Jim Fogle

@kevin H The usual advice from users in the Band-in-a-Box forum is to purchase as much as you can afford. My advice is to first decide how you plan to use it and why you want it, then select a package based on your plan. If you want to learn how to use the program and what it has to offer the ProPAK or MegaPAK are good starter packages. You'll get the same programs in the starter packages that are in the higher priced packages; the difference lies in the amount of content each package contains. The program has a lot of features and depth to it. It takes awhile to run through the program, learn what features are available, the terminology used and essentially, just get use to using the program. Both the ProPAK and MegaPAK have enough of all the types of content to fully use all the available program capabilities. One frustration many ProPAK or MegaPAK users encounter is they want to use content their package does not contain. The program "conveniently" marks each piece of content you haven't purchased as N/A. You'll see content that likely matches the project you're working on and it can quickly get frustrating. If you quickly want to begin creating song projects, get the UltraPAK or Audiophile. Both contain all package content but the UltraPAK has lossy audio files while the Audiophile has lossy and lossless. Send me a pm if you have any questions.

@Tim Smith, great topic for a thread. I'm glad you posted it. I most appreciate that Cakewalk is free to everyone with a Windows computer. Along the same thought, that frequent fixes and feature enhancements are available. I haven't counted the number of fixes applied since 2018 but it has been a lot. Seamless ARA2 and élastique Pro integration. I like the way the interface looks. While both of the default Tungsten and Mercury themes are okay I generally use the Tungsten theme. I greatly appreciate Workspace. Once I get my custom Workspace figured out, I'll be a pretty happy camper. My major dislike is likely different from most users. I dislike the smart tool. I prefer to manually select a tool. It would be great if the smart tool could be enabled or disabled as a Preference setting. Then I could manually select to use a tool, become well grounded in its use, move to the next, and so on until I'm comfortable with all of them. Then I could enable the smart tool. I believe Cakewalk's major deficiency is the lack of an integrated, multi-purpose sampler.

That's great if you have the talent and instruments BiaB offers. It's always better to create your own audio when you can achieve the audio you desire. The program has advanced a lot in 15 years and there are over 3,100 hours of RealTracks available.

@abacab I have the free Amplesound acoustic, the Amplesound SC electric and the no longer available Spicy Guitar. So I have enough VSTis to get me started with guitar plug-ins. The main issue is me. I have trouble concentrating. Combined with my lack of knowledge of most things musical, beginner's skills with Cakewalk and, I'll freely admit, I'm having the devil of a time getting anything musical out of any of the VSTis I'm spending more time watching videos to set up the Cakewalk project like I want that I haven't spent much time using a VSTi yet .

I've never heard the Conway Twitty version but listen to the Lynn Anderson song every Christmas season. I visited your Soundcloud site and am confused as Ding A Ling is not visible.

I have an emergency cell phone available when I'm away from home. It is not a smart phone. Back to the original subject, a way to manually set the number of times a track loops while in record mode would be a nice feature to have available for use. The Boss digital recorder I use to have included a foot switch connection to remotely control the transport. Foot switch transport control would be difficult to implement in a DAW so a feature that automates the process is the next, best thing.

@kevro2000, Nice idea for home studios. @Mark MoreThan-Shaw, A smartphone and app for remote control is also a good idea but not everyone has one.

@abacab, Thanks again. At this time I'm not looking for guitar plug-ins. There are a lot available though.

@abacab, thanks for the information about PreSonusPro, the Presence XT sampler and the Core sample package. I'm surprised I wasn't aware of this since Studio One is my brother's DAW of choice. I see the guitars are part of the Core sample package. However, this instrument package is not included with the Artist edition but it is included with the subscription version of Studio One or the $399 retail Pro edition. Since the Presence XT sampler is available in all editions it might would be cheaper to get the Studio One Artist edition and then purchase the acoustic guitar and electric guitars sample packages separately. Thanks to everyone for your contributions.

What other folder options do you think needs to be in Media Browser?

The parent company, Bandlab Technologies, has a line of brick and mortar music stores, owns a couple of music related magazines, an effects stompbox manufacturer and at least two instrument manufacturers that I can think of off the top of my head. Click on the "Other Links" tab at the top of each page and you can investigate how the company makes money.

Looking forward to your next article Scott.

@User 905133, thanks for pointing that out. I overlooked the Overlord folder.

Steve, I stand corrected.

@steve@baselines.com, Thank you for your response. The current version of Cakewalk by Bandlab does not include an amp sim. @scook, Thanks for responding. The applications you mention are kind of before my time. I use to have Sound Center with Music Creator but removed MC from my computer. @abacab, Thank you for your thoughts. I have Amplesound's free acoustic Martin and Fender electric bass. Both are extraordinary instruments considering they are free. I imagine the paid, full featured virtual instruments are outstanding. The free Spicy Guitar virtual instrument has some interesting sounds. @User 905133, Thank you for the link and your response. Swatches is new to me. I appreciate all the responses. I'm not looking for third party guitar plug-ins as I have several. I was more thinking out loud and wondering why no DAWs that I know of include virtual guitars since guitar is so prevalent in western pop music.

Most DAWs include some free virtual instruments, for example Cakewalk by BandLab has TTS-1 and the Studio Instrument suite. Do you know of any DAW that includes virtual acoustic and / or electric guitar?

True mono external input selection so a single input audio interface does not take up two input assignments.

While browsing the MIDI.ORG website I came across +++ THIS +++ Craig Anderton article about using MIDI plug-ins to improve your MIDI.

Great to see you've posted a new Cakewalk by Bandlab video Mike.

Google translation:

At least they offer special financing on the deal.

Of course, one HUGE benefit of returning to a Windows computer is @Marc Harris can use Cakewalk by Bandlab as his DAW.

I like the second video better. Not because of the telegraph and teletype sound effects but because of the "Goodnight Chet" at the end.

I like your arrangement. Unexpected and interesting to listen to. In my opinion you have too many background voices; two would be sufficient for most of the song.

Good luck in the competition. Very professional sounding mix.