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I would plug hard drives and audio interfaces directly into the computer. A hub should work fine for low speed data devices like keyboards, mice, and MIDI controllers. I would select the same port types that your existing USB devices have.

I would definitely say that Loom is probably worth $19 for the additive synthesis. It is quite unique and you can get some sounds with it that you are unlikely to find anywhere else. There are 30 sound shaping modules that you can build a sound from by combining them in the 10 available module slots per patch. There is one Wave module that allows you to import wave files and process them. Creates a vocoder like sound with vocal recordings. Lots of fun! But if you already own ANY Air instrument, I would recommend the Air Instrument Expansion Pack 3 Complete upgrade for $74.99. Might as well get them all! https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/1-Instruments/58-Inst-Bundle/2294-AIR-Instrument-Expansion-Pack-3-COMPLETE-UPGRADE-

Here's a thread from the old Cakewalk forum that discussed this idea: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Sonar-really-needs-a-sampler-m3499083.aspx I'm not opposed to the suggestion, as several other popular DAWs already have that feature, but I think that BandLab is focusing development for now on getting the Cakewalk core application as stable as possible. They have not yet released any of the former add-on instruments (Rapture Pro, Z3TA+2) from the old Cakewalk collection. And they would probably do that first, before creating any new ones. Even if it was going to happen. my guess is that it would be a long way off at this point.

Good synth!

I bought Sonar Platinum lifetime also. Gibson was the parent company then, and that is who you should take up any grievances for former licenses with. Cakewalk Inc. as a company is no more. BandLab has not acquired any of the Cakewalk business obligations. As far as I know that rests with Gibson. Good luck, and get in line with the rest of Gibson's creditors. But I am just glad that Cakewalk software isn't dead yet. I have been a Cakewalk user for 20 years, and that is what got me started with DAWs. The Cakewalk intellectual property, but not the business obligations, of the former Cakewalk company was purchased last year by BandLab. All I can say is thank you to BandLab. Otherwise the alternative would have been money down the drain. I look forward to a productive partnership with the new owners of the Cakewalk brand and software.

"conscientious projector" Haha!

Probably the most obvious culprit here would be a conflict with installed drivers. Drivers seem to be one the biggest troublemakers in an audio computer system. It would be helpful to post your system specs, software versions, and any audio hardware in use. Obviously everyone here is not having this issue with Cakewalk, or else you would be reading about it daily.

Not really sure what you are asking here. There is not to my knowledge, and never has been a migration tool to move Sonar from one computer to another. It has always been a hands on project, with many variables depending on how the user has configured his machine to use various folders and drives for content and files, etc. The OP had asked how to move things across to a new computer. Yes, activation is one part of that, but should not be an issue. The activation is tied to your computer ID, but is easily accommodated with the existing install/activation methods for any computer: 1. Old versions of Sonar (up through the X series of Sonar, prior to Platinum and the CCC "connected" applications) used the serial # and registration code in your Cakewalk account. As far as I know this will activate completely offline, so no server access required. 2. The Platinum era Cakewalk "connected" software primarily used the Cakewalk Command Center (CCC) to register and activate all Cakewalk software. There was also an "offline" activation option, but activation was still required. 3. Cakewalk by BandLab requires the use of BandLab Assistant for all downloads and activations of the current Cakewalk software. If you have a previous version of Sonar with plugins that you would like to use in Cakewalk by Bandlab, it is recommended to install that first, so that CbB will scan and include those plugins when you install CbB.

Is anyone old enough to remember the movie "Billy Jack"?

Here ya go! how does bandlab make money? http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3732900

I bought W8 for the MIDI pattern generator in 2017, and upgraded to W9 in 2018 for the chord track that works with the pattern generator. That really completed the pattern feature that began with W8. It's a cool tool. But I don't see any major MIDI enhancements coming with W10, so I will probably hold out on upgrading this year. I have what I need, until something else interesting comes along. I use this as a secondary DAW, mostly just as a creative idea generating tool. It stands out as unique in that regard.

Well since that is a mobile CPU, it will never achieve the performance of a desktop equivalent. That is a dual core CPU. https://ark.intel.com/products/97466/Intel-Core-i7-7600U-Processor-4M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz The low end desktop i7-7700T CPU for that generation offered 4 cores, and 8 threads. Mobile CPU's are designed with lower power consumption (improved battery life) and lower heat output (small enclosure with limited ventilation) as design criteria. Performance is not as high priority in a mobile application as in a desktop. I'm not passing judgement, just stating the technical reality. It is what it is. If you are limited to two cores, then you are probably going to want the fastest clock that you can get.

You will need to download the hardware drivers for your audio interface, and MIDI keyboards, and install them on the new computer after you have Windows up and running. Then install Sonar and the bundled Cakewalk plugins onto your fresh new Windows 10 computer. > VST list: As mentioned earlier your Sonar plugins should install themselves without issue, except for the XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2, and the Celemony Melodyne. They both use 3rd party accounts and you must have those activated on the 3rd party sites, and follow their install procedures. You will need to make that VST list for any additional 3rd party plugins that you own, and determine for each company if you can just copy the VST .dll file over to your new VST folder, or whether you need to install their plugin manager to download, install, and authorize each plugin from your account onto the new computer. Some examples of plugin managers are those used by Waves, Native Instruments, Arturia, XLN Audio, etc. They actually make life easier than the one-off plugin installers. Some plugins just use Windows installers/uninstallers and you will need to check on those. Some plugin install utilities use a Windows installer routine to create folders for presets, sample libraries, etc., plus sometimes Windows registry entries, so you cannot just copy them from one computer to another and expect them to work. > Jim suggested an image file backup, and I couldn't agree more. I would suggest you start a new thread about disk imaging if you have never done that before. It can get rather involved and could sidetrack this discussion. The end result of an image is that you have a restorable disk "image", similar to a disk clone, but in a file format stored on an external drive. You can create this image of your new computer after you have set it up, and if you have problems you can always roll your hard drive back to a stored "image" without having to go back to zero. No swapping drives needed. The image backs up all files/folders on your disk so no need to backup individual files/folders separately. > Trade out hard drives? I would avoid this if you can. Easier if you can just keep your old system up and running until you are happy with the new one. You will sleep better knowing that your data is still on the old computer until you get everything you need copied over and configured on the new computer. Maybe after you have done this migration dance once or twice, you might want to take shortcuts, but I would not recommend that to a first timer. Hey, no offense, we all started there!

If it is a bus powered interface, it should come on with the computer power when you power on your PC. It it uses an AC power supply, then I would run it from the same power strip as the computer, and switch them on together. Either way, power your audio interface on (and leave it on) whenever the computer starts up. That assures that Windows loads the drivers.

I made a shortcut on my desktop to that folder, so if I want to grab a copy fast I can.

I have no issues with the Tracktion interface. I find it rather intuitive. But I struggle with the UI in Reaper, FL Studio, and Reason. So I understand UI preference and workflow is a personal thing. If you really want different, try Ableton Live! I like that one too, but have to read the manual to do anything. And bottom line is that most DAWs offer a demo version, so there's really no reason to get stuck and unhappy that you bought something you struggle with.

Welcome to Cake World 2.0 Kenny! And now that you have your first "Like", you have some real street cred around here!

The latest version of BandLab Assistant is the only option. https://www.bandlab.com/products/desktop/assistant

Exactly! Even with the file you will still need the BandLab Assistant online to install it.

It looks like a new version keeps coming out every year. I have W8 & W9 and I realize that they need to make money to keep the store open, but then they seem to stop updating last year's version as soon as the new one is released. It is almost like a subscription, in that you don't get any more bug fixes unless you keep buying the latest version. I would rather they slow down the pace a bit and maybe release some .5 releases in between major versions.

Staff view really needs some more love from the developers. It probably was never intended for printing out pretty scores. It is what it is, and can be useful for viewing and/or editing your tracks in a notation view. You would probably get better printing results by exporting your song as a MIDI file and formatting and printing it from a free notation program such as MuseScore. https://musescore.org/en

Follow-up: I have been able to induce a couple of random crashes when inserting TTS-1 into a CbB project. But not every time, and mostly none of the time. But it has happened since my last post.

Yup! DirectX 12 on Windows 10 Pro, according to dxdiag.

Non, no, and nope.

And then get Akai VIP 3.1 Standard when it goes on sale (for $99). If you already have the AIR instruments, then you don't need the Plus bundle. The AIR instruments integrate very well with VIP (all from the same parent company, inMusic), and already have the AIR factory patch maps set up. You will have the advantage of being able to browse, search, and play any of the AIR presets from one common browser, and only need to open the plugin UI if you want to edit a sound. That solves much of the dated look and feel. In addition, VIP works as either a standalone plugin host, or it can be a plugin in your DAW. VIP lets you create 8 part performance multis for splits and layers using any sounds in your VIP library. Lots of creative power here. Each multi has 8 instrument slots, with four FX insert slots each, plus 4 busses, and a master out. You can create multiple setlists with up to 128 presets or multis each. So that offers options for live use. VIP also supports importing just about any plugin you have, and is not limited to supported plugins like the NI NKS format. Many of those AIR instruments are included with the VIP 3.1 Plus bundle. VIP 3.1 Plus is bundled with select keyboard from M-Audio, Akai, and Alesis. You do not need a special keyboard to use VIP as a host, but you will need to do your own MIDI mapping with a generic MIDI keyboard. https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/3-Studio-Tools/72-Utility/3788-AKAI-VIP-3-0-Standard