Cool thing Will, You've a LOT going on in the bottom end so need to EQ carve some space for each low end part &/OR do some High Pass filtering. the kick drum and bass are overlapping so need work. The cymbals are prominent and need some EQ to reduce them. Finally the toms seem unnaturally forward in the quieter sections. The drums will be quite hard to manage as they're just a stereo file BUT it can be done. First step - to manage those frequncies would be to switch to mono for monitoring - that'll give you a clearer picture of stomping and the need for EQ. When the orchestra comes in it's an entirely other bag as it's very busy with added low end. I think the mids need some mud reduction in the full sections but the top end seems cool. DEFINITELY do your EQing in mono before switching back to check in they stereo panned version.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
I really, really like this track! But why the title? :-) In any case, I find it great. I'm no technical guru (not even an apprentice, haha), so I can't comment on the technical aspects of production, etc. (I read through rayc's comments and couldn't understand a word, haha!!!), but you have something excellent on your hands here from the standpoint of what you have created, I think.
Nice job Will! Lots of interesting sounds in this! You might try a version without the drum track (maybe just some orchestral percussion) just to see how it sounds! Thanks, Torrey
Will, nice twisty composition. Unusual progression and lots of cool sounds. Initially the large brass (Tuba?)came in, I thought that is a sound of departing ship I think it would interesting to find departing ship sound and put it in unison with large brass you are using to finish the tune (very end) I am not strong on mixing at all, but to my ear, I would lower hats and bring guitar more forward slightly.
Quite interesting... Unusual chord changes... Pleasant transitions to the chosen sound montage including percussion... It sounds you had fun with this piece... The overall tonalities & timbres sound pleasant to my ears... A very cinematic piece of music... Enjoyed it.
Cool thing Will, You've a LOT going on in the bottom end so need to EQ carve some space for each low end part &/OR do some High Pass filtering. the kick drum and bass are overlapping so need work. The cymbals are prominent and need some EQ to reduce them. Finally the toms seem unnaturally forward in the quieter sections. The drums will be quite hard to manage as they're just a stereo file BUT it can be done. First step - to manage those frequncies would be to switch to mono for monitoring - that'll give you a clearer picture of stomping and the need for EQ. When the orchestra comes in it's an entirely other bag as it's very busy with added low end. I think the mids need some mud reduction in the full sections but the top end seems cool. DEFINITELY do your EQing in mono before switching back to check in they stereo panned version.
Hi rayc,
Thanks a LOT for taking time to listen and for giving me such good advice!
I am a novice in working with those huge orchestras - and I got a lot to learn about how the different instruments are dominating certain frequencies etc. What you have written is very helpful.
I agree with you in most things you write, maybe except for the toms, because that was a deliberate choice to put them forward in the mix, but by reading the comments it seems I am rather alone in liking that. So.. point taken!
I hope I will be able to come up with something better next time I play with the "big boys"...
I really, really like this track! But why the title? :-) In any case, I find it great. I'm no technical guru (not even an apprentice, haha), so I can't comment on the technical aspects of production, etc. (I read through rayc's comments and couldn't understand a word, haha!!!), but you have something excellent on your hands here from the standpoint of what you have created, I think.
Very kind of you! Thanks a lot.
I think the idea was ok, but I probably should have used a lot more time on mixing, before I published it. I am learning every day...
Nice job Will! Lots of interesting sounds in this! You might try a version without the drum track (maybe just some orchestral percussion) just to see how it sounds! Thanks, Torrey
Thanks a lot, Torrey!
Yes, I was thinking about that, but I was trying to combine BiaB with other instruments... not with much success, but I am learning by reading all of your kind comments!
. Initially the large brass (Tuba?)came in, I thought that is a sound of departing ship I think it would interesting to find departing ship sound and put it in unison with large brass you are using to finish the tune (very end)
That is a fun idea, Misha! Thanks for listening!
I am one of many Europeans who are really sad that UK will abandon us. I wanted to express a bit of unease in the track, because that is how I feel about Brexit.
I am praying for a new vote, because I have met so many English people during the last two years, who told me that they just voted for Brexit for fun and that they would vote differently now.
Quite interesting... Unusual chord changes... Pleasant transitions to the chosen sound montage including percussion... It sounds you had fun with this piece... The overall tonalities & timbres sound pleasant to my ears... A very cinematic piece of music... Enjoyed it.
Thanks a lot for your nice comments, Jim! I am glad that you liked it. I think I can do better and will strive to do so next time.
I am one of many Europeans who are really sad that UK will abandon us. I wanted to express a bit of unease in the track, because that is how I feel about Brexit.
You accomplished that as there is a bit of unease in the composition that is counterintuitively somewhat mesmerizing. Producing and or mixing a project like this is way beyond my experience so I'll leave the mix comments to those more familiar with such.
It obviously took a lot of thought regarding the arrangement and I'm sure the mix was time consuming. It also has a cinematic feel that would well fit a "tense" section in the right film.
Fascinating.
J&B
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Really beautiful chord progression and The Orchestra really makes it shine, it is a great tool to create cinematic landscapes, I have used it on couple of my songs, but I wish to use it on more to get more practice. I like the dynamic change from the simple guitar driven part to the orchestrated part and vice versa. Basically the mix sound good in my ears, maybe I would put the guitar more forward in the orchestra sections.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
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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.
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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)
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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!
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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!
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I think it would interesting to find departing ship sound and put it in unison with large brass you are using to finish the tune (very end)
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