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Thanks chaps! I had a look at the freeze options and saw what you meant about changing the default so that the FX rack was unaffected; that was my biggest issue. I'll give this some more thought. Cheers, Dave

Hi friends, I wonder if you can help me get to grips with something... I've been using CbB for well over a year now, and in many regards I feel I've learned a lot about it. However, there is one area that I don't really understand, which is freezing synths. I use a mixture of external synths and internal. As I don't want to have excessive CPU load, by the time I'm ready to mix I freeze the internal synths. I want to be able to work on these tracks just like audio tracks, but because they're frozen if I add plugins they wont work; so what I've been doing is copying the audio clips onto new tracks and muting the originals. I'm pretty sure that's not the best way to do it! I thought there was maybe a way to bounce (render) the synth tracks so that they behave exactly the same as the other audio tracks, but I can't seem to work out how. If there is (as I suspect) a more elegant solution than my workaround, please will you point me in the right direction? Thanks, Dave

Thankyou so much!

Hi friends, I have a stereo track that I would like to split into mono. What is the best way to do this? Dave

Thanks, I'll give that a go. Yes, don't know why I didn't think of using an Aux track! Problem solved, many thanks...

Hi Friends, I've hit a little snag in my current project. I have some lead vocal layer tracks routed to a bus, which I want to bring in and out as required. I wanted to automate this, so went to the bus automation options and...no automated mute. Oh! I can automate each track of course, but that's a lot of work. Am I missing something - surely muting buses within a mix is a common requirement? Please help if you know what I'm doing wrong, or can suggest a suitable alternative. Thanks, Dave

I didn't know that either, thanks! You guys must think I'm dumb as an ox...😀

Thanks! (easy when you know how...)

Hi Friends, I don't have an external controller, so I usually use the computer keyboard for transport controls (i.e. stop and start with the spacebar) . My question is: is there a similar shortcut for PAUSE? I looked in the online manual but it didn't offer any alternative to the transport section within CbB (for the pause function). Anyone aware of an alternative? Thanks Dave

Hey Everyone, Thanks very much for your help. After buying a USB extension, I've decided to follow bdickens' advice and leave the external synths permanently connected! As you may imagine that solved the issue.👍 Can I just take this opportunity to thank you all for being so sharing with your knowledge - this really is an excellent Forum with some really great people. Dave

Ah thanks, I thought that must be what was happening. Glad to know it isn't just me being dumb (for a change!)

Obviously not, even CbB isn't that clever!😁 No, but I think that other new MIDI tracks should not have to be automatically treated by Cakewalk as drum MIDI tracks - and that's what I was getting at. I want to write the MIDI before connecting a synth, which seems a reasonable thing to do. Once it's done I can connect up, check it works, make any tweaks and then track. That's how I used to do it back in the day with an external sequencer. Anyway, if it can't be done no problem - I just wanted to ask in case it's a question of my ignorance. Thanks for trying to help my friend! Dave

Hi bdickens, I don't have the external synth connected at present, I only connect it for tracking to save having trailing leads across the room. Basically, I think CbB defaults to whatever MIDI device it can see connected (in this case BFD3 drums is the only thing), and I'm asking if there is a way to override this on any other MIDI tracks that I add. Obviously I already have a MIDI track for the drums. I'm pretty sure that if I were to add TTS-1 or similar I would have the option, as I could then set the MIDI channel output to it. I can live with the workaround, I just wanted to see if there was an easier way to do it. Thanks, Dave

Hi Friends, A quick question about the piano roll view: In my current project I already have some audio tracks and have BFD3 drums. I am trying to write some MIDI for an external synth, but the midi editor seems to be defaulting to a drum map rather than piano roll, which is obviously no use to me. I don't have any soft synth in the project. I also note that the channel midi output options are only BFD. As a workaround I opened a new project, inserted a midi track and that defaulted to the normal piano roll, so I was able to continue. Once I have the MIDI track completed I intend to import into the original project and assign to external synth. So my question is can I force piano roll in a MIDI track? I tried all the obvious menu options but was unsuccessful. Dave

Thank you, I did not know that.

Thanks John! The setup appears to be working so far, but I haven't done any tracking yet so fingers crossed. I freely admit that I don't really understand all these drivers and protocols, but I'm glad that people like yourself do and are prepared to help out. Have a good one... Dave

I agree with you wholeheartedly - I'm an engineer. But I also believe in asking for help when I need it, especially in areas outside of my field of expertise...

Hi John, The mixer came with a simple multi-language booklet showing the basic features; but no manual as such. There's certainly no mention of downloading drivers. I believe that one can download a manual from the website. Having said that, the device is supposed to be class compliant... I downloaded a driver and it seemed to work, at least CbB was able to function. In the Devices panel ( Preferences) it just says Mackie ASIO driver, not the device name, which I find slightly worrying; and the outputs on the Master buss say Analogue1 + Analogue 2. I also have a Mackie Big Knob, and I would like to specify which device CbB should be using. As you obviously know a great deal about CbB, please could you tell me if: a) The current state of the setup sounds a little iffy? (as I suspect) b) How to correct it? You probably have a video on this but I couldn't find one... The desired setup is to have the ProFX as the USB input/output device for CbB for tracking and playback, with the Big Knob taking audio input from the ProFX and USB data from other computer applications (eg YouTube, iTunes); that's how I've patched it and it seems to be working... I've attached a snip of the devices panel. I think both devices are probably there but I have no idea if that's so; and if it is which is which... Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Dave

Ok I get the prize for being a noodle! I downloaded a driver and CbB now working. Thanks a lot!

No, I thought it was done automatically by Windows when it 'found' a new device

Please help I've just bought a Mackie ProFX USB mixer to replace my MBox2. I connected up to the computer and audio system, but when I opened up CbB it gave me the 'no audio device' warning. I opened Preferences and there is nothing in the devices panel. I don't know what to do now - is there a way to ask CbB to scan for devices? I can't remember what I did when I first installed MBox2... Dave

Dear Scook, Thanks so much - once again you have helped me out, and it is greatly appreciated. I got BFD3 because a friend has it and I have worked with him using it; so I have a little familiarity with it (but not very much!). Unfortunately, he uses Pro Tools and has no knowledge of CbB. I will follow your instructions; AND the one to learn the plugin!! Thanks again, Dave

Thanks so much, I'll try and get my head around that! I am constantly amazed by how great the people on this forum are...

Thankyou so much!

Sorry, I'm fairly new to CbB and I've only had SI drums to play with up until now, so I didn't understand your reply. Will I have to reload BFD3 into a new track and set the track outputs at that time? Sorry if I sound a bit dumb, I'm a bit confused...please assume I need to be walked through the procedure, if you have the time. Dave