Background My experimentations continue. In this one I explore the arpeggiator. What I have found is that some “happy accidents” that I could never have planned can happen when manual playing and an arpeggiator interact.
Some will not like this song because of its length, that’s OK. But I find it almost impossible to cram a complete musical thought within a 2 minute timespan. FWIW this started its life more than 6 minutes long but I was able to reduce it some. Some of my favorite instrumentals written and performed by pros exceed 15 minutes.
Comments always welcome.
Technicals 90 BPM Mixed in Studio One
BIAB RealTracks in style: 912:Piano, Electric, Rhythm SmoothPoppy Ev16 090 RealTracks in style: 1236:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SmoothJazzPoppy Ev16 090 RealDrums in style:SmoothJazzPoppy-4-XStHiHt,SnrHHt [Multi]
Me Electric Bass Korg Drum Pattern (Intro) Korg Vintage Saw (Manually Played and Arpeggiator) Korg Noize Dark (Manually Played) Korg Acoustic Piano (Manually Played and Arpeggiator) Korg Electra 368 (Arpeggiator) Korg FM Vamp Pad (Manual Played)
Poem Of Anisoptera, dragonfly what an interesting creature you are I have observed you up close and admired you from far
With 3000 known species and more to discover You fly forward, backward, straight up and down and have been known to hover
Today your wingspan is but a few inches; between 2 and 5 And that is plenty for you to survive
But the fossil record shows your ancestors too could compete And their wingspans were much larger, up to 2 feet
With such a large dragonfly on the prowl day and night They must have filled early man with fear and fright
Were you food for us or were we food for you? Or could it be possible that both were true?
Two compound eyes, four wings and six legs Your larvae can swim quite well and develop from eggs
You are a hunter who catches insects mid-flight Most of your head is eye so you have excellent sight
Arial acrobatics consume energy as you chase your prey But not a problem as you can consume hundreds of mosquitos each day
Dozens of you may gather to feed in swarms Thru the branches, thickets, meadows and thorns
One species can migrate clear across the Indian Ocean 11,000 miles of fantastic locomotion
Engineers are working hard to copy your skills They want a robot to fly undetected thru valleys and over hills
So the next time you see one sitting in the sun or flying close by Consider all that is the magnificent dragonfly
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
BT...this is really cool...it's great background for contemplation and relaxation...the longer the better with this type of piece...I enjoyed every moment...thanks for posting!
www.soundclick.com/firesong BiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10
You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
I like this kind of electronic music and enjoyed the listen a lot.
I have no problem listening to this stuff even if the song lasted 15 minutes. However, it is a great challenge for the composer to captivate the listener for such a long time, especially in a time when the average listener's attention span tends to zero.
I think you did a good job, even with the original 6 minutes I would have listened to the end!
there is a 'feeling' evoked by this song i'm haveing difficulty describing....except to say loved the 'soundscape' of the piece.
ok i got it...when i was a kid i spent lots of time in africa..and your song made me think of africa. i'll share something with you mate. at night we used to sleep on the flat roof under mosquito nets and we could hear often the distant music of african villages. it reminds me of that time.
this is a very subtle great song which drew me in.
GREAT JOB MATE.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 03/16/2301:47 PM.
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.)
Nice one Steve,Mix wise I'd suggest lifting the bass/kick drum to about the same level as the bass. Speaking of bass...REALLY good. I can hear a faint but lovely melody from chords of the piano. I can also imagine this lifting into an Osibisa style groove. Nice one.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Nothing wrong with a long instrumental just so long as there is enough movement and variation to keep the listener engaged, and you proved that you have the knack for doing that with your last few uploads.
BT...this is really cool...it's great background for contemplation and relaxation...the longer the better with this type of piece...I enjoyed every moment...thanks for posting!
fs, thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you're not put off by a 5 minute song.
And contemplation is good
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
I like this kind of electronic music and enjoyed the listen a lot.
I have no problem listening to this stuff even if the song lasted 15 minutes. However, it is a great challenge for the composer to captivate the listener for such a long time, especially in a time when the average listener's attention span tends to zero.
I think you did a good job, even with the original 6 minutes I would have listened to the end!
Hey BD, thanks so much for the listen. I'm glad your attention span is not tending to zero
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
there is a 'feeling' evoked by this song i'm haveing difficulty describing....except to say loved the 'soundscape' of the piece.
ok i got it...when i was a kid i spent lots of time in africa..and your song made me think of africa. i'll share something with you mate. at night we used to sleep on the flat roof under mosquito nets and we could hear often the distant music of african villages. it reminds me of that time.
this is a very subtle great song which drew me in.
GREAT JOB MATE.
om
Hey om, so glad you enjoyed this, I worked on it for awhile.
Africa!!?? Wow, you must have so many awesome menories. I've never visited that continent.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Nice one Steve,Mix wise I'd suggest lifting the bass/kick drum to about the same level as the bass. Speaking of bass...REALLY good. I can hear a faint but lovely melody from chords of the piano. I can also imagine this lifting into an Osibisa style groove. Nice one.
Hey Ray, I always appreciate your insightful analyses. I'm glad you enjoyed this. The kick is embeded in the Korg drum track so I could raise it a bit. Good point.
I had to look up Osibisa: Osibisa are a Ghanaian-British Afro-rock band founded in London in the late 1960s by four expatriate West African and three London based Caribbean musicians. I need to explore them a bit.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Nothing wrong with a long instrumental just so long as there is enough movement and variation to keep the listener engaged, and you proved that you have the knack for doing that with your last few uploads.
Really well done, enjoyed.
Hey Dave, thanks so much for kind review. And I totally agree about keeping the movement moving. I try to do just that.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Instrumentals are normally not my cup of tea but I found this riveting and also quite hypnotic.
I enjoyed it very much - thanks.
Best Regards Nigel
Much appreciated Nigel. So glad you enjoyed it.
Isn't music wonderful? I find it so neat how we can communicate musically to one another.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
4:45 is nothing. I want the 6-minute version for the whole thought. Man, I remember first CD player in car. It would always start the last song played at the beginning. I was only 15 minutes from work, and often listened to he same Jaco or Dead song for weeks.
Back to your thoughts... All of that thinking into 2 chords. WOW. This is more meditative, allowing all other thoughts to rest while the truth is revealed. I'm on my second listen (what a rebel, huh?), and already forget what I wanted to say. The truth is this is very entertaining AND relaxing. Many would call this one a simple bass track, but they obviously never tried it. Most of the pros will say that keeping it straight is the hardest part, and you have mastered it here. Well done.
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
Mesmerizing in an uplifting mellow manner. How's that for alliterations?
Odonatas are our fav insects and we thoroughly enjoy watching them. So it was quite easy to get lost in this well done composition ... listening and reading.
Well done!
J&B
PS Bud had a bicycle once for which the model name was odonata.
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
Steve, you have come a very long way in a very short period of time. You know that I love this genre and you did it perfectly....brilliant Super bass part. Outstanding instrumentation and mix. This is your best to date IMHO.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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