Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Off-Topic
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,122
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,122
+++ HERE +++ is a fun article to read. The article is a reprint of a 2017 article where the author decides to work using a DOS computer operating system for a day.

Needless to say there are some trials and tribulations. There are also many references to dusty software titles that use to be business mainstays.

Those of you that lived through those days of yore will get a smile from the effort.


Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1111) RB (5) Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,583
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,583
Hi, Jim -

I have an MS-DOS 6.22 virtual machine on my computer and occasionally run it and play with some of the old apps. More for just nostalgia than anything, but it's fun to reminisce. Before the demise of floppy discs, I converted them all to disc image files (which both VMWare Player and VirtualBox can read, so installing the programs is pretty easy. None of my discs are copy-protected, so no issues there. Just for fun.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA

BB2024/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com
Off-Topic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,860
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,860
This might have been an alternate method for me to solve a problem I had recently. An interface to a database I had written 30 years ago in Turbo Pascal had to be revisited. Of course none of it ran in Windows 10. I recompiled the pascal after finding an emulator, but it might have been easier to use DOS again.


BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
Off-Topic
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,323
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,323
I remember the joy when DOS 3.1 came out.... and writing batch files to make things easier.....


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,860
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 25,860
I taught batch file programming, of course, and you could automate a lot. I remember an early program that compiled batch files into EXE files. It was called Son of a Batch. That caught the attention of the dean of business.


BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,629
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,629
My first computer ran DOS version 4 or 5, which was fairly quickly replaced by a machine running Windows 3.1 and DOS 6.x (I think). I was a kid then so I pretty much only used DOS for games, although once I figured out how to write batch files and use the echo command I found out that I could effectively "animate" some things with ASCII characters.

There was a time where I was actually trying to track down an old DOS machine so I could use Adlib Tracker on a real OPL3 chip, but now I just use DosBox since it's good enough.


I work here
Off-Topic
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,299
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,299
Man, that's taking me back!!! Let's see how much I remember. First you had to run FDISK. Then with the DOS disc in the drive you ran FORMAT C: /s for system and /U for unconditional. That would allow you to get a C:\ prompt when you booted.

I think I remember that as I installed programs on my own PC (Let's use Telix as the example) I would note the executable and make a batch file in a folder called C:\batch that was just c:\telix\telix.exe and from the C:\ prompt I could just run telix.bat, and that I had to put c:\batch in the file path.

I worked at a job a few months before Christmas building the most barebones computers you can imagine. Pop in a motherboard, connect all the pigtails, pop in a CPU, some RAM, a hard drive, install DOS and put it on a shelf. 2 of us did it assembly line style. If I recall I did the mobo, the CPU, the RAM and the hard drive, and the other guy did the connections and the DOS install. We were building like 4 an hour on a slow day. Sheer repetition and battery powered Black and Decker screwdrivers makes you fast! I had two of them. One had a screwdriver bit an the other had a hex socket for the standoffs on the motherboard. Compared to 2021, the computers were the biggest piles of crap I ever saw. The cheapest everything the owner could buy. There was a warehouse guy who sent orders out, received parts, and unboxed the cases and stacked them on a skid. We had those cheap PCs EVERYWHERE. Christmas was over, and after the anticipated big sales rush never came, I'd guess when he must have had at least 400 of those things on shelves. And of course, on Dec 26th we were both laid off. Furloughed. Essentially fired. We were working for a dollar above minimum wage so we didn't care. Plus the guy was a jerk.

What a gig. We sat at a bench and blasted music all day while serving as essentially human robots on an assembly line. I remember watching a guy who wanted a job there try to put the RAM in the IDE sockets. Fun times. Building boat anchors! Gigging most nights, building cheap PCs during the day. What a life.

Last edited by eddie1261; 07/09/21 03:50 PM.

I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.

1. How much did you make in 2023?
2. Send it to us.
Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,583
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,583
By the way, if you run the actual MS-DOS in a virtual machine under Windows (versus something like FreeDOS, which is an emulated DOS), you need to download and install a little utility called DOSIDLE, otherwise your CPU will run at 100% when you run the VM.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA

BB2024/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com
Off-Topic
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,299
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,299
If only I remembered how to install Virtual Box VM. I get to a certain place and don't remember what to do, and the directions are very cloudy. I haven't installed that in over 15 years. Maybe I'll ship you the computer I want it on and you can do it!


I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.

1. How much did you make in 2023?
2. Send it to us.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!

Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!

Learn more about this free update for PowerTracks Pro Audio & download it at www.pgmusic.com/support_windows_pt.htm#2024_5

The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!

The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!

Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.

This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245

The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option

Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!

Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!

For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.

Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.

Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!

Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.

Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!

Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!

With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!

Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!

If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.

A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."

"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."

"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."

Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,582
Posts734,691
Members38,499
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
Tusar Sarkar, RTW, wtsy365, DerFlex, xabialonso259@gmai
38,499 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 200
DC Ron 110
dcuny 82
WaoBand 75
Today's Birthdays
AlberMaxSax, Lloyd Morris
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5