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I think that is the catch with the OTS factory strumming patterns. I have the Evolution Songwriter and Evolution Rock Standard. IMO the strum patterns are apparently examples, and I find most of them boring out of the box. You would need to study up and create your own patterns to get the most out of these excellent guitar libraries. I don't play guitar, so I tend to lean toward NI or UJAM to inspire me with interesting patterns.

I bought an MPK Mini and returned it in a few days. The keyboard was a useless mess of mini keys with heavy springs. But if you just want some assignable control knobs and pads it might work. But beware the joystick for pitch and mod. Those always return to zero (spring loaded), so you can't position the mod and leave it set. I have a Roland with one of those things and it drives me nuts. I prefer a wheel. Any MIDI controller should work generically with Cakewalk (or your plugins) for manually assigning knobs and pads as needed (via MIDI CC). If you are seeking full integration of the DAW control surface, that's where things can get tricky. Control surface mappings are for things such as play/record/rewind, track controls record/mute/solo, or track selection/panning/volume. You can use "remote control" in Cakewalk automation lanes to MIDI learn a CC assignment from your controller. DAW integration not required. https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Mixing.44.html

OK, I already had the UDW that I bought from *Plugin Boutique and installed in MNDALA 1. Out of curiosity I just grabbed the UDW freebie from APD, and it said to follow the instructions to download it in MNDALA 2, although the Mntra website still says it requires v1.7.2? That's confusing. Well that worked! Just have to enter your License Key via the ‘ADD FROM SERIAL’ button within the Library Tab into MNDALA 2 manually, which will automatically link the purchase of the instrument with your MNTRA account. Then hit refresh and click install. Choose location and done! Up and running in MNDALA 2. Maybe this freebie is a stealth beta test? *FYI: This UDW from APD installs under a different name from the PIB version as "UDW-LE", so it must have been updated. My 1.7.2 version from PIB was installed as "Ultrasonic Death Whistle".

I bought Sparkle when it was free!

I just opened up Mndala 2 and got a notice there is an updated 2.05 version. Download here: https://www.mntra.io/mndala/

When it's all done and the dust has settled, it will be better off without the Pulse downloader and all of the extra hoops. I think that Mntra are a small team and in a bit over their heads at the moment, but it's an interesting product with potential. What I have works, and I'll just be patient. I have Atma, Orakle, and UDW that are still v1... and Huracan which is v2 only...

I've got Huracan and Rasa working in MNDALA 2. Everything else (v1) still works here in MNDALA 1, including UDW, which was acquired previously. Haven't seen anything yet to indicate that UDW has been upgraded to v2. The libraries are all supposed to be in the v2 pipeline, but are likely to trickle out as they are ready. Not sure what info APD is providing... Important read!!! >>> https://www.mntra.io/mndala-1-info/

One thing to consider about the Arturia KeyLab Essential, it does not support aftertouch. So it has a completely different keybed from the MkII, which is similar to the keybed used on the Arturia hardware synths. The MkII 49 and 61 keys have high a quality synth-action keybed with velocity and aftertouch that does cost more, but it's worth it IMO. The MkII is also a solid build, it feels heavy like an old-school synth workstation with a metal chassis. Adds 9 non-motorized faders that NI doesn't have. If you use MIDI synths beyond the Arturia ecosystem, it is simple to use MIDI learn or automation parameters to control them. 9 assignable encoders + 9 faders give you plenty of options. Of course it has built-in integration with Analog Lab, but the goodness doesn't stop there! It also has DAW mode presets for 6 different leading DAWs, so that you can easily dial in the control surface template desired for Cubase (+Cakewalk in Cubase mode), Studio One, Reaper, Live, Pro Tools, and Logic. Also 10 user mode presets that you can customize. Plus 5 expression control inputs and 4 CV outputs. It's a real controller!

Your loyalty to the King, obviously!!! 😂

I don't have the KeyLab Essential, but here is how Cakewalk works with my KeyLab MkII using the new Cakewalk Mackie Control Universal (Cubase mode).

I can vouch for this one if you are referring to the KeyLab 61 MkII. I have that model and it works well with the new Mackie Control Universal (Cubase mode) control surface in Cakewalk by BandLab. Just select the Cubase DAW map in the KeyLab 61 MkII, and setup the control surface in CbB. The MkII ships with button overlays and DAW modes for 6 different major DAWs. The MkII Cubase mode works fine with CbB set to Mackie Universal (Cubase mode). You will need to setup the MIDIIN2 and MIDIOUT2 ports in the control surface definition in Cakewalk. Make sure that those ports are enabled in Cakewalk preferences first so that they are available to the control surface. The new control surface will appear under the Cakewalk "Utilities" menu, where you can configure the details. My details are shown below: Edit: found some notes from when I first tested this feature back in June: I had the opportunity to briefly test the new control surface settings with my Arturia KeyLab 61 Mk II today. It was mostly a success using the Cubase mode in the keyboard with the Mackie MCU Cubase mode in Cakewalk Mackie Control. These features were all plug and play, using the Mackie Control "Bus" option on the Master Fader, and "Select highlights track" option: jog wheel transport controls, including the loop button track and master faders track pan knobs track select buttons the solo, mute, & record buttons under track controls Read automation button (but write does nothing)

Be quicker to get a cheap copy of M1 Le and upgrade that! 😉

Just got the email. It's $49.17 for Sparkle 1 owners. The Virtual Guitar 2 series adds the "Instrument" mode, so you now have that in addition to the "Player". First seen in Carbon and Iron 2. Plus the VG2 series has MIDI drag & drop from the "Player" mode. Clicking on a drag handle in the "Player" phrase … and dragging it onto a position in the DAW instrument track ... creates an exported MIDI copy of the phrase. See the Sparkle 2 user guide here (PDF) > https://www.ujam.com/guitarist/sparkle/en/manual/

It's on today!!!

The pitch bend in Chromaphone 3 still bangs the real-time (RT) CPU hard here. It's apparently just the core/thread that the instrument is running on, because the overall CPU usage in Windows Task Manager appears fine. Depending on how many voices the preset is using, it might hit overload and then crackles an pops appear. Edit: The previous comments were made while testing Chromaphone in several DAWs, CbB, Studio One, and Reaper. VST2 or VST3 - Same results... But when Chromaphone is running as standalone, the pitch wheel causes no glitches here... even with a preset that is a big offender in the DAW! Weird!!! If you have the sound pack Synth City, try the pad "7DX".

Played around a bit more with the horns, piccolo, and flutes that are seated behind the strings to check out the front to rear distance. I'm not an orchestrator so it's hard for me to tell when they are all played together, but when tracks are soloed the instruments sound closer or farther depending on where they are placed in Panagement. Overall I would say it adds to the realism of the space. So far I have just used the plugin UI to place the instruments, and have left the other settings at default. Need to dig a bit deeper. Edit: It's definitely doing something right! I just disabled the Panagement inserts and now all I get is a big wall of sound coming from everywhere on the stereo master bus! Yikes! I definitely prefer the way it sounds with everything spread out!

I played around with Panagement 2 using the free Spitfire BBCSO Discover library. With the 5 string sections (Violins 1, Violins 2, Violas, Celli, & Basses setup in 5 tracks. Panned them into their proper orchestra seating positions using a Panagement 2 insert on each track. Minimal CPU hit for the 5 Panagement inserts. Not bad! Adds the stereo spread nicely.

That's a good one! Have had the freebie for a while.

Correct, for the original Massive! As is the recent update for Apple Silicon compatibility.

Come on back anytime if you decide to revisit desktop hardware! We can probably get you into a budget (entry level+) cwappy™ desktop for audio production for under $700, if you are willing to DIY, and provide your own accessories like monitor, keyboard, mouse, external USB drives, Wi-Fi adapter, etc. Here's an example PC build using an Intel Core i5-11600K 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor. These components are compatibility matched by the website: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/W2sF3y *No OS is selected here, so unless you have a Windows 7, 8, or 10 license you can migrate over, a fresh Win 10 Home license would run another $99.99. **No GPU component is selected either. This CPU provides integrated Intel UHD Graphics 750, so a GPU is optional if you want to play games or do video production.

Thanks to the Plug-in Collective! 👍

No, I've got "M1_2_3_3". Use KORG Software Pass to download the latest. That's where I got it.

@Doug Rintoul FYI: "In 2022, Ken and Roberta Williams announced that their new company Cygnus Entertainment was making a 3D version of the game, under the title Colossal Cave 3D Adventure. It is planned for release in mid-2022, for Windows, macOS, and Nintendo Switch, and will support the Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_Cave_Adventure https://www.colossalcave3d.com/ https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/colossal-cave-6f902f

That's the one!!! We just called it "Adventure". I never realized what the full name was. 👍 "YOU ARE STANDING AT THE END OF A ROAD BEFORE A SMALL BRICK BUILDING. AROUND YOU IS A FOREST. A SMALL STREAM FLOWS OUT OF THE BUILDING AND DOWN A GULLY."