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Hi everyone, We had an amazing NAMM 2019 show and it was so great to meet so many long time Cakewalk users as well as our business partners there. BandLab had a a beautifully designed space showcasing all the brands and Cakewalk had a very prominent presence at the show. Here are a few pictures. We had stage performances from several artists showcasing all the BandLab brands throughout the day including Heritage guitars, Harmony amps and guitars, and Tiesco pedals. We had a mobile recording rig set up and Cakewalk was used to record all the performances. Ashwin from BandLab and @Mike Balzarini did a fantastic job on the live sound and recording setup at short notice and everyone commented on how great the performances sounded. We recorded 8 channels for all the sets and I would upload the projects at the end of the day for @Jon Sasor and @Jesse Jost to mix and upload the finished tracks to BandLab using the new Export to BandLab feature that we just added in CbB. Jon did an amazing job mixing and mastering these at short notice. To listen to all the great music recorded live check out our NAMM 2018 feed. Jesse also posted some more information about the artists playing. Thanks again to you all for your support and for all our users who took the trouble to come to NAMM and meet us. It was great listening to your feedback and meeting you face to face. PS: I forgot to mention. This year all the demo songs played at NAMM came from Cakewalk users. It was great showing real world production projects at the show. Some of these were were full projects with all the plugin's intact. The Silverlight tune had tons of Slate plugins as well as an MP4 video clip synced to it. It played with no problems even at 256 samples on a Surface Book. Also some NAMM Videos that Meng shared in another thread:

Back in the old forums there were statements made about the lack of videos made using Sonar suggesting its unpopularity. Well, there have been a plethora of quite recently uploaded video tutorials on YouTube using Cakewalk By BandLab. For any newbie coming into these forums asking questions, I think a sticky should be made of these videos which are very informative. Below are a few YouTube channels I've found. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwqZ0GPSfFgbc8gLCxaYngRGVvlaf57gI https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSfPaEe4wG_TxprjqVLxh9yAH-zGhA8bH https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDkWv3OTMpOHb2hMjuNWBQWyuhhIF6bHj https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeySI9gLWqezjlplGQqTJyhrbvCvKdzTk

Before the shutdown, I was using Sonar, Studio One, Ableton Live, and Pro Tools (when I had to work on projects cut in a Pro Tools studio(. After the shutdown, I'm using CbB, Studio One, Ableton Live, and Pro Tools (when I have to work on projects cut in a Pro Tools studio). I even bounce around among DAWs a lot via AAF (hey Cakewalk - when are we going to have AAF import/export? I like it a lot better than OMF) and exporting/importing stems. I just wrote an article for Sweetwater inSync on the case for learning and using more than one DAW, I expect it will be published soon. I think it will be of particular interest to those who are concerned about the learning curve involved in learning a new program.

Get it here https://www.spitfireaudio.com/labs/?utm_source=Spitfire+MASTER+List&utm_campaign=2721cac5ee-LABS_Frozen_Strings_Announce_221218_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_df4ead2b5d-2721cac5ee-344042709&mc_cid=2721cac5ee&mc_eid=d87ba9184d

Me too. A lot of it is way over my head but he's a very engaging chap, and I love his 'what makes this song great' series.

I wanted to make sure I knew how to insert a video into a post...turns out, it's even easier than on the old forum.

An update to the Theme Editor would be great, such as including currently unchangeable items and splitting up the colors more so changes to one item doesn't affect another as this can cause problems on other parts of the theme thus giving you no choice but to change the color of the original item and find a color that works on all parts of the theme that it changes. Access to a set of Icons/Symbols that Cakewalk uses would also be handy so we can change the whole image and re-layer the Icon/Symbol back on top.

This is a jazz fusion composition of mine that I originally recorded and mixed in Cakewalk Professional 1.0 This was an all MIDI project at the time - no audio sequencers were around! I used the GR-50 synth to record all the MIDI and it was mixed using MIDI CC's alone. It's amazing that Cakewalk still loads the project file from back then without any problems. I just added a few virtual instruments and did a rough mix. Nothing fancy in the mix. I left it vintage sounding Noel Borthwick: Guitar Synth (GR-50) Ramona Borthwick: Electric piano Synths used: Fabfilter Twin 2 TTS1 Session Drummer SI-Bass SI_Strings Lounge Lizard

I want to thank Kenny for putting the words in my mouth even though it was Steve that wrote them and I hope future colaberations are in order Thank you for your support

+1 for the creative potential! I find that I can drop chords into the PRV in this thing faster than with any other tool. For example, handy for quickly building up a MIDI chord progression in one track, then adding a matching bassline to it in another track.

Honestly, time is a precious resource. I'd much rather they distribute a PDF user guide so that we can search and view while on the go. I'd much rather read the manual while I'm riding shotgun or between sessions at the training center than waste hours of my time watching YouTube videos. Not having a PDF manual, at least the old Sonar Platinum manual with the obvious caveat that some things may differ, is awful. I have time in between activities while out and about, but I'm definitely not going to sit in front of YouTube and waste that much time. I want an actual PDF user guide.

i think it is worth it for the creative potential but I think you have to get it on the sale price to make it worth it. Al least for me anyway.

But when one DAW closes another one opens...

Sadly I probably will let my $25 gift expire as there isnt much I crave that the $25 makes it worth it.

Just downloaded this one - they have some great sounds in this free series

Isn't it the truth! Everything is fine, then just as Waves puts every plugin they have into one gigantic bundle for $49 the hot water heater bursts, which soaks your ceiling (and WHY do they put 40 gallons of water in the attic anyway???) and ruins your dining room table. Not to mention the dinging room floor. Then before the plumber can arrive the dryer and washer BOTH poop out. And, oh yeah, don't forget you've been putting that new roof off for two years . . . . And in the meantime Izotope put all it's bundles on sale for 90% off.

Got the WT Bass amp. It may not replace the Kuassa Cerbehaus(sic) bass amp, but it was pretty good when I demoed it last year.

I learned that my plan to not fix something that wasn't broken turned out ok.

I've got a wealthy non-guitarist friend who's been a huge Floyd fan since the early 70's. Apparently he's seriously considering putting in a bid. If he wins, i think i'll be at his house more often!

I noticed that the picture of him using the 'Balck Strat' is not the 'Black Strat.' The one in his hands (in the pic) has an rosewood fret board. Anyone notice this? Totally agree. I mean they may pick it up and stum it a few times to say they 'played DG guitar' but not much more than that. I am a guitar 'collector' in that I buy what I want, and don't sell it. I also use it. It's why I bought it. The people who buy these guitars are the real deal 'Collectors' in that is will sit somewhere hoping to increase in value.

It is highly likely that peeps who buy DG's guitars will not even play them...

I used it for the Helios 69. Very impressive. I've got some heavy sessions coming up that it will be perfect for.

+1 I think this sounds realistic and I would support it that way, but it's up to BandLab to decide! I appreciate your proposal also, because this would reduce the number of active wishes (change requests) probably!

Sigh. The point is, the word 'spice' used to be ****'d out on the old forum, and also there wasn't/isn't a Spice Girl called 'Spice' Spice, so... Oh what's the use...

The offer's finished now but it's still showing as 11 GBP here in the UK so abacab's theory might be right.

Ed's losing his touch. No girls in this year's picture!

I feel sorry for anyone who buys one hoping to sound like David...

I've never used Mixbus, but the impression I got was that most people don't like to track or edit in it, but really like it for mixing and mastering.

How nice...the article was supposed to go live Friday, but Sweetwater published it when I asked if there was link I could reference. Here it is: https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/case-using-one-daw/

I disagree - the bassist is just trying to upstage the guitarist while he's playing the solo. ---typical if you ask me.

this is a great theme!!! I love it...thanks!!!

I'm glad it was a good show for Cakewalk and Bandlab. I'm just hoping they do something with Rapture Pro and Z3ta2 and don't let them fade away.

Another example of your versatility, Bjorn! It reminded me of "Lord Of The Rings" music. I'm waiting for the Elves to knock on my door

Wow, someone didn't do their homework! ?

I believe that I recall this song when you posted it on the old Cakewalk Forum. It was just a pretty then as it now. But --- can you ever have too much reverb??? I know --- how dare I say that with my penchant for the overuse of 'verb on vocals. Nice one Bjorn!!

Plus, I have a really hard time with the user interface. It is quite different from Cakewalk, Studio One, Mixbus etc. It is pretty capable but I really struggle with its interface and so have not updated.

The Velocity MFX that comes with CbB almost does it, but not quite. A midi compressor would actually be pretty easy... I'll add it to the list (unless the bakers add one more slider to theirs) ?

I'm interested in MIDI 2. I heard two way communications mentioned, and I wonder how that will work out. I don't have two way communications with my sax, drums, bass, guitar, flute, wind synthesizer, keyboard synth, or voice, and can't help wondering what benefit 2 way communication will provide me. Will it be fantastic, a usable tool, or meh? Time will tell, and I'll stay tuned for details. Other than perhaps a new form of synthesis, I have pretty much all I need in MIDI sound modules (notice I said need and not want). I hope MIDI 2 is so exciting that I just have to part with some of my hard earned cash. And as I said before, I'm very glad backward compatibility was a prime concern. Insights and incites by Notes

Ooo this sounds promising!!! But this would also require a Daw software provider to take advantage of the feature. Plug for CbB to show controller support some love!

I think this is still the standard, but they've also come out for a standard wiring of 3.5mm TRS jacks for MIDI (maybe 2.5mm too). But an adapter would be simple enough to get.

I hope they keep using the old 5 din MIDI connector.. I'm sure many of use still use synth / sound modules with that MIDI connector (non USB).

Thankyou 'TheSteven', Very informative , uplifting and inspiring information. You are obviously Midi passionate. So am I. I have been loosely following the Midi evolution. My wife and I are a duo....and use Midi controlled backing . Midi Weapon of Choice - 'Roland SD50'. I am 'Under the Hood' continually between gigs, with my 'Cakewalk toolbox'..............trying to squeeze out just a little more from that Trumpet ,that Cow Bell Or that Crash Cymbal. Isn't this brilliant guys !! To have a place where you can discuss MIDI , not just from a highly technical development perspective ..BUT...also from an end user /muso/ music production viewpoint. This forum & this thread is fair reason as to why 'Cakewalk' has , from the early days, maintained a significant position with Musicians and other Music producers within the DAW world. MIDI is so misunderstood in the broader community of aspiring .......shall we say..............'Music Vocationally Interested Parties'. How I cringe ( and I guess you too ) when I see comments like.......( and we've all seen them )............. eg: "Midi sounds so Fake,False,Futile.....Awful. I think I'd rather get properly recorded backing tracks" ! Well done TheSteven I am now 'Following You' . Have high expectations.................No pressure LOL Cheers ....................Baktrak

Yes, 1999 I'm excited about it, just hope it doesn't take another 20 years to finally get it approved.

>we are only interested in GM in relation with a DAW. In looking at the info it seams like a primary concern is not screwing up the existing MIDI implementation. So hopefully all our current or old stuff (DAWS, other software, equipment) will still work flawlessly. The new abilities could be very nice, for example MIDI controllers that work with any DAW or sound module with virtually no preconfiguration.

More tidbits... The following info and a lot more at: https://www.midi.org/articles-old/midi-manufacturers-association-mma-adopts-midi-capability-inquiry-midi-ci-specification MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) Adopts MIDI Capability Inquiry (MIDI-CI) Specification. The MIDI-CI specification is now available for download by MIDI Association members. . MIDI has been a successful tool for more than 3 decades. The features of MIDI 1.0 continue to work well. The basic semantic language of music does not change and as a result the existing definitions of MIDI as musical control messages continue to work remarkably well. However, MIDI has not changed to fully take advantage of the new technical environment around it. We want to expand the feature set of MIDI capabilities. At the same time, we recognize there are several key hurdles and requirements to consider as we make any additions to MIDI: •Backwards compatibility is a key requirement. Our users expect new MIDI devices to work seamlessly with MIDI devices sold over the past 33 years. •All MIDI Status Bytes are defined. The opcodes and data payloads are defined. It is difficult to define any new message types or change the format of the existing MIDI messages. Expanding MIDI with new features requires a new protocol with extended MIDI messages. To protect backwards compatibility in an environment with expanded features, devices need to confirm the capabilities of other connected devices. When 2 devices are connected to each other, they use MIDI 1.0 and confirm each other's capabilities before using expanded features. If both devices share support for the same expanded MIDI features they can agree to use those expanded MIDI features. MIDI-CI provides this mechanism. MIDI-CI: Solution for Expanding MIDI while Protecting Backwards Compatibility: MIDI Capability Inquiry (MIDI-CI) is a mechanism to allow us to expand MIDI with new features while protecting backward compatibility with MIDI devices that do not understand these newly defined features. MIDI-CI separates older MIDI products from newer products with new capabilities and provides a mechanism for two MIDI devices to understand what new capabilities are supported. MIDI-CI assumes and requires bidirectional communication. Once a MIDI-CI connection is established between devices, query and response messages define what capabilities each device has. MIDI-CI then negotiates or auto-configures to use those features that are common between the devices. MIDI-CI provides test mechanisms when enabling new features. If a test fails, then devices fall back to using MIDI 1.0 for that feature. MIDI-CI improves MIDI capabilities in several key areas. MIDI-CI allows devices to use an expanded MIDI protocol with high resolution and multiple per note controllers. It allows for incremental adoption of new MIDI features by providing a fallback to MIDI 1.0 devices in all cases. MIDI-CI Includes Queries for 3 major areas of expanded MIDI functionality: 1. Protocol Negotiation 2. Profile Configuration 3. Property Exchange

I've learned that if the bass gtr is competing with the kick drum, it's sometimes easier to treat the drum rather than the bass gtr. The thing is, there's no hard and fast rule except trust your ears. I've found that checking my mixes through speaker emulation software like Mixchecker Pro can help a great deal to overcome deficiencies in the mix room.

https://www.soundclick.com/html5/v4/player.cfm?songID=13827679

Did Steve Vai guest on that track, or are you just that good?

With one of my kids under the weather, and another working, there was not a whole lot of partying going on at my place tonight (which suited me just fine anyway). So, I set myself a New Year's Eve challenge this year - compose and record a short tune to celebrate the New Year, and get it posted by midnight. Didn't quite make it -- missed by 40 mins -- but got 'er done. It's a medievalish kind of ditty, and rather rough, full of mistakes and is very much a work in progress, but I like how it turned out. "A Folk Song for the New Year" is dedicated all the folks out there who are hoping for a year of peace, renewal and happiness. Happy New Year, everyone...