|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,930
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,930 |
Battery disposal is an increasing problem with recycling. Two weeks ago a local recycle center caught fire. Seventeen fire departments were needed to get the fire out. $5,000,000 US damage to the facility. Security camera video shows the fire originating in the electronics part of the facility. Below are some links you may enjoy or find useful. +++ Washington Post Article With Video +++ +++ Right To Repair Association +++ +++ I Fix It Bill Of Rights +++
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,359
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,359 |
“Thermal event”. Good one.
Apple, at a minimum, needs to make batteries replaceable, both for this reason and for user convenience.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,859
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,859 |
Wouldn’t replaceable batteries result in even more being thrown away? Phones tend to be passed on or recycled. I’m assuming the batteries are the culprits.
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 are here on our website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,359
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,359 |
Could be.
I’m thinking there would be two benefits:
Phones would be kept in use longer, and recycling centers could remove batteries without acting like the bomb squad.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,930
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,930 |
There are a few interesting tidbits in the Washington Post article. There have been more than seven multi millon dollar fires at recycle centers around the world attributed to lithium batteries. Apple is not the only manufacturer that embeds lithium batteries within their products but, of the fires where the cause is known (video or other means), all were Apple devices. Apple does not provide any training or support to recycle centers for removing the batteries from any of their devices. Three device fires have occurred at the recycle center the Washington Post reporter visited, all were Apple devices. It takes a self-trained technician about forty minutes, a hot plate, silicon gloves, fireproof container and a fire resistant workbench to safely remove the battery from an Apple Ipad. The recycle center will recover about $1.50 of recyclable materials from the device.
I'm not hammering on Apple, it's just that their products are so popular everyone can easily understand the issue and they are one of the few companies that embed batteries instead of using replaceable batteries or battery packs. But heck, even the battery pack in a Telsa is replaceable.
One of the reasons I buy a Dell computer is because I can download a service manual and decide what I can fix and what's better for a technician to fix. I don't buy Toshiba anymore because I couldn't get service information. I've got service information on my lawn mower and on my digital camera. I can get it on my refrigerator, freezer, washer and dryer. I believe right to fix is a consumer right and companies are starting to realize some consumers want to be actively involved in their products.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
I’m thinking there would be two benefits:
Phones would be kept in use longer, and recycling centers could remove batteries without acting like the bomb squad. It's called "planned obsolescence" and I'm not saying this is always a bad thing. In tech there's always some new great thing that's "almost" ready for prime time so there's pressure to wait until it's ready before they release the next big thing. Companies could keep waiting forever and go out of business under that scenario so someone makes the decision to draw the line at a certain point and start producing the new version. One thing I don't understand is why does a tech need to manually remove the battery from an iPad if it's such a risk? Just throw 100 of them into a big shredder with solid steel walls. Those little batteries can sputter and spark all they want until they're little 1/16" pieces. I saw a documentary about a high tech recycling center where they used rotating steel hammers spinning on a roller to break stuff up and then a combination of magnets, chemicals, heat and water on several long conveyor belts with different sized holes separated out the different elements. For gold and silver it was able to produce a brick of slag that was shipped out to be smelted. Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,359
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,359 |
Bob, I saw that or a similar TV show with that shredder, perhaps on How It's Made or something like that. Fascinating. Worked just as you said.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,930
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,930 |
I don't know the answer to your question and do not want to hazard a guess.
But that is just one symptom of a larger problem. Why aren't things designed to be fixed or recycled when they could easily be designed differently? Why have we become a throwaway society?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,359
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,359 |
“Hazard” a guess? Good one.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,063
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,063 |
I don't know the answer to your question and do not want to hazard a guess.
But that is just one symptom of a larger problem. Why aren't things designed to be fixed or recycled when they could easily be designed differently? Why have we become a throwaway society? Because that is the way the manufacturers want it. Back in the old days we had repair shops and/or we could repair things ourselves. Those days are gone.
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,395
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,395 |
IMHO
Computers and such are far different animals than many historical products.
Technology moves much faster than hardware can support.
Eventually any system reaches a point where it's hardware capabilities can't keep up. So 'soldering/replacing a part' makes no sense; the whole system gets obsolete pretty quickly anyway.
It's not whether they 'could' make parts replaceable, but more a question of whether it is worth it for anyone in the long run.
In this day/age computers are not meant to be repaired for decades. For the price point we can get them at it is much more efficient to replace them, but then we do end up with a lot of waste.
We need a better way of handling the waste .. but that costs money. At this point, handling the cost of the waste is really the issue.
We can buy a new spiffy system for $450 .. but nothing in that cost covers the waste; that's the buyer's problem.
Recycling needs to be incorporated into manufacturer costs (and retail price adjustments) but nobody will like that solution either.either.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414 |
Very intriguing article, and some really points being brought up too.
I have a history with dangerous goods shipping at previous jobs. I have internationally shipped dry ice, compressed oxygen, bodily fluids/tissue - but the one that always astounded me was how dangerous lithium batteries actually can be. And they are sitting right there in your pocket day after day inside your phone. And in your laptop, your tablet, etc. The paperwork you need to fill out to put these on a plane is astounding, and when they blow up or catch on fire it is catastrophic.
Thankfully the odds are extremely incredibly low of anything happening like that, but it still interests me. Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Deryk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,989
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,989 |
I've seen this discussion come up a few times, and it's always interesting to see what everyone's perspective is on it. While I was away at Disney during the Safari they actually mention the mining process involved for getting some of the necessary elements for phone batteries and for other electronics and encouraged people to always recycling their phone batteries instead of throwing them out.
It never dawned on me to throw away old phones/batteries. I have all my old phones in a drawer just in case anything happens to my present one and I need backups. Mind you, I only have 4 older phones.
Really cool article, though! Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Ember
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
Those who want to blame the manufacturers for not producing reparable products need to look in the mirror.
It's all about price, price and price. Most folks will drive across town to save five bucks on a $500 item or order it on Amazon to save ten. The business press is full of articles going back 20 years about companies either going under or moving to Asia or even India. Why? Retail price. People love to talk about patriotism and supporting our workers yet what do they do when they go shopping? They shop based on price. That's it. Period the end. Making it cheap also makes it disposable.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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 PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,397
Posts791,608
Members39,875
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean