Has anyone else had this problem ? The tips in the flash messages in the bottom right corner are total jibberish and unreadable. All other flash messages are perfectly ok, it's only the tips. I had this problem in version 2020 and contacted support about it, but never got it solved. Now I upgraded to 2023, hoping this would be a thing of the past, but unfortunately it is still there. Any help would be appreciated. I have been looking for a way to switch the tips off completely, but could not find such a setting. regards, Martin
Thanks for your reply. I will put my answers in between the quotes.
A) If you go to the Help menu | Utilities | Display flash messages, this will show you a log of recent messages. Do you see gibberish there?
Yes, all the lines with tips are gibberish: **** New Session started at : 3-3-24 16:32:33 - Tip: ˛{˝ÿ˛q˝∆˛`˝Ø˛M˝ê˛<˝v˛.˝i˛ ˝a˛˝X˛‚¸O˛—¸A˛Ã¸1˛ø¸&˛≠¸&˛£¸4˛•¸B˛¶¸B˛ö¸9˛ã¸-˛¸˛n¸˝˝^¸Ë˝Z¸‰˝Z¸Ú˝Y¸˛X¸ ˛Q¸ı˝P¸fi˝]¸‘˝b¸◊˝[¸·˝R¸Â˝J¸Ê˝B¸È˝H¸‚˝V¸—˝a¸√˝b¸∏˝W¸Ø˝F¸∑˝E¸ƒ˝W¸≈˝g¸º˝n¸™˝s¸ò˝n¸ô˝b¸•˝[¸™˝^¸≠˝g¸¨˝p¸ú˝u¸ã˝z¸Ü˝¸à˝Ç¸è˝Ö¸î˝ä¸é˝ê¸Ç˝ [3-3-24 16:25:49]
B) What language is your OS?
English
C) Are you using the English, Italian, German, or French version of Band-in-a-Box?
English
D) Which specific build of Band-in-a-Box do you have?
Band-in-a-Box® for Macintosh Version 2023 (707) 64 bit application
As mentioned earlier, this gibberisch started in version 2021. I contacted support about it, but no solution was provided.
Is there a specific song file you could send that produces one of these tips when you play it?
Could you please try factory settings: 1. Close Band-in-a-Box. 2. Put a file called safemode.txt in the Band-in-a-Box "Preferences" folder. 3. Open Band-in-a-Box - splash screen should have red text "Safe mode" on it, and that confirms the name and location of the text file is correct. 4. See if the gibberish still appears in the flash messages.
Afterwards you can delete the file.
Last edited by Andrew - PG Music; 03/05/2403:29 PM.
Is there any way to generate a situation in which a tip would be issued ? It takes a lot of time and guessing to produce a tip and be able to check if it is gibberish.
I already tried several times to return to factory default and/or removing all files from the preferences folder, does not change anything so far. But I will put the safemode.txt in and have a go again.
UPDATE I ran BIAB in safe mode and the same gibberish came up, I will paste the session below. I wanted to attach the song as well, but I am not allowed to attach anything else than images.
- Tip: ˇ| Xˇ• ˝ ˛ e à π˛≈˝0óˇ≈ ˛(˛6g _ˇ+ ˛w 7ˇ\ ˇù ˇÚ ï˛¥ b˛é ˇÒ Ì˝•h˛¥õˇ ˇ ∞ ô ~ ˛oÙ˛>÷ˇGˇ fl˛Ñˇ ˛ûˇ9 ¡ ï *˛í˝âïˇib·ˇ\”˛4ß „ F¨ˇ » eˇ;5ˇCM u Jˇå 8ˇåÅ ÁÕˇh.ˇ∫ ¸ˇr⡶j Z ≈ê ¿{ 0Ú˛¶ i ˛ˇ«“ˇu7ˇr [6-3-24 16:36:56] - Tip: ˇJˇ€˙‚˝–¸é˛¶ÇW5B¸ô˛•˚ ˚ ò Ú–‰˛´˛fiı"˝:˚¯ WÌ Ò3â˘1r:ˇw *˛fiıƒ¸¡ÙŸŒ Ê˝U˛«˛;¸| ∂ \q˜¯˚Åfl˙q† µ˛[˝Ù˝fl˙≤ˇ$ §ˇ’Ùf˙˚ˆè¸õDˇ®l¸\˘ ' tÒûˇ õ˝ ¸ò8ù™mˇ5˛ä˚∑ˇ˚)˚ˇ¸5 ´˜Z˘I˛Å˚«˚›*¸±´ [6-3-24 16:28:09] - Auditioning MIDI style (first MIDI Drums, then RealDrums): /Volumes/Macintosh HD2/Applications/Band-in-a-Box/RealTracks/Data/Style Demos Audio/=TEXMETL.m4a and then http://demos.pgmusic.com/audio/allstyledemos2/=TEXMETL_RD.m4a. Tip: Press > button to toggle between MIDI and RealDrums. [6-3-24 16:27:59] - Auditioning style: /Volumes/Macintosh HD2/Applications/Band-in-a-Box/RealTracks/Data/Style Demos Audio/_12STACM.m4a [6-3-24 16:27:32] - Auditioning MIDI style (first MIDI Drums, then RealDrums): http://demos.pgmusic.com/audio/allstyledemos2/ZZETHNIC.m4a and then http://demos.pgmusic.com/audio/allstyledemos2/ZZETHNIC_RD.m4a. Tip: Press > button to toggle between MIDI and RealDrums. [6-3-24 16:26:46] - Auditioning MIDI style (first MIDI Drums, then RealDrums): http://demos.pgmusic.com/audio/allstyledemos2/ZZCHACHA.m4a and then http://demos.pgmusic.com/audio/allstyledemos2/ZZCHACHA_RD.m4a. Tip: Press > button to toggle between MIDI and RealDrums. [6-3-24 15:45:56] - Time to scan unknown VST plugins = 0 ms [6-3-24 15:45:24] - Time to scan known VST plugins = 1 ms [6-3-24 15:45:24] - Time to scan AU plugins = 15 ms [6-3-24 15:45:24] - Time to scan ALL plugins = 16 ms [6-3-24 15:45:24] - Scanning for plugins... [6-3-24 15:45:24] - TMacAudioInput.StartInputThread: success [6-3-24 15:45:24] - TMacAudioInput.Init: input stream flags adjusted 9 [6-3-24 15:45:24] - TMacAudioInput.Init: input stream sample rate 44100 [6-3-24 15:45:24] - TMacAudioInput.Init: input stream bits 32 [6-3-24 15:45:24] - TMacAudioInput.Init: input stream flags 9 [6-3-24 15:45:24] - Bootup was slower this session only, because RealTracks and RealDrums lists needed to be rebuilt [6-3-24 15:45:23] - Bootup time in millseconds =13,061 [6-3-24 15:45:23] - Bootup is slower, this session only, due to running this: "Rebuilding list of RealTracks Parents" [6-3-24 15:45:20] - Bootup is slower, this session only, due to running this: "Updating list of RealTracks" [6-3-24 15:45:18] - macOS version 10.14.7 [6-3-24 15:45:17] **** New Session started at : 6-3-24 15:45:17
Is there any way to generate a situation in which a tip would be issued ?
One thing you can do is to open the StylePicker and load in the song demo for Z3BOSSA. When you press play it should issue a tip that there is a better style available.
You can send the file via support@pgmusic.com referencing this thread, if you find one that reliably produces the garbled tip. Maybe there is an encoding problem with one of the messages, but I haven't found it yet. I do see some bad characters in my flash message log, so that may be related. Will do further testing.
Loading Z3BOSSA demo song does not generate a TIP, it generates a green flash message, those are never garbled.
Trying this suggestion did regenerate another problem I mentioned earlier. I have a song with an overall real tracks style, I change the overall style to a midi style and I am left with only the drum track playing, the other tracks are set to silence and still show up green. I will attach the screenshots. This one is reliably reproducable, but maybe this one is also a known bug ?
This is the same thing we were talking about in the other thread - since you have a style change to a RealStyle, the tracks are RealTracks. If the first style has MIDI tracks they will just be silent, since a single track can't contain both a MIDI track and an audio track.
Maybe I did not make it clear: I open a new song, it opens with a realtracks style, I try to change the style to midi and it does not (always) work. This time I am not trying to change the style inside a track, I am changing the overall style of the song, it needs to change the tracks to accomodate the new overall style, but it doesn't. Wouldn't it be very strange if I had to create a new song to be able to pick another overall style.
In your screenshot, there is a style change at bar 9. That would be the cause of it. If you have a song with a single style in it, you would not see this behaviour, so I don't know what's going on in that case. Perhaps you could email a song example to support for us to test...
I see, thanks, my mistake. I can't change the overall style if somewhere in the bar settings I have a style change. Forgive me, but this behaviour is far from intuitive and again no warning of any kind gets issued (well, except that it does not work and looks weird of course). Seems to me that an awful lot is left to the user to figure out. I may have missed it, but I haven't been able to find any mention about not mixing up loops/mid/realtrack styles in the manual. Don't get me wrong, I love biab and have been using it for a long time now (maybe I am just getting too old), but I can't help getting the feeling I am kind of beta testing here... And since I reported the garbled tips in version 2021 and now run into the same thing in version 2023, I am also starting to wonder if I will have to buy the next upgrade to get a fix...?
We need to find a way to duplicate that problem. For now, you can ignore the garbled messages. I think they are probably just spurious, and not important.
Since it seems that you see it quite frequently, it would be super helpful if you could send us a couple of files next time it happens: - the Band-in-a-Box song file (e.g. .sgu) that you were loading or generating. - the intrface.bbw file from the Band-in-a-Box/Preferences folder (or even the entire Preferences folder) - the FlashMessageLog.txt file from the Band-in-a-Box/Data folder. Zip those files up and email to support@pgmusic.com, referencing this forum thread.
They pop up now and then, of course I can ignore them, actually I would love a switch in preferences to turn the flash messages off alltogether. I will collect the files you need, but it would be much easier to do if I knew a way to force one to come up, any idea why and when they show ? thanks, Martin
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean