|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728 |
Ever since my Psychology 101 course as a Freshman I’ve been fascinated by brain studies and neuroscience. And over my career I’ve been able to partially solve some very tough engineering problems in my dreams; I’ve also been able to (on very rare occasions) direct and control where my dreams go as opposed to simply being a passive, helpless observer. But I’ve never been able to use my dreams in the pursuit of music creativity. A new book has been written on this subject by a brain surgeon. I haven’t read it but there is an interesting audio clip sample that frames this subject. This Is Why You Dream There is also a mind-expanding interview on this subject with the author. Note that they've included a green highlight of the text that follows the audio. Audio Interview Whether or not we remember them, we all dream, probably every night. My question is, who, if any, have exploited their dreams to learn to play a musical instrument, learn music software or be more musically creative in general?
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,459
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,459 |
Guilty as charged. More than once I just woke up after a couple hours sleep and wrote memorable stuff (to me anyway, YMMV etc) ... Definitely from a dream (or nightmare, whichever) 
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,624
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,624 |
... over my career I’ve been able to partially solve some very tough engineering problems in my dreams Same here. I used to think that there was something odd about me being able to do that, but it appears that quite a lot of engineers are the same. I don't know how it works. 
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: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728 |
Guilty as charged. More than once I just woke up after a couple hours sleep and wrote memorable stuff (to me anyway, YMMV etc) ... Definitely from a dream (or nightmare, whichever) Any idea how that came about, or did it just drop in your lap?
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,459
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,459 |
Done that too, but for me just driving home often gets me the software side; clears my head for a few ..
Music creativity has been much more influenced by dreams .. but that's just me.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,459
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,459 |
Guilty as charged. More than once I just woke up after a couple hours sleep and wrote memorable stuff (to me anyway, YMMV etc) ... Definitely from a dream (or nightmare, whichever) Any idea how that came about, or did it just drop in your lap? Well pretty much seems to just drop in my lap, but usually has *something to do with real life experiences After The Storm, for example, was written a few years after living thru Alicia on an island that the eye of the hurricane passed over .. that kinda stuff makes an impression on ya
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728 |
... over my career I’ve been able to partially solve some very tough engineering problems in my dreams Same here. I used to think that there was something odd about me being able to do that, but it appears that quite a lot of engineers are the same. I don't know how it works. Hey Gordon, I too thought I was unique, but apparently this phenomenon is not that rare. What I can say in my case is that many of the problems I worked on took my team days if not weeks to finally solve so this gave me lots of opportunities to try to exploit the power of dreams. What I learned was I had 2 opportunities each night; prior to sleep entry I would re-state (in my head) what the problem actually was and then at sleep exit and prior to the alarm clock going off I'd try to extend that zone and think about possible problem solutions. In both of these zones I'd try to review and process the latest problem-solving activities we performed. I'm thinking somehow this must be transferrable to music creativity.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,132
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,132 |
Long ago, I used to keep a dream diary. In my dreams, my critical reasoning skills were pretty much non-existent. Some suggest that's true in my waking hours as well.  I'd wake up from a dream, and excitedly scribble down a bit of verse or idea that I thought was amazing. But in the cold light or morning, I'd find that it was some bit of nonsense or doggerel.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,726
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,726 |
I don't often remember my dreams and if I do it's only briefly when I wake up. I have heard several really killer songs in my dreams but forget them by the morning.
All except for one. I remembered enough to write the idea and melody down before it faded. The problem is that I don't remember which song that was now.
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: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,624
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,624 |
What I can say in my case is that many of the problems I worked on took my team days if not weeks to finally solve... I think that long, deep, focus on a problem is probably key. Dreams are the brain's opportunity to do some housework and clutter removal and if almost everything is about a group of tricky issues then the brain perhaps clears out the dross, leaving some clarity. Just a though ... it may be totally wrong, it's definitely not my field. Sadly I have little idea how one might capture that for songwriting
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: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728 |
Long ago, I used to keep a dream diary. If I weren’t so lazy and kept a dream diary or journal, maybe I could exploit my dreams to better capture musical creativity. I wonder how many true creatives like Mozart, McCartney and Dylan understood this. He mentions journaling around 33:51. I’m thinking the gold mine might be found in hypnagogia and hypnopompia.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,392
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,392 |
I've written music (and solved other problems) while sleeping, but it's not a "dream". It's not visual at all, it materializes as music stuck in my head. My belief is that all of my best music comes from an unconscious place. I understand theory passably well, and can mechanically produce music from the principles of western music. But my best stuff doesn't happen like that. It just...appears as melodies and harmonies. Sometimes when sleeping, but often not. When awake, it helps if I'm holding a guitar since then I can translate what I'm hearing to something tangible. Quite often I'll listen to something the next day and wonder where in the world THAT came from. It's a mystery. Music also appears somewhat magically while walking, driving, or in the shower. I'm not alone in this, but I don't think it's common, and wouldn't know how to teach it.
I do dream vividly, but It's not musical. Mostly variations of common dreams like it's final exam week and I forgot to go to class during the term. That one never gets old...
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,459
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,459 |
I don't often remember my dreams and if I do it's only briefly when I wake up. I have heard several really killer songs in my dreams but forget them by the morning. When you wake up with an idea in your head from a dream Get up and capture it even if in its simplest form. More detail is better, but that at least prevents you from forgetting it by mid-morning ... simplest solution is best for me. I've done the same thing, wake up bopping a tune in my head and two distractions later I lost it. <shrug>
Last edited by rharv; 06/11/24 02:34 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,132
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,132 |
I do dream vividly, but It's not musical. Mostly variations of common dreams like it's final exam week and I forgot to go to class during the term. That one never gets old... I finally started wising up to that one, as I remember that I've got a job, a degree, and my kids are in college. My go-to dream is it's time to start playing, and the music has gone missing. Good times!
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728 |
I've written music (and solved other problems) while sleeping, but it's not a "dream".
I do dream vividly, but It's not musical. Mostly variations of common dreams like it's final exam week and I forgot to go to class during the term. That one never gets old... You've got a much better application of this than me. I can't extract any musical value from my sleep. But strange enough I experience a parallel to your "forgetting to go to class". For me, I'm on campus and for the life of me I can't figure out how to register for my classes. So I end up wandering around from classroom to classroom like some confused wackadoodle trying to solve this problem . . . which I never can. Meanwhile, I have this sinking feeling that my life is wasting away, all because I can't figure out how to register and buy my books! Go figure, in real life I had a superbly rewarding career!  This semi-nightmare has plagued me for years; what I would give for this to be replaced by killer chord progressions and rocked-out bass lines!!!
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728 |
When you wake up with an idea in your head from a dream
Get up and capture it even if in its simplest form.
More detail is better, but that at least prevents you from forgetting it by mid-morning ... simplest solution is best for me. I agree. Unless they are particularly impactful in some way, we're designed to quickly forget our dreams ; probably because our waking life is more important to focus on. Whether it's avoiding being eaten by a saber-tooth cat, surviving in a battle zone, catching a plane for a job interview or simply getting breakfast started, we've got to get on with our day. If you don't capture a dream while it's fresh, it's probably lost. PS> Keep that spear close by, those cats are dangerous
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,964
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,964 |
My dreams in general focus on our outdoor activities ... hiking, mountain biking and trail maintenance. When related to music it is often me shredding on an electric guitar. To put that in context I’m a simple acoustic guitar and upright bass rhythm player. Oh, if I could only continue that picking when I awake. To get to the topic 😀 sometimes when we are mountain biking and the adrenaline is flowing I drift to a dream like state and many times lyrics come to me then. Does that count?
Bud
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: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728 |
. To get to the topic 😀 sometimes when we are mountain biking and the adrenaline is flowing I drift to a dream like state and many times lyrics come to me then. Does that count? Absolutely that counts! And what a skill. If I dreamt while mountain biking I'd have a broken collar bone in no time. Then I'd be dreaming for the EMS to pack me out of the woods
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,964
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,964 |
. To get to the topic 😀 sometimes when we are mountain biking and the adrenaline is flowing I drift to a dream like state and many times lyrics come to me then. Does that count? Absolutely that counts! And what a skill. If I dreamt while mountain biking I'd have a broken collar bone in no time. Then I'd be dreaming for the EMS to pack me out of the woods To get a little more off topic Janice is very modest and does not favor me bragging on her ... but she won the state mountain bike race series three times. This was around 20 years ago. She was in her mid 40's and often raced ladies half her age. 98 pounds of woman power who could show a a lot of guys how it's done on a tough technical trail. So when I follow her on trails nowadays (I have some vision issues) I know she will take good lines and I can day dream lyrics! This favorite quote explains it for us: "Biking is about rhythm and flow. It's the wind in you face and the challenge of hammering up along hill. It's the reward at the top and the thrill of a high-speed descent. Biking lets you come alive in both body and spirit. After a while the bike disappears beneath you and you feel as if you're suspended in midair." Bud
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: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,728 |
More power to you guys, especially Janice. Just remember . . . no broken collar bones!
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
Topics85,747
Posts795,697
Members39,948
| |
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