Bill Conway

Friv, I can appreciate your initial frustration but given you took the initiative and diving in and trying says a lot. If you haven’t tried it yet the user guides, short and long version are extremely helpful. And the app help system is amazing. Maybe to cut down on steps I might encourage you to read about how to create and save a Project Template (e. g. Eight Track Project). Once you have a project template configured, with all the tracks, names, groupings, track effects,busses, views, routing, audio and midi connections, etc then save the Project Template. Even set your metronome preference and count-in. I believe the initial install includes example templates. Then dial it in for your studio and save template. Then next time you want to record start by selecting your new project template and assuming your audio/midi sources are plugged then enable the R on each tracks you want to record (you will see track audio meter) . next type R (Record) on keyboard (computer) which begins Recording (and template metronome preference) . When finished recording hit spacebar (Stop). Type W (Rewind) and hit Spacebar ( play) I started using Cakewalk products in 1996 beginning with Professional 3. I have used other DAWs just for comparison and I still prefer Cakewalk. It is better today than ever. and rock solid. I used it through the painful early computer and early windows OS years. But like you I kept jumping back in. Now it’s second nature. I use it nearly every day in my home studio.