Also, I could also say there CAN be more to it than that. I have received excellent feedback from artists and producers in Nashville lately with very encouraging words, and I have some solid projects going.
I play instruments, obviously, but I also use BIAB for other tracks. No one is complaining. I am only receiving compliments, and as I say I have some VERY interesting things in the works.
Plus, I am actually selling my stuff right now, for sync, and also online.
It is a really fun "hobby" for sure--but there is a lot more that can be done here.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Bob, just to clarify the "demo" incident. That was in 1993 when I went back to college for the IT degree and took music classes to have more credit hours for my grant. The offender was a 19 year old kid who thought he could cheat his way into an A. In my mind had I let him get away with it, that would have devalued my A. (And I take that seriously as while going through a BA program in 3 1/2 years and the AS in 18 months I never had anything BUT an A.) That class met Tuesday and Thursday. He made "his" presentation Tuesday. On Thursday I asked if could present a composition and played the exact thing he did Tuesday. The prof asked "Didn't we just hear this on Tuesday?" I said "Yes. It's the demo song in a Yamaha DX7."
So it wasn't an elder who dud that. In 1993 I was 42 and he was 19. And lazy. And a cheat. Had I met busted him he would have cheated his way into an A.
Eddie if you don't write a freaking song or at least have a verse and chorus for a decent collab when I see you at the party in April, I will run over you with your own camper dude.
Tune up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Write a song dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BIAB 2022!!!!!!!!!!! Plug it in man!!!!!!!
The clock is ticking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
I’m with David on this one. I do a lot of Band-in-a-Box one on one coaching. Procrastination is a big problem and people tend to use the technology to hide behind. “If only I had a better mic. If only I knew how to…” etc etc.
I say to them, just make a backing track of an easy popular song, choose Amazing Grace or Let it Be or whatever, switch on your mic and make a recording. Do this as often as you can and most importantly, have fun. But many people can’t (or wont ) do this.
I think people’s tendency to procrastinate is the reason for my YouTube channel’s success. They chance upon a play along of a song they know and love and think “hey, maybe I can play this” . They haul out their guitar and end up playing for 4 hours! Just starting is always the hardest part.
To get back to Billy's original post and considering this is PG's forum, the answer to him is whatever makes you happy is good. The point is to still make/play/listen to music. I've been on this forum for over 20 years and most here are hobbyists just having some fun. There are a few true pro's but most are just messing around having some fun.
At age 76, the worst thing I see with an old person who's still pretty healthy is they get bored. They never developed any worthwhile hobbies, never developed their minds in anything. They never had a real career, just worked regular jobs because they needed to live but the jobs never meant anything to them. Now they're retired with nothing to do but watch reruns of Oprah or something. This is why when I retired from the CPA firm almost 5 years ago now I agreed to still work part time for them as a remote consultant. It's why I still gig every chance I get, like I basically froze my butt off doing two outdoor gigs for Presidents Day in Avalon on Catalina Island. I had to play bass because our bass player was sick so I needed to work up some songs that I already know well but never paid much attention to the bass lines. In addition to that I'm a high tech geek and I watch a ton of YT vids about all kinds of stuff. I have a very curious mind and can find tons of things that interest me. The internet is the best library ever created in the history of the human race.
I say this to not brag, far from it. I know there a lot of elderly people on these forums. If you're retired and do not stay active to the best of your ability both physically and mentally, you're just going to waste away. I try to, gently of course, tell people this both in person and online.
All the toys we all have are all good. If you need to get rid of some of it to make space, that's sensible just don't quit making music. There is no downside to this, music improves the mind because of how it all works. I get Eddies point about somebody using a demo song and saying he wrote it and that somehow offends him. Fine, but the person who did that and posted it is probably older and is simply keeping themselves active by doing that and I say good for them. They're not trying to go to Sony and tell them Hey, listen to this new song I just wrote! Discussions like this always revert to the musical world in general, I'm trying to keep it real, here, on these forums.
Keep it up, don't give it up. If all you can do is a rewrite of Mary Had a Little Lamb using a Biab demo song, great I'd love to hear it and good for you. It's better than watching 30 year old reruns and drinking beer on your couch.
Bob
As this thread has turned out to be about everything other than the question I ask I will at least respond to what Bob has said.
I am 76 and I can assure you I am defiantly not bored. Turned on BIAB two or three times in the last two weeks. Played two of the three pianos I have here. Canceled my subscription to Auto-Tune Played two of the dozens of guitars I own. Oh, and my wife did dust off a few of the custom amps. Started another war protest song, then decided to put all my guns in good condition as better use of my time. Went to the gun range to see if I could still make a 1200 yard kill shot with my 300 Winchester Mag sniper rifle. Ordered another 4000 rounds of NATO 5.56X45mm Stocked up on 4000 gallons of diesel fuel for the ranch before the price went. Ordered twice the usual amount of fertilizer because the prices are going up. Got all my employees the third booster shot.
I may stockpile a lot of stuff but I can assure you I don't have a storage shed that I have been paying $150 a month for full of crap I have not looked at in three years that I just can't bear to part with.
The comment about excessive amounts of musical equipment was a much more far-reaching question.
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…”
I never saw a post that was a bigger flex in all my years here.
The answer to your question is "no". NONE of your vast collection of instruments makes music. You do.
Should we all now feel inferior because you told us about your 29 pianos and 723 guitars?
EDIT after some curiosity crept in:
I wonder if he typed that post while wearing an Armani suit and Gucci shoes or a Versace robe and slippers? While checking the time on his Rolex?
Makes me feel SO inferior because my shoes come from Sketchers, I wear cheap yoga pants and t-shirts all the time, and I don't even own a watch other than the one I got in 1961 for my Confirmation. (And it STILL WORKS!!) I never wear it but it came from my sponsor who was my "hero" big cousin and the reason I am involved with music.
I almost bought an expensive watch once but when I looked closer it was a Polex...
I HAVE a lot of audacity, but I suspect that's not what you meant!
Not let me get back to my 29 pianos and 723 guitars and get this song done. I may even drop a few names of famous people while I'm at it, because as we all know, the successes of other people somehow makes ME better...
Oh, and while I am talking to you, my dear friends Steve Lukather, Joe Perry, and Neil Schon are not returning my phone calls, so you are next on deck for some solo work!!
Well, thanks to Mr. Snyder I now have pedal envy, so I started digging through the junk closet and found a tremolo pedal, and I am headed to the second chance music store to pick up a phase shifter. And maybe 4 different distortion pedals and 2 flangers.
Silver 120 Roland JC120 Black Duo Fender Twin Reverb AD Clean Orange AD 30 MATCH DC Matchless DC30
ODS 50 Dumble ODS 50 HRM
Glassy Tweed Bass Fender Bassman AC Boost Vox AC30 Checkmate Teisco Checkmate20 Two Stone SP50 Two Rock Studio Pro 50 Crunch American Deluxe Fender ’57 Custom Deluxe Plexiglas Marshall Super Lead 100 JM45 Marshall JTM45 Lux Verb Fender Deluxe Reverb Blues Boy Fender Blues Junior
High Gain
RB 101 Bogner Ecstasy 101 British 30 Orange AD30 American High Gain Mesa Boogie JP-2C SLO 100 Soldano SLO-100 YJM100 Marshall YJM100 Signature
Metal Treadplate Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier Insane EVH 5150 III SwitchAxe H&K Switch Blade Rocker V Orange Rockerverb 50 BE 101 Friedman BE100
Insane 6508
Peavey 6505 Acoustic Pure Acoustic PG Original Fishboy Fishman Acoustic Amp Jumbo PG Original Flat Acoustic PG Original Bass RB-800 Gallien-Krueger 800RB Sunny 3000 Sunn 300T W600 Eden WTP600 Hammer 500 Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 Experience Jimi Hendrix™ for Spark
J.H. 45/100
Marshall JTM45/100
J.H. Super 100
Marshall Super Lead 100
J.H. Bass Master
Fender 1968 BASSMAN 50
J.H. D-Show Master
Fender DUAL SHOWMAN
J.H. Sun 100S
SUNN 100S
J.H. Tone City 100
SOUND CITY One Hundred
Effect List Category Effect Gate Noise Gate Comp LA Comp Sustain Comp Red Comp Bass Comp Optical Comp Drive Booster Tube Drive Over Drive Fuzz Face Black Op Bass Muff Guitar Muff Bassmaster SAB Driver Clone Drive MOD/EQ Tremolo Chorus Flanger Phaser Vibrato UniVibe Cloner Chorus Classic Vibe Tremolator Tremolo Square
Guitar EQ Bass EQ Delay Digital Delay Echo Filt Vintage Delay Reverse Delay Multi Head Echo Tape Reverb Room Studio A Chamber Hall Natural Plate Short Hall Ambient Plate Rich Hall Medium Plate Long Room Studio B
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.
Eddie, did he win the competition?? Is our beloved Herb, the biggest, baddest, most epic man of all international gadget-buying epic hero men with more stuff ever to strut and swagger his epic-ness on the forum???
How can we compete???
Should we crawl home and die or go over to his house on April 2nd and beat him up????
Wait...both of you guys are old school vets. Not sure I want to see this fight....
It could get nasty.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Eddie, did he win the competition?? Is our beloved Herb, the biggest, baddest, most epic man of all international gadget-buying epic hero men with more stuff ever to strut and swagger his epic-ness on the forum???
How can we compete???
Should we crawl home and die or go over to his house on April 2nd and beat him up????
Wait...both of you guys are old school vets. Not sure I want to see this fight....
It could get nasty.
When I bought this amp, it was a mere $224 and included free shipping. When you come over I'll be glad to let you play around with it.
SPARK just released a MINI version....as if the original was too big. The Spark is 40w stereo.... the mini is 5w stereo.
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.
You got me to do some spring cleaning in the studio and I am glad I did.
This is not your setup per se with that Spark amp (which I looked at) but it is similar.
I can do a lot of things (because I have a lot of instruments) but one thing I just did was run a line out of the Fender Super Champ XD, which has some cool amp sims, using a tweed amp, into the audio interface.
Then I opened up Amplitube and tried some Fender amp sims at a low gain with the incoming amp signal, chaining the real amp to the fake one. It sounds REALLY good. Basically two amps, but one is real (and tube) and the other is not. I can keep the amplitube amp or turn it off and just use the pedals.
There is MORE than enough here for me to find more sounds than I will ever use, considering I have pedal boards, and effects racks too.
So I kinda jimmy-rigged a version of what you have and it is fun. I look forward to messing with it. With the amp speaker unplugged I get to keep my wife as well.
Well, at least for the time being.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
It might be time for me to look at some of the other models on my Line 6 Spyder III. It has been on the same model for 5 years or so. I also have a Line 6 Pocket Pod I got cheap but have never used.
And my Tremolo pedal!!!
Though the Line 6 has all that stuff built in. Distortion, phase, flange, reverb, echo...
Yeah, sometimes I think we all forget how much stuff we have that we haven't touched or plugged in for years.
If I simply turned the dials on the Super Champ XD, and flipped a few switches in Amplitube, and loaded in 1/100th of what is in real tracks (has anyone seen the 13 stem drum tracks in 2022 BTW??) and loaded 1/1,000th of the free loops in Bandlab, I would have to have another million years or so to finish some songs with nothing but what I already have.
It's crazy. It really is.
But in a good way.
I ain't complaining!!!!
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
This takes me back to being a young stupid kid who went out and bought a set of MacGregor Golden Bear golf clubs because that's what Jack Nicklaus played. And only Titleist golf balls because that's what Jack used..
And I still shot 93 to 95.
It ain't the clubs, and it ain't the gear. A 1958 Les Paul will still sound like me. A Selmer 7 sax will sound like a squeaky gate if I blow through it.
It ain't the gear. Learn major from minor, steps of a scale, why keys relate to each other.YOU make the music, not your gear.
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®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
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!
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!
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean