Nicely developing theme from the acoustic guitar through the sax to the wild electric guitar, great work with that solo which sounds very natural and lively to me. The organ and the electric rhythm guitar provide pleasant backing mood, like a romantic evening on a warm beach. Janne
Thanks, Janne. I love your "like a romantic evening on a warm beach"!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Hi Chay! As others have said, this builds nicely, and those lead guitar solos didn't grow tired. They reminded me a little of some of Mike Oldfield's guitar work around the time of 'Five miles out'. You've got a good chord base for the song, and that gives it a ton of musical variation. Loved it - and looking forward to your sung pieces with Lucy. Andrew
Appreciated, Andrew! While I'm familiar with MO I've not heard "Five miles out". Re my duet with Lucy, I've just received her stems, but as it's rock number she sings more extrovertedly (which I wanted), but higher than usual, so it's now hit or miss whether or not I can harmonise with her. If I can go deep enough to balance her vocals I may need to hire a Fiverr person to auto-tune, but it's a big if!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Chay, what a song! You've created an impressive melody with beautiful solos! Even though it's quite a long song, it never gets boring. It keeps you captivated But probably I missed something; about those very nice characters I don't understand their function for, or in this song. Do they act in a movie? And is the song just there as background music, or...? Tell me, Hans
Thanks, Hans. The opening image I call "The Seven Sisters", but they're all the same CGI/3D model which I created for the Iola Tao character in my trilogy-length epic science fiction gnostic quest novel, "Quest of the Solar Flower". She's one of a team of male and female human and humanoid aliens who have to save Creation from annihilation by a super-advanced alien, the only being who could do such a thing. After I'd finished the track I couldn't think of a title, so I looked through my graphics and decided that "The Seven Sisters" image would suit it - though I had to do a lot of new image effects - and so I called it "Iola Tao". Initially it was just "Iola", but whatever lettering I tried it always looked like "Lola" and too simple, so I added her surname.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
This sounds epic, Chay! I'm astonished how you are able to mix this in Audacity. I've used Audacity and never got it to mix nearly as well as this. Incredible arrangement. It keeps my interest, it really moves, and not a dull note from start to finish.
This is cool movie music. It's like a SF version of "The Magnificent Seven" with female warriors. The electric guitar plays a wonderful role. The mix was produced without any problems and was very good. The video is, as always, fantastic. Enjoyed my listen and watch a lot.
Thanks for your nice/ interesting explanation of it all. It sounds like a huge, complicated, but satisfying project, Chay! And as I wrote; it's a captivating song, and I add here; and captivating project!
This sounds epic, Chay! I'm astonished how you are able to mix this in Audacity. I've used Audacity and never got it to mix nearly as well as this. Incredible arrangement. It keeps my interest, it really moves, and not a dull note from start to finish.
Thanks, John! I was using Audacity long before I discovered BiaB, so I stuck with it rather than learn a new program. This track uses 18 samples in 21 stem tracks, so probably my most complex instrumental:
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Chay, This is cool movie music. It's like a SF version of "The Magnificent Seven" with female warriors. The electric guitar plays a wonderful role. The mix was produced without any problems and was very good. The video is, as always, fantastic. Enjoyed my listen and watch a lot. Best regards. Shigeki Adachi
Thank you, Shigeki! I like the idea of a female Magnificent Seven! I call the main image "Seven Sisters", though they're all the same model of my Iola Tao in different outfits.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Thanks for your nice/ interesting explanation of it all. It sounds like a huge, complicated, but satisfying project, Chay! And as I wrote; it's a captivating song, and I add here; and captivating project! Hans
Yhanks again, Hans!
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
TM said it all: "Author and composer, you're a real Renaissance man, Chay! Liked the guitars in this a lot - held my interest. Can't wait to hear what you and Lucy will collaborate on, I'm sure it'll be epic."
And Shigeki: "It's like a SF version of "The Magnificent Seven" with female warriors." Priceless!
You are a master of the build and we enjoyed reading how it all came about. Your talent and patience are very, very impressive.
The complexity of the production is overwhelming to us.
Great arrangement, mix and that guitar is remarkable.
Well done!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
I love the arrangement of this energetic piece. It just build and builds. Those guitar solos are great. I'll have to check those RealTracks out. Production and mix is first class. I enjoyed the panning you used. Cheers, Mike
TM said it all: "Author and composer, you're a real Renaissance man, Chay! Liked the guitars in this a lot - held my interest. Can't wait to hear what you and Lucy will collaborate on, I'm sure it'll be epic." And Shigeki: "It's like a SF version of "The Magnificent Seven" with female warriors." Priceless! You are a master of the build and we enjoyed reading how it all came about. Your talent and patience are very, very impressive. The complexity of the production is overwhelming to us. Great arrangement, mix and that guitar is remarkable. Well done! J&B
Thanks, J&B! The guitar of the final solo I'm starting to use a lot. It features twice in my next post which should be up on YouTube later today or tomorrow.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
I love the arrangement of this energetic piece. It just build and builds. Those guitar solos are great. I'll have to check those RealTracks out. Production and mix is first class. I enjoyed the panning you used. Cheers, Mike
Appreciated, Mike! Those last 2 solos are from 2 of my most used solo session musicians, Danny Rader and Dave Cleveland.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
I really understand about the lack of inspiration and how it paralyzes musical output. I can let things just sit for months at a time waiting for the muse to come around again and then get stressed about wasting time. Everything you post is always done extremely well and this is no exception! The track sounds wonderful. I encourage you to stay after it because there aren't a whole lot of people who have your production skill level! Take care, TB
Chay I really understand about the lack of inspiration and how it paralyzes musical output. I can let things just sit for months at a time waiting for the muse to come around again and then get stressed about wasting time. Everything you post is always done extremely well and this is no exception! The track sounds wonderful. I encourage you to stay after it because there aren't a whole lot of people who have your production skill level! Take care, TB
Thanks, Torrey! Re "production skill", none of my posts have ever been mastered as I don't have enough room on my PC for anything new - I need a new PC or drive with 4 times the memory my current one has - but one of the things I most enjoy about creating music after having gotten a new chord structure is the sampling, arranging and mixing. It's not just satisfying, it's fulfilling.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
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