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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8 |
One question I wouldn't have minded before purchasing is, "Are you willing to pay $28 to ship the USB drive to Canada?" Because that is the only option you have for getting your money back.
If there were a demo this wouldn't be happening. I question the claim that a demo would be too big to download because I downloaded enough of the software that I purchased to determine that it's not worth $300 to me. I haven't even received the USB drive yet.
It's odd policy that they give you an option NOT to take the drive, but if you took that option you would get no discount to compensate for passing on the USB drive. I definitely would have taken a discounted price over the drive. I don't know why anybody wouldn't take the drive since they are being charged for it anyways.
I don't care for the software. It's not right for me. I know that there are great fans of this software here, and I respect them and their music.
I was lured by a generous money-back policy, opted to receive a drive because it made financial sense, and now I pay for my mistake.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
I am very curious. What do you do musically and how did you expect BIAB to help you in that? What is it about the program that you do not care for? What did it do or fail to do in order to meet your expectations? The answers may be illuminating to PG Music and other users.
The good news is that you may return the product for a refund of the majority of your investment. I can't think of any other music software for which this is true. The fact of return shipping cost for material goods is true of any product returned to any company. You elected to receive a physical product and therefore are liable for returning it. I would write the $28 off to experience and move on, but that's just me.
Respectfully,
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 491
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 491 |
I'm with Richard on this one! What is it about the software "that's not right for you?" What was lacking ...from your expectations of it.....what had you intended using it for? 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258 |
Sounds to me like you were hoping band in a box would automatically play chords for you ?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026 |
Ha Graham , Mine does ! Quote:
. I haven't even received the USB drive yet.
I don't care for the software. It's not right for me.
You Must be Psychic !
You should give it a try while you have it ,won't cost you anymore ! Try listening to some demo songs in a style of music you like.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8 |
>> The answers may be illuminating to PG Music...
I feel that I was misled and ripped off by PG Music. I did not know that I'd be expected to return it to Canada. It would be fairly inexpensive to ship it to anywhere in the USA and that is what I fully expected.
I'm not interested in "illuminating" PG Music. Their sales person got back to me after I complained and had no sympathy for me, as with you who replied.
Also, I will not be so foolish as to criticize this software in a forum where I am outnumbered by avid users.
I hope that this post saves someone in future of this needless expense.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8 |
>> Sounds to me like you were hoping band in a box would automatically play chords for you ?
And you expect me to say something negative about this software when I can expect this kind of response?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8 |
>>You Must be Psychic ! You should give it a try while you have it ,won't cost you anymore ! Try listening to some demo songs in a style of music you like.
I've been using Band-In-A-Box since the first PC versions and then Windows. The Jazz Guitarist is one of my favorite programs, ever. And I've been using Powertracks since the first versions.
I'm revisiting BIAB after many years, this time on Mac and with Real Tracks. There is no way on earth this is worth $300 to me. I expected more for this kind of money.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026 |
Wow I started in 2004 and it always seemed like an incredible deal to me. My Logic Pro Suite lists for $399 and only has loops for music ,still cheap in my opinion . The last time I went to a studio to record it was a grand a day. Sorry it isn't working out for you ,maybe when the economy picks up it will be better for you.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,731
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,731 |
Let's see $300, Less than a dollar a day, cheaper than a McDonalds coffee. You already knew the basic since you were a user, you already knew the price since you filled out the order forms, you already knew the terms since you read them. How were you misinformed?
Did you really think that they would ship you a hard drive full of software (we all know software is not really returnable in 99.99% of all circumstances), for free, and take it back for free? Once you open software you agree to the EULA, but still they will take it back.
Lastly if you have used BiaB and PTPA as long as you say, you had to know the company was in Canada! Where did you think they would have you send it back to? Florida? Washington state, so they could hop over the border and pick it up at a Kinkos? Look we all get buyers remorse, and maybe this is not for you, but to be so unhappy about it. You did not go into this blind.
Suck it up either pay the fees to ship it back, or keep the software, dig in and find what most of us found. It does a lot of really great things, but it has grown a lot from a few years back, and takes a lot of work to unlock all it's potential.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554 |
My question would be, what have you downloaded so far that allows your decision to be made? Do you have all the realtracks? Have you tried the RealBand portion? Just curious. I'm not a BiaB fanatic, but enjoy Realband a lot. It's a whole different workflow (more like PTPA with BiaB features thrown in). That program, with the added features, is what keeps me here.
If you only downloaded BiaB and are using only MIDI styles you are missing a lot and may want to wait until you have the hard drive to re-evaluate. If you still think it's not for you, that's understandable. If you only have a portion of the available features, then you should wait a bit before deciding. Just a suggestion. I wouldn't be determined to send it back until I had the whole thing to evaluate.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,021 |
I was playing 3 nights a week last winter using RealBand. Two nights payed for the program!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,513
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,513 |
We still don't know what it is about the software that the OP does not like. All we have is this:
"I don't care for the software. It's not right for me."
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
Another troll. Bye bye. .....bye bye.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,731
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,731 |
Sometimes I have experienced that on every forum board there are a few that just want to complain. It's okay to do so, but usually it is a misunderstanding, or misconception.
I am with Rharv on this i use BiaB on occasion, but i use RB every day. I am patiently waiting for Rb to add the two or three things i want to make me use it for just about everything.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
Newbie
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OP
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8 |
>> Re: John Conley
>> Another troll. Bye bye. .....bye bye.
I'd be a troll if I said what I don't like about the software in an inflammatory manner therefore provoking good people to reply and defend something that they believe in.
I'm talking about being shocked that I have to pay $28 (plus the $15 initial shipping) for a total of $43 to try this software. I'm saying if there were a demo this wouldn't happen. Nobody has much to say about that. I posted this as a heads-up to anyone else that potentially be surprised at cost of trying this particular package and returning it. The reason why I or anyone else might not think the software is a good value is irrelevant to this topic.
If I am a troll, you sir, are clueless.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,554 |
Quote:
The reason why I or anyone else might not think the software is a good value is irrelevant to this topic.
It's not irrelevant if you only downloaded the program. Honestly; if you don't like it I can see your point. If you are judging it based on only the program download I think you are shortchanging yourself (and possibly others). Wait for the hard drive to arrive before making your decision. There is a LOT more to this program than just the program files.
If you have downloaded the other options (including realtracks) already, then I'm speaking out of turn. If not, try the whole thing before deciding. We've seen this before here on th forum. Some dedicated members here (now) were ready to return it before giving it the full workout, then changed their mind later. It does things others can't touch. But if it isn't for you; that's fine. Just wanted to make sure you gave it a fair shot before deciding.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,906
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,906 |
Regarding a downloadable demo - this has been requested for years.... 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,158
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,158 |
Quote:
Regarding a downloadable demo - this has been requested for years....
I can't undedrstand why there is no demo either. Since there are so many illegal (though be it, out of date) demo's) floating about, it would be nice to have a proper legal one from PG music.
To be honest es175player I think you would have been better to wait to the christmas sale as packages are a lot cheaper then though I do see your point about a downloadable demo.
Another thing is PG is very trusting of potential customers to give them a 30 day money back. Whats to stop someone from buying software from pg then doing a copy and then sending the original software back to PG?, though it's very clear to me that you availing of the 30 day returns for very genuine reasons as you don't like the software.
I know esa75 you are at a loss this time, but try to understand how good that 30 day returns no question asked from PG music is.
musiclover
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258
Veteran
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258 |
I downloaded band in a box a few years ago and have never looked back. There's styles for almost every taste If you don't like real tracks then use midi. I was a very very poor sight reader till I got this programme. It's helped me understand chords, and improved my sight reading enormously. WHY don't you like the software ? Quote:
>> Sounds to me like you were hoping band in a box would automatically play chords for you ?
And you expect me to say something negative about this software when I can expect this kind of response?
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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.
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Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
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