diff --git a/headless/load_session.cc b/headless/load_session.cc
index 0c2d01ecdb..b9d2ad192b 100644
--- a/headless/load_session.cc
+++ b/headless/load_session.cc
@@ -61,10 +61,9 @@ load_session (string dir, string state)
 {
 	SessionEvent::create_per_thread_pool ("test", 512);
 
-	test_receiver.listen_to (error);
-	test_receiver.listen_to (info);
-	test_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 	test_receiver.listen_to (warning);
+	test_receiver.listen_to (error);
+	test_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 
 	AudioEngine* engine = AudioEngine::create ();
 
diff --git a/headless/misc.cc b/headless/misc.cc
index e1f298a27d..6652b2e716 100644
--- a/headless/misc.cc
+++ b/headless/misc.cc
@@ -28,15 +28,18 @@ TestReceiver::receive (Transmitter::Channel chn, const char * str)
 	const char *prefix = "";
 
 	switch (chn) {
-	case Transmitter::Error:
-		prefix = ": [ERROR]: ";
-		break;
+	case Transmitter::Debug:
+		/* ignore */
+		return;
 	case Transmitter::Info:
 		/* ignore */
 		return;
 	case Transmitter::Warning:
 		prefix = ": [WARNING]: ";
 		break;
+	case Transmitter::Error:
+		prefix = ": [ERROR]: ";
+		break;
 	case Transmitter::Fatal:
 		prefix = ": [FATAL]: ";
 		break;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/test/test_receiver.h b/libs/ardour/test/test_receiver.h
index 9bb5b65b55..bd9daf622d 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/test/test_receiver.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/test/test_receiver.h
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ protected:
 		case Transmitter::Error:
 			prefix = ": [ERROR]: ";
 			break;
+		case Transmitter::Debug:
+			/* ignore */
+			return;
 		case Transmitter::Info:
 			/* ignore */
 			return;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/test/test_ui.cc b/libs/ardour/test/test_ui.cc
index 60bc0e83c9..5d15fdf2d8 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/test/test_ui.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/test/test_ui.cc
@@ -43,10 +43,9 @@ TestUI::TestUI ()
 
 	SessionEvent::create_per_thread_pool ("test", 512);
 
-	m_test_receiver.listen_to (PBD::error);
-	m_test_receiver.listen_to (PBD::info);
-	m_test_receiver.listen_to (PBD::fatal);
 	m_test_receiver.listen_to (PBD::warning);
+	m_test_receiver.listen_to (PBD::error);
+	m_test_receiver.listen_to (PBD::fatal);
 
 	/* We can't use VSTs here as we have a stub instead of the
 	   required bits in gtk2_ardour.
diff --git a/libs/fst/scanner.cc b/libs/fst/scanner.cc
index a1ce9963e0..e09aecd5a0 100644
--- a/libs/fst/scanner.cc
+++ b/libs/fst/scanner.cc
@@ -76,15 +76,18 @@ class DummyReceiver : public Receiver {
 		void receive (Transmitter::Channel chn, const char * str) {
 			const char *prefix = "";
 			switch (chn) {
-				case Transmitter::Error:
-					prefix = "[ERROR]: ";
-					break;
+				case Transmitter::Debug:
+					/* ignore */
+					return;
 				case Transmitter::Info:
 					/* ignore */
 					return;
 				case Transmitter::Warning:
 					prefix = "[WARNING]: ";
 					break;
+				case Transmitter::Error:
+					prefix = "[ERROR]: ";
+					break;
 				case Transmitter::Fatal:
 					prefix = "[FATAL]: ";
 					break;
@@ -130,10 +133,9 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv) {
 
 	PBD::init();
 
-	dummy_receiver.listen_to (error);
-	dummy_receiver.listen_to (info);
-	dummy_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 	dummy_receiver.listen_to (warning);
+	dummy_receiver.listen_to (error);
+	dummy_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 
 	std::vector<VSTInfo *> *infos = 0;
 
diff --git a/libs/fst/vst3-scanner.cc b/libs/fst/vst3-scanner.cc
index 324d2eef01..0f4ae7973f 100644
--- a/libs/fst/vst3-scanner.cc
+++ b/libs/fst/vst3-scanner.cc
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ protected:
 	void receive (Transmitter::Channel chn, const char * str) {
 		const char *prefix = "";
 		switch (chn) {
-			case Transmitter::Error:
-				prefix = "[ERROR]: ";
+			case Transmitter::Debug:
+				/* ignore */
 				break;
 			case Transmitter::Info:
 				prefix = "[Info]: ";
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ protected:
 			case Transmitter::Warning:
 				prefix = "[WARNING]: ";
 				break;
+			case Transmitter::Error:
+				prefix = "[ERROR]: ";
+				break;
 			case Transmitter::Fatal:
 				prefix = "[FATAL]: ";
 				break;
@@ -191,10 +194,10 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	PBD::init();
 
 	if (print_log) {
-		log_receiver.listen_to (error);
 		log_receiver.listen_to (info);
-		log_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 		log_receiver.listen_to (warning);
+		log_receiver.listen_to (error);
+		log_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 	}
 
 	bool err = false;
diff --git a/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.cc b/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.cc
index ab6094a385..f8a1dc8dbe 100644
--- a/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.cc
+++ b/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.cc
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ UI::load_rcfile (string path, bool themechange)
 	static Glib::RefPtr<Style>* error_style   = 0;
 	static Glib::RefPtr<Style>* warning_style = 0;
 	static Glib::RefPtr<Style>* info_style    = 0;
+	static Glib::RefPtr<Style>* debug_style    = 0;
 
 	if (path.length() == 0) {
 		return -1;
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ UI::load_rcfile (string path, bool themechange)
 	Label error_widget;
 	Label warning_widget;
 	Label info_widget;
+	Label debug_widget;
 	RefPtr<Gtk::Style> style;
 	RefPtr<TextBuffer> buffer (errors->text().get_buffer());
 
@@ -203,15 +205,18 @@ UI::load_rcfile (string path, bool themechange)
 	box.pack_start (error_widget);
 	box.pack_start (warning_widget);
 	box.pack_start (info_widget);
+	box.pack_start (debug_widget);
 
-	error_ptag = buffer->create_tag();
-	error_mtag = buffer->create_tag();
 	fatal_ptag = buffer->create_tag();
 	fatal_mtag = buffer->create_tag();
+	error_ptag = buffer->create_tag();
+	error_mtag = buffer->create_tag();
 	warning_ptag = buffer->create_tag();
 	warning_mtag = buffer->create_tag();
 	info_ptag = buffer->create_tag();
 	info_mtag = buffer->create_tag();
+	debug_ptag = buffer->create_tag();
+	debug_mtag = buffer->create_tag();
 
 	fatal_widget.set_name ("FatalMessage");
 	delete fatal_style;
@@ -270,15 +275,27 @@ UI::load_rcfile (string path, bool themechange)
 	info_mtag->property_foreground_gdk().set_value((*info_style)->get_fg(STATE_NORMAL));
 	info_mtag->property_background_gdk().set_value((*info_style)->get_bg(STATE_NORMAL));
 
+	debug_widget.set_name ("DebugMessage");
+	delete debug_style;
+	debug_style = new Glib::RefPtr<Style> (Glib::wrap (gtk_rc_get_style (reinterpret_cast<GtkWidget*> (debug_widget.gobj())), true));
+
+	debug_ptag->property_font_desc().set_value((*debug_style)->get_font());
+	debug_ptag->property_foreground_gdk().set_value((*debug_style)->get_fg(STATE_ACTIVE));
+	debug_ptag->property_background_gdk().set_value((*debug_style)->get_bg(STATE_ACTIVE));
+	debug_mtag->property_font_desc().set_value((*debug_style)->get_font());
+	debug_mtag->property_foreground_gdk().set_value((*debug_style)->get_fg(STATE_NORMAL));
+	debug_mtag->property_background_gdk().set_value((*debug_style)->get_bg(STATE_NORMAL));
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
 void
 UI::run (Receiver &old_receiver)
 {
-	_receiver.listen_to (error);
+	_receiver.listen_to (debug);
 	_receiver.listen_to (info);
 	_receiver.listen_to (warning);
+	_receiver.listen_to (error);
 	_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 
 	/* stop the old receiver (text/console) once we hit the first idle */
@@ -572,6 +589,9 @@ UI::receive (Transmitter::Channel chn, const char *str)
 		case Transmitter::Info:
 			error_stack.push_back (string (X_("INFO: ")) + str);
 			break;
+		case Transmitter::Debug:
+			error_stack.push_back (string (X_("Debug: ")) + str);
+			break;
 		case Transmitter::Throw:
 			error_stack.push_back (string (X_("THROW: ")) + str);
 			break;
@@ -618,17 +638,23 @@ UI::process_error_message (Transmitter::Channel chn, const char *str)
 		mtag = error_mtag;
 		prefix_len = 9;
 		break;
+	case Transmitter::Warning:
+		prefix = "[WARNING]: ";
+		ptag = warning_ptag;
+		mtag = warning_mtag;
+		prefix_len = 11;
+		break;
 	case Transmitter::Info:
 		prefix = "[INFO]: ";
 		ptag = info_ptag;
 		mtag = info_mtag;
 		prefix_len = 8;
 		break;
-	case Transmitter::Warning:
-		prefix = "[WARNING]: ";
-		ptag = warning_ptag;
-		mtag = warning_mtag;
-		prefix_len = 11;
+	case Transmitter::Debug:
+		prefix = "[DEBUG]: ";
+		ptag = debug_ptag;
+		mtag = debug_mtag;
+		prefix_len = 9;
 		break;
 	default:
 		/* no choice but to use text/console output here */
diff --git a/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.h b/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.h
index 4b87a46313..a9938026f0 100644
--- a/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.h
+++ b/libs/gtkmm2ext/gtkmm2ext/gtk_ui.h
@@ -179,14 +179,16 @@ private:
 	Gtk::Tooltips *tips;
 #endif
 	TextViewer *errors;
-	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> error_ptag;
-	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> error_mtag;
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> fatal_ptag;
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> fatal_mtag;
-	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> info_ptag;
-	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> info_mtag;
+	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> error_ptag;
+	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> error_mtag;
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> warning_ptag;
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> warning_mtag;
+	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> info_ptag;
+	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> info_mtag;
+	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> debug_ptag;
+	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::TextBuffer::Tag> debug_mtag;
 
 	static void signal_pipe_callback (void *, gint, GdkInputCondition);
 	void process_error_message (Transmitter::Channel, const char *);
diff --git a/libs/midi++2/miditrace.cc b/libs/midi++2/miditrace.cc
index 0ec60a8e51..46628b0831 100644
--- a/libs/midi++2/miditrace.cc
+++ b/libs/midi++2/miditrace.cc
@@ -22,10 +22,12 @@
 #include "pbd/error.h"
 #include "pbd/textreceiver.h"
 
-Transmitter error (Transmitter::Error);
+Transmitter debug (Transmitter::Debug);
 Transmitter info (Transmitter::Info);
 Transmitter warning (Transmitter::Warning);
+Transmitter error (Transmitter::Error);
 Transmitter fatal (Transmitter::Fatal);
+
 TextReceiver text_receiver ("mmctest");
 
 #include "midi++/port.h"
@@ -58,10 +60,10 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 {
 	byte buf[1];
 
-	text_receiver.listen_to (error);
 	text_receiver.listen_to (info);
-	text_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 	text_receiver.listen_to (warning);
+	text_receiver.listen_to (error);
+	text_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 
 	if (setup_midi ()) {
 		exit (1);
diff --git a/libs/midi++2/mmctest.cc b/libs/midi++2/mmctest.cc
index 52eeafa55f..6aace55fed 100644
--- a/libs/midi++2/mmctest.cc
+++ b/libs/midi++2/mmctest.cc
@@ -22,9 +22,10 @@
 #include "pbd/error.h"
 #include "pbd/textreceiver.h"
 
-Transmitter error (Transmitter::Error);
+Transmitter debug (Transmitter::Debug);
 Transmitter info (Transmitter::Info);
 Transmitter warning (Transmitter::Warning);
+Transmitter error (Transmitter::Error);
 Transmitter fatal (Transmitter::Fatal);
 TextReceiver text_receiver ("mmctest");
 
@@ -102,10 +103,10 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 {
 	byte buf[1];
 
-	text_receiver.listen_to (error);
 	text_receiver.listen_to (info);
-	text_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 	text_receiver.listen_to (warning);
+	text_receiver.listen_to (error);
+	text_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 
 	if (setup_midi ()) {
 		exit (1);
diff --git a/libs/pbd/test/testrunner.cc b/libs/pbd/test/testrunner.cc
index 92757eb45d..848cd4bc29 100644
--- a/libs/pbd/test/testrunner.cc
+++ b/libs/pbd/test/testrunner.cc
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ main ()
 
 	if (!PBD::init ()) return 1;
 
-	text_receiver.listen_to (PBD::error);
 	text_receiver.listen_to (PBD::info);
-	text_receiver.listen_to (PBD::fatal);
 	text_receiver.listen_to (PBD::warning);
+	text_receiver.listen_to (PBD::error);
+	text_receiver.listen_to (PBD::fatal);
 
 	ScalarPropertiesTest::make_property_quarks ();
 
diff --git a/luasession/luasession.cc b/luasession/luasession.cc
index 37726f8380..8d407adf83 100644
--- a/luasession/luasession.cc
+++ b/luasession/luasession.cc
@@ -67,15 +67,18 @@ protected:
 		const char* prefix = "";
 
 		switch (chn) {
-			case Transmitter::Error:
-				prefix = "[ERROR]: ";
-				break;
+			case Transmitter::Debug:
+				/* ignore */
+				return;
 			case Transmitter::Info:
 				/* ignore */
 				return;
 			case Transmitter::Warning:
 				prefix = "[WARNING]: ";
 				break;
+			case Transmitter::Error:
+				prefix = "[ERROR]: ";
+				break;
 			case Transmitter::Fatal:
 				prefix = "[FATAL]: ";
 				break;
@@ -150,10 +153,9 @@ init ()
 
 	static LuaReceiver lua_receiver;
 
-	lua_receiver.listen_to (error);
-	lua_receiver.listen_to (info);
-	lua_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 	lua_receiver.listen_to (warning);
+	lua_receiver.listen_to (error);
+	lua_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/session_utils/common.cc b/session_utils/common.cc
index 3d197181cd..4b87cbfb81 100644
--- a/session_utils/common.cc
+++ b/session_utils/common.cc
@@ -20,11 +20,14 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <glibmm.h>
 
+
 #include "pbd/debug.h"
 #include "pbd/event_loop.h"
 #include "pbd/error.h"
 #include "pbd/failed_constructor.h"
 #include "pbd/pthread_utils.h"
+#include "pbd/receiver.h"
+#include "pbd/transmitter.h"
 
 #include "ardour/audioengine.h"
 #include "ardour/filename_extensions.h"
@@ -37,41 +40,46 @@ using namespace ARDOUR;
 using namespace PBD;
 
 static const char* localedir = LOCALEDIR;
-TestReceiver test_receiver;
 
-void
-TestReceiver::receive (Transmitter::Channel chn, const char * str)
+class LogReceiver : public Receiver
 {
-	const char *prefix = "";
+protected:
+	void receive (Transmitter::Channel chn, const char * str) {
+		const char *prefix = "";
+		switch (chn) {
+			case Transmitter::Debug:
+				/* ignore */
+				return;
+			case Transmitter::Info:
+				/* ignore */
+				return;
+			case Transmitter::Warning:
+				prefix = ": [WARNING]: ";
+				break;
+			case Transmitter::Error:
+				prefix = ": [ERROR]: ";
+				break;
+			case Transmitter::Fatal:
+				prefix = ": [FATAL]: ";
+				break;
+			case Transmitter::Throw:
+				/* this isn't supposed to happen */
+				abort ();
+		}
 
-	switch (chn) {
-	case Transmitter::Error:
-		prefix = ": [ERROR]: ";
-		break;
-	case Transmitter::Info:
-		/* ignore */
-		return;
-	case Transmitter::Warning:
-		prefix = ": [WARNING]: ";
-		break;
-	case Transmitter::Fatal:
-		prefix = ": [FATAL]: ";
-		break;
-	case Transmitter::Throw:
-		/* this isn't supposed to happen */
-		abort ();
+		/* note: iostreams are already thread-safe: no external
+			 lock required.
+			 */
+
+		std::cout << prefix << str << std::endl;
+
+		if (chn == Transmitter::Fatal) {
+			::exit (9);
+		}
 	}
+};
 
-	/* note: iostreams are already thread-safe: no external
-	   lock required.
-	*/
-
-	std::cout << prefix << str << std::endl;
-
-	if (chn == Transmitter::Fatal) {
-		::exit (9);
-	}
-}
+LogReceiver log_receiver;
 
 /* temporarily required due to some code design confusion (Feb 2014) */
 
@@ -116,10 +124,9 @@ SessionUtils::init (bool print_log)
 	SessionEvent::create_per_thread_pool ("util", 512);
 
 	if (print_log) {
-		test_receiver.listen_to (error);
-		test_receiver.listen_to (info);
-		test_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
-		test_receiver.listen_to (warning);
+		log_receiver.listen_to (warning);
+		log_receiver.listen_to (error);
+		log_receiver.listen_to (fatal);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/session_utils/common.h b/session_utils/common.h
index 36035ee44e..fee60a4340 100644
--- a/session_utils/common.h
+++ b/session_utils/common.h
@@ -19,18 +19,9 @@
 #ifndef _session_utils_common_h_
 #define _session_utils_common_h_
 
-#include "pbd/transmitter.h"
-#include "pbd/receiver.h"
-
 #include "ardour/ardour.h"
 #include "ardour/session.h"
 
-class TestReceiver : public Receiver
-{
-  protected:
-    void receive (Transmitter::Channel chn, const char * str);
-};
-
 namespace SessionUtils {
 
 	/** initialize libardour */