Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Quote:
Great write guys, I really like the arrangement
and overall feel of the song, very nice vocals.


Kenny, as I pointed out above, yeah, the arrangement kind of evolved with time. It started out much different from what it is now, Thanks for listening and commenting.




Quote:
Herb and David,
This is excellent. Loved the guitar work.
Regards,


Bob, always a pleasure to hear from you on the songs. Thank you for the compliment on the guitar work.


Quote:
Did we enjoy that?
Man, this is super! Such a power sound and superb vocals Herb.
It would fit right into a Tarantino movie.


RnAM, A Tarantino movie..... how cool would THAT be? Thank you both for listening.



Quote:
Excellent collaboration David and Herb

Loved the lyrics in this song. Vocal and guitar were excellent.


Scott, lyrics are very important to me. If they can't tell a story and evoke emotions, then that is a song that never sees the light of day. I'm glad you liked what you heard. This was a really fun write. David sent me a really cool idea and the outline so it was almost easy to write this rather quickly.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
David,

This song wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for your initial idea, first rough draft verse and outline for the song. Thank you for sending this to me.

This was a fun project, and you were easy to work with on this, with the advice and ideas you provided from start to finish, we crafted this into a pretty cool song.

Thanks


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,334
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,334
This is a good write.
Imagery is there and the tempo and instrumentation fits the subject and lyrics.
To me....the delivery of this one is reminiscent of Charlie Daniels/Marshall Tucker back in the 70's.

It can be challenging to write convincingly on a subject as personal as this one is.

Well done all around.....good collaboration.

Carry on.


Last edited by chulaivet1966; 02/20/17 05:08 AM.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,796
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,796
Superb song, and about somthing really worthwhile writing about ... compiments guyz. F

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,158
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,158
It's hard to add to what's been said. The production has the open sound that the two of us really like. No mud, everything on the sound stage has it's place and works together. The write, the vocals, playing, RT choice are all standout.

Kudos to both of you!

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
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,298
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,298
First all the compliments and charting is well deserved. They are happening for the simple fact that this is a really cool song all the way around.

I totally agreed with RnAM's comment that this could be in QT movie! It would definitely set a scene!

I have to ask, who came up with the title? Such a great title! I drew me in! I will admit, I figured it would be slightly dark, but it was darker than I thought the song would be. Not a bad thing, but you nailed me with it!

To me, from subject to delivery it has that Neil Young thing going for it. That's saying a lot!

So glad I listened. It was WELL worth it!

Last edited by HearToLearn; 02/21/17 08:01 AM.

Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,298
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,298
Originally Posted By: David Snyder

I often get confused when I read certain posters who say "it's impossible to get a truly modern country or indie sound" [or whatever] using Band-in-a-Box.

Well, I guess that depends on who's behind the board.



I wanted to comment separately on this.

I agree 100%! It's almost like saying "this guitar can't get a truly modern county sound." lol...ok...

Thanks for pointing this out David!


Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,017
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,017
Herb / David,

This is a great sound! The song, production and vocals all work so well...

Congrats on an excellent collaboration.

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Quote:
This is a good write.
Imagery is there and the tempo and instrumentation fits the subject and lyrics.
To me....the delivery of this one is reminiscent of Charlie Daniels/Marshall Tucker back in the 70's.
It can be challenging to write convincingly on a subject as personal as this one is.
Well done all around.....good collaboration.
Carry on.


Chulaivet1966 Thank you. MTB & CDB were among my biggest early influences in country rock.


Quote:

Superb song, and about somthing really worthwhile writing about ... compiments guyz. F


Fiddler2007, we thought the subject was a good one too. Getting the story right was the hard part.



Quote:
It's hard to add to what's been said. The production has the open sound that the two of us really like. No mud, everything on the sound stage has it's place and works together. The write, the vocals, playing, RT choice are all standout.

Kudos to both of you!



Janice & Bud, Thank you both for listening.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Quote:
I have to ask, who came up with the title? Such a great title! I drew me in! I will admit, I figured it would be slightly dark, but it was darker than I thought the song would be. Not a bad thing, but you nailed me with it!


HTL: That would be David. When I saw the title and the first verse draft, I knew this would be a dark song. Due to the nature of the subject matter, and knowing some friends who have had loved ones commit suicide after serving in the service, I opted to treat this as delicately as possible while still dealing with a gritty message. At one point, swerving towards the darker side, I had the sound of a revolver closing and hammer cocking in the dead silence at the end.... but took it out for obvious sensitivity reasons.


Quote:
This is a great sound! The song, production and vocals all work so well...

Congrats on an excellent collaboration.


redean: Glad you liked this. Thanks for listening.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 02/22/17 04:47 AM.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
B
Expert
Offline
Expert
B
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
"guitarhacker", and Mr. Snyder...

"Whiskey For Breakfast" is a call for confronting squarely a societal problem that hasn't been solved , and a raw and messy one, at that, concerning those who have "fallen" by their own hand. It could be subtitled, "Don't Look The Other Way".

About a year ago, I read an autobiography titled, "Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of A Marine". It was written by Tyler E. Boudreau, a veteran of the Marine Corps Infantry who after twelve years of service in Iraq and elsewhere, left the force and wrote his story. Ten pages from the end of its two-hundred and twenty-three page length, he revealed to me the thing, the heart, the center, the core out of which the phrase "war is hell" is exposed and explained:

"Combat stress is close to my heart. I'm emotionally invested, so I tend to get rankled in discussions about recovery. I get rankled by all the apparent confusion. 'What do you think all this rage is about?' I ask. 'Where do you think the stress comes from?' It doesn't come from the blistering hot days on the parade deck, or the long deployments away from home, or the tough training, or eating too many MRE's. It comes from trauma. It comes from witnessing, and participating in, extreme violence..."

"Violence will always be bad for the soul", he wrote a few pages later. 'Nuff said.

You have got to get this "out there", pronto, gentlemen. There'll be a lot of awkward silence and nervous throat-clearing, a lot of eyes not meeting the gaze of another's eyes, wherever and in whatever space the listeners of your song may occupy, but I believe that's what you would want, what you wrote it for.

Pete, Woody, Dylan, Joan, and others who walked down this path in their songs would encourage you to do the same thing, I'm sure.

LOREN


"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,497
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,497
Hi Herb and David !:))


What a superb tune so
delicately performed and
produced ! I liked everything
about it, melody, performance,
message, singing, playing
and mixing !

Excellent co-operation !

Cheers
Dani

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Originally Posted By: dani48
Hi Herb and David !:))


What a superb tune so
delicately performed and
produced ! I liked everything
about it, melody, performance,
message, singing, playing
and mixing !

Excellent co-operation !

Cheers
Dani


Dani thank you for listening.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Originally Posted By: bluage
"guitarhacker", and Mr. Snyder...

"Whiskey For Breakfast" is a call for confronting squarely a societal problem that hasn't been solved , and a raw and messy one, at that, concerning those who have "fallen" by their own hand. It could be subtitled, "Don't Look The Other Way".

About a year ago, I read an autobiography titled, "Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of A Marine". It was written by Tyler E. Boudreau, a veteran of the Marine Corps Infantry who after twelve years of service in Iraq and elsewhere, left the force and wrote his story. Ten pages from the end of its two-hundred and twenty-three page length, he revealed to me the thing, the heart, the center, the core out of which the phrase "war is hell" is exposed and explained:

"Combat stress is close to my heart. I'm emotionally invested, so I tend to get rankled in discussions about recovery. I get rankled by all the apparent confusion. 'What do you think all this rage is about?' I ask. 'Where do you think the stress comes from?' It doesn't come from the blistering hot days on the parade deck, or the long deployments away from home, or the tough training, or eating too many MRE's. It comes from trauma. It comes from witnessing, and participating in, extreme violence..."

"Violence will always be bad for the soul", he wrote a few pages later. 'Nuff said.

You have got to get this "out there", pronto, gentlemen. There'll be a lot of awkward silence and nervous throat-clearing, a lot of eyes not meeting the gaze of another's eyes, wherever and in whatever space the listeners of your song may occupy, but I believe that's what you would want, what you wrote it for.

Pete, Woody, Dylan, Joan, and others who walked down this path in their songs would encourage you to do the same thing, I'm sure.

LOREN




Loren, you nailed it on this tune. I don't think this originally started to be a song about this topic, but it kinda turned out that way.

It's a crying shame how badly we treat the patriots who were willing to serve their country while at the same time we give all sort of benefits to those who are here illegally and from countries that hate this country... it's just wrong. Our sons and daughters should ALWAYS come first and get the best care whether it's physical or mental.

As I mentioned previously, I know some vets and their families who have been personally touched by the suicide of a returning war veteran. And trust me when I say it's not just the men who are committing suicide. The one I knew the best, and personally as a little girl who used to go camping with us. Something Shannon saw or was involved in was just too much to deal with and she took her own life with a pistol.

Yes, this issue is long overdue to be addressed.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
B
Expert
Offline
Expert
B
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,193
"guitarhacker"...

I am deeply sorry that you, personally, have had the experience of losing someone affected by war, directly, or indirectly.

That's all the more reason why "Whiskey For Breakfast" should have a larger audience. I don't know if songs have in the past, or could in the future, change things for the better. But, at the very least, a song could inspire the individuals who listen to it, to think about things he/she/they may have consciously avoided thinking about.

I tend to listen to "User's Showcase" songs without reading the composers' notes about how she/she put the song together. I'd rather read the technical stuff after I listen to a song.

So, I assumed that "Whiskey For Breakfast" would be a humourous song about drinking alcohol. But I knew that assumption was dead-wrong as soon as I heard the music, which was stirring, and had tension in it right from the git-go that signaled something of import was coming down the tracks. The "hook" to the song is its music. The music could be the "coating" on the "pill" (the "message") that calls the listeners' attention to it.

Also, the fact of you saying that you didn't forsee the song developing with the topic that ultimately formed its substance means -- to me, at least -- that your own conscience felt it was time for the issue to be treated in a musical fashion. And if it came out of you, then it could be in the rest of us, just waiting to be "called out" by a song.

LOREN (a.k.a. "bluage")


"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,987
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,987
This is really excellent! Very strong write. Gotta agree with the Soundclick charts. #1 in my book.

Very important message. I live just outside of San Antonio, and see a lot of disabled vets. They've given so much, and been through so much. PTSD really is a terrible problem. Thanks for writing this and sharing it.

Steve


Steve Young
Music
"In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of." - Robert Schumann
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,881
Originally Posted By: Steve Young
This is really excellent! Very strong write. Gotta agree with the Soundclick charts. #1 in my book.

Very important message. I live just outside of San Antonio, and see a lot of disabled vets. They've given so much, and been through so much. PTSD really is a terrible problem. Thanks for writing this and sharing it.

Steve


Steve, thank you for listening. As a veteran myself, and knowing quite a few from various eras, it's something that is important to not only those involved closely but all Americans. These men and women should be the first ones we help and they shouldn't have to be begging for help.

Again thanks for your time.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
User Showcase
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887
I
Expert
Offline
Expert
I
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 887
I wonder how the meaning of whould change if you had change the name of guy from Johnny Reb to someone like Jim Beam or Jonny Walker.


Computer: Macbook Pro, 16 inch 2021
DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, and Maschine
plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard,
music producer/engineer
User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,665
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,665
Herb and David, great collaboration! Powerful lyrics and performance all the way around. Take care, Torrey

User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 221
Wow this is a really professional write and production. A big 70s style lush song with a great narrative. Difficult to pull off with all the elements in the mix but you did, with elan. Well done!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
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.

Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!

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)

Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

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!

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
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.

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

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,299
Posts802,913
Members40,086
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
Newest Members
DC Cougar, luli, windsax, GregNYR, Gouby Raya
40,085 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 118
rsdean 89
zedd 81
vicarn 72
DC Ron 72
Noel96 57
Today's Birthdays
Chris Kenward, Lostrider04
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5