Aarool Bhaalerao 0 Posted November 6, 2020 So I am trying to compose music in my free time, and I have chosen Cakewalk. I have several samples (.ogg and .wav) for instruments, and I want to use them to make sounds. I had experimented this with another Daw - LMMS, and the samples work perfectly there in accord to the midi information, though LMMS lacks in mixing and synthesizing options, which is why I decided with CbB, as it looks quite... complex... so I thought it would be better in mixing etc. I have loaded the samples into the "media" tab in Cakewalk now, but when I drag it in, it shows the "audio" track, not a midi track, like how it is in LMMS. I tried creating a "midi track" and then dragging the .ogg/.wav on that, but then the piano roll does show up, but with no sound. How do I create a working midi with samples? I have unsuccessfully browsed every possible thing that could give me the answer... with no luck. I understand, from whatever I read, this has something to do with samplers and stuff I don't know how to do. So can someone please explain me how to do it? Thanks in advance... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Mackay 258 Posted November 7, 2020 If you drag an audio sample onto the track pane you get an audio track because it is audio. Drag an audio sample onto an audio track. Press play. You hear the sample. Watch the videos yo learn how to make music with MIDI. Completely different thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kurre 258 Posted November 7, 2020 Maybe you should start with the step sequencer. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Will. 472 Posted November 7, 2020 (edited) What you need to remember is, if your samples are not the same BPM - it will definitely be a monster quest for anyone that is starting out -- irrespective of which you're using. You will have to stretch; cut them; nudge them and often, you'll have to stretch most of those split clips to be sync'd with the tempo and your "Beats Per Minute"(BPM.) Best that you watch some video's on how BPM work with samples. Once you understand that concept - it will be like breathing. Edited November 7, 2020 by Will_Kaydo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abacab 5,974 Posted November 7, 2020 I think that sounds like the OP is looking for a virtual sampler to drop the samples into, that can be triggered by a MIDI controller. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan Tubbs 71 Posted November 8, 2020 Yea. To the OP, samples are snippets to loops of audio. Loops like a 4 on the floor kick and snare drum pattern. If you don't like that kick drum you can find a hit of another kick you like better and manually lay it in over each of those audio loop kicks. Or you can load these snippets into a SAMPLER, which can play back individual hits at different pitches or entire loops. So you could have an entire drum set contained w/in the SAMPLER and play it - usually via MIDI. And edit that MIDI data on screen in Cakewalk. The midi notes aren't audio until played or played back. Kinda how electricity doesn't sound like music until it passes a speaker. of such as a kick drum hit. You can lay in this kick hit over every kick on your repeating 4 x 4 pattern 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aarool Bhaalerao 0 Posted November 21, 2020 Sorry for the late replies everyone. Been a bit busy. @abacab yeah that is what I meant. @Alan Tubbs oh so you need a sampler correct? can you please suggest which one I can use, or link a video for explaining how samplers work, and how to use samples with these? Much thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abacab 5,974 Posted November 21, 2020 5 hours ago, Aarool Bhaalerao said: Sorry for the late replies everyone. Been a bit busy. @abacab yeah that is what I meant. @Alan Tubbs oh so you need a sampler correct? can you please suggest which one I can use, or link a video for explaining how samplers work, and how to use samples with these? Much thanks! Hello @Aarool Bhaalerao, and welcome to Cakewalk! Since you are new to Cakewalk you should probably be made aware that it does not include an integrated sampler or sampler track. But it does include a virtual drum instrument. The samples are already loaded in this kit and cannot be changed by the end user. But it is a drum virtual instrument that you can trigger with a MIDI pattern, or from a controller. Here is a great video tutorial by Creative Sauce (about 30 mins) that explains the basics how to make beats in Cakewalk with this drum kit, as well as demonstrating the use of the piano roll, step sequencer, and drum maps. Once you understand this workflow you can replace this drum instrument with a virtual sampler plug-in of your choice. But because Cakewalk is very deep and complicated, I'd recommend that you completely understand the workflow in this video before going out and acquiring a 3rd party sampler. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aarool Bhaalerao 0 Posted November 21, 2020 @abacabhmmmmm I am confused how is a step sequencer relevant here; two people suggested a step sequencer video but I don't see how it comes into play here Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abacab 5,974 Posted November 21, 2020 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Aarool Bhaalerao said: @abacabhmmmmm I am confused how is a step sequencer relevant here; two people suggested a step sequencer video but I don't see how it comes into play here @Aarool BhaaleraoThere are two ways to trigger a virtual instrument via MIDI. Controller hardware input and/or data on a MIDI track. Samplers are virtual instruments that receive MIDI data, and play back audio via samples. Using a controller you can record the MIDI data on the track to edit and replay later, or play the virtual instrument live. The three other ways to enter MIDI data in a MIDI track: Insert a pre-made MIDI pattern, enter notes on a piano roll that creates your own MIDI pattern, or enter notes on a step sequencer grid which also creates a MIDI pattern. Many folks working with rhythm patterns prefer the step sequencer grid to editing notes in a piano roll, but they are interchangeable and both result in a MIDI pattern on a MIDI track. Use the method that you prefer. Did you watch the video that I linked? Edited November 21, 2020 by abacab Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xel Ohh 352 Posted December 6, 2020 On 11/6/2020 at 2:25 PM, Aarool Bhaalerao said: So I am trying to compose music in my free time, and I have chosen Cakewalk. I have several samples (.ogg and .wav) for instruments, and I want to use them to make sounds. I had experimented this with another Daw - LMMS, and the samples work perfectly there in accord to the midi information, though LMMS lacks in mixing and synthesizing options, which is why I decided with CbB, as it looks quite... complex... so I thought it would be better in mixing etc. I have loaded the samples into the "media" tab in Cakewalk now, but when I drag it in, it shows the "audio" track, not a midi track, like how it is in LMMS. I tried creating a "midi track" and then dragging the .ogg/.wav on that, but then the piano roll does show up, but with no sound. How do I create a working midi with samples? I have unsuccessfully browsed every possible thing that could give me the answer... with no luck. I understand, from whatever I read, this has something to do with samplers and stuff I don't know how to do. So can someone please explain me how to do it? Thanks in advance... You might need to get Komplete Start its free to download and use ... It has Komplete Kontrol vst that allows you to use samples like LMMS does in midi... I have a video showing how to use it.. Hope this helps... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abacab 5,974 Posted December 6, 2020 6 hours ago, Xel Ohh said: You might need to get Komplete Start its free to download and use ... It has Komplete Kontrol vst that allows you to use samples like LMMS does in midi... I have a video showing how to use it.. Hope this helps... Hey great video! I had no idea that there was a sampler tucked away in KK! Just never looked past the plug-ins... 😉 Thanks for sharing that! KK Sampler should stand in well for a basic integrated sampler in Cakewalk (much requested), and since it's produced by a major company like NI, it should stay well maintained. Not that Cakewalk shouldn't integrate a solution like that, but it looks like a nice workaround! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xel Ohh 352 Posted December 6, 2020 2 hours ago, abacab said: Hey great video! I had no idea that there was a sampler tucked away in KK! Just never looked past the plug-ins... 😉 Thanks for sharing that! KK Sampler should stand in well for a basic integrated sampler in Cakewalk (much requested), and since it's produced by a major company like NI, it should stay well maintained. Not that Cakewalk shouldn't integrate a solution like that, but it looks like a nice workaround! Yea hopefully we will get an integrated one.. So we dont have to use third party samplers... Glad you git something out of the video.. Good luck on beat making..😄🙏 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites