I *think*, because thats hard to do these days, it was either 94 or 95 when I discovered PgMusic. My first PC I bought from a friend was from Radio Shack and I can still hear the beeps and whooshes in my nightmares. It took a LONG time to dl anything.
Glad to see my friend from MI still here.
Last time I saw RD post was when he was getting into RC Airplanes.
Mac, he truly was one of a kind and had SO much music knowledge, just wow.
Haven’t seen Gary C in years on here.
Bought a new iphone today and x-fer from old phone is reminding of the dial up days. Luckily, I can connect to my WiFi and type this.
We were doing inventory at my parents music store and I saw BiaB on the shelf (floppies) .. asked Dad if I could have it, and received. Right after that I noticed they also sold PT so I got myself a copy of that and been here ever since. I, also, lost a lot of posts when the forum reset in 2000, but didn't really matter, as it was a much better forum software as I recall. The old platform was getting pretty easy to hack, and PGMusic was gaining popularity, so it was a smart move by them.
Russ did pop into the beta forum a few years ago, so he was still tinkering with BiaB at that point, but he spent more time with his planes (and probably drones these days) .
Gary showed up too, which was nice, as well as Allanah (her BiaB song file archive was awesome back in the day) .. they just haven't been very active in the public forums lately
Last edited by rharv; 02/22/2405:16 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
I have not been on the forum as long as many of you long timers. But I did have a floppy version of BIAB in the 90's. Can't remember the version now. Saw an ad in Guitar Player magazine as I recall. I tend to read way more than I post I guess.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
My first version of BiaB on the PC (then called IBM compatible) was in DOS-5. Peter Gannon kindly offered to convert my Atari disks to the IBM format, so I could sell them on the most popular computer. (I thank you to this day, Peter.)
Next, I bought a DOS-5/Win3.1 machine and learned how to do it myself. BiaB was DOS only, so I would format disks on the PC, make styles on the Atari, and then import them back into BiaB/DOS. (I have typos built into my fingers, so DOS was a PITA for me.)
Then PG came out with a Windows 3.1 version and I never made another style on the Atari. Since I found myself in the BiaB style biz, I also bought my first Mac, one of toaster sized OS-6 machines.
I don't make a living selling BiaB disks, but it's a supplement. I gig for a living, and do this part-time. But I've made a lot of friends here, and learned a lot about computer music. I took arranging in school, and making styles in BiaB plus working in a MIDI sequencer/DAW has improved those skills by allowing me to instantly hear what choices work better for my ears/musical tastes.
When gigging on a cruise ship, we pulled into Bermuda every week. I needed something, so I want to a music store there. When I paid, the owner asked me if I was “The Real Bob Norton of Band-in-a-Box.” It was almost like being famous. Since then, I've been recognized a couple of times. It feels good.
All in all, BiaB and the BiaB community have been a good friend that has enriched my life. Thanks to Peter, all my old friends here who are gone, and all my current and new friends here today. And hoping to make some new friends as they arrive.
We were doing inventory at my parents music store and I saw BiaB on the shelf (floppies) .. asked Dad if I could have it, and received. Right after that I noticed they also sold PT so I got myself a copy of that and been here ever since. I, also, lost a lot of posts when the forum reset in 2000, but didn't really matter, as it was a much better forum software as I recall. The old platform was getting pretty easy to hack, and PGMusic was gaining popularity, so it was a smart move by them.
Russ did pop into the beta forum a few years ago, so he was still tinkering with BiaB at that point, but he spent more time with his planes (and probably drones these days) .
Gary showed up too, which was nice, as well as Allanah (her BiaB song file archive was awesome back in the day) .. they just haven't been very active in the public forums lately
Guess who has Allanah’s files? Someone has a folder that was the Cats Meow back in the day. 😉 I don’t know if it’s her full archive, but I’ve got a folder full.
Great to see you posting Mr PT Pro! Glad to see you still here.
Trax
Last edited by Muzic Trax; 02/27/2410:10 PM. Reason: More information
Guess who has Allanah’s files? Someone has a folder that was the Cats Meow back in the day. 😉 I don’t know if it’s her full archive, but I’ve got a folder full.
Great to see you posting Mr PT Pro! Glad to see you still here.
Trax
That makes two of us. I have all of Allanah's files also.
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
I *think I have them on a 1 TB external USB drive sitting beside me, but I didn't bother to check it. Glad to know I have sources to turn to if I can't find them some day. Or even more importantly, if Allanah needed a copy!
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
Russ Stanton (Russell Demussell) introduced me to Power Tracks back in the 90s. We formed a 2-man band called 'Back Trackers' and played together for a while, but the last time I saw or heard from him was around 2002-2003 when he came to Baton Rouge and we spent a pleasant afternoon putting on a show for some of my friends and neighbors. I've sent him several messages over the years, but I've never gotten an answer, nor have I ever seen him again. He was a virtual go-to guy when it came to PT and BIAB. I sure miss him.
Though I spent countless hours listening to Rharv's songs on PT, and reading his comments, I never actually spoke with him or messaged him, to the best of my knowledge. Sure hope he's still around and doing ok.
Last, but not least, another person who should be mentioned is Mac. If you ran into a problem you couldn't figure out Mac was quick with the answer. I learned a lot from him, even though I never knew him personally.
Though I spent countless hours listening to Rharv's songs on PT, and reading his comments, I never actually spoke with him or messaged him, to the best of my knowledge. Sure hope he's still around and doing ok.
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!
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.
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.
Norton Music
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