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Joined: Sep 2007
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Roland VG-99 "V-Guitar" system, ca. $1200, plus GK-3 divided pickup (ca. $225) plus GK 13-pin cable (varies by length and quality). I recommend the optional remote control unit, as otherwise you are on your knees to make patch and program changes.
I've had the VG-88 since 2007, and it is a Wonderful Thing. The 99 has several significant improvements, most notably a true pitch to MIDI controller. The guitar emulations are superb, and the system faithfully captures every nuance of your playing.
I'd go on, but I'm writing this on my phone. Look for the reviews, and prepare to be amazed.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Input appreciated.  I am having a conference call with my Sweetwater rep later today and hope to come to some conclusions and decisions... 
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Joined: Dec 2002
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This brand new setup has bubbled to the very top. Sweetwater agrees it meets my requirements in multiple categories. So now the question is, will I be the first here in the forum to have one?
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Joined: Jan 2002
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What are your goals for amp simulation? I have a Zoom G5 and I'm very happy with it. Great Fender and Marshall amp sims, but my favorite is their Two Rock Emerald sim.
The Z-axis pedal lets me use pretty much just one patch for a 5 song set.
Also, you won't find any amp sims/multi-FX that have time multipliers for the tempo. For example, you want U2 dotted 8th delays, you tap in 1/4 notes and if you have dotted 8th picked for the time multiplier, it's there instantly. I shopped hard for this feature because many of the songs I'm required to play live use dotted 8ths. You'll pay easily a couple hundred dollars more to get this feature in any other device.
So, what is your goal for going amp sim with multi-fx?
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Joined: Dec 2002
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So, what is your goal for going amp sim with multi-fx? Good question, got me to thinking and has delayed me pulling the trigger since I don't have a good answer. Yet.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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I guess I am searching for the same thing every guitar player looks for.... TONE.
I need it for the 90% of my recording work in the studio (hehe otherwise know as my man-cave in the spare bedroom) and the 10% live playing. I have never found it in any amp I have owned. Closest I have come is Amplitube for my recording and an old POD2 from back in the day. 8 of the 10 knobs on the POD2 froze years ago and it is no longer functional. I keep it as a decoration next to the lava lamp.
My live amp rig currently is a Fender Jazzmaster-Ultralight (...you don't see these around much any more). It has a great clean tone for when I am comping jazz standards, but little to no crunch or bite for rocken-out or taking lead.
The Amplitube works for my recording, but I find it limiting and when working with it live, it just is to difficult to rely on.
I want different types of lead Tone and I don't want to have to program it. I want it as a pre-set. No heavy distortion, more along the lines of delay and that LesPaul sustain.
I just returned from the local Music Store (SamAsh), no Line 6 Firehawks on display, too early. But the other pedal boards I looked at just did not give me a sense of what I am looking for.
So this may be a bit of a leap of faith to pull the trigger on the Fire Hawk. But no guts, no glory...
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Joined: Apr 2010
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"I guess I am searching for the same thing every guitar player looks for.... TONE." 
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Oh yes, it will be mine...
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Joined: Aug 2012
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Cool lookin' toy there, Dan... I hope there will be a post in the Showcase showing us all what it can do... !!!!!!!! (Really)
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Joined: Apr 2009
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I might be old school..... but tubes.....smoking hot tubes shaking some EV or Celeston speakers..... that's tone.
I have a Pod 2 that I use because it's quieter than sticking a mic on a speaker running at a certain volume..... but when it's time to separate the men from the boys..... plug in the Mesa and crank it up.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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I might be old school..... No one here more old school then me, but sometimes those old school things just never clicked for ya, so when a new school thing comes along you gotta go for it.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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Oh yes, it will be mine... I don't think I could even get through the manual on that thing! 
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14 page manual. It is all controlled via and free IOS or Android App. You just click on pictures of amps and cabinets to select them and slide the Fx to the degree and order you want. Or just select the presets from a library of Songs and Artists all from the cloud. How's that for new school.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 460
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 460 |
Interesting Protools 11 Rack, but when I looked, the price was listed at $949.99. Even at $949.99 it has me salivating.  Jeaux
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Interesting Protools 11 Rack, but when I looked, the price was listed at $949.99. Even at $949.99 it has me salivating.  Jeaux That price is for the "pro package" which includes a bunch of extra stuff... The 11 Rack was one of the first rigs to use "hardware to simulated software to simulated hardware". It has been out for a lot of years. I remember it was very cool in the day.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Seriously... Ordered online yesterday from Sweetwater - truck coming this morning. Now, what at the chances they can't find my house?? 
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Joined: Apr 2010
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"Now, what at the chances they can't find my house?" I don't think they'll have any trouble finding your house. There's a guy out front jumping up and down and waving madly. 
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Joined: Dec 2003
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If they can't find your house I have an address they can easily find 
I arrived early to a restaurant. The manager asks, "do you mind waiting a bit?" I said no. "Good", he said. "Take these drinks to table 3"
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Beautiful, should have filmed the unboxing. But that is sooo geeky! Simple to set up, guitar 1/4 in, 1/4 out to Motu Interface - but nothing!! So I switched to just the turner - no signal going in??  After a few minutes realized I had the wrong guitar cable plugged in, there are so many laying on my floor. So I then see I have input signal but no sound coming out.  After a few minutes I realized the volume pedal was in the off position.  A slight push in the on position and --Houston we have liftoff!!
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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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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?
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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.
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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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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
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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.
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.
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