I was never really happy with the original version, only posted last February, so I created this new and simpler instrumental, which is over a minute shorter than the former. The shorter time also simplified the video as I didn't have to repeat images other than the original one I also use for the title page.
I hadn't intended posting this until much later in the year, but a new vocal song with a trio of female backing vocalists which I hoped to post around the 1st of May has run into some BV snags. Hopefully that'll be ready for posting within a couple of weeks.
Electric Piano: Circle Ambient Lap Steel: Jeff Lorber Synth: Jovian Divine Alt Rock Multi ~ uncredited Organ: Giddy Up Country Ballad w Organ: Blair Masters Bass: Country Rock Guitar Solo, Pop Ba ~ Tobin Frank Piano: Pop Ballad Solo Acoustic Piano ~ John Jarvis *Drums: Country Rock Guitar Solo, Pop Ba ~ Brian Fullen 1st & 2nd Rhythm Guitars: Jovian Divine Alt Rock Soloing ~ Mike Durham 1st Guitar Solo: Bricks Indie Rock w Guitar Solo ~ Mike Durham 3rd Rhythm Guitar: Granite Hard Rock w Guitar Solo ~ Craig Northey 4th Rhythm Guitar: Granite Hard Rock w Guitar Solo ~ Murray Atkinson **2nd Guitar Solo: Praise & Worship w/ Power Pop So ~ Dave Cleveland
* I mastered the drums stem in Soren AI Mastering (generally a crap program!) which gave them more treble, but I kept them in as after the first drum roll you can actually hear the crash cymbal crash, which is probably the first time I've heard such in BiaB drum samples! ** The 2nd guitar solo is a hybrid of 2 samples.
C / 115bpm / 112 bars / 4:04
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.
Nice, Chay. You've really mastered the art of the dynamic build. And once you get the band up on the plateau you always provide an appealing array of musical textures to keep the energy going. Don't recognize this tune specifically, but it has all the expected WaoBand elements: Pulsing rhythms, slithery changes and soaring solos. The guitarist(s) in this one especially shines.
An interesting musical journey, all expertly done...again.
Good luck with the issues you mentioned in your post!
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
Well done, Chay. When i first heard it on YT i searched for the old one to compare. i remember really liking it. This version is really really well done. It has that magical incredient that you manage to cook in every one, then you get the best players to play their part and feature them brillinaly in your mix. Very enjoyable music.
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
Hi Chay! It dawned on me during my second listen that you have a knack of creating cohesion without the use of structured melody by using chord progressions and soloists. This makes it more about the journey through the piece than listening for repeating melodic phrases. That’s an art! Andrew
Chay, a lot of energy in this one. Great use of RTs. Loved that drum track and those guitar leads were fantastic. Loved the groove, mix, and the song. IMHO this is your best to date.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Chay, A great instrumental expertly arranged and mixed. Some really nice guitar parts here. Love the groove! Bob
Thanks, Bob! It's definitely a better instumental than the original. This year I've struggled with instrumentals as all of the experiments I've tried haven't suited solos, which I normally find easy, so I kept this one simple with just the two guitar solos.
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.
Nice, Chay. You've really mastered the art of the dynamic build. And once you get the band up on the plateau you always provide an appealing array of musical textures to keep the energy going. Don't recognize this tune specifically, but it has all the expected WaoBand elements: Pulsing rhythms, slithery changes and soaring solos. The guitarist(s) in this one especially shines. An interesting musical journey, all expertly done...again. Good luck with the issues you mentioned in your post!
Thanks for the great response, Ron! I'm still struggling to get more or replacement backing vocals for my first Chay-sung song. It could be posted without any BVs. But that the partial yet incomplete BVs that I already have really add some sparkle.
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.
Well done, Chay. When i first heard it on YT i searched for the old one to compare. i remember really liking it. This version is really really well done. It has that magical incredient that you manage to cook in every one, then you get the best players to play their part and feature them brillinaly in your mix. Very enjoyable music.
Thanks, Marty. As I replied to Bob Dean, this year I've struggled getting fitting solos for the chord structure experiments I've always got in progress. And in the original version of this - now 100% deleted everywhere - I didn't feel they worked as well as usual. This new version started out longer and I wanted 3 solos in it, but I couldn't find any non-guitar solos which worked, so I simplified it a little and just used 2 guitar solos together and it works much better. The only other time I've just used 2 guitar soloists was in "Reigning Guitars".
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.
Excellent work on the guitar sound for a catchy song. Laurent
Thankk you, Laurent! Much appreciated.
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, Nice instrumental. Good build. Good drive... Especially like the guitars. Nice mix.
Many thanks, Floyd! Appreciated.
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! It dawned on me during my second listen that you have a knack of creating cohesion without the use of structured melody by using chord progressions and soloists. This makes it more about the journey through the piece than listening for repeating melodic phrases. That’s an art! Andrew
Thanks, Andy! Yes, creating melodies or recurring phrases or choruses is extremely hard when using nothing but BiaB. The only time out of over 40 instrumentals that I managed to get a recurring theme was in "Rachael's Theme" from last September, but even then I had to do a lot of cutting sections of samples and pasting' to where the next repeated chord sequence appeared. That can take hours as one has to paste the cut section in exactly the right place and it has to be to the 100th of a second otherwise it feels or sounds just off.
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, a lot of energy in this one. Great use of RTs. Loved that drum track and those guitar leads were fantastic. Loved the groove, mix, and the song. IMHO this is your best to date.
Thanks, Mario, but this must be something like the 8th or 9th time you've written "IMHO this is your best to date!" I don't mind you saying that, of course but I find it impossible to make comparisons with other instrumentals as so many are unique. I have a 45 minute 'A' playlist of 11 of my favourite tracks (out of over 40 now), but I find it impossible to say that any are better than the others as they're mostly very different.
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. Sounds good - well mixed, coherent, and a nice build.
Thank you, David. Most appreciated.
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 echo Ron's comments. Good listening and nicely arranged.
Appreciated, EZ Storm! Thanks for listening and responding!
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 can't remember the original version, but I like this one, Chay. Good build, and a good selection of instruments. I'm not usually a big fan of those 60s organ sounds, but they really work well here. Enjoyed my listen
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!
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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.
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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.
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!
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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.
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