StageBox Software 'StageBox': The Streamlined Standalone Plugin Host for Live Keyboard Players

StageBox Software, a newly established Canadian software developer founded by three-time Grammy Award-nominated composer Matt Robertson, has recently announced the release of 'StageBox'. StageBox is a standalone plugin host and setlist manager designed for live keyboard players, making it easy to simplify performance while delivering studio-quality sound on stage. It is simple to use and easy to understand, allowing musicians to create Sounds, Songs, and Setlists, and then edit, re-order, and perform with them in a straightforward and elegant way. With StageBox, you can run your favorite VST3 and Audio Unit instruments and effects on stage, create layered and split sounds, and arrange them into Songs and Sets using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.

Developed by founder Matt Robertson in collaboration with Jules Storer, creator of JUCE and Tracktion Engine, StageBox was born out of frustration with overcomplicated and unreliable live setups. The goal was clear: create powerful hosting software that's easy to learn and fast to use. StageBox adapts to any performance scenario — from a single MIDI controller to a multi-keyboard, multi-output touring rig. MIDI mapping takes seconds, audio routing is fully customizable, and the clear, stage-friendly interface keeps everything visible at a glance. Whether you're a seasoned soft-synth performer or just getting started with live plugin hosting, StageBox makes it simple to design, organize, and perform with your ultimate keyboard rig. Available for both Mac and PC, StageBox delivers no-compromise sound wherever you play, freeing musicians from the limitations of traditional hardware keyboards and allowing them to create dream keyboard rigs using any VST3 or Audio Unit plugin.

StageBox also lets performers adapt their set on the go, designing custom instrument and effect setups and seamlessly building them into Songs and Sets. With a straightforward drag-and-drop interface, tweaking setlists and adjusting sounds is fast and intuitive. By leveraging the processing power of modern laptops, StageBox outperforms traditional stage pianos, providing greater flexibility, more nuanced sound, and access to extensive plugin libraries. From simple MIDI controllers to complex multi-output setups, StageBox supports all live performance scenarios, enabling keyboardists to carry their dream rigs wherever they perform.

The main StageBox interface (See the image above) is divided into four sections: Global, Setlist, Song, and Sound. The Global section, displayed as a bar along the top, shows the current Project name, File Management options, Settings Menu, Perform Mode, All Notes Off, and current DSP usage. The Setlist section on the left displays all Songs in the current Setlist, with newly created Songs added by default; Songs can be reordered easily by dragging them using the double-line grabber icon. The Song section, shown in a darker gray, contains information related to the entire Song, such as FX processing that affects all Sounds within that Song. The Sound section, in a lighter gray, displays the plugins and routing used for individual Sounds. For example, if two controller keyboards are connected, one controller can be assigned to one Sound and another to a different Sound, allowing performers to use as many MIDI controllers as needed.

Shared Instances in StageBox are highly useful for using the same Sound across multiple Songs in a Setlist, helping to reduce RAM usage when working with instruments that have large sample libraries. For example, if you have a main piano sound used in several Songs, creating Shared Instances allows all Songs to use that single Sound’s resources, such as DSP and RAM, while any tweak made to one instance automatically updates all others. MIDI mapping is another powerful feature of StageBox, enabling performers to assign physical MIDI controllers to any parameter within the interface or hosted plugins by simply clicking the MIDI Map button at the bottom of the Song area. Unlike DAWs, which often require extensive setup and are not optimized for live performance, StageBox is designed for immediate use with minimal setup, allowing easy management of Songs and Setlists and seamless transitions between sounds. This makes StageBox particularly effective for live keyboard performers who need efficiency, flexibility, and real-time control.

Features

- Host VST3 and Audio Units software instruments and effects

- Tailored for live performance: create, adapt, manage and rearrange setlists

- Build songs from layers or splits of software instruments

- Share instruments between songs for quick set preparation

- Clutter-free layout only shows you what you need to see

- Simple MIDI Controller management and support for multiple devices

- Send sound layers to different hardware audio outputs

- Apply effects per sound, or per song

- Use MIDI program change messages to select active Song

- Works with Mac and PC

Price

$129 USD

* A free 30-day unlimited trial is available.

** StageBox Software has partnered with the Tracktion team to distribute StageBox. To purchase StageBox, click the ‘buy now’ link on the homepage (or click here), and you’ll be directed to the Tracktion marketplace, where you can process payment and receive instructions for installation.

For more information on ‘StageBox’

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Overview

About ‘StageBox Software’ (https://www.stageboxsoftware.com/)

StageBox™ is the brainchild of Matt Robertson, a British-born, Canadian-based composer, musical director, and software developer, nominated three times for a Grammy Award. Matt’s career began in UK recording studios during the 1990s and early 2000s, where he learned the art of record-making while working in studio maintenance. Over the years, he has contributed to recordings by artists such as The Prodigy, Lamb, Dido, Emiliana Torrini, and Anoushka Shankar, and has served as musical director, orchestrator, and arranger for live shows by Bat for Lashes, Björk, Anohni, Arca, The Cinematic Orchestra, and Ellie Goulding. Recognizing that many tools used in live performance environments were not specifically designed to meet the needs of musicians on stage, Matt set out to create software that directly addresses these challenges. StageBox™ is the result—a collaborative effort with some of the most experienced and talented developers in the filed, designed to streamline and enhance live music performance.