Last year, my New Year's resolution was to try and record 1 song per week. I'm happy to announce that I was able to get that done. I'm gonna keep it going in 2026. This week... "Scarborough Fair", music and lyrics by Traditional. This song is in the Public Domain. According to Wikipedia, "Scarborough Fair" is a traditional Northern English ballad. The song lists a "number of impossible tasks given to a former lover who lives in Scarborough, North Yorkshire". While most of us are familiar with the Simon & Garfunkel version, I was inspired to give it a try while recently re-listening to Herbie Hancock's version on his album, "The New Standard". If you know, then you know. Check that album out! Memo: Medium swing jazz rhythm section featuring Jazz 'Poll Winners' Kenny Barron on acoustic piano and Ron Carter on acoustic bass. RealDrums are Lewis Nash. -Examples: Green Dolphin St., Solar, Genre "Intensity" Score=30/100 _JPLMDSW.STY. Jazz Swing Pollwinners All RealTracks. Trio. Tempo=140 (130-170) Instruments: Ac.Bass, Ac.Piano, Drums RD: JazzSwingLewis^01-a:Brushes, Snare , b:Brushes Swirl, Busy Snare :Lewis Nash RT2285: Bass, Acoustic, JazzSwingRonA-B Sw 140 , Ron Carter RT2289: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm JazzSwingKenny Sw 140 , Kenny Barron -446:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Jazz Sw 140, Oliver Gannon The saxophone was recorded using a Sennheiser 441 with the "FETHEAD" to boost the gain. The Sennheiser 441 is a dynamic mic. The Fethead gives it a 27db bump via the pre-amp built into my Focusrite Clarett++ 2pre. Dynamic mics do not require phantom power. The FETHEAD uses phantom power to boost the gain and just plugs into the XLR out on my mic. Backing tracks via Band In A Box 2026 Ultrapak Plus for Mac. Recorded in Logic Pro 11. Selmer Reference 54 Tenor Sax. Mouthpiece- Dave Guardala handmade MB1 Boston Sax Shop Black Box 3.5 reeds (the BEST REEDS EVER!) Filmed on iPhone 15 Pro Max. This video was edited using Final Cut Pro
somewhere down the road It's Country so of course it's gotta be about love gone wrong, Lyrics On Soundcloud Entirely H.I. and BIAB Key Eb Tempo 164 - tempo doubled to 6/8 PFPBTSW.STY (Slow Pop Waltz) tempo doubled 823 guitar 1123 bass 1296 pedal steel 2450 guitar 1707 guitar solo RealDrums in style:NashvilleWaltzSw^1-a:Snare, Hihat , b:Snare, Ride Me: Vox, BV's, piano & organ,
A company handling my sync licensing catalog sent me and others it represents a recent letter on its AI policy. No AI. As in zero. Loud and clear in plain English. As in, if you used it for the tracks in your music we don't want it go somewhere else. And if you send us something where you used it and didn't tell us you got to tell us now because we're going to take it down. I don't think the idea that AI music is the future is necessarily true. At all. For hobbyists who want to play their music back to themselves in their living room and enjoy it, I think that is groovy and cool. Have fun. But I don't think many people are going to sync anything that's done with Suno. I have no idea how Spotify plans to make money off of music that can't be copyrighted but I don't really care to know because I'm not really interested in their scams or anybody's scams for that matter. It just doesn't matter to me. I'm going to continue to do things the way I've always done it which includes using band in a box for some backing tracks like drums and bass, since real tracks are somewhat equivalent to samples and samples are perfectly legit, and then playing a lot of the rest of the stuff by myself and singing them too. Maybe I don't have the best voice in the world but at least it's mine.
Hey Herb this is a great song man a really great song. I love the song itself and the lyrics so I'm just going to give my personal opinion on the mix and this is just one of those things I guess where everyone has an opinion like everything else if you know what I mean. I can hardly hear the drums and the bass itself isn't loud enough to me. I listened with both my phones and my speakers with it blasting and I had the same impression. Where are these drums coming from by the way? I gather there some type of synth drum? For the type of song I think the drums and the bass should be pounding and set in stone as the first part of the mix and then the other stuff laid on top of it. The guitars are great and you play them very well but at some point in the mix I can't even hear the guitars that well because of the vocals being so loud. I know the vocals are supposed to be up front and they are but somehow they're kind of overwhelming everything else in the mix instead of sitting inside of it. I can't quite figure out what's wrong but I think maybe the drums in the bass need to be set to a certain pounding-ness, then set the vocals inside of a little scoop, and then bring up the guitars as the final part of the mixology to make sure they don't get lost in the scramble. That's just my two cents but again I think this is a really incredible song. Great idea and great title by the way.
Hi Hans! Good to have you back and hearing your songs again. A very interesting theme that many of us can relate to. I know from my own recent experiences, we don’t want our own health to be a worry for those around us, as you have shown it can be. Good arrangement, with a surprise here and there. Great BVs! I love the ‘sign’ at the end of the video - giving hope of a good outcome. The zooming in and out works well for creating movement and focus of the viewers attention. I find that working on a video to support my music often makes me think deeper about my lyrics and what I am trying to say, and sometimes makes me think of a different perspective. I hope you enjoyed this new perspective of your creative process. Well done! Andrew
This song is supposed to be a counter-point to all the love songs out there. It's short and sweet: 1:36. (But it feels longer.) https://soundcloud.com/sam-buttrey/idontlikeher I used the _FUNKBLS.STY with its built-in RealTracks.. I had a little help from Reaper to pan the instruments a little, and to add a little reverb. The solo is mine, as you will see. I hope you enjoy it.
Hi Chay! I love the rhythmic pedal steel you used here - it took me a process of elimination to conclude that’s what it was. Did it have a delay effect on it as well? Like others have said, the combination of instruments in a 16ths feel piece is very good. I always like how you give multiple soloists their time in the spotlight. Well done! Andrew
Nice tune, I liked its rhythm. Your loping bass line sounds cool, and so do the piccolos and drums.
Thanks Bob! There have been a few comments about the feel, drums and bass, which was unexpected. Maybe it’s because we don’t hear a lot of this nowadays?
Originally Posted by MarioD
Andrew, an excellent song. Great melodic guitar leads - super chops Outstanding bass - gotta love those Squire P-basses Super mix I really liked this instrumental, keep them coming
Thank you Mario - coming from you is an honour. My Squire bass is one of the cheaper varieties, but it does the job very well. I also have an Ibanez Artcore semi-hollow with half flat strings - giving a thud rather than a boom. I have another instrumental written about the same time as this one and will release that in the next couple of months … too many song projects! Thank you both for listening and commenting! Andrew
"Her face ain’t pretty But her body won’t stop Roll me on the carpet Before this party drops" Well that grabs ya from get go indeed! That was so much fun! Janice and I will be telling each other this for awhile I bet: “You can do what you want to do But everything must be tickety-boo” 😊 Great band, great vocal and an outstanding mix. Fun and quirky to the max and we much enjoyed it! J&B
Enjoyed that ... albeit on a Wednesday afternoon. Man, THAT trumpet and you know we love a fretless bass. Lines on the fretboard? Well, my upright has five dots on the edge of the board. Cool band all around and your guitar fits the vibe perfectly. Enjoyed it! J&B
That's a good point. As PG moves their thinking on to 2027, maybe its a good time to focus on these "must haves" before starting those "nice to haves". Jeff
By now they should probably be moving from "thinking about 2027" towards finalising 2027. They should be thinking about 2028 and beyond.
Great that you got it sorted out. I plan to try BIAB 2023 with the macOS 27 Beta 3 this afternoon. BIAB 2026 Audiophile worked when testing basic functionality yesterday.
Just for kicks, I ran BIAB 2223 Audiophile from the external drive over the Golden Gate Beta 3 on my Studio M2 Ultra. Didn't play with it too long but everything I tried worked. Rosetta 2 has to be installed for either version, of course.
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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 amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
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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 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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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.
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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!
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Man, THAT trumpet and you know we love a fretless bass. Lines on the fretboard? Well, my upright has five dots on the edge of the board. 
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