My latest offering is a reworked song using BIAB. I had recorded this before purchasing BIAB, just using Cakewalk June 2025.
So i've taken advantage of the December BIAB discounts and gone Ultrapak. Man, they're big download files!! The downloading wasn't so bad, but the install took several days. I'm not on the latest laptop, and I had to install them to an external hard drive, otherwise my internal hard drive would have maxed out. So it's a little slower using the external drive, but it works and I now have so much more content to choose from....so I thought I'd try it out with this number.
I've linked both the original version and the reworked version in Soundcloud. Don't feel obligated to listen to both, but if you want to hear the difference by all means do so. I think the redux version is a better mix, the bass in the original is a little full on, all instruments in the original, other than drums, were played by me which explains the bass!! I've also linked the video, I've just added the new audio and not done anything to the video. I can't remember what guitars I used with the original, but I was really pleased with how the "off the cuff" solo turned out. The BIAB style is SEETHE.
It's an okay song.....no great insights into the human condition here!! Hope you like it.
INTRO: G#m / / / x x x x G#m / / / x x x x …using? …losing G#m / / / x x x x G#m / / / x x x x …abusing. …hmmm. VERSE 1 G#m C#m G#m You, you, you, you use it. I said you, you, you you abuse it. D#m C#m D#m C#m You’re telling me you didn’t choose it. I’m trying not to lose it…. G#m tacet ..and let it go.
BREAK G#m / / / x x x x G#m / / / x x x x …using? …losing G#m / / / x x x x G#m / / / x x x x …abusing. …hmmm.
VERSE 2 G#m C#m G#m You, you, you, you ain’t in the mix. I, I, I, ain’t gonna getcha no fix. D#m C#m D#m C#m So if your nerves are a jumpin’, and your head is a thumpin’…. G#m tacet ..you’re hittin’ the skids.
CHORUS Bsus2 E Eadd2 Takes you to your happy place. Bsus2 E Eadd2 Where your mind don’t race. C#m E Eadd2 Time stands still when you’re off your face. C#m F# F# Coming down to a fall from grace.
BREAK G#m / / / x x x x G#m / / / x x x x …using? …losing G#m / / / x x x x G#m / / / x x x x …abusing. …hmmm. VERSE 3 G#m You, you, you, know what I’m talking about. C#m G#m I, I, I, ain’t gonna scream and shout. D#m C#m But if you’ve got an itchy finger, D#m C#m G#m tacet You’re gonna have to figure…. ..your own way out.
CHORUS Bsus2 E Eadd2 Takes you to your happy place. Bsus2 E Eadd2 Where your mind don’t race. C#m E Eadd2 Time stands still when you’re off your face. C#m F# F# Coming down to a fall from grace.
INSTRUMENTAL over CHORUS
OUTRO G#m / / / G#m / / / G#m / / / G#m / / / ….using? ….you’re losing. G#m / / / G#m / / / G#m / / / G#m / / / ….using? ….you’re losing. x x x x x x x x x x x x x tacet x x
Hi Lee I wondered if you’d lashed out for the upgrade - that accounts for why you’ve been quiet - head down, b u. I like the lift to this song going from the verses mainly in minor chords to the major chords of the chorus - it supports ‘take you to your happy place’. I also like the ‘you, you, you’ repeated rising section. I remember you encouraging us with an exercise to write a song with a repeated lyric - a bit out of my comfort zone. Good choice for the BIAB style - you must be loving the range of choices now. Andrew
Lee, breezy and cool tune! I like the BiaB remix a bit better, but both are nice. Nice choice of BiaB instruments, and good use of shots/rests. Really like your vocals and where they're at in the mix. That creamy solo turned out great, too. Super ending!
Sorry about your upgrade tribulations. Sounds like you're up to speed and making great music now though.
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
I agree. When I listened to the original with fresh ears six months hence, I wondered what I did with the vocal. It does have a lot echo/ reverb to it, perhaps I was going for a heavy cavernous, broody feel, I don’t know why. I did think, can I hear what I'm singing too.
Yes HDBU indeed. Although the set up of having the program on the c drive and the drums and tracks on an external drive has issues. The program works quicker, but it’s now not registering the drums and real tracks in style picker. It sees them, says there’s 5k styles, even tells me where they are on the x drive, I update the path and do a rebuild and it still only registers the Propak tracks not the Ultrapak. I may have to revert to having the program back on the x drive, where it allowed me to use all tracks, either that or do a complete uninstall and reinstall. I’d like to know how much of my life I’ve wasted resolving home IT problems…. It must be at least a year. I can feel a song coming on!!
But the song… Yes I agree it has lifted it. For me, a song has to have a little repetition just to hook the listener and I think I knowingly set out to do that with this song. It’s worked out well and am looking forward to getting to use more styles.
Yeah the vocals are okay, but as mentioned to David they aren’t as clear as they probably should be and that’s probably down to effect choices. The solo worked really well, I was pleased with that.
Alas, the install still has issues, it’s just whether I go down that rabbit hole this weekend or not.
Glad you like the song. I agree the redux has more too, even if it is just in the drums. The original was just me in Cakewalk using a regular beat throughout, it was nothing special, no fills at all.
I’ll take oddly, it sits well. I can’t really remember why or how I came up with this theme or what the lyrics were really getting at. It really was just a song about letting go perhaps and not being too serious about anything, certainly no insights.
This is a catchy, snappy tune! You've done an excellent job using BIAB here! Nice job on the vocal! The bridge section caught my attention the most! I hear you on the large file size download and install stuff. In my experience over the years of using BIAB, I have found that if your PC has HD apace available, the program runs a lot smoother than when relying on an external drive! Nice Job on the tune!
Very cool, Lee. First of all it shows that no matter the take, a good song is a good song. Yep, the newer version is mixed better, and I liked the bass in the older version. Played with a pic?
Hey, I've seen faces like that before-- maybe a few in the mirror too. It's a really good song. Man, that video has some of my friends (who are no longer with us, you can imagine).
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
Lee, great song. I liked the vocal as is. Great backing band and mix The video was hilarious and yes I did listen to the f*&%ing solo. It was fantastic. I will give this a +1 on face-book
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
Thank you for the listen and review. Yeah, I don’t know that I had a particular reason for the lyrics, I think it was probably more about getting a different tune out of my head and seeing where it went.
I agree about using BIAB on the hard drive, but it would have choked it. As it is the install wasn’t rebuilding styles completely. I’m now in the process of uninstalling and reinstalling…. Joy!!
Thank you for listening. Yeah, sometimes you just have to get a tune down, no matter how silly the lyrics are, and really I didn’t have any reason to write about being off your face!
The bass on the old version seemed a bit too much for my liking. I can’t remember if used a pick, I wouldn’t have thought so. The video was fun to put together.
I was really happy at the rework with the SEETHE style, although I did mute two additional twangy guitars that didn’t fit the song. Six months since I recorded the vocals, gives you an opportunity to reassess with a fresh set of ears, and I think the vocal wasn’t too bad. One or two places where I was at my limit.
Glad the video made you smile. It’s easier to paste together stills than actual clips….not my favourite part of the process.
It's a catchy song. The way you sang 'you, you, you' was particularly effective, and the chorus was ace. The song stayed with me for quite a while, which I think is the mark of a good tune. Well done!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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!
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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)!
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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.
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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.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac 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 100 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 Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. 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 Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
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