Up-to-date with version 3.3.7367
This page describes the main panels which go to make up MusicBee's interface (UI) and lists the different components which may be placed within these panels. The links lead to detailed information about each component. In addition there is a high level description of how to customise the layout through the Panels Configuration feature.
User Interface and Customization []
MusicBee is very usable out of the box, but its layout is also highly customisable and offers many ways to tweak it to your liking.
The basic concept is that there are a number of different panels in the UI and as a user you can choose which panels to display and which features those panels contain.
Default Layout
Initially MusicBee will have the layout shown in the image on the right.
The default panels and components are as follows:
Header bar[]
- The Main Menu shown as a button
- The Tabs Bar shown below the Caption Bar, containing
- Your Music (Tracks View) with theThumbnail Browser in the Left Main Panel.
- The Now Playing Node.
- The Playlists Manager.
- The Music Explorer Node.
- The Podcasts Node.
- Command buttons
Left sidebar[]
- The Navigator panel in the Left Sidebar in auto-open mode.
Left main panel[]
- Thumbnail browser
Main panel[]
- A-Z jumpbar
- Files
Right sidebar[]
- The Playing Tracks list in the Right Sidebar.
- Track Information and Lyrics stacked in the right sidebar.
Bottom panel[]
- The Status Bar in the Bottom Panel.
- The Player Controls in the Bottom Panel.
Panels Configuration[]
Configure Layout Button
The Panels Configuration window is opened with the Configure Layout button, to the left of the Search box in the Tabs Bar. It can also be accessed from Layout (1) preferences, with the "Arrange Panels" button.
Panels Configuration
There are 21 elements that can be configured, with 9 possible locations and further configuration options available for most elements. Not every element can be in every location, but many elements can be reordered to your liking, too. That's a LOT of options! Throw in the specific settings for each element and you're unlikely to find two layouts that are exactly the same.
Let's break it down by location, since that's what you'll see in the Panels Configuration window. The default options are marked. Most elements have further settings that can be configured by using a Panels Settings [...] button.
Elements with a checkbox to the right may be stacked together (occupying the same layout space) by ticking the box. Any unstacked elements in between ticked elements will cause a new stack to start, or you can use the Panel Splitter element to divide two stacks. Stackable elements are marked here with a +.
- stack
Stacked Elements with tabs
- ticked elements are displayed as tabs: example at right
- ticked elements are stacked on top of each other and viewable by clicking a selector button: (Default) click the top left menu to see a list of elements in the stack, or click in the header bar of the stack to cycle through elements
Header Bar[]
- Main Menu (Default: permanent)
- Tabs Bar (Default: permanent)
- Command Buttons (Default) [must be configured in order to appear]
Top Panel[]
Alternate location for the Player Controls only.
Left Sidebar[]
The Left Sidebar may be hidden for the current tab by using the Tab Overrides settings, either completely or with auto-open enabled (it will pop up when your mouse is at the left edge of the window). See Status Bar for more options to show and hide the Left Sidebar.
- Navigator+ (Default: permanent)
- Album Cover+
- Artist Biography+
- Artist Picture+
- Library Explorer+
- Lyrics+
- Playing Tracks+
- Sidebar Player
- Spectrum Visualizer
- Thumbnail Browser+
- Track Information+
- Wavebar
Left Main Panel[]
The Left Main Panel may be hidden for the current tab by using the Tab Overrides settings.
- Thumbnail Browser+ (Default)
- Album Cover+
- Artist Biography+
- Artist Picture+
- Library Explorer+
- Lyrics+
- Playing Tracks+
- Sidebar Player
- Spectrum Visualizer
- Track Information+
- Wavebar
Main Panel[]
- Files (Default: permanent)
- AZ Jumpbar
- Column Browser
- Now Playing Bar
- Playing Tracks
- Spectrum Visualizer
- Thumbnail Browser
- Wavebar
Right Main Panel[]
The Right Main Panel may be hidden for the current tab by using the Tab Overrides settings.
- Album Cover+
- Artist Biography+
- Artist Picture+
- Lyrics+
- Playing Tracks+
- Sidebar Player
- Spectrum Visualizer
- Track Information+
- Wavebar
Right Sidebar[]
The Right Sidebar may be hidden for the current tab by using the Tab Overrides settings, either completely or with auto-open enabled (it will pop up when your mouse is at the right edge of the window). See Status Bar for more options to show and hide the Right Sidebar.
- Playing Tracks+ (Default)
- Track Information+ (Default)
- Lyrics+ (Default)
- Album Cover+
- Artist Biography+
- Artist Picture+
- Sidebar Player
- Spectrum Visualizer
- Wavebar
Bottom Panel[]
- Status Bar (Default)
- Player Controls (Default)
Floating Window[]
The Floating Window will appear once elements are added and the configuration is saved or applied. It can be minimised, but can only be closed by removing the elements again via the Panels Configuration window.