Strange shifting behavior

[Tim]

I'm starting to notice some weird shifting behavior that's really confusing me. It just started doing it yesterday on my way home from school, but I thought it was my imagination because it was late and I was tired.

It seems my 1-2 shift is really really soft. It used to be a very firm 1-2 shift with light throttle(it seems like a characteristic with the 4.44 outbacks) but now its actually very soft... but way too soft at 2000 rpm or lower.

When it shifts from 1-2 it kind of feels like its a manual with someone letting out the clutch super slow while gassing it so I feel a hestiation in acceleration before it actually goes into 2nd gear and starts pulling.

2-3 kind of pauses a little bit.

This is all at light throttle. It seems that if I am a little heavier on the throttle (gas it up to 2500 rpm) the shifts are more crisp and I dont seem to have that weird pause in shifting.

Is it brake band related? Do I definitely need the shift kit? Should I be ready to replace the tranny with a 3rd 4.44?

It seems brake band related but it's kind of weird that it did that it started doing that in only a week's time. I read up on adjusting the brake band but I'm kind of hesitant to try it.