Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471
Some of the 650 songs rarely, if ever, get played.

We got together in 1985 and decided to play the adult/retirement market here in South Florida. It's a big, steady market and until COVID we were never out of work.

But at that time, the majority of the audience wanted to hear Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller era songs. We rarely play those anymore.

But those people died off and what were once younger people entered the adult/retirement audience. So we learned early rock songs, and as the years went on, classic rock, to whatever the current audience asks for.

About as old as we get now is Elvis Presley era songs, about as new as we get is Adele era songs.

We mix in some Country from Ernest Tubb to Zac Brown and play a lot of Baby Boomer Classics from the Beatles onward.

On our beach-side gig we get to mix in some Bob Marley, Jimmy Buffet, Arrow, and other Caribbean songs.

We learn new songs all the time. Whatever gets requested often, if we can cover it, we work it up.

Our songlist: https://www.nortonmusic.com/cats/songlist.html

I've omitted a dozen or two songs that we would rather not be asked for, because they are in medleys and if someone looks at the lists and requests one that is in the middle of a medley, we down't want to disappoint them.

I like playing a variety of genres. I have to put my head in the different places to be authentic, and that keeps things interesting.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 1
J
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
J
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 1
Encore 5 user ~
Miss many features that others are requesting, but mainly I'm very tired of Encore's crashes and lack of auto backup of files (causing work to be lost).
My quandary is, to address this I had planned to buy Overture (written by Don Williams), but now I wonder if I should wait until Encore 6 (also by Williams) is released instead?
Any insights?

Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Welcome to the forum!

I think we need to wait until Encore 6 is released to be able to comment on this good question. I looked at Overture a few years ago but did not find it as user friendly as Encore; however, that was a very superficial look.

As a decades-long user of Encore until 2020, and a decades-long beta tester for them, I suffered a lot of pain with those crashes. I composed for a symphony orchestra concert using Encore 5, and in the process learned swear words I didn't even know before.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 734
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 734
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Welcome to the forum!

I composed for a symphony orchestra concert using Encore 5, and in the process learned swear words I didn't even know before.


This made me laugh out loud!


My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Originally Posted By: etcjoe
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Welcome to the forum!

I composed for a symphony orchestra concert using Encore 5, and in the process learned swear words I didn't even know before.


This made me laugh out loud!
I’m glad someone got to laugh.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 734
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 734
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Originally Posted By: etcjoe
Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Welcome to the forum!

I composed for a symphony orchestra concert using Encore 5, and in the process learned swear words I didn't even know before.


This made me laugh out loud!
I’m glad someone got to laugh.


Only laughing at the swear words you didn't even know, not the trouble you had doing the work, of course! That is never a laughing matter.


My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Oh, I know. Thanks!

Since I switched to Notion by Presonus, not a single crash or loss of data in two and a half years.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471
I use Encore for 'head charts' and it suits that purpose just fine. I'm still using the last Passport version.

Don Williams, the author of Encore and Master Tracks Pro came up to listen to our duo, and we talked for a bit. He said the job to updated the code on Encore and MTPro is bigger than he anticipated, as there were a lot of revisions GVox made that he didn't think were good.

So patience is the key here.

I'm waiting for an update of Master Tracks Pro, which he do after Encore, so I figure I'm in for a very long wait.

Notes ♫


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
That’s helpful, Bob. “Late fall” is nearly gone. As a beta tester for several decades, I saw exactly what was done to Encore. We testers were not happy. One subset of the group (that I did not join) became so fed up, they created their own unofficial version. It was better.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
OK, 'Late Fall' is definitely gone. No change, except their Forum is getting more anxious posts. It's amazing how many of us have old scores in Encore we would like to use. I have had some limited success firing up Encore just long enough to Export a score using Music XML.

I hope there is some progress soon.

Notes, any update from your neighbor?


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471
When Don came out to see us, he said the code was messed up pretty badly. So being impatient isn't going to help. Of course, that won't stop me from being impatient. laugh


Insights and incites by Notes ♫


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Thanks, Bob. I can vouch for the code being messed up pretty badly!


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 1
M
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
M
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 1
Hi Matt and others :-)

I'm somewhat new to posting replies, but here goes ...

I was happy to read your posts, Matt, about Don Williams possibly resurrecting Encore. Since the mid-90's, I used Encore for the Mac to compose and meticulously notate over 550 songs, including a 2 hour choir cantata on the "Old Testament" book of Isaiah.

To be able to continue using Encore, I've had to keep one of my Macs running with the old OS. But here's the marvel … I've found that when running Encore using MOJAVE OS, the program is FAR MORE stable than it was with MANY of the operating systems before that. I still make TONS and TONS of backups of songs I'm working on while editing them, since crashes still happen — particularly if I'm not just writing with a melody staff, but with a piano staff as well — but I'm amazed at how many of my old scores continue to open well (and edit well) with this current setup.

Incidentally, just to let you know: when I click on "About Encore", it lists the version I'm using as 5.0.6.1303M, which I was told was the most recent version. And immediately below that, the "About Encore" window lists the version as 5.0.7. That's a bit strange, I know, considering the more detailed version-identification above the "5.0.7" lists it as "5.0.6 …"

In any case, I thought I would pass this information along. My life is super busy with other matters, thus, as I continue to write music, I am still using Encore rather than learning a new program. But that's also because I want to still be able to edit and improve earlier compositions.

By the way, I've also been working hard, going through ALL my Encore compositions, generating PDF's and primitive XML files from each of them just in case I must one day fully bail from Encore. Should that day ever come, and I suspect it will, can you guys offer suggestions re: the best way to convert my PDF scores to a quality XML file? (I created the PDF scores using Encore's print function on the Mac.) Typically, my scores contain not only a melody line, chord symbols, lyrics, and a notated piano introduction, but also many "text" boxes as well. Thus, the better the PDF to XML converter the better. As you know, the XML files exported by Encore are exceedingly basic, not even retaining lyrics or chord symbols.

Thanks! And all the best to all of you! It would be such a blessing if Don W. was given strength and wisdom to "resurrect" our favorite app!

:-) Mark

P.S. This may be old news to you, but here's a tip just in case: I've found that when an Encore score crashes, I must (1) go back to a prior version since the version that just crashed got even more corrupted by the crash, and (2) I sometimes find that if I select several lines of my score in a suspected problem area and "cut" all of that area's note and etc data, then rebuild the section from scratch, it clears the problem and the score no longer crashes. I also find that some scores begin to crash when I move a staff up or down and then do a save. When that happens, I just go back to an earlier version prior to me moving the staff.

Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Hi Mark. Welcome to the forum.

Where to start?

I learned Encore on a Mac but for nearly 30 years I used it daily on a Windows machine. I was a beta tester for most of those years. I gave up on Encore in 2020.

Most of my crashes were from moving text.

The discrepancy in version numbers for the Mac is well known. You might enjoy reading the comments on the new Encore site forum. Mike Halloran is a member here and there, and he knows about the versions.

The Encore forum had one and only one post in over twelve months from Admin. A few weeks ago, Admin said this Thanksgiving is the new target release date.

I use PDF to Music Pro if it’s a Finale printout, and it sometimes works on published scores. For most printouts I use Scan Score Pro.



BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971
Originally Posted by Matt Finley
Hi Mark. Welcome to the forum.

Where to start?

I learned Encore on a Mac but for nearly 30 years I used it daily on a Windows machine. I was a beta tester for most of those years. I gave up on Encore in 2020.

Most of my crashes were from moving text.

The discrepancy in version numbers for the Mac is well known. You might enjoy reading the comments on the new Encore site forum. Mike Halloran is a member here and there, and he knows about the versions.

The Encore forum had one and only one post in over twelve months from Admin. A few weeks ago, Admin said this Thanksgiving is the new target release date.

I use PDF to Music Pro if it’s a Finale printout, and it sometimes works on published scores. For most printouts I use Scan Score Pro.
Yes, it may actually come back with November, 2023 as a target. I am in touch with Don and we've discussed what will and won't be included but I have not seen any of the work in progress. The Admin is Don.

I normally use Finale these days. Notion has not kept up though Fender has announced they're working on it. I am not a fan of Dorico's workflow and consider MuseScore as useless as always. Layout in Overture is time consuming—might as well be Finale—and Sibelius... yikes! Even my wife is using Finale for her work, fortunately, she has 24/7 tech support smile

Nothing equals Encore for the "down and dirty" lead sheets and church work that makes up over half my notation work. The 5.0.4 Windows version is too buggy and, though the 5.0.7 Mac version is remarkably stable over Mojave, it's unable to run over 64 bit MacOS (Catalina and later) and the slurs, when printed look cartoonishly bad (on screen, they're good—go figure). I keep an old Mac around just to run it.

Anyway, the Passport Music site is here. Encore, MasterTracks Passport Music and the Forum is where Andre and I answer questions. We are both volunteers, however and neither of us are affiliated with Passport Music or Don Williams.


BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Off-Topic
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 71
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 71
Just curious what is useless about MuseScore. I know nothing about writing scores, and am a competent pianist (I can read music, but I realize there's more skill in designing and writing this stuff than in merely reading it) but not a competent score writer.


BIAB Mac 2024
Mac Studio 2022, M1 Max, OS Ventura 13.6
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Some people find MuseScore just fine for their needs, and it’s free. It’s always being improved by a lot of folks, and I think they did a great job with the font released with the latest update.

The best choice of notation software depends on your budget and what you want to do, and for those of us who use computer notation programs professionally, the workflow we prefer and the programs we learned on.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
The Encore site just changed the expected release time from "Thanksgiving 2023" to "Winter 2023".


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
And there is, for the first time, some detail about what's coming.

Go here, and be sure to click on "Load More" at the bottom:
https://passportmusic.com/development/


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
- Just bumping this thread to report that nothing new has happened yet.

The website still states that Encore 6 will be released in Winter 2023. Whichever hemisphere you are in, that's over.

The 'development' info that was so promising has not been updated since fall 2022.

We can still hope.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

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 new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.

Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!

Season's Greetings!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!

The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.

Team PG

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window

In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe

This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®

With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
  • Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)

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)

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,750
Posts795,770
Members39,950
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
BB Wilbur, anonymously, TinaLBZ, Guitarzan26, Metro6
39,950 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 165
DC Ron 111
rsdean 106
Noel96 106
dcuny 100
DrDan 92
Today's Birthdays
idon'tunderstand, Kelly Sapergia, Michl, der Dolmetsch, Totally Savage
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5