tomixornot
Just a suggestion, you can export BIAB to midi (I don't do this as I mainly use Real Tracks, but I think it's possible) and import it into Sonar, using various bundled soft synth - Truepiano, Session Instrument Bass, etc..
 
I think the Sonar's soft synths are capable of sounding as good if not better than most GM and BIAB only uses part of the GM sound.

Yes, I do this all the time.  I have a GM template with TTS-1 that I use.  Note the TTS-1 works fine on in 64 bit Sonar.  Then I change all of the TTS-1 sounds to my better sound sources.

Mario D and tomixornot, do you mean you somehow have BIAB playing live through MIDI (not copying or dragging anything from BIAB) into Sonar (using a Sonar template with TTS-1 set up on it) and so can audition styles and fool around in BIAB, all the while hearing everything you're doing live? If so, that would be perfect! Do I understand that correctly, and, if I do, could you please explain how you do it?
Thanks and hoping this question isn't too dumb,
LJ

skinnybones lampshade
Mario D and tomixornot, do you mean you somehow have BIAB playing live through MIDI (not copying or dragging anything from BIAB) into Sonar (using a Sonar template with TTS-1 set up on it) and so can audition styles and fool around in BIAB, all the while hearing everything you're doing live? If so, that would be perfect! Do I understand that correctly, and, if I do, could you please explain how you do it?
Thanks and hoping this question isn't too dumb,
LJ

That's not what I meant and probably not what Mario D meant as well. I meant to export the BIAB midi file out then drag it into Sonar.
 
But :) ..your post got me curious to try out setting BIAB to output midi data - if it's possible to feed the midi output to Sonar, as in your question above. In summary, it's possible!
 
Setup BIAB Opt - Preference - midi driver - (Select MIDI output). BIAB will proceed to give you a warning that you need to disable the DXI Synth (BIAB internal sound) in order to achieve actual midi output. And doing so, BIAB will just playback silently at this stage.
 
In Sonar, insert a soft synth, in this case I use Truepiano, and set the midi input to the same device as BIAB midi output device. Still no sound at this stage (BIAB is silently playing at the background). That's because BIAB sends midi to midi out, while Sonar is listening to the device's midi in. Then I patch a midi cable connecting OUT to IN (my device supports 5 pin midi in/out).. at this stage, Truepiano started to play whatever BIAB is playing. Setting the midi channel further will playback different parts (Ch 1 = piano, 2 = bass, etc..).
 
I have not tried the following, but it should be possible to :
 
- setup each soft synth to respond to different midi channel or,
(edit :)
- insert TTS-1 as the only soft synth and setup it's individual midi channel for different instrument sound

Also, since the device's midi in/out is in a loop now, care must be taken not to further enable Sonar's soft synth to output midi.
 
By default this is usually off - but some synth may have this default as on (example : Rapture).

Tomixornot: This is very exciting! I am going to try this as soon as I get home. To be clear, when you say you connect MIDI "out" to "in" on your "device", do you mean your interface (in my case, the OctaCapture)?

LJ

Yes,  in my case, the Quad Capture midi in to out.

skinnybones lampshade
Hi again, Jesse G. Oh, I see. Then I guess it is really BIAB's lack of kindergarten manners (Now, BIAB, we must learn to SHARE nicely!).
 
Meanwhile, I'm still on the hunt for a great-sounding GM, GM2 set. Native Instruments Bandstand and Roland Hyper Canvas have been discontinued, and I'm too chicken to uninstall Sonar 64 bit, install Sonar 32 bit and fiddle with the TSS-1 32 bit .dll and then reinstall Sonar 64 bit as per the instructions to get Cakewalk TSS-1 to work. My Sonar Platinum is presently as solid as a rock, and I would kick myself if I messed it up over this.
 
Thank you for all your input and still hoping for a brainwave,
LJ
 

I know I'm late to this party, and I like the suggestions made since this post, but
 
there is no need to uninstall sonar just to get the 32bit version of TTS-1.  just do a custom install and install only the 32bit version of TTS-1, or if that is too difficult, just install the 32bit version of Sonar, then navigate BIAB to the 32bit version of TTS-1 instead of the 64bit version.  it does not require uninstalling of anything.

Success! Thank you all so much :) Beagle, I took your advice and it worked, although I'm sure you would have all pulled your hair out at the convoluted way I did it.
 
I ended up getting the TSS-1 .dll by installing my oooooold Home Studio 7XL. Amazingly, I still had the serial number and registration code exactly where they were supposed to be. Who'da thunk? They didn't sneak off to someplace where they'd feel more wanted sometime during all these years of being blatantly ignored.
 
Also, BIAB isn't crashing any more (fingers crossed) since I started running it in Compatibility mode for Win XP (I'm on Win 10, but I remember XP as my favourite, most stable Windows platform ever).
 
The moment the TTS-1 interface actually showed up in BIAB, I cheered as if my Canadiens had just scored in overtime (well, almost like that).
 
I really like the sounds so much better :) Thank you all again!
LT

Awesome!