In the audio setup screen there is a checkbox that says something like "use IM effects". Checking that box triggered the distortion problem.
The problem of the crashing was caused by the driver. I sent Focusrite support the information provided to me by PGMusic support, and they sent me a new driver. So far so good (no blue screens)
And it turns out that a bunch of other issues I've been having with RB were caused by file corruptions that were caused by blue screen shutdowns that were caused by the bad driver.
After getting a driver that works, and then reinstalling BIAB/RB from the USB drive, everything works again!
Funny how often people say 'drivers drivers drivers' and some get annoyed. Thanks for posting this so I can reference it.
I will admit; RB can have driver issues more often than some other DAWs, but it is quite often the driver and not RB. I've seen multiple instances of the device manufacturer realizing it doesn't correctly support a subset of the requirements (and therefore didn't work in RB). They can often easily fix it once pointed out. The good ones do this. Sounds like Focusrite went the extra mile and supplied the applicable driver for you. I'm liking them more and more.
Now go have some fun with RB!
That IM box adds a LOT of extra load to the system. If a system is stable and has the resources it can be cool and fun to play with. However it should also be of one those features that is enabled only when you need it. I never save that setting with a song (This is a good tip). Otherwise inattentive users can have all sorts of issues. This feature is not for beginners. Not that you, Pat, are a beginner, just saying this so others don't go enabling it without knowing what is required and how it works.
Last edited by rharv; 01/26/1502:53 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
When I want to audition patches from a number of Synths using the Patch Lists then I open The Classic Tracks window and use numbers in the Program, Bank and LSB columns. These numbers used be able to be changed progressively by using the + and - keys providing a very speedy way of selecting and auditioning sounds. This method of changing patches has been available in RB from the start and in PowerTracks since the mid 1990 at least.
I pointed out the change during Beta testing and have Emailed Support. I suppose the problem could be local but my last copy of PTW still works as above described.
This feature is not for beginners. Not that you, Pat, are a beginner, just saying this so others don't go enabling it without knowing what is required and how it works.
in some ways I am very much a beginner. Features change. We all seem to have our preferred way of using RB, and often that means using a limited subset of its features. Add full time employment, and there have been whole versions that I never had time to explore at all until now.
Now that I'm retired and using RB for extended periods every day, it's like being a new user. When offering help, don't assume I know something just because I've owned the product for a long time.
I thought the corrupted files were caused by the blue screens I was getting... but apparently the crypto wall trojan has been encrypting files in my BIAB folders.
Apparently this problem has just raised its nasty head again in the past week or so. Everybody should probably search their systems for files named HELP_DECRYPT (TXT, HTML or PNG) If you find any of those files, you have the trojan.
I just scanned my drive with a paid version of Adaware virus scanner, and it didn't find it.. so apparently this new strain is not yet recognized by them yet. I have Malwarebytes running now.
I thought the corrupted files were caused by the blue screens I was getting... but apparently the crypto wall trojan has been encrypting files in my BIAB folders.
Apparently this problem has just raised its nasty head again in the past week or so. Everybody should probably search their systems for files named HELP_DECRYPT (TXT, HTML or PNG) If you find any of those files, you have the trojan.
I just scanned my drive with a paid version of Adaware virus scanner, and it didn't find it.. so apparently this new strain is not yet recognized by them yet. I have Malwarebytes running now.
Do give us an update on the results of Malwarebytes Pat. It will be interesting to find out.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Do give us an update on the results of Malwarebytes Pat. It will be interesting to find out.
Malwarebytes didn't find anything either.
I updated the database of signatures and scanned again.. still didn't find anything.
I scan pretty often with multiple programs... a couple of days ago they both found and isolated something, but I don't remember what it was. It's possible that the damage was already done at that time, and I didn't notice it. If so, it would explain why nothing was found yesterday... the trojan may have already been removed before I discovered the symptoms.
However, most of what was encrypted by the trojan was BIAB files, and I had done a complete reinstall of the USB hard drive after finding and removing the previous threat.
So my gut feeling is that its still there but my antivirus is not finding it.
When I searched online for the telltale phrase "HELP_DECRYPT" all the hits were just a few days old, and many of them indicated that their antivirus did not detect it.
apparently the modus operandi of this trojan is that it looks in your RECENTLY USED record and encrypts that first, thinking that you probably use the important files more often, and they might be important enough that you would pay a ransom to have them decrypted.
When I searched my computer for files named HELP_DECRYPT, I notice they were all time stamped at practically the same time. Does anybody know of a utility that makes a record of the date, time and name of any program that writes to the hard drive? If I could determine which program was writing at the time the files were changed, I'd have a chance of deleting the right thing.
Welcome to my world. Not on my personal PC's, but at work we have over a dozen servers getting attacked every day. For a personal PC, if the time stamps seem to show it has stopped, I'd just keep an eye on it and keep updating Malwarebytes and scanning every couple days for a while until comfortable. FreeCommander may help to find recently changed files (by date). That's the most basic tool I can think of to make sure files aren't getting changed still.
FWIW it could have happened during a given 'session' online, maybe only while a certain ad displayed, .. don't really have to do anything wrong these days to have this type of issue. But if it hasn't stopped I'd be more concerned.
/Our servers battle hack attempts every day 24/7 .. it gets SO old //current cyber attack map shown below /// notice anything?
Last edited by rharv; 01/29/1504:29 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
I take it the orange dot is where you work? And the map shows all the locations from which your servers have been attacked.
Thanks for the tip on freecommander. If your job is to keep a computer system safe... man, My hat is off to you for a whole new set of reasons! I wouldn't want that job these days for any amount of compensation!
There's a key for the map that I cropped that explains the colors, depending on what's getting hit the hardest. If you watch it in realtime you'd see those ones from the US are a reaction to the DOS attack; they get hit with tons of requests and in response they look like they are sending out a DOS for a second (due to the amount of data they suddenly generate) .. then it goes away. When it stops all together the server may be down.. never good.
This is a national map, and our server rack is in a co-hosted location, so I couldn't single them out using this map. A bunch of hosting companies have equipment there because of the fiber cabling, backup generators, climate/dust control, etc. Rooms full of servers get hot. It is 9 degrees outside here today for the high and we have the A/C running in our development/testing/corporate servers room!
We're pretty good at keeping things locked down though. The only way to connect to our production servers 50 miles away is to first remote into our corporate system. That's the only IP allowed through the production firewall to begin with. First safety step of many, many layers. Serious business.
Unfortunately we have companies that pay us to maintain their servers .. and they have terrible server protection on the servers they are leasing, so I do get my fair share of time fixing things when they've been compromised .. not on our system, but on others.
I'm actually head of the web/software development division where I work. And as such I am more involved in the infrastructure side of things than I care to be sometimes.
Last edited by rharv; 01/30/1501:47 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
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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!
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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):
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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)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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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)
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