Finale version 27.3 includes the latest Garritan ARIA Player.  Did you d/l the latest Finale build form the web site?

Did you completely remove Finale and Garritan from your computer before the reinstall? If you just reinstalled it over a previous install, it won't work properly. A clean install is best.

new windows, new hard disk, no previous Finale on it, installed clean latest version of Finale and Garritan

Michael did you reassign playback sounds before you played the piece?

MIDI/Audio>Reassign Playback Sounds

Yes, of course, but that just changes everything to piano in the installed ARIA version, However, trying to update the vesrion from the ARIA player settings page, I now have player v1.595 and engine v1.967 ...

I can of course re-assign all instrumets manually, but it's still weird that it keeps refrring to a newer (non-existent?) version (and I'd have to do that with some older files apparently).

Michael after you reassign playback sounds did you save it and reopen it?

Yes, then the instruments stay the same, with the (old) Aria version.

BTW - I had posted a support ticket with Finale. Their answer was .... sending me a link to download the (old!) aria player version. Not exactly a useful ....

OK, but it does correct the issue. Yes, no? Reassigning the sounds, saving the file and then reopening it should have put everything back where it should be.

No, actually it doesn't. Reassigning the sounds, as per the menu item, just puts everything onto one bank with every sound being piano. I can then manually reassign everything to what it was (different banks, different instruments, etc., using the installed Aria version), and the,n after saving that, it will remain the same when I open it again. It can be done as a work-around, but it's annoying extra work. The real question remaining is what is this new(er) version of the player it's referring to?

I am out of suggestions. If you would like too send me the file perhaps I can figure out what is going on. Otherwise you have a fix already.

If anyone is interested, just to complete this: after some diligent research MakeMusic support came up with a solution: " ...simply downloading and installing the Sforzando Player seemed to resolve the issue because it updates the ARIA engine on the computer. My understanding is that after this update occurs, the files should simply play..."
I did have the Sforzando player installed in my previous version (and that was where these files were created). Indeed, after re-installing it on the new system, the problem went away (even though in the Aria player it still lists the engine v.1.959, but never mind, it works)

and...where to find the sforzando player?

here: https://www.plogue.com/products/sforzando.html

Buy thye way, I've seen your question regarding MIDI sequencers. I use Cubase Elements, quite easy t work with when using MIDI, and not expensive. There are also many others (free ones) having been mentioned, e.g. Audacity, Reaper, etc.

thanks

for the sequencer... I mainly need them for midi, Ok Cubase elements but Audacity AFAIK no midi

thanks anyway