|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,940
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,940 |
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,466
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,466 |
I suspected that they were a bad idea.
I figured it was similar to a pyramid scheme, the first ones in have a chance to make money if they get out in time. The rest of the folks lose.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton  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 2015
Posts: 2,737
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,737 |
People buy into a lot of things that were never logical, pet rocks, ten-dollar jeans that cost one hundred fifty dollars due to some designer name on them. Importance by association...what a concept...lol
People are easily manipulated by sales and marketing ploys.
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…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,192
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,192 |
It was/is Barnum's business model writ digitally large.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,687
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,687 |
Fads and crazes in general amuse me. One that always makes me smile it ripped up jeans selling as new. I saw a girl recently there was more holes than cloth. I said to my wife I hope the young lady got those “half off”
One person wears something and everyone else has to have it.
I also find amusing what designers pass off as fresh new designs. I saw an outfit the other night in a commercial on TV the young model had a top on with a flowery shaped neck, two sleeves that were different lengths, multiple layers of frilly stuff, and same for the short skirt, and plastic looking boot up to mid thigh. The boots also had a flowery shaped top. I thought if it rained her top and boots would act like a funnel and fill up!
Who would wear that and think they looked cool?!
Last edited by Rob Helms; 09/24/23 01:36 AM.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,466
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,466 |
Fads and crazes in general amuse me. One that always makes me smile it ripped up jeans selling as new. <...snip...> There is profit motive behind that. Problem: Jeans are too durable, they last too long, and the customer doesn't buy new ones often enough Solution: Make holes in the jeans fashionable, the jeans are already worn out, and will have to be replaced at least 4 times as many times as those with no holes. Fashion is all about selling new clothes as quickly and often as possible, and it's all about greed and profit. I read an article a long time ago that stated the fashion industry was invented by the textile manufacturing companies. It was a device to sell more cloth and increase their profits. Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton 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: Oct 2008
Posts: 734
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 734 |
I said it when it all started that it was "snake oil". But people couldn't buy them fast enough. Crazy world.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,716
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,716 |
Fads and crazes in general amuse me. One that always makes me smile it ripped up jeans selling as new. <...snip...> There is profit motive behind that. Problem: Jeans are too durable, they last too long, and the customer doesn't buy new ones often enough Solution: Make holes in the jeans fashionable, the jeans are already worn out, and will have to be replaced at least 4 times as many times as those with no holes. Fashion is all about selling new clothes as quickly and often as possible, and it's all about greed and profit. I read an article a long time ago that stated the fashion industry was invented by the textile manufacturing companies. It was a device to sell more cloth and increase their profits. Insights and incites by Notes ♫ One of my biggest customers (based on the footprint of their factory) was a jeans manufacturer. They jumped into the "faded and beat up" blue jean craze pretty early. They'd make brand new blue jeans in one of the departments and then simply move them across the factory to the treatment department, and then put them in a washing machine with pumice stones and run them for a certain length of time. At the end of the cycle, they were tossed into a dryer and they came out as "stone washed jeans" and looked like they had been worn for years. They were then marketed at a premium price.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,872
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,872 |
The very dark side of capitalism. Worn-out overpriced jeans, appliances built to fail in a year or two, new cars with absurd new features and complexity, NFTs, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,466
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,466 |
Indeed, the dark side of capitalism, and IMO it's gotten out of control.
I think it's time to fix the problem, but I have no idea how. Communism is obviously not the answer, it has even worse downsides.
The problem is this: When the stockholders invest in a company, they expect their stock value to grow. If the stock doesn't increase in value ever quarter, the stockholders will jump ship and bail out.
In order for the stock to appreciate every quarter, the corporation has to make more and more and more profits every quarter. Therein lies the problem.
How do you make more profit?
Increase your market share, which is easier in the early days, but by the time the market is mature it gets more and more difficult until it's impossible.
Increase the population, thus the market, which is something they do. I remember during the zero population growth era, all of a sudden every TV show, comedy, drama, or whatever had a woman saying “My biological clock is ticking”, meaning, I better have children before I hit menopause.
Shorten the product life cycle. Here is where fashion comes in. Jeans that don't last long because we distressed them, you can't be caught dead wearing a style that is soooo last year, here are the new colors everyone is wearing, and so on.
Of course with appliances you can intentionally make them so they don't last long. Or you can add so many features that will eventually break, that you can make money with repair parts. I drove into the service department of new auto dealership to for a recall, and proudly displayed was a sign proclaiming they sold more parts this year.
Same dealership, I told them that the rider's front door wouldn't lock with the key while I was in there. They gave me an estimate of a few hundred dollars to replace the mechanism. I told them I'd come back. I took it to a locksmith, and he replaced a $3.50 part that looked like a bent paper clip. It took 10 minutes, and he didn't even charge a service fee. I've used that locksmith since, whenever I need that kind of service.
With capitalism, it's all about profit, not the customer.
In a small business, all you need to make is enough money to pay the owner and employees. There is no need for perpetual growth. Growth is good, but as long as the profits keep up with inflation, there is no problem.
With a corporation, if the profits only keep up with inflation, the stockholders will sell, and the corporation will go belly-up.
Perpetual growth in a closed system is a recipe for disaster.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton 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: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,623
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,623 |
Spot on, I'd say. Perpetual growth in a closed system is a recipe for disaster. There seems not to be any system that doesn't need growth to function. One of the consequences of that is an ever-growing population. One of the consequences of that is global warming. Another is growing migration.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,716
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,716 |
I drove into the service department of new auto dealership to for a recall, and proudly displayed was a sign proclaiming they sold more parts this year.
Same dealership, I told them that the rider's front door wouldn't lock with the key while I was in there. They gave me an estimate of a few hundred dollars to replace the mechanism. I told them I'd come back. I took it to a locksmith, and he replaced a $3.50 part that looked like a bent paper clip. It took 10 minutes, and he didn't even charge a service fee. I've used that locksmith since, whenever I need that kind of service.
With capitalism, it's all about profit, not the customer. Notes Norton Don't get me started on car service departments or most of the trades now. I had an ignition coil go bad and a fuel pump that was intermittent. I honestly didn't feel like doing the repairs myself so I took it to the dealer. The dealer wanted $1500 for the ignition coil and $1300 for the fuel pump. They priced the coil over $100 and the pump at $500+. I decided to do the coil myself. Under $40 for the coil and 90 minutes total time including going to the store to get the coil. The pump, I had a local shop replace it. Total for the job was $425 and 3 hrs in the shop. My HVAC coil inside sprung a Freon leak. A company came and diagnosed it correctly. $120/service call. Next day, I called a friend who was retired from the HVAC business and has been a teacher in a tech school. He confirmed the leak issue and gave me an estimate of $850 with 2 guys taking no more than about 4 hrs and no cost for the parts due to warrantee. Due to his age he didn't want to do the job. The company that came out first estimated the repair to be over $2200 with a credit for the service call included in that price. I pointed out that the coil was under a 10yr warrantee and shouldn't cost a dime. They said they could give me a $200 credit and refused to itemize the quote. Calls to several other companies resulted in non itemized quotes of $2800 and $3500+. I contacted the company who installed it originally. They were about 70 miles away and said they had to charge round trip. They quoted around $900 estimate. Final bill was around $925. 2 guys, 4 hrs, handled the warrantee. You really have to be careful these days. People will screw you in a heartbeat and tell you that you're getting a good deal. ADD: if you do the math.... the first company was charging $275/hr per person on the job. The last company was charging $437.50 per hr per man. No wonder they didn't want to itemize the quotes and then there's sales tax on the labor in this state that NEVER shows up in a quote like this.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 10/01/23 07:45 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,687
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,687 |
My wife and I shop at WalMart. I buy my work clothes there. I get wrangler jeans for $20 Tee shirt for $10 Work Shoes for $25. I have friends who say "I'll never set foot in a Walmart" They head to a department store and pay twice that for the same brand of jeans, or for some whispy thin Tee shirt that won't hold up. I just smile and say to each there own.
I also buy Carhart Tee shirts at Home Depot $20 that anywhere else would be $35 to $40. Those stinking Shirts last for ever I have a couple that are 5 or 6 years old and still look great. Price doesn't always determine quality.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 621
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 621 |
Don't get me started on car service departments or most of the trades now.
I had an ignition coil go bad and a fuel pump that was intermittent. I honestly didn't feel like doing the repairs myself so I took it to the dealer. The dealer wanted $1500 for the ignition coil and $1300 for the fuel pump. They priced the coil over $100 and the pump at $500+. I decided to do the coil myself. Under $40 for the coil and 90 minutes total time including going to the store to get the coil. The pump, I had a local shop replace it. Total for the job was $425 and 3 hrs in the shop.
Here's the other side of the story: Unless your car is has really low mileage, ignition coils don't typically commit suicide. They are murdered. The number one root cause of failed ignition coils is high resistance in the secondary. Usually badly worn spark plugs. I can just about guarantee that it wasn't $1500 for one ignition coil. It was $1500 for all of them and the spark plugs too. A sizeable chunk of that might have been labor, too. Depending on what car you have, some of them are a real MF to get to. No one in their right minds is going to be willing to replace just one coil because they are all the same age and have all been subject to the same abuse. And no one in their right minds is going to replace any coils without replacing the spark plugs too. Anyone who does that is just asking for trouble. Because there is a high likelihood of another coil failing fairly soon. That and the worn spark plugs are liable to take out the new coil as well. The shop has to protect themselves. You're upset about the $1500 estimate? You're really going to be upset if they just chuck a coil in there and send you on your way and a month later your engine starts misfiring again because another coil bit the dust. You'll be back there in a heartbeat wanting them to fix it for free. Either that or you'll go somewhere else and badmouth the first shop because they didn't fix your car right. And on that I'd have to agree with you. They didn't. Because they didn't do the whole job. So any shop with any sense is going to quote you the whole job and decline to do otherwise because they just don't want to deal with the headaches. As far as parts costs, a Motorcraft ignition coil for my car costs $63.79 at one of my preferred vendors while you can get some bootleg aftermarket one for anywhere between $20 and $40. There's a reason for that. Aftermarket ignition parts are garbage. A crap shoot at best If you chucked one bootleg coil at your car and got away with it then good for you but I'm not taking that risk and certainly not if I'm getting paid for it.
Byron Dickens BIAB. CbB. Mixbus 32C 8 HP Envy. Intel core i7. 16GB RAM W10. Focusrite Scarlett 18i 20. Various instruments played with varying degrees of proficiency. https://soundcloud.com/athanorsoundlabs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,716
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,716 |
Don't get me started on car service departments or most of the trades now.
I had an ignition coil go bad and a fuel pump that was intermittent. I honestly didn't feel like doing the repairs myself so I took it to the dealer. The dealer wanted $1500 for the ignition coil and $1300 for the fuel pump. They priced the coil over $100 and the pump at $500+. I decided to do the coil myself. Under $40 for the coil and 90 minutes total time including going to the store to get the coil. The pump, I had a local shop replace it. Total for the job was $425 and 3 hrs in the shop.
Here's the other side of the story: I can just about guarantee that it wasn't $1500 for one ignition coil. It was $1500 for all of them and the spark plugs too. A sizeable chunk of that might have been labor, too. ..... You're upset about the $1500 estimate? I can guarantee you that this was for ONE COIL. The estimate was for 1 coil. According to my diagnostic tool, I told them it was cylinder #8... the hardest one to get to. They quoted radiator fluid, intake gasket, and a load of other sundry items. Claimed they had to disassemble the entire top of the engine to get to the coil. Labor was a fairly large part of the estimate. That was total BS. All I needed to do was to loosen the fuel feed rail to get to the cylinder and fish the rubber boot out and remove the coil. A NAPA coil was reinstalled. I've replaced plenty of coils in the past on this and other vehicles. I do them as needed. I'd had all 8 replaced a few years before, by a shop, and that was less than half the quoted cost from the dealer. And yes, that one did include new plugs.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,687
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,687 |
In my experience it can go both ways! I have seen customers get ripped and I have seen the tech get shredded. Sadly there is a shortage of honesty these day, and a void of integrity. Still there are some great service techs out there. and sadly what we work on today is more complicated, and prone to issues than ever.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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®!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,692
Posts794,912
Members39,934
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean