‘+3’ and provided the backing track and the melody in the right keys to play. This did not affect the lead sheet or how the chords were displayed, and therefore was relatively easy to play, you must remember I am a novice. However when importing some midi arrangements it alters these (especially the drum track) which plays things that spoil the sound, even some of the other instruments do not play properly because of this. I spoke to BIAB support and they said they could do nothing about it.

I therefore set about transposing the music so it would just play normally. So as an illustration, a piece in the key of D would follow the process:

Raise the melody track 9 semitones

Drop the melody by an octave

Change the key to Bb

What happens is playable. However the notation seems to be a mixture of how the notes are displayed for example in one bar it could show Gb and in the next F# or even shown as Gnatural. While I except that Gb probably is the right way of showing the note, is it really good practice to have the same notes shown in both ways? It does make playing a challenge as it can change even in the same bar. Would it be true to say that if the key signature is flattened that notes should be shown flattened.
 
You can click on the note while in notation mode and go into the edit function. There you can force it to display it the note the way you want. You have to do that with each individual note you want to change unless somebody knows an easier way.
 
No easier way Jimmy,:thumb: you have to remember BiaB is not notation software and therefore doesn't always act like one..

Depending on which version is being used.. In the user control panel there is a button with Bb+C Chord Display, clicking on that will access the transpose menu, with a selection of options anything from Bb Trumpet to Trombone, it also says how many semitones it will move. This alters the Chord sheet and melody BUT not the playback.

Sometimes when importing midi files BiaB will use the wrong KEY to display notation preferring to use an easier key sig to read and add accidentals to the sheet music. eg song is in E but key sig says D and the two extra accidentals are added:confused: don't ask no idea why:confused:
 
Thanks Guys
Thats what I thought no easy way. I have now gone through my backing tracks and changed the affending notes manually. At least now they are consistent wthin each piece. I have also noticed that the notation looks better as well.
Many thanks
Regards to all
 

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