Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Originally Posted By: MarioD
... If BiaB opened up all 16 channels for us users and had those channels listed in the mixer life would be a lot easier for many of us. More time would be spent composing, arranging, mixing, etc, then doing some convoluted workaround to add more tracks. YMMV

Mario, we've both commented many times on this proposal to open up more channels, but let's get down to specifics.

BIAB currently uses these default channels:

2 for bass
3 for piano
4 for Melody
6 for guitar
7 for strings
8 for Soloist
10 of course for drums
and 5 for Thru

Channel 1 is not used as Peter described because it was not supported by early synths. If memory serves, some devices use channel 1 for control info.

In Options, Preferences, Channels, Harmony, we see that BIAB can use additional channels 11, 12, 13 & 14 for Harmony.

So that leaves channels 9, 15 and 16 open.

Finally, if you Save a file to MIDI, you have the option to Write Guitar part on 6 channels. I don't know which channels they are using, as there must be some overlap with the above assignments.

So I'm at a loss to see how BIAB has any channels free.

I have always thought the quickest solution is to open up a second bank of 16 channels. Even my ancient notation software from the early 1990s has this. But as many things we debate, this would require making changes to the file structure of a song, jeopardizing backward compatibility.


Matt, my idea was to have all 16 tracks open as an option. Thus one could keep it as is or open them for the user.

Your idea is an excellent alternative. With this idea the option I mentioned above is not longer needed.

I'd gladly take either idea!

The fitness trainer asked me, "What kind of a squat are you accustomed to doing?" I said, "Diddly."


64 bit Win 11 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware