Does MOXF have to be in a Mode (song performance master song pattern)?

Yes. You want to be in one of the two Sequencer Modes: SONG or PATTERN

You will be using an external device to Record and Playback so while in [SONG] or [PATTERN] mode, select an empty location...
Then press [MIXING]
MIXING is where the MOXF is multi-timbral and can be set to receive on multiple MIDI channels simultaneously.
Each of the 64 Song locations is paired with a 16 Part Multi-timbral MIXING setup.
Each of the 64 Pattern locations is paired with a 16 Part Multi-timbral MIXING setup

This 16-Part configuration is what you need in order to use Band in a Box... a different instrument on each MIDI Channel.

In the MOXF you recall your MIXING configuration by recalling the SONG or PATTERN — be sure to NAME them so you know which is which. If you have the MOXF Editor VST properly configured inside of Cubase AI, it will automatically STORE your MOXF SONG or PATTERN MIXING setup when you SAVE the Cubase Project File, and it can automatically restore the MIXING when you next open the Cubase Project.

Bad Mister... Thank You Thank You

Following your lead...

1) I opened Cubase and created a project named BIAB Setup1 (see attached screenshot).
- inserted an instrument track for the MOXF with 16 midi tracks mapped as seen in the attached screenshot.
- It functions well when in 6 VST Play setup, so I assume that I should be in that setup.

I'll open the cubase project moving forward but I did previously create a song and pattern I have setup similarly which might allow me to not have to open CUBASE. I also have BIAB VST as a plugin within Cubase working so if it makes it easier, that's an option too.

I am thinking ports next but please take the lead and I'll follow if you prefer.

I so appreciate you weighing in on this!!!

Thanks again,

Rick

BIAB's VST feature is still new and under development. I would probably run BIAB standalone as I have for years and years. I think DAW integration as a VST has its advantages - but more along the lines of giving you more routing, recording, etc. options wrapped around what BIAB already does. The "expense" of using BIAB in a VST is that now you have more knobs and dials to push which could needlessly complicate setup if you don't need the extra functionality.

That's just me. Putting myself in Yamaha's shoes - I'd probably prefer supporting this through the DAW (Cubase) that's also under the Yamaha umbrella. Still, I'm not sure that's altogether necessary.

Note that folks on PG Music's forum are pretty helpful and there's likely a handful who have, through the years, integrated their Yamaha keyboards (including MOXF) with the software.

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=424028
(I'm guessing you're the "Rick" in that thread)

https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=342285&page=1
(You might want to tap "Beagle" as he seems to use MOXF for some BIAB sounds and may help)

As for myself, I use BIAB as a reference - so I'm not too concerned about the quality of the individual instruments beyond what BIAB does natively. Usually I use "realband" which is sufficiently good enough for me not to try to go the MIDI route and drive an external device. Since realband was introduced, I tend to stay away from the MIDI side of BIAB - so that's been quite some years.

I don't have a MOXF. The closest I can get is a MO6 (on the MO side) or a Motif-XF. This is where "Beagle" may be more of a resource if he can be contacted @ PG Music's forum.

Jason,

You are correct... same Rick as on the PG Music Forum. My plan is to use this forum to address/understand the Yamaha MOXF side of the communication and PG Music for that side. Of course getting the two aligned without someone who has experience having done it may be a challenge. Why companies like PG Music don't provide a copy to big synth manufactures like Yamaha and Roland to test with mystifies me. I am fortunate that Bad Mister responded because he's a pro on the Yamaha side.

As far as a using BIAB as a VST plugin in a DAW, I have that working well within CUBASE so I don't find it creates complexity rather I can avoid some. I find it easier than dragging the tracks to a staging area.

I have not tried real band... as I've gotten used to working with Cubase as my DAW and I assume it has some features RealBand doesn't. I find that the MOXF Editor VST is helpful in taming some of the complexity of the MOXF. But in fairness I should give Realband a try... I wasn't sure it even installs on a Mac.

As far as BIAB realtracks/realbands vs supermidi, I have only used realtracks/realbands so far and I do like the results. I assume supermidi in BIAB only represents having a professional record the midi track. I prefer to edit midi vs an audio track, which is another reason why I would like to get midi to work from real band.

Hopefully I be able to continue to work with Bad Mister on this side and reach out to Beagle on the other as you suggest. If I am successful in getting this to work well, I'll document it and share so others on both sides can benefit.

Best,

Rick

Bad Mister,

Problem solved, thanks to you. Before opening BIAB I put the MOXF in Song mode and selected the song I setup for BIAB and lo and behold... BIAB was now playing the MOXF Voices. I thought there would be more to it.

The in and out ports are set to 1.

The BIAB Song I created matches the channels assigned in BIAB with corresponding VOICENUMs via the MOXF "mixing" button (e.g. ch1 to piano Full Concert Grand, ch2 bass Slap Bass 2 vel...). I can use the MOXF mixer to change which voice is used OR I can change that in BIAB. I can also pick patches from the upper banks via the the patch I set up. I haven't tried it yet but I strongly suspect I can drive this via the Remote Editor as well.

Thank You for the key tip in helping me resolve this.

Best,

Rick

... just speculation from a fellow user :

PG Music doesn't submit (well, they have tried) because Yamaha doesn't need to support software from "random" 3rd parties. There's thousands of software packages out there that could integrate with Yamaha synths. That's a full-time job for an "army" of employees to keep up with. A better use of Yamaha's time is to conform to standards (which they do) so that 3rd party software like BIAB can gain compatibility by itself conforming to industry standards (which it does - and so they do work together).

Glad you got it working.