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You might find this article, Mastering a Seamless Album, helpful. Although it's about creating a seamless DJ-style mix with transitions/beatmatching/crossfading, it treats Cakewalk like a mastering program, and the requirements are similar to yours. To hear the album that's linked to in the article, which is pretty much rock despite the continuous DJ-style mix, scroll down to the Singles and Albums playlist. It's the second album in. I'll second OutrageProductions comments about mixes, so it's good you're going to go back and polish them. When you get a mix whose sound you really like, load it into the other songs you're mixing so you have a reference you can unmute and listen to from time to time. The main concern I'd have about the mixes is that the balances of all the instruments are right. If one song needs just a little less 300 Hz or a little more upper mids or whatever, that's easy enough to do in the mastering rather than tweaking multiple individual tracks to get the same results.

I hope that it will not be too hard to update, but some equipment just needs to be working properly for it to do the job right. And, nowadays, most of the newer MIDI-capable devices that will work for what you want are not necessarily so expensive. I highly recommend you check out some further information on latency and other issues when using Cakewalk - there are some great tutorials from some of the other members of the forum here. One to check is https://discuss.cakewalk.com/index.php?/topic/56885-cactus-music-tutorials/ - There should be some great info in one or more of the YouTube playlist chapters he links to there, so check that out for sure. That subject is a bit tougher, and I would highly recommend making sure the basic MIDI connections work for you first before even trying to create those mappings, but yes, basically you can find or modify mappings (for older hardware mainly) to help select MIDI patches with names instead of numbers, and clearer - custom naming for the MIDI CC controls you can automate from Cakewalk to your MIDI device, but it's not necessary, -numbers work fine too right out of the box! And again, best to get the MIDI connections working properly before any of that.

Everything is right here https://bandlab.github.io/cakewalk/docs/Cakewalk Reference Guide.pdf And here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7YqVth30eGsURWrKGeu-fFyg3ETjF-Ox

And watch these videos which explains the difference between using an audio interface or the computer audio. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7YqVth30eGt7K5L5fUIUF_UjCsdAVCbd

The midi driver is installed with the driver for your audio interface. Make sure to check it as an input in Preferences. If you are just starting out you might want to watch my tutorial series to help you get going. The one about connection midi keyboards is down the playlist a bit. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7YqVth30eGt7K5L5fUIUF_UjCsdAVCbd

Here you go, Everything is covered. You can cheat and skip ahead on the playlist to the ones about Midi but if your new to Cakewalk it's very advisable to watch them all and you will be up to speed in no time. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7YqVth30eGt7K5L5fUIUF_UjCsdAVCbd

Sorry I probably copied my link from within the editing software. It’s in my signature and in the tutorial sub forum as well. I fixed it. My reference to midi can be unreliable under certain conditions. I too started performing using midi files and an Atari computer with sound modules in about 1984. Stuck notes, wrong patch changes etc. were pretty common for us back then. So possibly my experience with midi was resolved with better hardware latter on. But I learned to not trust it to always sound the same. I was happy when the Sony Mini disk system came out in the 90's as that not only remove 100 lbs of gear, it was rock solid dependable. I still have all my original Midi files and many of my backing tracks started life back then. My latest live performance playback is I now make videos of some the songs that in my old age I'm rusty about lyrics. Yep, sort of Karaoke but not quite. The lyrics don't scroll they just display 4 lines at a time as the song progresses so it's more like using a song book. I might even add reminders like don't forget the capo! The backing tracks are the same as I've always used just Drums, bass and Keyboards. They have always been high quality Wave files. Even the Mini Disk was very high quality. Now the VST instruments I use are way better than those sounds from my old Korg module. The Ample P bass lite is the first midi bass I've every given a thumb's up too ever. The rest sound like someone farting to me. I made many backing tracks that featured real bass and sometimes real drums. Those were some of my very first Cakewalk project about 2004. I have a whole Cakewalk playlist rig set up but I find a few issues with it being slower for things like if I decide to skip a bunch of songs. I use Win Amp and a foot switch. Also the video view seems buggy. My only reason for thinking of using the playlist is one band I have we are all multi instrumentalists who like to play bass. I wanted optional mixes. In the end it was easier just to create those mixes as split stereo with the bass in the left and drums in the right. We run the Bass track to a bass amp and have a A/B switch to swap out to the real bass.

Yes, I use the Playlist feature all the time when performing live. It's great. I didn't realize that I could use projects in the PlayList feature. I thought it was only MIDI. I've also been using MIDI since it's inception many many years ago. I used to perform with racks of keyboards, drum machines and sound modules all connected via MIDI to a sequencer. Only in the past few years have I downsized and use Bandlab Cakewalk through a single Yamaha MU100 sound module. It's been working great! I've never experienced any issues with MIDI so am not clear what issues you are referring to.

I made a series of tutorials that will bring you up to speed quickly on Cakewalk. A lot has changed and there's even a new easier way to insert instrument tracks now. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7YqVth30eGt7K5L5fUIUF_UjCsdAVCbd

Black Star Liner - Bengali Bantam Youth Experience! (Album Playlist)

And also thinking about what you said about playing Cakewalk live, Have you tried the Playlist feature? That's what it's for. It manages the different projects for you and loads them up while the last one is playing. You can play both hardware and software instruments at the same time as well as have audio tracks. That's what I do so there's no weirdness. I use all audio tracks. In over 2 decades of live gigs audio has never failed me. Midi can have issues. Midi 2.0 promises to fix that however.

I think your saving as a Midi file. You need to use Normal file format CWP to create projects. Midi files only save the data and the TTS_1 is Cakewalks default to play midi files. A lot of this I covered in the midi tutorials. which are here on my new playlist. Scroll down to around the 9th video where I start explaining midi stuff. Looks like he beat me to it by 3 seconds... https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7YqVth30eGt7K5L5fUIUF_UjCsdAVCbd

How many threads are you going to start about this same topic. You have been given very clear advice on what your issue is. Your Audio interface is your problem. If you hope to move forward and record any audio you ( as we all keep telling you) will need an audio interface with proper ASIO drivers, you have even received some excellent recommendations as in the Focusrite Solo would be a huge step up for possibly on a few more dollars than you paid for the Behringer. And I'm not sure if you have followed my Tutorials which would also clearly explain all these questions. We all would truly like to see you get this sorted out, that's what this forum is for. But starting threads and abandoning them and starting new threads is not going to work well here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7YqVth30eGt7K5L5fUIUF_UjCsdAVCbd

NO. You don't need that It is only used for devices that don't have a proper driver and even that is no long required with WASAPI modes being much better performers . You go to the Roland web site, Look for the latest driver and download and install that driver carefully following the instructions. In my signature is a link to my Cakewalk Playlist. There are 2 videos worth watching that will explain clearly what you need to do to use an Audio interface etc. They are near the top of the list.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013099/Adding-third-party-audio-editing-software-to-SONARs-Utilities-menu But @scook , @msmcleod know of a app you can use. I tried to find it ( again) but it's a hard to fish out. The above link is all I found. All the keyboard shortcuts are found in the help menu. As well as when you open Views the keyboard shortcuts are listed beside all the views. I don't think much has changed since X1 regarding the way Cakewalk is navigated and zoomed etc. I have a tutorial on the topic if you'd like a refresher. I think its about 4th on the playlist. https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCIImmMf5qdvYsgRLQvlZlFA/content/playlists

My experience is the playlist is a little sensitive to playing “dirty “ projects. Best to keep them dead simple. If your plan is to use it live in front of a large group of people then to avoid embarrassing your self always go for bulletproof technology that tested 100% reliable. The playlist will work but you need to see it’s limitations and for me keeping projects simple was the answer. Only use solid VST’s or bounce everything to audio tracks with no active effects. Definitely no looping. I’m not even sure I would trust the arranger.

When you get that message go to Windows Settings/System/ Sound and see if the Focusrite is the audio device there. If not, then open Manage sound devices and see if it is listed there. If it isn't then you have a bad connection. In my first few videos after the introduction video I have 3 videos with details of troubleshooting audio issues in Cakewalk. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7YqVth30eGt7K5L5fUIUF_UjCsdAVCbd

The first couple of tutorials after the introduction video will get you set up. I guarantee it. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7YqVth30eGt7K5L5fUIUF_UjCsdAVCbd

Decided I needed to make a full Discography playlist of Gordon and didn't realize I had 25 albums from him! (Not counting several videos!) 😮 I think I know what my Sunday "chill music" will be. 🙂

When I feel like I want to “listen to something and relax” he’s my often pulled up playlist. His music and songs soothe my nerves. I’ve liked him since the 70s. Lots of groups have come and gone from my listening enjoyment. I still listen to him. He’s had staying power.

This song is fantastic. A great vibe and performance all around. This would sit exceptionally well on a playlist with Peter Bjorn and John.

Always have a backup plan and always have 2 of everything. I have always kept a old suitcase I leave in my vehicle I call it the redundancy bag. It has extra cables, mikes, mike clips batteries, strings, and an old mini disk player with ( old) backing tracks on it.And a complete tool kit including soldering iron. All lot of stuff. I bring 2 guitars. 2 laptops both loaded with current playlist both connected to PA , tested and ready to go. If my guitar amp fails I can survive using the mixer. If the mixer fails I have 6 inputs available on my powered speakers. None of this has ever been deployed other than a few broken guitar strings in my 30 years as a one man show. The importance of being prepared is because the people who hired you are dependent on you and expect music to happen with no exception. The power has gone out on us a few times and I would grab my acoustic guitar ( yes that’s the second guitar) and go out on the dance floor and start pounding out Elvis rockabilly. One place had an piano I made a total fool of myself but people party on in the spirit of it all. I was at a Wedding once were this Amateur DJ blew up his home stereo speakers during the first dance. End of party. He just stood there and did nothing. I did not feel sorry for him he was an idiot.

I found Oh, what do you know, we learn a new thing each day! Well, I found out a way to do it: - Install a virtual MIDI cable driver, I've installed the free "loopMIDI". Inside it create one virtual loopback MIDI port. - In Cakewalk's MIDI devices set the loopMIDI for IN and OUT (this way everything you send out will return back to Cakewalk) - Create a MIDI channel that is ment for automation only. Set the MIDI out to "loopback MIDI port" on channel 16 - Insert an instrument track with a VST instrument. Set the MIDI in to your MIDI master keyboard. - Right click on the track's "Input Echo" button and click on "Remote Control" - Set the Remote control to "Controller", value 1 on MIDI channel 16. This way it would receive messages from loopback MIDI port only. - Now go back to your first MIDI track and create an automation lane for MIDI->Control->Value: 1->Channel: 16 - Draw the envelope over the songs where you want your instrument to be enabled. - Do this for every VST instrument/track, just set the Remote control on different control values for each of them. - You could also send individual commands in Event View. This is useful if you want to turn off every VST track, for example on the beginning of each song. Just to be sure that a wrong sound is not turned on by mistake. The cool thing is, that you can drag-drop you section (song) left and right and the envelopes move with it. You can rearrange the playlist as you need, or use the Arranger sidebar.

Mute doesn’t unload a synth from the CPU anyway . I’m pretty sure of that. You might need a higher buffer setting. Just be aware that projects with a lot of effects and higher buffer settings will add latency so you’re keyboard playing will struggle. But just so you know what does work and on a older 2014 laptop. I created backing tracks with midi instruments but I export stems to create 4 sub mixes. Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Other stuff Using audio for backing tracks totally eliminates CPU issues. Then I created a project template with 4 Audio tracks for the sub mixes and my 7 keyboard VST’s. The only effect used is Loud max on the master bus. This set up allows me to have the options of muting as well as routing of those 4 parts for different bands I play in. Someday I’ll purchase a midi lighting controller. I have a Yamaha 01v digital mixer that I could also control with midi which would automate solos and effects. But that’s a lot of prep work. Then I created a playlist for the performance . I haven’t used it live yet but I’ve certainly practiced a lot and so far no issues. I often change channels mid song. And I always use the volume which I should really get an expression pedal for.

No problem you would use Cakewalk playlist and the live keyboard track will use mute via automation