My New Years resolution... try to record at least 1 song per week.
This week... "Samba Da Fifi", by me, Steve Mohacey. This is the first song I ever wrote. It was written for my wife (then the elusive girl, who had no idea I felt the way I did), back in late 1985/early 1986. I didn't have the nerve to play it for her (what a mistake). 4 years later, we were married, living in Monterey, CA. I was with the US Army's 7th Infantry Division (Light) Band. One day, I dragged Karin up to the band hall, brought the song in, and had the jazz combo play it for her. One of the guys (thanks Ray) said, "You should call this "Samba Da Fifi"... and the name stuck.
Saxophone was recorded using a Sennheiser 441 with the "FETHEAD" to boost the gain.
Backing tracks via Band In A Box 2024 ultrapak for Mac.
Recorded in Logic Pro 11.
Selmer Reference 54 Tenor sax. Mouthpiece- Dave Guardala MB1 (handmade). Reeds- Boston Sax Shop Black Box 3.5 (BEST REEDS EVER!!)
Filmed on iPhone 15 Pro Max.
This video was edited using Final Cut Pro
Key of C Major. Tempo is 240 bpm.
Memo: This samba style features an acoustic trio of guitar, bass, and brushed drums with the addition of an electric piano playing held chords. -Examples: Samba Pa Ti, Insensatez, Genre "Intensity" Score=40/100 _TELE.STY. Tele Samba Quartet All RealTracks. Quartet. Tempo=235 (220-260) Instruments: Ac.Bass, El.Piano, NylonGuitar, Drums RD: SambaBrazilFastBrushAlex: a: SambaBrazilFastBrushAlexb: SambaBrazilFastBrushAlex :Alex Acuna RT717: Bass, Acoustic, Samba Ev 190 , Neil Swainson RT2495: Piano, Electric, HeldChords 120 , Miles Black RT3256: Guitar, Nylon, Rhythm SambaRamon Ev 240 , Ramon Stagnaro
Beautiful! Nice composition, great solo-ing, and smart use of the BIAB trio -- you don't really need anything fancy to make something like this come alive! Production is first-class. Completely enjoyed it.
PS--makes me think that on Valentines Day we should have had a "Here's what I wrote for my spouse/sweetheart" posting day!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
Steve, cool composition and lively playing. The BiaB jazz trios like this one usually sound great, and the EP was a great add. Great job! Also love how tidy and music-focused your studio is. If only...
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
It's a style I love very much, and I partly learned to love the saxophone with Stan Getz and then the great jazz saxophonists. When I was young, we only talked about electric guitar, but that was blinding ourselves, and over time, I learned to love all instruments when they're played by great artists. Thank you for championing your instrument and your beautiful music so well. Laurent
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Definitely lots to like about this very creative musical piece. Really enjoyed your performance. Masterful playing.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
Steve, Not only did you make a really good backing track and play your saxophone beautifully, you also recorded it very, very well. Sounds absolutely professional
Beautiful! Nice composition, great solo-ing, and smart use of the BIAB trio -- you don't really need anything fancy to make something like this come alive! Production is first-class. Completely enjoyed it.
PS--makes me think that on Valentines Day we should have had a "Here's what I wrote for my spouse/sweetheart" posting day!
Tano- thank you for the vote of confidence. I wanted to keep the recording close to what I'd usually have out on a live date. As far as the production goes, I'm feeling much more confident with Logic and Final Cut Pro. I usually record in the evenings, so lighting is from the overhead ceiling lamp. For this one, I did it in the late afternoon. I think I get better results with the overhead lighting.
Steve, cool composition and lively playing. The BiaB jazz trios like this one usually sound great, and the EP was a great add. Great job! Also love how tidy and music-focused your studio is. If only...
Thank you. The studio is to the far right of my loft. On the far left, I have a PC setup for everything else. I am trying to keep the studio space dedicated to ONLY music.
It's a style I love very much, and I partly learned to love the saxophone with Stan Getz and then the great jazz saxophonists. When I was young, we only talked about electric guitar, but that was blinding ourselves, and over time, I learned to love all instruments when they're played by great artists. Thank you for championing your instrument and your beautiful music so well. Laurent
Laurent- As a working saxophonist, it is expected that I play flute and clarinet as well. These are standard doubles for saxophonist.
I am also a middle school band director. I've learned to play oboe and bassoon as well (though not to the same level). I also play trumpet/French horn/trombone/euphonium/tuba/drums. My keyboard skills are pretty basic. I can teach beginner guitar and bass, but have found that it is best for me to get a specialist to work with my jazz band kids on these instruments.
Steve, Very cool tune. Excellent playing. Clear mix and listens very well. Thank you for sharing, Misha.
P.S. I discovered Fethead couple of months ago. Neat little gadget.
Misha- Thanks for listening. The Fethead made all the difference in the world. The Sennheiser 441 is an absolutely fabulous mic for recording and playing live. But my chief complaint has always been that I had to push the gain so much that it was noisy. Fehead to the rescue.
Steve, Not only did you make a really good backing track and play your saxophone beautifully, you also recorded it very, very well. Sounds absolutely professional
I'm still learning about Logic Pro 11. But I think I have figured out how to mic and record the tenor sax. I need to dial in the rest of the saxophones better. But that is a project for when the school year ends and I have some extra time on my hands.
Ah, somma say Sambas are for Summer, but I say they make me move in every season. Nah, just kidding about the somma says stuff. But, no doubt this is some outstanding music here, Steve. Your ability and craftsmanship on those reeds is something special. I really dig this one-take samba. SO glad you share these wonderful pieces here. Thank you.
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 11, EZDrummer
Thanks for having a ReverbNation link to follow. This sounded great. Crystaline sound. Impressive.
BYOBand-
Thanks for visiting the ReverbNation site. I've been on that platform 2010. I've never tried to sell any music from the site. I mainly use it to publish my gig calendar (it used to have an app that would put up the play list and show calendar on my band facebook page... that no longer exisits). It still interfaces with my band facebook page, but only for publishing show dates and announcements. It also used to work with twitter... but that no longer works either (thanks "X").
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
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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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows 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 60 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!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until December 31, 2025. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49. Browse the full contents of each package and listen to demos here.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 Windows or for Mac.
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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
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