OK, this is one of the most cryptic posts I've seen from you (??) For one thing BiaB IS a Canadian company .. anyway I'm confuzzled This is how your post appears to me
Last edited by rharv; 01/28/2206:07 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Canada is a nice place to visit, the people are very nice, but I wouldn't want to live there. Why? It's way too cold for me. It's too cold in Florida this week.
I woke up to -1 and 70% humidity, Notes. What is you cold day, 55? LOL!!! My cousin in St Augustine is constantly telling me how cold it is on 63 degree days.
I loved touring in Canada. 12 weeks at a time, usually one city per week. Sometimes we did half weeks so we'd see 4 cities in 2 weeks. Most were small towns but we had our share of weeks in Ottawa, North Bay, The Soo... We regularly played a city an hour north of Toronto and had a good time there. With all day long to explore I always found something to do.
We played in Thunder Bay. When we pulled into town on Sunday afternoon, the front of the bar was lined with bikes. My first thought was that this place wanted metal, and we were 180 degrees opposite from that music, so we would likely not be well received there. On the first night, our extremely charismatic singer won them over to the point where when we went down to play Tuesday the bikers were sitting against the stage with their backs to us providing security. And Saturday night they loaded the truck for us.
Nice people in every city I played up there. A lot fun stories that would turn into [********] if I told them...
LOL that's because the main stream media is not showing anything about the great Canadians. I only found out from a friend in Canada. I just totally appreciate what these Canadians do, people would be totally lost without them so you don't say one week thank you so much for what you have done for the country over these last 2 years, then attack them the next week as "a small fringe minority holding unacceptable views" ! that small fringe minority is turning out to be 91%. It has broken the Guinness Book of Records. So you appreciate and don't delete them as you will be totally lost without them. It's like deleting PG, so many would be lost without them.
I woke up to -1 and 70% humidity, Notes. What is you cold day, 55? LOL!!! My cousin in St Augustine is constantly telling me how cold it is on 63 degree days.<...snip...>
Anything under 70F is too cold for man or beast
We're having a cold snap down here, we get a severe one every 10 years or so, usually when the Northeast gets a super-storm. It got down to the low 40s this morning, and will only get to the low 60s today. They predict 69 tomorrow, the 70s won't be back until Tuesday, and a delightful 80 returns by Thursday.
I live between a 2-mile wide lagoon and a protected wetland, so the temperature is typically a couple of degrees warmer.
I've visited Canada dozens of times, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, Quebec, Ontario and Yukon. There is some beautiful country and there are some wonderful, polite, helpful people there.
One year in Newfoundland, we were having breakfast in a local diner/cafe. Mrs. Notes and I like to visit the tourist spots, and then get out to the real country.
We got to talking to some locals, and mentioned that the last time we were in Canada, we wanted to go whale watching, but a tropical storm came through, and we were holed up in a motel in Digby Neck.
A woman got on the phone, and when she hung up she said, "Do you know how to get to ____ Beach? (I forgot the name). We said, "No."
She paid her tab, packed her two kids in her car and said "Follow me."
We twisted and turned and got to a beach, nothing was happening. She got on the phone and told us to follow her again.
We got to another beach where the whales were happening, and she drew a map to get us to the main highway, said Bye and left.
The Capelin (small fish) were running. Millions of them, so many that even the seagulls were so stuffed they were just sitting on the rocks saying something like, "No more for me, Ethel, I can't eat another bite."
Locals were scooping the fish out with dip nets and filling up garbage pails to use for bait all year long.
The drop off must have been steep, because the humpback whales were coming out of the water, perhaps 15 feet from shore. Opening their huge mouths to gorge on the Capelins and then splashing back in the water.
They were so close we were getting splashed as well, and so close we could smell their breath. It lasted a couple of hours, and then we found the highway and continued our meandering.
What a nice thing for that woman to do for us.
The last time we went to Canada was early September to Montreal. Freezing cold for us, but extremely charming people, and we heard some great music; A symphony by the McGill university orchestra and a mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral with pipe organ and chorus. Outstanding.
Notes, we used to pick our spots so we were never there in "winter". The latest we were there was mid December, and that time while we played that LAST show of the tour it snowed like the snow gods were acting like an angry lounge lizard trying to show he's still got it. We started playing at 9:30 and the ground was clear and dry. When we finished at 1am my car had 5 inches of snow on it. We were very near Buffalo and I decided to just drive home that night. Once I crossed into the USA that snow was almost completely invisible. Had that 5 inches of snow been present the whole way home it would have taken me 8 hours to make a 4 hour drive. I was hoping to be in Ottawa when it was cold enough for the Rideau Canal to freeze so I could skate on it but that never happened. We were really popular there too. They had us in for Grey Cup week and the public transportation was horrible, so one of our guys who had a van ran people from the hotel we were playing to the stadium for 10 bucks a passenger. He had to have made like 300 bucks doing that. It was a big van with all the seats removed to hold gear, so 10-12 people easily fit into it. Ottawa is a great city. They had a rotating restaurant on top of a hotel there that was cool. The best Ottawa story though I can't tell.
One year we played in Sarnia and I crossed the border into Port Huron to buy some strings and reeds. I also stopped to gas up on US prices and asked where the good music store was, and I was sent to Marysville where I may or may not have been to the music store owned by Harv's family. That was like 1987 and all I remember is the the older man kept yelling at the kid "It's your fault!", so....
Fun fact, I live in Marysville but my parents started/owned Port Huron Music Center (in Port Huron, close to the bridge). It's still there but times been tough for music stores lately, especially ones that counted on school horn rentals for a percent of the revenue. From grade schools to U of M (that school up north) it was normal to be renting out a few hundred horns. Covid kinda dampened that. //FWIW I was in Chicago by 1987, so it was likely my little brother's fault that time
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
How far from the bridge was that store Harv? I think it was like a 10-ish minute drive from the gas station including having to circle a block when I either missed a turn or made one too soon. I kind of remember the gas station was straight ahead off the bridge 8-ish blocks and then I got sent to the music store by somebody who worked there. This is 35 years and a lot of miles ago so it is really cloudy. I wouldn't even have known Port Huron was there had I not been taken across the border Sunday night to go to some hot spot bar in Port Huron. And one of the girls that were with me only brought money, no wallet and no ID so going back into Canada was an adventure. 7 sheets to the wind and I am trying to plead a case with the Canadian border police...
Man to be 36 again...
For clarity, IS there a decent sized music store in Marysville? I may well have been in Marysville for all I know.
I don't think there has a been a music store in Marysville in my lifetime.
Hmm .. 1987
Pine Grove location is literally a few seconds away once you get off the bridge, and you get multiple chances to tun into the 'mall' area (of which PHMC owns 80% or more now)so hard to miss if you are looking for it. The store on Military was much smaller and a little farther away, maybe 10 minutes like you mention. I'm guessing you went to the old store, but if so, that was likely before 1987 .. getting old stinks when trying to remember details/dates.
The year suggests the new store, but the travel time suggests the old store. Can you describe the inside of the store? Was it pretty small, or big? The two locations are hugely different Cool story .. My dad came home one night and at dinner was talking about the weird experience he had that day. A Limo had pulled up in front of the store He said four long-hairs got out and came in, checking out the guitars and basses. Then only bought some strings and left.
KISS was playing McMorran that weekend .. I put 2 & 2 together and explained to him what had happened .. and reprimanded him for getting no pictures, even though there weren't cell phones back then, so not so easy But those were the days when getting a picture of the band without makeup would have been a pretty big deal.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Well, I went down about 10-ish blocks maybe from the border to gas up and then had to remember directions like "just head down here a piece and turn left at the street after the light kind of generic. I remember it being bigger than mom and pop but not as big as the chain stores of today. Like I said. 35 years. The border guy I think was the one who said Marysville. The gas station guy was the one who was all "Just go down here and take a left at whatever street and then..." And in a strange city I heard "wah wah wah wah" like on Charlie Brown. No idea if it was your family or not but think of the coincidence level of that.
I don't think there has a been a music store in Marysville in my lifetime.
Hmm .. 1987
Pine Grove location is literally a few seconds away once you get off the bridge, and you get multiple chances to tun into the 'mall' area (of which PHMC owns 80% or more now)so hard to miss if you are looking for it. The store on Military was much smaller and a little farther away, maybe 10 minutes like you mention. I'm guessing you went to the old store, but if so, that was likely before 1987 .. getting old stinks when trying to remember details/dates.
The year suggests the new store, but the travel time suggests the old store. Can you describe the inside of the store? Was it pretty small, or big? The two locations are hugely different Cool story .. My dad came home one night and at dinner was talking about the weird experience he had that day. A Limo had pulled up in front of the store He said four long-hairs got out and came in, checking out the guitars and basses. Then only bought some strings and left.
KISS was playing McMorran that weekend .. I put 2 & 2 together and explained to him what had happened .. and reprimanded him for getting no pictures, even though there weren't cell phones back then, so not so easy But those were the days when getting a picture of the band without makeup would have been a pretty big deal.
When in high school, my buddies and I skipped school, drove to Memphis to see Kiss. We were very early getting there and saw them pull up for their sound check in 2 limos and we ran around inside the front where the ticket office was in time to see them come in one of the side doors and got pics of all 4 of them sans makeup. There was a chain link fence of some kind between us though. Security guards ran us out of the building. This was in 1977 and had totally forgotten about it until I saw your post. I don't know where the pictures are now. Funny how time changes us. If they were playing within walking distance, I would have no desire to go now lol.
This was in 1977 and had totally forgotten about it until I saw your post. I don't know where the pictures are now. Funny how time changes us. If they were playing within walking distance, I would have no desire to go now lol.
I know what you mean, I didn't even go then
/McMorran is a terrible place to hear a concert, but a great place to watch hockey //Kinda like when the kids went to Little Caesars Arena for a concert .. I was like WHY? (I *think it was Semi Vibrato, at least that's the name I learned to say for Demi Lovato which irritates them endlessly) /// .. besides the whole Kiss aspect, a hockey arena is not designed for sound
Glad I brought back an old memory for you though!
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
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)
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean