Our tires were slashed in our driveway. Felt so weird someone would do that. Have no idea who vandal was. Need suggestions for security camera with lights motion activated easy diy install and use and reliable. And CHEAP. Anybody using one you'd recommend? Josie
Trail cameras also work quite well and can be cheaper than camera security systems. They start around $35 retail and up at Wal-mart. Battery life runs close to one year. They have the same motion range as security systems and are quite rugged in severe outdoor weather conditions.
They are more mobile than home based security systems and run independently of each other so if one suffers a failure, it has no effect on any others you may have. They can be placed in stealthier locations and easily camouflaged to be undetectable.
You can set them and forget them for a year unless you have reason to check them.
Trail cams come in many configurations and with many options. Work indoors and outdoors. Resistant to extreme weather. They can upload to the cloud as well as send images and text alerts to your mobile phone instantly. Some even sweep up to 360 degrees.
Being in the security business for 30 years..... I often tell folks to buy those inexpensive trail cameras. Put several around and have them looking at the area you want to observe as well as a few just looking at the obvious cams. People will steal the cameras and you can often get really good pics of them if you place a few in hidden places.
There's been a lot of really low cost consumer grade stuff coming on the market that works well enough for most cases like yours. I don't deal with those so I'm not up to speed on the low end gear. What I install is higher end commercial grade high resolution IP cameras and is cost prohibitive to most homeowners.
Hopefully, that vandalism was a once and gone thing. Tires are expensive.
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.
Just to comply with forum rules, make it ‘music-related’. For example, you need surveillance because someone left an accordion in your unlocked car.
The trail cam is a great suggestion, including as a way to protect the more expensive cameras. Good thinking.
Arlo, in case other readers do not know, is the kind of device that syncs to your WiFi. I can look at my house door, yard and dock from afar. I keep my Arlo base station and my Internet modem and router on an uninterruptible power supply.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
This morning I was starting out on a walk with the dogs. 6 AM. Someone thought I was breaking into my own house. Dogs are small so they did not see them. All they saw was skinny little me fuddling with the keys.
Matt, are the Arlo cams hard to zero in on the exact amount of movement before the capture is triggered? I have Foscams and they are a NIGHTMARE to get just right. I go back and forth from no captures to 100 a night from leaves blowing across the yard. Level 7 is too soft, level 8 is too hard.
Josie is your driveway where the crime happened in a very dark place or is it well lit? I have 4 solar powered motion detecting light on my property, 2 of them aimed at where the trailer is parked. When I leave the car in the driveway in front of the garage I want a lot of light on it should there be movement (and for topic compliance I'll add) because sometimes there may be an amp or something left in it if I am too lazy to unload it.
Herb, is that not the ultimate in irony when someone steals a camera that is put in place to deter theft?
Although maybe not as bad as a guy who hoards guitars and rarely plays guitar anymore... (That would be me...)
Either way Josie, it sucks that you had to go through that. I hope either your homeowner or car insurance covered it. I don't know your area but it sounds like punks with nothing better to do likely did it. Mainly because they did all 4. Someone revenge motivated hits one and runs because they know whatever they are getting revenge for makes them an immediate suspect. Two at most because they know people carry ONE spare...
Just to comply with forum rules, make it ‘music-related’. For example, you need surveillance because someone left an accordion in your unlocked car.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Thank you so much guys. My driveway is too dark. I really appreciate all the great info. I knew y'all would point me to the right path.
Josie
Motion sensor security lighting might be a very good deterrent (in case someone also attempts to place a banjo alongside the accordion... ).
The units come complete with bright low-power LED lighting and integrated motion sensor, adjustable timing - typically a few seconds to 10 minutes, and an adjustable light sensor so that they can be set to only work after sunset.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Thank you so much guys. My driveway is too dark. I really appreciate all the great info. I knew y'all would point me to the right path.
Josie
Get cameras that have IR illumination built in. They will say that in the specs. IR is invisible to the human eye so the perps think they're working in the dark.... as a result, they are less cautious about showing their faces and the IR lights them up like daytime.
Get the highest MP ( megapixel ) rated camera you can afford. You will not regret that. Better pic quality when you digitally zoom in.
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.
Good advice Herb. Most all security cameras offer that as a default option these days. The Arlo ones that Matt and I use have it as well. Mine have an option to turn on a spotlight when motion is detected too.
I use both. Motion detecting lights (multiple) and camera. The camera also sends a notice to phone in case I am not home and sends the most recent video to phone if requested so I can see what's going on before reacting.
We also have dogs, one that is old enough to be helpful and bark, and a couple pups that are still learning <grin> Won't be long before they are bigger than the old guy though.
I used to work construction in Chicago many moons ago, and had a few rough guys that were 'ex' gang members under me (though I am sure at least one still had a lot of pull observing how the others respected him). Anyway .. he once told me, when a thief is looking for a house to break into and there are 10 houses on the block .. if four of them have a dog, you got 6 to pick from. That stuck with me
Last edited by rharv; 10/27/2102:09 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Josie. My suggestion is that if you are going to light the area, put the lights on a motion sensor. The light turning on will startle the vandal, and the appearance of the light will provide a warning to you and/or your neighbors that something is going on outside.
Also, don't make the light shine on your neighbors' houses. Don't be guilt of light trespassing.
I have a rude neighbor across the street and back from the road about 300' who has multiple very bright lights aimed outward, and 3 of them are shining into our bedroom window. He says it's a theft deterrent.
I say I can make hand-shadow puppets on the opposite wall inside my house at night.
I've planted some Downy Jasmine bushes, hopefully by next summer they will be tall and dense enough to block the light.
Yep... motion activated lights are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to deter criminal activity. No one wants to be seen while doing their nefarious deeds.
Light shows them and light attracts attention. They want neither.
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.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
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Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
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!
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Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
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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)
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