Bill Phillips

51 minutes ago, Jim Roseberry said:

Any hub I've tried (that involved Thunderbolt), a Thunderbolt audio interface wouldn't function properly when connected to the Hub.

FWIW, A laptop will never be a complete desktop replacement... as there are too many performance limitations, cooling limitation, expansion limitations, etc.

Thanks Jim. What about USB audio interfaces with a Thunderbolt hub?

51 minutes ago, 57Gregy said:

Install the old HD in the new machine?

You can do that, but it can't be the system drive as is. Starting with the operating system, Windows, then drivers, then applications (Cakewallk, plugins, etc), all software must be installed on the system drive of the computer. A system drive from one computer can not be installed, as is, and become the system drive of another computer.

Anyone using the CalDigit TS4 or other hub to allow them to use their laptop as a desktop DAW replacement? I read an article by a ProTools Expert describing how he's now able to use his Macbook Pro in clam shell mode and a CalDigit TS3 as his in studio DAW workstation and wondered how practical that would be. According to another post, it might even allow me to plug in my MOTU 828 mk2 firewire using an Apple TB2 to FW converter. All too good to be true?

What are the limitations of a powerful laptop when compared to a desktop as a DAW? I also took a quick look at the Dell XPS13 which cost $2,400 tricked out and noticed that it has (2) TB4 ports and supports NVMe, OpenGL 3.0 & 4.6 and has 20 threads which seems impressive. On the down side. It has 20 PCIe lanes whereas my existing i7 6850k has 40. Don't know how important that is.

10 hours ago, Madness said:

Hey crew, just wondering if I can copy and paste my downloads to an external hard drive and transfer to a new computer, so I don't have to re- download 1200 plugins. I know I would have to reauthorize, but that would be way easier than downloading them all over again. Also command center, I am not sure where the installers are, login is probably lost to time. I have copied CCC to the external drive, just hoping it will work. This is not my first, I have been with Cakewalk since Home Studio 2004. Thanks to all in advance!

Rick

Plugins that don't have an installer (.dll, ,vst3 file extensions) can probably be  copied from and pasted into the proper folders on different computers. The download files (.zip, .exe, .msi, etc. extensions) can probably be copied from and pasted into install folders on different computers, but the installers must be run on the receiving computer but that's not what I would do.

I like to keep plugins up to date. So, even for the dlls and vst3s, I'd visit the source website and download the plugin or installer file from there to get the latest version on the new computer.

On 11/24/2022 at 2:32 PM, Glenn Stanton said:

any reason you chose to use plugins instead of the native gain control? curious.

I used to do that but found that I'd randomly and inadvertently move input gain knobs without noticing until later causing a lot of consternation. So I began hiding the track input gain controls and using gain plugins as well and have the same problem as @Victor Flores particularly on duplicated tracks. But this discussion has got me rethinking that. Maybe I can keep the input gain controls hidden in all workspaces except for a gain-staging workspace that I use solely for gain staging. And for duplicated tracks I can use the assignable controls Groups suggestion from @msmcleod for input gain controls and other controls I tweak on duplicated tracks.

2 hours ago, Jorge Arias said:

http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=NewFeatures.064.html

Thanks Jorge.

19 hours ago, Kurre said:

Thanks for the suggestion.

An overhaule will benefit more people then just me and my recent events.

It's good to know that there's one expert user out there who has all the answers.  Consider starting your own DAW company to fully share that expertise. 😄 

18 hours ago, msmcleod said:

FWIW, all of my Scarlett's are gen 1... I've got the 2i2 (dev laptop), 6i6 (dev desktop), 18i8 (laptop) and 18i20 (studio).   The 6i6 I use daily.   I normally run with an ASIO buffer of 64 on production builds without issue, although for larger projects I may increase to 128 or 256.  For development, I use 256.

All of my Scarletts have the latest firmware (v1056).

I've not had any issues with dropouts, unless I drive my PC beyond its limit... but that's a CPU limitation, not the Focusrite.

On my 18i8, I've successfully recorded 16 simultaneous tracks whilst playing back 32 - and that was on a silent PC the size of an iPhone 5 running at 2GHz. Using my laptop, it copes with far more.

I'd recommend trying a different USB port - it could be that it's sharing an IRQ with another device. Also, I know this doesn't work for some people, but I have my Scarlett plugged into a USB 3 port and have zero issues.

Thank you very much. I must be missing something. I'm going to dig into it further using your suggestions. Thanks again. 

9 hours ago, msmcleod said:

To be honest, I've had much better performance with USB 2 than with Firewire.  I was hoping to have an mLAN system with 01X , 2 x i88x and 1 x ADA8000 to give me 32 tracks, but it gives up at 26 tracks.

My RME Digiface USB however, quite happily copes with recording 32 tracks, whilst simultaneously playing back on all 34 outputs - and that's with an ASIO buffer half the size of what my mLAN system is (64 vs 128).

Other things to bear in mind...
1. Firewire is a deprecated technology - certainly mLAN is completely discontinued.  The chances of it working in future Windows updates/upgrades is diminishing.
2. The quality of converters in newer gear is far better than the ones used in older interfaces. The mic inputs on my i88x for example, are the same as the Yamaha DM2000, which was their top-end digital mixer at the time, but my Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 sounds so much better.  Not to say they aren't good - they certainly are - but more modern converters are likely better.

Thanks for the perspective Mark. My reason for wanting to get the Firewire working is to to use my MOTU 828 mkII to have 26 inputs available in case I need it on occasion. My Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 is limited to 18 inputs. But I admit that Firewire's days are numbered; but so are mine.🤔

That said, the last time I was able to use my Firewire 828 mkII for mixing (no inputs and only the main outputs) it seemed to work smoothly with the sample buffer at  256 samples. When it quit working, probably due to an update, I switched the same project over to the 18i8 gen1 with the sample buffer maxed out at 1024 and was still getting dropouts. I know that Focusrite was having USB ASIO problems with the Scarlett early on. I wonder if the gen 1 Scarlett line may have some inherent problems that couldn't be solved with firmware or software updates but were were solved for gen 2 & 3 units.

Is this article any help?

I had my firewire stuff working fine maybe 6 months ago then it stopped. I haven't gotten back around to troubleshooting it, but the last time I did I think the article at the link above was useful. Also, I remember some guidance on a blog from a musician that worked for Microsoft being useful, but I can't find that.

I have a SYBA SY-PEX30016 firewire card. Unlike @bitflipper I've gone through a number of firewire cards, but sounds like that may have been a waste of money.

I'm using a 3840x1600 37" curved display and really like it. I chose 37" because that's what fits between my monitors. Now that I have it, I'm thinking it's a good fit for me. I usually have my Cakewalk window at about 2/3 of the screen horizontally and nearly 100% vertically leaving about 1/3 of horizontal space for plugin popups and other apps. I'd probably need to move my head around to use all the space on a larger display.

21 hours ago, msmcleod said:

I regularly run this after doing a Windows update:

1.  Win Key + X, then press A  to enter Windows Powershell in Admin mode
2.  Execute the following:

sfc /scannow

 

This will check the integrity of all of your system files, and repair them if need be.

Thanks. I just did that then looked at the CBS log which shows some activity in addition to the beginning/ending messages. Looks like it also ran last evening with a lot more activity starting with Initializing Trusted Installer and a lot of TiWorker activities. Could be from updates installed yesterday. I think I was done with PC for the day when this all happened. Looks like this activity picked up again when I booted the PC this morning and continued for about 15 minutes probably in the background. I don't think I noticed it.

9 hours ago, Daryl L. Samuel said:

Anyway... Thanks, guys but stuff like this are why my Cakewalk days are numbered.

Bye. 👋 

22 hours ago, Daryl L. Samuel said:

This sounds more like adjusting settings and not a feature.

So I would have to cancel loading the project and then go into the Preferences and add the folder with the missing audio files?

Not so. You may be making assumptions based on your experience with another DAW. Like Will said, all DAWs have their own vocabulary. There are good tutorials showing you how to create a new project in Cakewalk and avoid the problems you're describing.

On 10/14/2022 at 5:00 PM, Glenn Stanton said:

i went through and removed every ASIO driver that various software had installed: ASIO4ALL, Generic Low Latency ASIO, MAGIX 2016, etc... even my UMC driver. i think 8 total. then i reinstalled my UMC, and the ASIO4ALL (2015 release).

oddly enough, most of the amp sims (TONEX, TH-U, Guitar Rig, and the older (32-bit) standalone keyboard apps all play very nicely with low latency on the ASIO4ALL and are worse on the UMC and the WASAPI. long buffer delays (even when trying to set them low), stuttering, crackling.

but then, when i play them through CbB - ASIO4ALL - not bad but not great latency, WASAPI exclusive - nice, better latency, WASAPI shared - pretty much the same as exclusive, and UMC - best. low latency, no stuttering and crackling.  generally speaking i've seldom used the ASIO4ALL but when using my standalone apps, i've made it the default for those.

How do you find ASIO drivers? I have two I know of Focusrite and MOTU but neither are identified under Control Panel > Programs and Features. I searched Programs and Features for ASIO and found none. I have 390 programs installed.

20 hours ago, azslow3 said:

Finally someone is seriously working to stop VST... I hope that happens soon. There is no reason to allow one company have power to enforce own rules on "standard interface" between hosts and plug-ins which have nothing to do with the company.

Don't forget ASIO.😂

3 hours ago, Milton Sica said:

I share what I got and I think it will meet my main objective now, which is to have a comparison between my MIX and a CHOSEN MIX.

Follow my step by step.

1) In a project I created 2 tracks that I called: MY MIX and REFERENCE.

2) I created a STEREO BUS where I put the VOXENGO SPAN.

3) On track 1 (MINHA MIX) I put the created STEREO BUS as OUTPUT.

4) Track 2 (REFERENCE) I put SPAN 2 - INPUT 4 as SEND.

The basic VOXENGO SPAN settings I made:

1) I used the STEREO-MASTERING preset.

2) In ROUTING in the INPUT ROUTING option, in addition to L/R that appear in 1/2, I informed 3 in IN3.

3) In GROUPS ASSIGNMENTS I entered G-3 in 3.

The visual and sampling time settings I did to my liking.

The important thing now is that, after including an EQ on track 1 (MY MIX), I can now visually move my MIX closer to the REFERENCE I chose.

Hope this helps more forum friends.

Sorry, I haven't used SPAN for a while but I'll guess based on my memory (almost always a bad idea):

1. Inputs 1&2 are the stereo input to the track the that SPAN is plugged into, in your case I'd suggest the MY MIX or REFERENCE tracks. 
2. You don't need a SPAN bus, but, if you want to create a SPAN stereo bus, route the send from either your REFERENCE or MY MIX tracks to the input of the SPAN bus.
3. Yes, that should work if you keep the STEREO BUS.  See 2 above.
4.  Yes, either that or 3. Only one should be available.

SPAN

1. I didn't use factory presets but recall that they worked pretty well
2. Internal SPAN routing was always confusing (trial and error) for me, but in the end it worked.
3. Ditto group assignments.

Sounds like you were happy with the results. So call it done.

7 hours ago, Milton Sica said:

Could you do a step of how you managed to do the visualization?
I'm trying to compare my mix to a reference mix.

I'd suggest you search YouTube. I've seen a couple of really good YouTube videos showing how to  setup span for mixing and mastering but it's been a while. 

I use both the PDF & ofline HTML versions a lot. I seldom use the website because of the (cumbersome to me) Google search tool.

The offline HTML is the easiest for me to navigate and the PDF is the easiest to search.

On 9/3/2022 at 12:56 PM, Cactus Music said:

Is there a reason you want to use the pro channel ?  I always put my compressor in the track effects bin. I prefer to use specific compressors and in the bin they are visible in console view 

PC (ProChannel) is also visible in Console View and has a couple of nice compressors. PC also has a bunch of presents to audition if you choose to use them.

32 minutes ago, Kevin Perry said:

Ctrl-Windows-S launches the speech recognition wizard, so my guess is a sticky key on the keyboard.

I definitely considered that but decided it's not the problem. It hasn't stuck with any other keyboard shortcuts. I use Windows keyboard shortcuts frequently. So I think I'd be seeing other examples.

What did I do to, apparently, activate Windows Speech Recognition? Starting a couple of days ago while working in Cakewalk the "Welcome to Speech Recognition" dialog shown in the screenshot popped up when I used the CTRL + S attempting to save the project I was working on. I may have preceded the CTRL + S with another keyboard shortcut my mistake. The Spacebar Play/Stop keyboard shortcut quit working at the same time. For a while I couldn't use either CTRL + S to save or Spacebar to Play/Stop.

Since then it happens nearly every time I'm using Cakewalk. The keyboard shortcuts CTRL + S and Spacebar work as they should for a while until the "Welcome to Speech Recognition" dialog opens for CTRL +S. I'm positive that I'm not pressing Win + CTRL + S when this happens. Also, the Spacebar Play/Stop shortcut doesn't always stop working.

Eventually both commands begin working again. It's as if Cakewalk has lost the focus and clicking on it or in it doesn't restore the focus for some time.

Things I've done that haven't solved the problem

1. I've verified that "Run Speech Recognition at startup" is not ticked.
2. I'll open Task Manager and cancel Speech Recognition which has sometimes seemed to persist after I've closed the "Welcome to Speech Recognition" dialog is closed.

5 hours ago, José Pedro Barbosa said:

I have the same issue. In my case, I use a 28" 4K – 3840×2160 – monitor I normally run at 150% scaling (that is, simulating the workspace a 2560×1440 resolution would normally give at 100%). Size is just about right for me, but the fact that Cakewalk is DPI unaware is bothering me a bit, since it looks particularly blurry on my screen. My other PC, a Surface Pro 8 running at 2880×1920 with 200% scaling (1440×960 workspace), actually looks fine, since the pixelation doesn't bother me at that size and 200% gives me no blur, but I'd still like a crisper look. I came here looking for answers, but I guess this has been an issue for a long time with no solution in sight.

Have you tried 100% scaling? I have a 38" 3840x1600. I use it at 100% scaling and have no trouble with legibility or blurriness in Cakewalk or anything else. I'm guessing that the text size would be a little smaller on a 32" but it may not be noticeable.

47 minutes ago, Starship Krupa said:

You clicked on the "b rock" link instead of the first link (to Steve's site). I put it in there to give credit to b rock and to show the deep dive for people who wanted more info.

Glad you got it sorted. Have fun!

I think that Cakewalk's built-in arpeggiator is a sort-of-hidden powerhouse. Now, thanks to Steve, we have double the number of patterns to play with, and they are more "out there" patterns.

I need to post this info on the Cakewalk Reddit....

Thanks for clarifying. I needed that:)

10 minutes ago, User 905133 said:

Did you look at scook's site?

No. Thank you that's what I needed. I somehow went to a Project5 Technotes site instead. I don't even know how I did that.

Thanks again.