Notes. i am highly impressed with my 80 buk amazon fire tablet. it is FAST. if all you want to do is net surfing , cant be beat imho. my wife uses it for girly stuff, candy crush game,lol and researching new stuff for the house etc. i use it for looking at studio stuff. i love the high res screen and it boots fast. no brainer imho in a world where tech is rapidly obsolete...also have a cheapo chromebook i'm useing now ..not as portable as fire tablet but also nice om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 10/25/2103:27 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
I have had one for a number of years now. Since it is an older model it takes a few seconds to boot but once it is up and running everything is quite fast.
Also I have an SD card installed that contains all of my software documentation. Thus I can keep my DAW, BiaB, soft synths, etc up and running while I view the docs on the tablet.
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Notes. i went on my fire to the app store for it. loads of apps includeing weather. just google amazon fire weather apps and see what takes your fancy. frankly ive never dloaded a weather app. cos fire tells me what today/the week is gonna be like. i guess its built in.
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs (90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
For straight forward day to day apps, I have found that Android is Android. Different speed processors and more memory and all that are overkill to do simple things. I only use my iPad to watch football on Sundays when there are 3 games on at once. I watch 2 on computer monitors and one on the iPad.
Since we play a lot of outdoor gigs here in Florida, real-time radar is a great benefit. We can see the showers, how they are moving, and how likely we are going to get wet right here, not in the general area.
The rain down here is mostly scattered T-Storms. NOAA can say 70% chance and the showers might be no closer than 10 miles from us, or often, since we have a strong sea-breeze, they might be confined to a few miles west of the coast where we are.
We all have our wants and needs, I haven't watched a football game, or any other sport on TV since the 1970s. Actually I haven't watched any TV since the early 1990s - zilch - nada - zero.
I'm thinking either a Fire or a Galaxy Tab A right now.
I'm pretty invested in Android myself, so I would be able to set it up for Mrs. Notes easily.
I'll be glad to see the iPad gone. Transferring files from Android to Windows is easy, transferring files from Apple to anything non-Apple is a PITA.
I originally bought the iPad for the music apps, which I found I never used. I messed around with Garage Band a bit, but I ran into it's limitations rather quickly, it ain't no Band-in-a-Box.
I thought the battery was tanked, so I bought an Android for myself, and later I realized it wasn't the battery, but the charger. Mrs. Notes has been using the iPod since, but now the battery isn't holding a charge all that long, and I'd rather replace the tablet. I found a place that will buy it and refurbish it. https://www.gizmogo.com/
Thanks again for all your input. I'm putting my thinking cap back on.
You do have to be aware of hurricanes and such down there. Not to mention "the daily storm" you get. We just had some f0 and f1 tornados touch down here (Only 4-5 miles from me to be exact) and the whole of northeast Ohio said "Huh? HERE???" The first confirmed touch down around me in 16 years.
I got the iPad for Facetime calling. Most of my friends have Android and use Duo or Zoom, but there's that straggler here or there who is still an Apply fanboi with the yearly phone upgrades to run the latest iOS...
The hurricanes are usually no problem. Unlike tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, we usually get days of advance notice to prepare.
Those afternoon T-Storms are another problem indeed. Sometimes they seem to come out of nowhere. I've lived in Florida since I was 10 years old, so I have a basic handle on the weather patterns, the problem is that Mother Nature gets inventive from time to time.
The hurricanes are usually no problem. Unlike tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, we usually get days of advance notice to prepare.
Those afternoon T-Storms are another problem indeed. Sometimes they seem to come out of nowhere. I've lived in Florida since I was 10 years old, so I have a basic handle on the weather patterns, the problem is that Mother Nature gets inventive from time to time.
Notes ♫
Nothing like a Soupy Green Sky in August (there's a song title for you!), sitting in a plane at Miami Int'l and watching the ground staff disappear. Lightning within 5 miles (or 10, can't remember). Sit on the plane until they come back.
Isn't the Everglades the lightning capital of the U.S.?
ThinkPad i9 32GB RAM 7TB SSD; Win11 Pro; RME Fireface UCX II; BiaB 2025 Ultra Bitwig Studio 6; Studio One Pro 7; Melodyne Studio 5; Acoustica Premium 7 Gig Performer 5; NI S61 MK3; Focal Shape 65; Beyerdynamic DT 880 & 770
Notes I was driving back from Florida once in a little Geo Tracker. I had just gone through the speed trap that is Waldo (population 825) and as I neared Jacksonville "the daily storm" blew in and I had to park that little car against the leeward wall of a Waffle House because the winds were pushing it sideways so bad. It felt like tornadic force winds.
To be on topic, I never stopped playing music...
Even more on topic, any tablet like a Fire that has an SD card slot will fill the bill for you. While it isn't 100% correct to say an Amazon Fire tabled runs Android because they run their own FireOS, it is so similar to Android that the Android apps will run fine. Semantics.
I look at Miami radar or Key West Radar most every day before I ride my bike. Also outdoor gigs in the keys. I normally do that on my iPhone or Eva's Android phone. Real-time radar.
I have two tablets. One call a Dragon Touch and the smaller one is from Amazon. Fire. The Amazon one was sent to me as a gift from Amazon. The larger one is a little better to watch movies on but they both work the same. As far as speed is concerned who cares if surfing the internet is all you are doing. I had another expensive one from Apple but it failed so I tossed it in the trash. Anything serious and I am on my computer anyway.
Looking at Amazon 8" Fire $90 Better 10' Tablet $140 Anything in that range will do the job.
Billy
Last edited by Planobilly; 10/26/2109:19 AM.
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
LOL Mario...I had to laugh when I saw the photo. Looks like I have been walking around in mud also but it is just a shadow.
My wife says I must have a large percent of aboriginal blood in me lol. Perhaps she is correct.
Like I always say "I like to sleep late in the morning, don't like to wear no shoes, make love to the women while I'm living, get drunk on a bottle of Booze"
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
............... Like I always say "I like to sleep late in the morning, don't like to wear no shoes, make love to the women while I'm living, get drunk on a bottle of Booze"
Billy
We have a lot in common my friend!
The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."
64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
I had a nook color as my first android DNA tablet and then a Samsung galaxy Tab3. Amazon fire tablets are the cheapest. At one time they wouldn’t let you side load apps but my guess is that limitation is gone now.
Here’s what I found with the Samsung: Android seems to obsolete devices more rapidly than Apple if you want the latest OS. So you have to be careful with that.
For the existing iPad you have, run battery health and if it is truly bad you will see it there. I’m assuming you are familiar with the regular clean out of lightning ports. If not, it’s diy and more often than not fuzz in there prevents good charging.
Isn't the Everglades the lightning capital of the U.S.?
<...>
One of the two different day jobs I had while investigating what it was to be normal (neither one lasted all that long) was working for the telephone company, back when all telephones were attached to wires.
In the engineering department there was a map of lighting strikes across North America. The 'lightning capital' was an oval shape from Tampa Bay to Palm Beach with the oval wider on the Tampa side. The most lightning strikes per year in North America. There were concentric ovals around that. It puts the Everglades (and where I live) in the #2 spot.
On an outdoor gig I frequently monitor the radar on my phone and I bring a huge tarp. Monitoring the radar lets me know if I need to get the tarp out and ready.
Whenever I leave the house or when I go to bed at night, every piece of electronics gear gets unplugged.
One day back in the 1980s Mrs. Notes and I went out for lunch. I forgot to unplug. One of those storms popped up out of nowhere while we were eating, and an Akai S900 hardware sampler plus a laser printer got fried. That was an expensive lunch, and I haven't forgotten to unplug since. In fact, I have a light connected to remind me that the gear is plugged in.
Thanks again for the suggestions, I'm investigating, making a list of pros and cons (the best I can), and I'm going to leave the final decision to my dear wife. After all, she is going to be the one to use it.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 Windows or for Mac.
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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 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 and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
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