PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box for Macintosh my BUZZ issue

Hello everyone,

I am a fairly new user, having bought everything just last year. I use MAC and the BUZZ issue is blindingly real.
The BUZZ issue has been discussed elsewhere, though it seems to be mostly on the windows biab, but maybe because windows is more widely used?

I say buzz but it might be a bug, because I am beginning to think that sometimes the buzz is not a buzz (like ground hum) but actually an extremely short loop - the kind of sound you get when looping a very short piece of audio, so short that looping it causes playback to sound like a buzz.

I must say I am hugely disappointed in support. I've given concrete examples, audio clips, and many specifics. Their responses, I realise now, have been deliberately slow, as well as generic, not acknowledging to be aware of the issue.
I've raised the issue with support properly, politely, made changes (ineffectual) they've suggested, reported back and my reply goes into the blackhole of support.. shameful/shoddy.

So I am raising the issue here. I hope together it can be solved or at least discover why it happens.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

For any of us to have a clue, we will need complete details so that we might be able to duplicate your issue.

Please provide more details of your setup.
What sort of Mac are you using?
Is the 'buzz' sound coming from the Mac speakers?
Are you using a separate audio interface?
Is it only when using BIAB?
What exactly is your configuration / setup?
Can you upload an audio recording of the 'buzz' to a file sharing service (e.g. Drop Box)?

Yes no problem. Thank you for reading.

What sort of Mac are you using?
We use Mac's. The 'buzz' or loop bug happens on all of them. There are 10, half are intel, half Apple Silicon.
The main machine right now is an M1 MBP. The issue is apparent on all machines - believe me that took a long time and LOT of patience!

Is the 'buzz' sound coming from the Mac speakers?
The buzz sound will output from whatever sound output i'm currently using.

Are you using a separate audio interface?
We may do, but removing them from the setup or using them doesn't end the hum. its being made from the BIAB app.

Is it only when using BIAB?
Yes.

What exactly is your configuration / setup?
Sonoma on the whole, and the current BIAB, all updated, patched, uninstalled, reinstalled. As per support copy pasta advice.
I will be buying the 2025 audiophile edition later today. Perhaps it'll 'fix' it.

Can you upload an audio recording of the 'buzz' to a file sharing service (e.g. Drop Box)?
Yes, see below for random examples. Note the differing timbres of buzz/hum. I currently think this is due to the 'loop script' failing to run, resulting in what sounds like a buzz, but what is in fact a short bit of audio looping. But it might be something else.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/27qot3p44xsa5nug52dtg/BIAB-BUZZ-BUG-20250706-1222-Recording.aiff?rlkey=gnpptqdlibioqaw19pr5pkd2q&st=6isa86qr&dl=0

you'll hear in the link styles that have a buzz, randomly selected. I can't find a connection between the ones that buzz.
the buzz goes away when double clicking on a different style (ie a style that doesn't have the buzz issue)
Just so to be clear. I've entered a few chords in BIAB mac app, opened the style picker and, randomly trying different styles (by double clicking styles).

No interface.
I'm running from a mac silicon laptop. at first at various sample rates, I was informed BIAB is all recorded at 44.1Khz, but unfortunately adjusting to 44.1Khz doesn't stop the issue. Neither does adding an interface. I've tried 10.

my suspicion is that whatever script is used to loop the loop, it is failing, and getting 'stuck', looping the first fraction, which is a similar sound to a hum/buzz.

I might have noticed that all of these buzzing Styles contain loops.
but if i search for a loop that 'buzzes' and play it (outside of BIAB) it plays fine.

An example of that is this style...

Memo: This fast electronic style features three MIDI SuperTrack synths using the SynthMaster plugin, a RealTrack synth, electronic drums, and a drum loop. -Examples: Circles, Brown Paper Bag, Alien Girl, Genre "Intensity" Score=90/100
=RUMBLE.STY. Rumble Drum and Bass
Real and MIDI SuperTracks. Sextet. Tempo=175 (140-190)
Instruments: MST-Bass, Synth, MST-Synth, MST-Synth, Loop, Drums
RD: TechnoElectro^AB-a:Kick, b:Hat :PG Artist 3
MIDI ST4670: Bass, Pulsing, SynthmasterCinema Ev16 , n/a
RT1943: Synth, Rhythm, EuroDance Strings Ev 120 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
MIDI ST4437: Synth, Pad, SynthMasterDreamingTripPulseDelay , n/a
MIDI ST4369: Synth, Plucked SynthMasterTranceAttack OffbeatHits 120 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
Loop:Drum n Bass\Drum n Bass - dnb170_01 drums ev16.wav

the track "Loop:Drum n Bass\Drum n Bass - dnb170_01 drums ev16.wav" doesn't play, it buzzes, but if i find the loop it plays fine.
so that leads me to believe the 'script' that tells that loop to play/loop is at fault.



below are some styles that buzz...

Memo: A modern dance pop style with a funky muted electric guitar, held electric bass, pop acoustic piano, and two drum loops. -Examples: Live While We're Young, If I Can't Have You, Genre "Intensity" Score=60/100
_TEENAGE.STY. Teenage Funky Dance Pop
All RealTracks. Quintet. Tempo=125 (105-150)
Instruments: El.Bass, Loop, Ac.Piano, El.Guitar, Loop
Loop:House-Techno-Trance\House - city_lights_128_drum_loop _c_minor ev8.wav
RT1253: Bass, Electric, PopShiningHeld Ev 120 , Mark Hill
RT1262: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopShiningHeld Ev 120 , Blair Masters
RT1771: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkMovinMuted Ev16 130 , Michael Thompson
Loop:House-Techno-Trance\House - sparse_120_c drums ev16.wav

Memo: This RealStyle features three synths, electric guitar, electronic drums, and a drum loop playing an energetic EDM/rock groove. -Examples: The Tra La La Song, Gigantor, Genre "Intensity" Score=90/100
_CARTOON.STY. Cartoon Electro Rock Groove
All RealTracks. Sextet. Tempo=180 (140-200)
Instruments: Syn.Bass, Synth, El.Guitar, Synth, Loop, Drums
RD: TechnoElectro^AB-a:Kick, b:Hat :PG Artist 3
RT4111: Bass, Synth RedDoorPurePro 65 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
RT2747: Synth, Rhythm AltHipHopHorn Ev16 085 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
RT648: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopRockBritHeavy Ev 120 , Darin Favorite
RT2269: Synth, BellPad, Rhythm 80sPopPads Ev 140 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
Loop:AcousticDrumFullKit\Funk Rock - 60srock125m ev16.wav


Memo: This synth pop style has a muted sound with an even-eighths feel. A staccato strings loop, synth bass, synth chords, synth melody, and a drum loop are used. -Examples: Therefore I Am, Ily, Genre "Intensity" Score=65/100
_SUBMERG.STY. Submerged Muted Alternative Pop
All RealTracks. Quintet. Tempo=100 (90-120)
Instruments: Loop, Loop, Synth, Synth, Synth
Loop:HipHop\Old School - pearls_90_drumloop1_c ev16.wav
Loop:World\Bollywood - party_80_basses_staccato_e_flat_minor.wav
RT901: Synth, Bass, EuroDance ChorusBassOffBeat Ev16 120 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
RT1644: Synth, Rhythm, EuroDance SubduedHitsOffBeat Ev16 120 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
RT2582: Synth, Rhythm MutedMelody Ev16 120 , Donyea Goodman


Memo: This fast dance rock style uses a trance drum loop, punk electric bass, a muted pad synth, and two bright electric guitars. -Examples: Caution, Banquet, Genre "Intensity" Score=70/100
_RAGER.STY. Rager Trance Beat Dance Rock
All RealTracks. Quintet. Tempo=160 (130-190)
Instruments: El.Bass, Synth, El.Guitar, El.Guitar, Drums
RD: PopPepSquad^03-a:Quiet hihat, digital snare , b:Cheers, Quiet hihat :Ed (Great Oz) Clare
RT2592: Bass, Electric, RockPickedA-B Ev 165 , Doug Elliott
RT2739: Synth, Rhythm PepSquadPad Ev 165 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
RT544: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Dreamy Ev 165 , Darin Favorite
RT1833: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopModernGrooveChorusArp Ev16 075 , Darin Favorite

Memo: This slow electronic pop style features alternating synth and electric bass parts. A hard-hitting drum loop and two more synthesizers are also in the mix. -Examples: Bleeding Love, Instant Crush, Genre "Intensity" Score=65/100
_ROBOMAN.STY. Roboman Brooding Ev8 Electronica
All RealTracks. Quartet. Tempo=105 (95-130)
Instruments: Syn.Bass, El.Bass, Synth, Synth
RT2694: Bass, Synth, TropicalHouseOffBeat Ev 120 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
RT1521: Bass, Electric, PopPower4s Ev 120 , Mark Hill
RT2697: Synth, Rhythm TropicalHouseLeadOffBeat Ev 120 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare
RT1943: Synth, Rhythm, EuroDance Strings Ev 120 , Ed (Great Oz) Clare


THIS ONE PRODUCES BUZZING ONLY, note they are all real tracks.
Memo: This style features guitar, piano, bass, drums, and a drum loop. -Examples: Creep, Summer of 69', What's Up, Genre "Intensity" Score=65/100
_SHIFT.STY. Shift Pop Swells Guitar
All RealTracks. Quintet. Tempo=110 (90-130)
Instruments: El.Bass, Ac.Piano, El.Guitar, Loop, Drums
RD: RockSyncKick^01-a:Closed Hat, Snare , b:Open Hat, Snare :Pat Steward
RT683: Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120 , Tobin Frank
RT1264: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopShiningA-B Ev 120 , Blair Masters
RT3754: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAutoswellBrent Ev 110 , Brent Mason
Loop:House-Techno-Trance\House - crunchy_120_b drums ev16.wav


similar questions, seemingly related, though unresolved through hardware suggestions, sample rate queries, or reinstallation (i've done all those, and casually re-installing 100GB of BIAB is no mean feat!).

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=630739&Searchpage=1&Main=87424&Words=buzz&Search=true#Post630739

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=792747&Searchpage=2&Main=104170&Words=buzz&Search=true#Post792747

I don't have experience with Mac or their hardware. I seriously doubt that the problem is from the PG Music Band In A Box music samples. If it was, many, many others would suffer this issue also, which I understand is not the case.

Other Mac users might listen to your samples and offer some suggestions, but I don't think that this is a native BIAB related audio issue.

Thank you.

Regardless, this cannot be a Mac specific issue, you would have read the other forum posts are from Windows users.

The samples play fine outside the BIAB app. I did not say music samples were faulty, I in fact said the opposite.

As it stands, the issue is BIAB related, incorrectly playing some audio, mostly or uniquely loops - for some unknown reason. Reinstalling and several computers back this up. Plus that other forum users are flummoxed.

To clarify, this is BB2024 (806) correct? The other forum posts you mentioned reference a *much* more subtle sound that happened at the end of a song, on Windows - definitely not the same issue. In your audio sample, what styles are used for the second a third samples? (The first sample sounds fine). Load one of these and see if you can isolate whether the sound is coming from a specific track, by soloing each track in turn.

Thank you.

Yes, Band-in-a-Box® for Macintosh, Version 2024 (806), 64 bit application - Rosetta mode.

The sound examples are no longer live on the posts, so I can't hear them, but the description is similar. Sometimes my problem is also only heard in silence (ie 'at the end') as the noise is not loud enough to be heard normally. I gave louder examples. We can't be positive it's a different problem.

From the Style I listed, I've just loaded up...
_TEENAGE.STY: Teenage Funky Dance Pop
...and it (still) has the same noise on the channel/mixer that shows LOOP 1 Loop : House-Techno-Trance/House - city_lights_128_drum_loop_c_minor ev8.wav If I mute the channel is goes away, as one would expect.

It is telling that LOOP 2 on that Style, Loop : House-Techno-Trance/House - sparse_120_c drums ev16.wav, is not playing. LOOP 1 not playing is possibly a factor.

The order of tracks in the mixer is, Bass Piano Loop 1 Guitar Loop 2. LOOP 1 is the buzzy loop, LOOP 2 is not playing. The other tracks are playing.

When I find any of the WAVs in question outside of the BIAB app they all play perfectly fine.


I will add this...
from the mixer, panning pans the buzz left right, volume turns it up and down. Along with what and how this is happening it all points to not a 'buzz' issue as such, we are not looking for a mysterious buzzing noise, we're looking at faulty playback, a fraction of audio being looped instead of it playing through fully/properly. This is the issue that needs to be investigated.

Add a file safemode.txt (contents don't matter) to the Band-in-a-Box/Preferences folder, and then launch the program (should say safe mode in red on the splash screen). Does it still happen?

I tested that style on 2024 build 806 and was not able to duplicate the buzzing issue. Could you generate and freeze the tracks, then save the song file and email it to me at support@pgmusic.com attn Simon and I'll take a look? This way we can determine whether it's an issue with the wavinstructions or something else.

Thank you.

Yes, it still happens.

Booting up the first time in Safe Mode, shows the chord C, and the Style ZZJAZZ.STY: Jazz Swing Style.
This plays fine. Bass, Piano, Drums.

Continuing in Safe Mode...

Search for _TEENAGE style, double clicking so it loads, the noise still plays
BUT instead, LOOP 1 is silent, and this time LOOP 2 'buzzes'
LOOP 2 produces a full volume 'buzz' (This has the effect of 'knocking' out the digital master audio out too - though this silencing/overload/cutout is commonly built in to typical digital audio DSP.

I quit, relaunched a second time, and this time the music played but neither LOOP 1 (the buzz emitter) or LOOP 2, played at all, only the music.

TEENAGE is...
TEENAGE R 4/4 ev16 125 Teenage Funky Dance Pop Modern Pop Pop 60 2019-10 Xtra PAK 8 5 2 Lite Pop, Funk

I restarted computer, relaunched a third time and this time LOOP 1 'buzzes, and LOOP 2 is 'silent' - as per the problem without safe mode.

Note, the silence from either non playing LOOP is not actually silent.
I bounced the LOOP 2 track, there is a full volume digital burst, the sound of a click as it's so short. at both ends. This is can be caused where there is typically a sub harmonic sine 'cut' off zero, this one is 20Hz and lower.
Be careful with the file
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/c5893jllpgtkx3c23bs5l/Untitled-Song-Render.aiff?rlkey=lro95c9uk7f84yrg22mw6scuw&st=f7nj5d1i&dl=0

See attached Frequency Plot.

Thank you.

Did you test that on a Mac? Running which OS?

I will do the generate/save. Shall I do it with the SAFE MODE preferences in place? Or back to my preferences?

[/quote]...freeze the tracks... [/quote]

I can tap the FREEZE button on all of the tracks, but playing back after doing it, both LOOP tracks's freeze buttons 'turn off'.

I will FREEZE all tracks, but not hit play, and send that.
And I will also send the saved song with the two LOOP tracks (involuntarily) unfrozen

I may know this one.

During lockdown, I was preparing virtual choirs & praise bands. Ensembles ranged from fifteen tracks with five vocals to virtual choirs with up to sixty individual vocal tracks. Praise band tracks were fine but I had to re-think everything I ever learned about vocal tracks when dealing with a dozen or more singers, each phoning it in from home—literally. Although I’m not doing that anymore, there were important lessons learned.

What track levels are you recording to? How many audio tracks? Are you using any limiters—if so, what–on all tracks or just the master?

Thank you.

In this scenario I am only auditioning Styles in the app.
No recording is going on, no devices are on the output, no inputs are 'live'.

All I can think is that this is a Mac Thing. Cause "Buzz" is not something I would associate with BIAB in the PC world. Now if you used the word "crackle" or "wobbel". I would be on board. This is familar to me. It is typically assocated with the audio drivers getting the sample rate mixed up. But this is certainly not limited to BIAB. I just spent two days fighting this in Reaper! Don't really now why? I did everylhing I could think of and finally made some Audio driver adjustments for ASIO in Reaper. I think I got it fixed.

Thank you.

I'm partially regretting the post title. Though it is a fact that the noise created is a buzzy one.
But I'm almost certain it is caused by loops not looping properly.
Why that is happening is the mystery - if that is indeed the issue.

The 'buzz' timbre varies hugely as it and depends on the loop that isn't playing. That is to say, the very first few samples (there are 44,100 samples per second, so we're talking about tiny fractions) of the digital audio determine the buzz. If there is a loud sound starting right from frame one, the buzz is loud! If there is a fraction of 'ramp up' in volume, the noise is much quieter, sometimes inaudible.

I have purchased 2025 Mac, and I'm preparing for a total re-install (again) next week, and it would be a huge relief if the issue is solved. I am perfectly happy to re-install, and also to accept whatever reason is the cause.

Support have not acknowledged I've sent what they've asked for. Neither Andrew or Simon replied to my simple followup questions that would help to rule out certain specifics. I'm trying not to be too disappointed.

I know support need time (there is a new release out), I do respect that, but I raised this the same week I bought the entire catalog, back in October 2024, that is in the background to this forum post. Support just stopped responding, I followed all of their suggestions, the issue persists. I've had this on numerous Macs and now on 3 different Mac OS's. Something is up... somewhere.

I use Reaper, it's engine is very efficient, but does work smoother if all audio, and things connected, are explicitly at the same sample rate. But you knew that! ; )

I'm a noob with BIAB, but not in the audio world.

No Xtra.

a shot in the dark.
ive owned various studio rigs over the years from junk gear to big studio
products.
only times i got 'buzz' was incorrect grounding or a mistake.
sooo..

1..please explain how your rig is grounded.
by any chance do you have different bits of gear plugged into various different outlets ?? the net has loads of info re grounding.

2..assuming the same interface is used for all your music apps...if your not useing bb and say useing logic or other mac studio daw apps...
does the 'buzz' go away ?? is it only with bb ??
also it might be usefull to post a pic of your bb audio drivers set up.
bit depth/sampling rate etc etc.

happiness.

om

Thank you.

I'm only auditioning Styles in the Mac BIAB app, not recording. At it's most basic, it happens when I do the auditioning on my M1 laptop, running Mac OS Sonoma. It happens from the app, so if an interface is attached, it comes out of there too. But I don't need an interface attached to have it happen.

The buzz isn't continuous, it only occurs when I audition/load the problem Style into the mixer.
If I mute the 'buzzing' channel, the buzz goes away.

My hunch is something is not quite right (obviously(!)) with the Mac BIAB app or something in my system settings, or possibly my installation.
I'm re-installing next week.

The 'buzz' is the sound you get if you loop a tiny fraction of sound. It takes on the tone of fraction of sound. So it varies from style to style, and it only seems to be on styles that have loops, hence my loop hunch. If that makes sense?

As BIAB is entirely sampled at 44.1Khz, that's the sample rate I run at.

It's a puzzle!

My reply:

1. I have used BB on over 90 songs and countless demos and never had this buzz problem; but I'm on a PC.

2. Please confirm that you are using 44.1 as you said with 16 bit.
BB likes 44.1/16.

3. What sound interface are you using? or are you useing the macs built in sound ??
more details on your work methods re creating a song from concept thru final mix
stereo master would help. this is highly odd.

4. You will have garage Band on your MAC.
Please run a test with it or another music production app to see if you get the buzz
process of elimination.

Happiness

om