This afternoon I helped set my Dad up to use Zoom, so he can Zoom with his siblings. He's using my Widget microphone, so all I need to do is find him a webcam.
Easy, huh? It's not like I'm looking for toilet paper.
Everyone in my household already has a computer with a built-in camera so they can Zoom their classwork. So I guess I didn't notice there had been a run on webcams.
There's nothing affordable on the local Craigslist.
Our local Target is still open, so I checked their website. They haven't got any webcams that sell for less than $400.
I had a look at the Best Buy website, and everything affordable there is sold out as well. But the brick-and-mortar store is closed, so that's sort of moot.
Fry's hasn't got any webcams, but then, they're pretty much a shell of what they used to be.
The local OfficeMax does curbside pickup, but the only webcams not listed "Out of Stock" turn out to be "For Future Pickup", which seems to be a distinction without a difference.
There are a number on Amazon, but they have reviews like "Didn't work" and "Worst webcam I ever owned.". Since some of those date back to 2008, I'm sure they work even better on Windows 10!
This isn't really a complaint, as much as it's an observation how fragile the supply chain can be.
Edit: Looks like I may be able to find a digital camera and make that work instead.
Anyway, I've got to imagine there's a huge load on the interwebs these days.
Makes my glad I'm not a network admin!
Last edited by dcuny; 04/01/2003:25 PM. Reason: Digital camera
About LA and CA. The numbers have been pretty low compared to the rest of the country. Well, that's about to change I think. Watching CNBC earlier and I found out there are over 59,000 test kits that had to be sent out to labs over the last several days and it will take a few more days to get the results back. Hmmmm...
OTOH, there's more articles about how the fatality rate is lower then they initially thought.
I sure you will enjoy that new guitar Bob. New toys are always fun!
I have voted both sides of the aisle, I'm nobody's fan-boy, and I reserve the right to criticize both parties and whoever screws up. We screwed this one up and it's costing precious lives.
Well said! I too have voted both sides in elections from dogcatcher to president. And I always criticize based on performance and not on politics! An honest person should be willing to admit their screw-ups!
Me too. Staunch independent and have voted both sides of the aisle.
Beside music. My next project is getting out the sewing machine and sewing some homemade masks. I'm no great seamstress but what the heck. It seems the new advice is to wear something over your face when you go out in case you have it and don't know it so you won't spread as much. But they don't want people getting the real n95's or the hospital surgical masks because the docs and nurses really need those. I reckon anything that offers a modicum of protection is better than nothing. Infections in my parish jumped to 90 today. Only one death so far thank God.
Great idea! It's not only stopping you from infecting someone else, it's also wearing a mask helps you to remember to not touch your face. On another forum a guy said he was wearing his motorcycle helmet when shopping. That'll stop him from touching his face...
Post a pic of what you come up with, I think we would all like to see it.
I'm with you. I think that wearing any kind of mask is better than wearing none. As Bob says, it's good protection against touching your face. Our doctors are also saying that it helps reduce contamination of others if you have the virus and don't know about it.
Here in Australia, a number of our medical professionals (pharmacists in particular) are being treated really aggressively by some people. I don't get that. As I see it, like with the N95 masks you mention, we have to do everything we can to help our medics stay safe. Without them, getting through this contagion becomes much much harder.
You mentioned 'sewing' so this might interest you. I saw it on our news last night.
The below young guy is from Tasmania (my home state). He makes bears for sick children and now he's using COVID-19 isolation in a positive and productive way....
Noel that is such a sweet video and he's talented at making those bears. I'll be happy if our masks I make (ones for me and my husband) are wearable! LOL!. I'm so happy you are okay. My husband and I staying in as much as possible other than to venture into our own yard and when forced to go to the grocery.
I had to go take labs and they wouldn't let me cancel a doc visit. That was nerve wracking and unnecessary under the circumstances. But the new nurse practitioner refused to write my prescriptions (which have been the same for over a year) unless I came in person even though I've been seeing my regular doc who's out sick and she's filling in for - I've been seeing him for several years. So at the moment I'm pretty down on nurse practitioners at least this fresh out of school one. Maybe I just got a clueless jerk. So I hit the sanitizer every chance I got while I was at the lab and at the doc office and in my car and washed and changed as soon as I got home. Thank goodness it's been 14 days and I have no symptoms. Hope that wasn't too much info. I've missed you.
This afternoon I helped set my Dad up to use Zoom, so he can Zoom with his siblings. He's using my Widget microphone, so all I need to do is find him a webcam.
David, do you know if Zoom allows screen sharing? I need to conduct a training session next week and don't want video but I'd like to have my screen shared and audio both directions. I can do the audio over the phone if necessary.
Quote:
Fry's hasn't got any webcams, but then, they're pretty much a shell of what they used to be.
Ahhh, Fry's Electronics! I used to shop at their very first store in Sunnyvale, CA in the mid-80s! Geeks like me were over the moon at the idea of a store where we could buy electronics parts, C compilers and snacks all in one location!! Almost as cool as the West Coast Computer Faire!
I pass this on in case it's useful... I've been using Microsoft Teams for my online school teaching and it allows me to share my screen(s) in realtime with students.
Your nurse practitioner sounds like they were just making unnecessary work for themselves. If it makes you feel any better, I'm like you. When I go out where people are, which is rare, I sanitise my hands every opportunity, keep the 6 feet or so distance between people and am very mindful of everything I touch.
When I get home, it's wash and change, also. I'm aiming to hang around on Earth a while yet so I'm doing all I can to keep covid-19 at bay.
I saw a woman yesterday who was wearing rubber gloves. I haven't gone that far yet because I don't have any open wounds on my hand. Fortunately the virus doesn't penetrate skin. If I had a cut on my hand, though, I'd definitely get out the latex gloves!
Where safety is concerned, it's much better to err on the side of caution, I think.
It's great to see you in the forums, again! It's not the same when you're not here.
David, do you know if Zoom allows screen sharing? I need to conduct a training session next week and don't want video but I'd like to have my screen shared and audio both directions. I can do the audio over the phone if necessary.
My kids - who use it for school - assure me that you can share the screen.
I'm using zoom to teach my school kids. You can share your screen, see all the people at the same time or not (Top right corner). It's great. Also they've taken away the 40 min limit on the free version for the time being - at least in Hong Kong. Be warned that there have been articles about security. People taking over webcams and kids recording lessons, and spreading them on the web and basically being little [*****]. Just so you're aware. You can record your lessons to cover yourself anyway. Some of my colleagues don't show their face or home on webcam to be covered.
As for a webcam. I reckon it's of limited interest to older people. Just a lot of trouble. They seem quite happy with audio and it's a lot less bandwidth.
Windows 10 Home 20H2 Build 19042.487 BIAB 2021 (Build 818) Intel(R) Core(TM), i3-4160, CPU @3.60 GHz RAM 16 GB, 64 Bit X64-based processor Zoom UAC-2 (USB 3 interface-built in midi) VoiceLive 3 Extreme, Sputnik Valve Condenser Mic
I pass this on in case it's useful... I've been using Microsoft Teams for my online school teaching and it allows me to share my screen(s) in realtime with students.
David, do you know if Zoom allows screen sharing? I need to conduct a training session next week and don't want video but I'd like to have my screen shared and audio both directions. I can do the audio over the phone if necessary.
My kids - who use it for school - assure me that you can share the screen.
I'm using zoom to teach my school kids. You can share your screen, see all the people at the same time or not (Top right corner). It's great. Also they've taken away the 40 min limit on the free version for the time being - at least in Hong Kong. Be warned that there have been articles about security. People taking over webcams and kids recording lessons, and spreading them on the web and basically being little [*****]. Just so you're aware. You can record your lessons to cover yourself anyway. Some of my colleagues don't show their face or home on webcam to be covered.
As for a webcam. I reckon it's of limited interest to older people. Just a lot of trouble. They seem quite happy with audio and it's a lot less bandwidth.
Thank you lambada! I heard something about security concerns too.
Leilani and I get along so well that 24/7/365 isn't too much time to spent together. In fact, it isn't enough.
We're making new style and fake 'disks' for Band-in-a-Box, and when we aren't doing that, we're spending quality time together.
Yesterday I left my house for the first time in over a week. We went grocery shopping for perishables. It's like living in a Sci-Fi movie. The enemy is invisible and could be anywhere (cue theremin music).
People wearing masks, keeping their distance, wearing mostly blue or purple gloves, spraying shopping carts, looking at each other with suspicious eyes, greeting cashiers behind plexiglass screens, blue tape on the floor where the lines are spaced 6' apart, and so on.
Needing gas for the car, I brought a disposable nitrile glove, touched everything with only that hand, and disposed of it before getting back in the car.
All this just seems eerie to me.
Following advice I brought a small spray bottle filled with 70% alcohol. Sprayed everything including my credit card when I took it out of the reader. We sterilized our hands before touching the car, washed them many times during the trip and first thing when we entered the house.
We unpacked everything outdoors, rubbed down with either diluted bleach/water or alcohol before bringing the groceries in the house. We stripped to our underwear and hung the grocery bags and our clothes on the clothesline (we have privacy in our back yard). We left our shoes outside as well (that part is normal practice for us).
Paranoid? No. We just decided that since some people who recover have diminished lung functionality, and since we make our living with our lungs (voice, sax, flute, wind synth) it's best to err on the side of caution.
The governor put us on a "stay at home" order today, but I've been doing that for weeks already. Since all my gigs have been cancelled, I call it "Economic Isolation"
I probably won't have to leave my little half-acre in paradise for another couple of weeks.
Funny result. Every day I walk up and down our dead-end street for a total of 4 miles. Getting in the car and driving down the road at 35mph seemed like I was traveling at light speed in comparison (that wore off in a mile or so).
I do hope everyone is being cautious and that none of my BiaB buddies will catch the plague.
Using Webex, Zoom, and Micro$oft Teams on my work from home as an IT person in the Stock Market/Finance industry. Webex started slowing down as soon as the virus had people switching to home. Most of us migrated to Zoom when that happened and it's been holding up well considering the large amount of users in both business and education now.
Your nurse practitioner sounds like they were just making unnecessary work for themselves. If it makes you feel any better, I'm like you. When I go out where people are, which is rare, I sanitise my hands every opportunity, keep the 6 feet or so distance between people and am very mindful of everything I touch.
When I get home, it's wash and change, also. I'm aiming to hang around on Earth a while yet so I'm doing all I can to keep covid-19 at bay.
I saw a woman yesterday who was wearing rubber gloves. I haven't gone that far yet because I don't have any open wounds on my hand. Fortunately the virus doesn't penetrate skin. If I had a cut on my hand, though, I'd definitely get out the latex gloves!
Where safety is concerned, it's much better to err on the side of caution, I think.
It's great to see you in the forums, again! It's not the same when you're not here.
Noel
It's great to see you in the forums, again! It's not the same when you're not here.
[Quote ]It's great to see you in the forums, again! It's not the same when you're not here.[/quote]
You are dearly loved 'round these here parts, Josie. We need your logical mind during this unprecedented crisis.
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)
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!
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.
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.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
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