Technical information

Chapter 6: Band-in-a-Box PowerGuide
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By default, Band-in-a-Box writes Type 1 multiple track Standard MIDI Files. You can also save Type 0 MIDI files,
they have all of the parts on a single track and are used by many hardware modules and other devices that play MIDI
files because they are simpler to play (since they only have 1 track).
Karaoke files (.KAR) are a special type of sing-along MIDI file with text events for the lyrics and a specific order
for the tracks. There is an option to write the MIDI file with separate tracks for each drum instrument. In the “MIDI
File type” combo box select “Drums on separate tracks.”
Save Options
[File on Disk] saves a MIDI file to your hard drive or floppy disk. You can then load the
MIDI file into your sequencer for further editing.
[Clipboard] copies the MIDI file to the Windows Clipboard as a Standard MIDI File. This
feature allows clipboard enabled programs to Edit | Paste the Band-in-a-Box MIDI file
directly into the program. For example, you can clipboard-paste Band-in-a-Box MIDI data to PowerTracks Pro
Audio, CakeWalk, Musicator, etc.
The Melody/Soloist (with harmonies) will be written to the MIDI file. If you’ve set a Melody or Soloist/Thru
Harmony, that MIDI data will be written to the MIDI file also. See the settings in the Opt | Preferences dialog box
to control how the harmony is written to a MIDI file.
The Chordsheet part markers are written to the MIDI files. They can be read by PowerTracks Pro Audio and by
Band-in-a-Box if re-importing the MIDI file with the Chord Wizard.
“Write Lyrics in General MIDI format” is an option. The GM specification has agreed upon specific
requirements for writing lyrics in MIDI files, which are now supported, so that lyrics that you save in Band-in-a-Box
should show up identically in other MIDI programs. This is one of the MIDI File options in the
Preferences dialog. We recommend the GM format.
Select the [MIDI File] button in the Preferences dialog for more
MIDI File options.
MGX Files
When a MIDI file is loaded onto the Melody (or Soloist) track, the Track Type for the Melody (or Soloist) gets set to
Multi-Track. When the file is saved, the extension will be MGX, allowing you to easily identify the Band-in-a-Box
songs that you have that contain entire MIDI files.
Text Markers for part markers
MIDI files are now written with descriptive Text Markers for part markers! Text markers are also read in from
MIDI files, and displayed as Section Markers on the Notation.
If “Include Part Marker text markers” is selected in the MIDI File Options, the resulting MIDI file will have text
markers. Then, in PowerTracks Pro Audio (in the Bars window), you’ll see the descriptive text markers.
For example, at bar 3, there is an “A, Chorus 1” marker, to indicate a part marker “a” substyle and chorus 1.