Share your favorite Virtual instruments in Bandlab
Explore BandLab’s virtual instruments, create short 30–60 second loops using three different sounds, then share and explain your favorite choice.
About this activity
Explore BandLab’s virtual instruments, create short 30–60 second loops using three different sounds, then share and explain your favorite choice.
What you need
Step by step
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Step 1
Open BandLab and sign in or create a free account.
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Step 2
Tap Create and start a New Project.
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Step 3
Choose your first virtual instrument from the Instruments panel.
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Step 4
Set the project loop length to between 30 and 60 seconds.
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Step 5
Record or draw notes to create the first instrument loop for the full loop length.
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Step 6
Choose a different virtual instrument for your next track.
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Step 7
Record or draw notes to add the second instrument into the same loop.
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Step 8
Choose a third different virtual instrument for another track.
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Step 9
Record or draw notes to add the third instrument into the same loop.
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Step 10
Play your full loop from start to finish and listen carefully.
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Step 11
Adjust the volume levels so every instrument can be heard clearly.
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Step 12
Save your project and write a short note in the BandLab project description explaining which instrument is your favorite and why.
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Step 13
Share your finished loop and your explanation on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I guide my child through the 'Share your favorite virtual instruments' activity in BandLab?
Open BandLab and sign in. Create a new project, choose Instruments and pick three different virtual sounds (for example synth, drums, piano). Make a 30–60 second loop for each sound using the loop editor or by recording with a MIDI keyboard. Arrange loops on separate tracks, adjust volume and simple effects, then export. Have the child share the file or project link and explain why one sound is their favorite (tone, rhythm, mood).
What materials and tools do we need to explore BandLab's virtual instruments?
You’ll need a device (tablet, phone, or laptop) with internet and the free BandLab app or browser account, plus headphones or speakers. Optional extras: a MIDI keyboard for live playing and a simple microphone if you want to record voices. An adult to help set up accounts and supervise sharing, a quiet workspace, and about 20–45 minutes are helpful. No expensive gear is required—BandLab’s built-in sounds are enough.
What ages is this BandLab virtual instruments loop activity suitable for?
This activity suits children around 7 years and up who can navigate basic menus and use touch or a mouse. Younger kids (4–6) can join with close adult help—let them pick a sound and press record for a short loop. Older kids and teens can explore layering, MIDI input, mixing, and deeper sound design. Always supervise account creation and online sharing and adapt complexity to the child’s attention span and motor skills.
What are the benefits of doing this BandLab virtual instruments activity with my child?
The activity builds creativity, listening skills, and basic music-production knowledge. Creating 30–60 second loops teaches rhythm, layering, and sound identification, while explaining a favorite instrument boosts vocabulary and confidence. It encourages collaboration and digital literacy when children share projects. Quick feedback from listening helps critical thinking. Safety note: supervise account settings and avoid sharing personal information when posting links publicly.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of a MIDI keyboard or external microphone if we don't have them?
If you don't have a MIDI keyboard or mic, use BandLab's Instruments panel to choose a virtual instrument and either draw notes in the piano-roll or use the on-screen keyboard to record the loop.
My second instrument track won't record or is too quiet—what should I check?
Check that you chose a different virtual instrument for the next track in the Instruments panel, armed or selected the track before recording, kept the project loop length set between 30 and 60 seconds, and then raise that track's volume slider so it can be heard clearly.
How can we adapt the activity for younger children or make it more challenging for older kids?
For younger children, shorten the project loop to 15–30 seconds and use only two instruments with drawn notes, while older kids can extend the loop beyond 60 seconds, add more than three instruments, use a MIDI controller, and fine-tune volumes and effects.
What are some ways to personalize or improve the finished loop before sharing on DIY.org?
Personalize the loop by tweaking instrument presets in the Instruments panel, adding simple effects or automation to individual tracks, recording a short vocal or sound effect, and writing a clear favorite-instrument explanation in the BandLab project description before saving and sharing.