|
|
|
|
I've had a mandolin hanging on my wall for 30 years. A few months ago, I decided it was time to learn to play it. I changed the strings (for the first time). And started trying to figure it out. I ended up buying a new mandolin. Setting that up was an education. I ended up "scooping" the Florida extension (that was a bit scary), sanding and reseating the bridge and filing down the nut slots. (Still working on it. Slowly) I thought it was time to record something. So...my first mandolin recording... Somewhere between rambling instrumental and just a bunch of noodling. Warts and all. Just stretching a bit... At the 2 minute mark, I thought... that was enough mandolin for anyone to put up with, so I switched to guitar to finish it out.. MANDO BOSSA The BIAB guys: RealTracks in style: ~464:Bass, Acoustic, Bossa Ev 140 RealTracks in style: ~470:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Bossa Ev 140 RealTracks in style: 708:Guitar, Nylon-Elec, Rhythm Bossa Ev 140 RealTracks in song: ~1664:Guitar, Electric, SoloAccompaniment Bossa Ev 140 RealDrums in style:BossaBrushes: a: Sidestick Brushes b: Sidestick, Ride Me: mandolin (pictured) lead guitar (PRS DGT SE - the gold top next to the mandolin - thru S-gear amp sim) Hope you enjoy (or can at least tolerate) the listen. Have at it. fj
Replies 0
Views 7
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for those encouraging words, Chay. Vic
Replies 9
Views 113
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Bob. Nice to hear that. Thank you. Vic
Replies 9
Views 113
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vic, A good write. Catchy, too. Nice vocals. Excellent use of BIAB. Solid. fj
Replies 9
Views 113
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi JJJ, There is a tendency to think that mastering is an essential part of the recording process, but this isn't altogether true. Back in the days when we mixed for vinyl, the tape would go to the cutting room for final mastering and they would apply any EQ and compression which was needed to make the signal comply with the limited dynamic range of the medium. These days, digital doesn't have these restrictions, so if you have a mix which sounds good to you, mastering may only make it sound different. The thing which you may want to do is apply a little extra compression to the mix to bring the overall perceived volume up to the level of a commercial recording, which all tend to be mixed "hot". The more work you put into the mix, the less you need to fix by mastering. Hope this is of some help to you.
Replies 7
Views 142
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UPDATE ========== - I used BIAB's 'Bar Settings' quite extensively in this song.
- If anyone is interested in seeing what I did, the link below is to a video of the chordsheet.
https://vimeo.com/1184535043?fl=ip&fe=ec --Noel
Replies 24
Views 936
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Noel That’s a terrific song. I really like the synthetic effect on a synthetic voice and then you have the normal voicing in the harmony. Flawless, a catchy song worthy of several listens. Enjoyed listening, a great start to the day. Kind regards. Hi KW. Thank you for finding the time to have a listen. I appreciate your feedback  --Noel
Replies 24
Views 936
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm unused to the aggression in a Noel song. It's a fabulous song...I'm not 100% sold on the synth lead vocal though - it's a bit distorted and suitably aggressive. Cool changes and good band. Hi Ray. Thanks for jumping into the thread having a listen. I appreciate it. For what it's worth, I'm totally unused to this kind of song, too. It was way outside my comfort zone. The voice came with distortion already added. I didn't add any extra. The only things I did was to compress it, double it, and add some reverb. That seemed to be enough for my needs. --Noel
Replies 24
Views 936
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
https://soundcloud.com/esa-blomberg/all-for-me-grog-g100-20260416?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&si=a1116b4731604cfc9bcee6efc1d1c6e9 "All For Me Grog" is a traditional folk song, also known as "Good Brown Ale and Tobacco", "The Nobby Hat" or as an Australian version "Across the Western Plains", that was originally popular with sailors and later adopted by folk music performers and pub singers. Grog originally referred to a daily ration of rum that used to be given in diluted form to sailors in the Royal Navy. It later came to refer to all types of drink. The song was recorded first in 1961 by A. L. Lloyd and Alf Edwards, then by The Watersons in 1966 and by The Dubliners in 1967. I learned it from The Dubliners, but I sing only the first three verses. For the last two verses please listen to their recording. In my version besides singing I play guitar, tenor banjo and mandolins (Napolutan and Octave). I produced this at my home with Band in a Box and Reaper. ****** Song Summary ************* Key=G , Tempo 100, Length (m:s)=3:33 Style is _REGGAE1.STY (Uptempo Reggae) MelodyCustom Synth is 022 - Accordion, Zydeco [SN0824] RealTracks used: RealTracks in style: 1153:Bass, Electric, Reggae Ev16 100 RealTracks in style: 1156:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Reggae Ev16 100 RealTracks in song: ~~673:Organ, B3, Background Blues BB Ev 085 RealDrums in Song: TimbaleFillsIsland16[single] RealDrums in style:ReggaeClassic^1-a:Sidestick, Hihat , b:Sidestick, Kick, HiHat
Replies 0
Views 9
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nice, Andrew. I'm posting next one just now.
Replies 11
Views 244
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Hans. It's easy to hear that a lot of thought and effort has gone into creating this song. As others before me have noted, the instruments work really well together, and they showcase your vocals very, very well. I always find it refreshing to hear a waltz. It's a time signature that makes me feel very comfortable. You've done a great job and I loved the journey that your words and music and arrangement took me on. Congratulations on another fine addition to your song catalogue. --Noel
Replies 11
Views 255
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bring up any of the Western swing styles and solo the tracks. In the guitars especially, there is no swing. Plus WS drumming and bass playing is not Jazz, it is a straighter dance style. Listen to any Bob Wills or any good Texas WS band. Totally different groove. Also pedal steel is too smooth. Get a good player like Jeremy Wakefield or Eddie Rivers to record non pedal steel. Swings WAY harder!
Replies 11
Views 1,555
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi J&B. Once again, you and Peter have shown us all how 'the blues' is done. What an introduction! And when Janice started singing, floyd's comment from a decade or more ago sprang into my mind.... "Janice could sing the phonebook" and if she did, I would still hang on to every syllable. It is easy to hear that this genre is home-base for you all. Everything about this radiates expertise, enjoyment and sincerity... and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed listening and letting your musical journey lead me along. --Noel
Replies 41
Views 2,188
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"So maybe it would be a useful exercise to start with the rendered stereo mixes pre-mastering and treat them how you suggested." Try it, you may like it better in the long run. Otherwise you may tend to ruin the dynamics of the collective whole. Beethoven didn't make everything ff for a reason <grin> /neither did Bob Ludwig or many others ...  //again, this is just my opinion, take it for what it's worth, or however many grains of salt may suit your taste /// there is a difference between mastering a single and mastering a CD
Replies 7
Views 142
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dave, You, Chris and Marty have done it again. This is outstanding. Great song writing, funky bass line, excellent guitar tracks, excellent vocals, and all wrapped up in a first-class production. In addition, that groove is superb! Another brilliant remix. I really enjoyed listening and watching. --Noel
Replies 34
Views 2,626
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Torrey. What a fantastic song! From start to finish this is professional. Your song songwriting, arranging and producing shine brightly. Those opening two lines of the chorus, "The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart," really captured my imagination. These are not only powerful lyrics because of the very clever word-play, they are also powerful because they resonate with one of Life's universal truths. This song is yet another very impressive musical creation. I really enjoyed listening. --Noel Thank you Noel for all those encouraging words! I always appreciate your supportive comments! TB
Replies 44
Views 2,094
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very cool song, Vic. Love the arrangement and your breezy vocals. Delicious hooks. Very fun and relatable. +1 on the vocal reverb. Maybe a delay would reflect a "lost in space" narrator as well? LOVE your song!
Replies 9
Views 113
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott, That is so very appreciated by both of us. Thank you! Bob
Replies 30
Views 1,023
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ha! Too cool for school. Side splitting write. SUPER vocals and a SUPERB guitar part from Dave. Crisp BiaB backing track. What's NOT to like? Nuthin' is the correct answer. "Who's Alice?!" Ha HA! Totally relate to how you've grown through this forum's interactions.
Replies 8
Views 142
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another great outing from our resident poet laureate. The story is as real as it gets. You have been expanding your instrumentation arrangements. This is a gem.
Replies 30
Views 1,023
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danger Danger fellow forum friends this is an outstanding song. Vic this doesn't sound like it is out of your comfort zone. This sounds like you have been playing this style of music for years. Great vocal and mix Loved it
Replies 9
Views 113
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bob, an oldie but a goodie that I not only know but played a number of times. This is a fantastic version. Great vocal and scat. Super harmonica lead. Loved that walking bass. A fantastic cover.
Replies 9
Views 159
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,166
Posts801,477
Members40,061
| |
Most Online64,515 Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|