Release notes

Playable chords and real repeat playback

Windows 0.3.1, 31 August 2026, build d9a23dd3

The Chord button now opens a complete chord picker. Choose a root and chord type, compare ranked playable guitar fingerings, adjust and audition a shape, then insert all chord notes together in Score, Piano Roll and Arrange as one undoable edit. Custom chord remains available for symbols such as D/F# or Cadd9. Imported repeats, volta endings and tempo changes now drive playback through one shared navigation plan while the written score stays compact. Undo, save, reload, the local Control API and assisted editing all use the same performed timeline, and existing projects can repair inert imported repeats without overwriting the project file.

Whole-app scaling and clearer workflows

Windows 0.3.1, 31 August 2026, build d9a23dd3

Preferences now offers Interface Size at 100%, 125%, 150% or 175%. It scales the shell, editors, mixer, routing, Tabber plug-in windows, dialogs, docks and compact layouts while editor zoom stays independent, and it applies after restarting Tabber Studio. First Recording and First Score open as separate replayable guides, and a fresh Piano Roll project creates a normal six-string first part that opens correctly in Score. Native Windows file dialogs and third-party plug-in windows keep the size the system gives them.

Performance view and a wider installer

Windows 0.3.1, 31 August 2026, build d9a23dd3

A Performance panel, and the local perf.get_overview call behind it, show shared headroom, thread load, per-track cost and plug-in cost so a project that struggles can be inspected rather than guessed at, and it adds no work to the audio callback. One x64 installer now admits Windows 10 22H2, build 19045 or newer, alongside Windows 11, and installs per user with no drivers and no elevation. The exact installer published here passed the automated Windows release gate, and all seven reference projects rendered sample-exactly on the certified engine.

Windows: WASAPI is the shipping audio backend, and VST3 and CLAP hosting, plug-in sandboxing and MIDI input and output remain Windows-native. Windows 11 may use Windows MIDI Services, while Windows 10 selects WinMM before that optional runtime is initialized. This release does not claim ASIO or ARM64.

Playable chords and real repeat playback

Linux 0.3.0, 15 August 2026, build 6e40aa2c

The Chord button now opens a complete chord picker. Choose a root and chord type, compare ranked playable guitar fingerings, adjust and audition a shape, then insert all chord notes together in Score, Piano Roll and Arrange as one undoable edit. Custom chord remains available for symbols such as D/F# or Cadd9. Imported repeat signs, counts and alternate endings now control playback and seeking while the written score stays compact. Undo, save, reload, the local Control API and assisted editing all use the same performed timeline, and existing projects can repair inert imported repeats without overwriting the project file.

Whole-app scaling and clearer workflows

Linux 0.3.0, 15 August 2026, build 6e40aa2c

Preferences now offers Interface Size at 100%, 125%, 150% or 175%. It scales the shell, editors, mixer, routing, Tabber plug-in windows, dialogs, docks and compact layouts while editor zoom remains independent. A fresh Piano Roll project creates a normal six-string first part that opens correctly in Score. First Recording and First Score have separate guides, Help search results run on one click and macro recording has a visible Stop control. MIDI inputs now distinguish present, selected and actively listening states; Save As updates Recent Files and new projects use a conventional Music/Tabber Studio folder.

Playback and AppImage hardened

Linux 0.3.0, 15 August 2026, build 6e40aa2c

Playback diagnostics and scheduling fixes remove the measured full-project stutters and keep large repeat-aware projects inside the existing performance limits. Five isolated 48 kHz / 256-frame plays completed with no xruns, deadline misses, silence, locks or dropped callbacks, and seven reference projects rendered sample-exactly. The exact AppImage also passed clean packaged-app tests for startup, VST3 and CLAP plug-ins, project save and reopen, transport and non-silent rendering.

Linux: PipeWire, JACK and ALSA routes, sfizz instruments, VST3 and CLAP hosting and AppImage packaging remain Linux-native.

Choose playable chords

macOS 0.2.0, 15 August 2026, build dac18d76

The Chord button now opens a complete chord picker. Choose a root and chord type, compare playable fingerings, adjust the shape and audition it before inserting. The chord's notes appear together in Score, Piano Roll and Arrange. Use Custom chord when you need symbols such as D/F# or Cadd9.

Piano Roll and Help fixes

macOS 0.2.0, 15 August 2026, build 22492fd4

Fresh projects now show Create First Part on the first Piano Roll visit and create a normal six-string part that opens correctly in Score. First Recording and First Score now open separate guides. Help search results run on one click, and macro recording has a visible Stop control.

Imported repeats control playback

macOS 0.2.0, 15 August 2026, build 7705af2c

Imported repeats now control playback while the score stays compact. Repeat toggles, counts, undo, save and reload all use the same performed timeline. Existing projects can repair inert imported repeats from the original source file without overwriting the project file.

Interface size settings

macOS 0.2.0, 12 August 2026, build 416edad9

Preferences now has an Interface Size setting: 100%, 125%, 150% or 175%. Save it and restart to apply. The whole interface scales, including Tabber's own plug-in windows. Editor zoom stays separate, and nothing in your project changes. Native plug-in windows and macOS file dialogs keep the size the system gives them.

More tuning presets

Linux 0.1.3, 10 August 2026, build 404684e1

Track Properties now has three six-string tuning presets: C G D G B E, D F D G B E and E G D G B E. Choosing one updates the project pitch map and saves with the project. Custom tunings and partial capos are not in yet; capo still applies to every string.

Faster, clearer startup

Windows 0.2.1, 9 August 2026, build 0104ee50

The long blank pause at launch is gone. The startup window now appears straight away and closes as soon as audio is ready. Guitar tones and the audio engine are unchanged from 0.2.0, and upgrading keeps your settings and projects.

Captured guitar tones

macOS 0.2.0, 8 August 2026; Windows 0.2.0, 9 August 2026, build 15515773; Linux 0.1.2, 9 August 2026, build 58b3d980

Overdriven Guitar now uses a captured Marshall JMP-50 Lead rig, and Distortion Guitar uses a captured boosted 6505+ rig. Both tones include four velocity layers, four round robins, release layers and matched palm-muted attacks. Sustained power chords keep their natural tails.

macOS: Power-chord symbols can now be authored through the local Control API.

Silent instruments fixed

Windows 0.1.3, 8 August 2026

Opening an imported score no longer drops an instrument family from songs with more than three, and all drum kits play again. Failed instruments now show an error. Autosave takes its first snapshot early and keeps saving while notes are entered.

Desktop window and panel fixes

macOS 0.2.0, 8 August 2026; Windows 0.1.2, 8 August 2026; Linux first public build, 7 August 2026

Dock panels show their close buttons again.

Windows: The first Windows build added a per-user Windows 11 x64 installer with no drivers or administrator rights. Window state and plug-in folder discovery now behave correctly.

Linux: The first Linux build added an AppImage for x86_64. Window size, position and full-screen state are remembered.