But here's the kicker. NOT about music. I am putting together a system to do scammerbaiting (Still in progress as I have to add a virtual machine to let the scammers connect to), with the holdup being another micro-pc arriving and some specific cables to connect to this new console I bought.
It's a Rodecaster Pro. It has 4 XLR inputs, 4 headphone outs, Bluetooth, and an input to connect a cell phone so I can take calls. (Though I'd never give out my real number anyway.) I also has a connection through USB so you can play sounds from your computer. In my case that would mean I can call and take calls on a VOIP phone and stream it with volume control through the console. There are also 8 pads play back sounds, and you can have as many banks of 8 as the onboard RAM will allow. I have 32 soundbytes of me saying things in Hindi and 8 of my songs loaded and I have 14% of the onboard RAM left. It's a nice little unit for anybody interested in podcasting. It would work well to do live stream music shows as well, though I have not yet learned it well enough to turn off onto that road just yet.
I'd be interested in know how many people here do a podcast, music or non-music related. Just to discuss podcasting, hosting...
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.
Yep. And refund scammers. SS scammers... So far I have busted 2 money mules. I really need that new PC to run the VM on so they can connect to me. Also need to configure and learn how to use the fake bank so they can try to steal from me.
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.
He is THE best at it. Then Kitboga. The rest fall in line as wannabe types. One guy, and I will not name names, has an entertaining Twitch stream but he seems to know little about audio because his mic is too loaded on the front and and his mic has been clipping for 2 years now. And the wannabes all have an attitude and if you let them know their audio stinks they immediately give you attitude like "If you don't like the stream watch something else."
So, just like in music, you have scambaiters that are songwriters and scambaiters that are copy bands... One guy literally stole another's patter word for word. Many overuse the voice changer, much like a guitarist will overuse his new pedal at first and makes the pedal the star instead of the player. Some rush their product to the live stage, and start doing it with just a cheap USB mic, no video, no scenes in their OBS presentations... And the ones who cheap out all say things like "I don't want anybody to know who I am so they don't retailiate." Okay, you have scammers who work for $40 a week. And you are afraid of them because you think they can suddenly afford plane fare to the US and know exactly where that one face of 375 million lives in one of 50 states, none of which they can identify? I'm not concerned. LOL!
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 call center experience would be a bonus )
Oh, I gots me some of that!!!
I had an SS scammer on the phone the other day and part of their script is that your SS number was used to rent a car in Texas. I let him go for a about 20 minutes, asking inane questions to derail him, and then said "So listen Sanjay, or what ever your name really is, ober dere where you live in that 3rd world s**thole country, have YOU ever rented a car? Because over here, nowhere on a rental car application are we asked for a social security number. And you said I rented a 2012 Toyota Corolla? Nobody rents 11 year old cars. (Now playing a series of Hindi phrases I made for a soundboard, I said) You are a scammer. Stop stealing from people. Get an honest job. Be better at life. You will end up in jail. You understand me?"
That's where he hung up.
I need more prep to try and get those 2 hour calls.
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.
I've done similar things with the folks who call wanting a donation for a political party. One guy was wanting something like a $100 minimum donation to help a certain candidate running for president. I strung him along for a bit saying things like... Oh yes, absolutely. Yes, that is spot on. Yes I support that as well.... After I had him thinking this was going to be an easy $100+ donation for his candidate..... I told him that yes, absolutely, however, I will be sending that donation to his political opponent's campaign..... Click.... he hung up on me.
I've read some of the interesting stories on that 419 scam baiter website and some of that stuff is hilarious. I don't have the time to stay engaged with a scammer to draw it out as long as some of those folks do. However, my hat is off to anyone who gets a scammer to spend a significant amount of THEIR ill gotten money in the attempt to get that big score from what they are thinking is a sucker.
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.
I have also set up a profile on a dating site as a female to see if I get any romance scammers. THEY are a lot of fun. Most are in Nigeria and steel photos of handsome men but will never video chat or the obvious reasons.
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.
I used to string a few along too, some became very foul mouthed at the end when they realized the game was up. Had the lady who told me that I couldn't judge her, that she had a job supporting her child, and then there was the guy who told me that he only scams people out of small amounts like £100 and how many relatives he had to support. Used to have landline but only mobile (cell) phone now, actually got one today on it, about an accident I was supposed to have had.
Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2024, Cubase 13, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use
I love messing with them! I'm hardly waiting to get the catfishing scammers going.
But back to topic, does anybody here do any kind of podcast? I'm looking for personal experiences about who the best hosts are, specifically the best FREE hosts, opinions about how long a podcast is effective before users drift out, what kind of things you cast about...
I may do some episodes about my personal songwriting experiences, talking about the backstory behind the song, how PG software was instrumental (see what I did there?) in the creative process, and possibly get into plugging the software. I don't know how many people are actually going to hear the podcasts, but if it sells a few units for PG, so be 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.
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
The Bob Doyle Media YouTube channel is known for demonstrating how you can creatively incorporate AI into your projects - from your song projects to avatar building to face swapping, and more!
His latest video, Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box, he explains in detail how you can use the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box with ACE Studio. Follow along as he goes from "nothing" to "something" with his Band-in-a-Box MIDI Melodist track, using ACE Studio to turn it into a vocal track (or tracks, you'll see) by adding lyrics for those notes that will trigger some amazing AI vocals!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
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!
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.
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!
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."
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