S0, I'm  using Xpand!2 and can't even change the channel of an entire MIDI track so as to make use of the 4 channels in Xpand... what the heck??? Where is it? Using CbB. Would be very grateful if someone could help me out here.

Select the track - look in the track inspector ( default is docked left ). The far left hand screen shows the track parameters:  near the top you will see 3 labels with  (C)  , (B),  (P).....which stands for channel, bank and patch. Click to open and select away.

Also in the Track View track strips (whether they are displayed depends on the track control drop down just above the track strips) and the Console View (depending on the Modules selected for display) for both Instrument and MIDI tracks.

IMHO the easiest way to work with a multi-timbral synth like that is to use separate MIDI tracks for each channel used in the synth.  Helps me keep things visually aligned, and I can see at a glance which channel is assigned to which track.  Make sure to set the track view mode to I/O, or ALL, so you will see the MIDI outputs for each track.  You can minimize the tracks after making assignments to hide this I/O info, but it is helpful if you assign relevant track names to each MIDI track.
 
Try instead of inserting a simple instrument track, add the MIDI source, and the audio outputs, then add as many more MIDI tracks as you plan to use.  If you do this often, setting up a track template can make this a snap in the future.

Thing is, guys, that's how I'd typically do it - the whole nine yards (minus abacab's recommendation on making a track template, I think I'll do that! Thanks!)
 
but this photo below should explain it - I'm having issues FINDING where to set what should show on the track inspector. CbB also refuses to keep my dock control bar at the top the way I set it
 
CbB on the right in pink, Sonar on the left in red
 

davdud101
Thing is, guys, that's how I'd typically do it - the whole nine yards (minus abacab's recommendation on making a track template, I think I'll do that! Thanks!)
 
but this photo below should explain it - I'm having issues FINDING where to set what should show on the track inspector.

Never mind the track inspector.  That can be used, but YMMV.  I find it much easier to just use the track strip, and expand the track height with your mouse until you see ALL of the I/O options.  The little dropdown menu at the top of the track pane header [Track Control Layout Presets] lets you set what info you will see in each track strip, e.g, ALL; I/O; FX; etc.
 
The I/O layout will show you the MIDI track routing details, and let you set them as desired.

davdud101
Thing is, guys, that's how I'd typically do it - the whole nine yards (minus abacab's recommendation on making a track template, I think I'll do that! Thanks!)
 
but this photo below should explain it - I'm having issues FINDING where to set what should show on the track inspector. CbB also refuses to keep my dock control bar at the top the way I set it
 
CbB on the right in pink, Sonar on the left in red
 

By the looks of it, the track within CbB is a Simple Instrument track, which is why the extra MIDI options aren't there.
 
If you create a MIDI track the options should appear on it, and you can route it to your chosen synth/midi channel.

The location of the display settings for the Inspector is the same as it was for X3, at the bottom. Both Instrument (on MIDI tab) and MIDI tracks have Channel, Bank and Patch drop downs in the Inspector when Send/Bank/Patch is enabled in the display settings.

msmcleod
 
By the looks of it, the track within CbB is a Simple Instrument track, which is why the extra MIDI options aren't there.
 
If you create a MIDI track the options should appear on it, and you can route it to your chosen synth/midi channel.

That probably is the straightest explanation. Little bit annoying of course because my typical quick method is to insert the synth as a Simple Instrument then split it to the audio output track and its midi track and THEN add whatever additional MIDI tracks I need. Either way, hopefully that will solve that issue. Although I will say, I DID do something like this yesterday USING Xpand and it was the reason I posted in the first place - having followed the process I wrote above (an SI track with Xpand, split to audio and MIDI, add 3 more tracks and attempt to find where to change the MIDI channels but couldn't find them in the Track Inspector.) 
 
I think I might just end up using the Track Strips where all the information seems to show up fine. Thanks, guys!
 
 
 
Any idea on what to do for the Control Dock at the top? I like having the solo/mute options and looping/punch recording stuff up at the top but it seems to switch back to some default layout every time I close the program.

davdud101

msmcleod
 
By the looks of it, the track within CbB is a Simple Instrument track, which is why the extra MIDI options aren't there.
 
If you create a MIDI track the options should appear on it, and you can route it to your chosen synth/midi channel.

That probably is the straightest explanation. Little bit annoying of course because my typical quick method is to insert the synth as a Simple Instrument then split it to the audio output track and its midi track and THEN add whatever additional MIDI tracks I need. Either way, hopefully that will solve that issue. Although I will say, I DID do something like this yesterday USING Xpand and it was the reason I posted in the first place - having followed the process I wrote above (an SI track with Xpand, split to audio and MIDI, add 3 more tracks and attempt to find where to change the MIDI channels but couldn't find them in the Track Inspector.)

Maybe the straightest but incorrect explanation. Both Instrument and MIDI tracks have the ability to display Channel, Bank and Patch drop downs in the Inspector. Both track types can hide the drop downs too. The synth add method described here can work in CbB.
 
 
 

davdud101
 
Any idea on what to do for the Control Dock at the top? I like having the solo/mute options and looping/punch recording stuff up at the top but it seems to switch back to some default layout every time I close the program.

As long as no lens is selected, the control bar is similar to X3. There are new options for locking and justifying modules though.
 
 
BTW, lenses can affect the Inspector display too. Lenses would be new coming from X3. Setting the lens drop down to None may be all that is needed.