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[CLOSED] Cakewalk 2021.04 Early Access 2


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[UPDATE 7-May-2021: Cakewalk 2021.04 Update 1 Early Access is now available]

Our sincerest thanks to those of you who have provided feedback on Early Access 1 - your support this week has been fantastic! We've addressed all issues reported by Early Access 1 testers and found opportunities for additional refinements as well. We invite you to try out the latest updates in EA2.

Please note that Early Access installers are update installers, which only update from a specific version. To install the 2021.04 EA2 build, you must be on the latest public release of 2021.01 or 2021.04 Early Access 1. The 2021.04 EA2 build can be downloaded and installed from within Cakewalk by going to Help > Check for Updates, then clicking the Download Now link in the "Early Access Available" toast notification.

 image.png

Download Cakewalk 2021.04 EA2 installer

Should you need to revert from the 2021.04 EA2 build to the public 2021.01 release, you can download the Cakewalk 2021.01 Rollback installer.

If you haven't already done so, please read about the Early Access Program before participating.

Thanks again for your participation!
The Bakers

 


 

View list of updates in Early Access 1

 

Early Access 2 Highlights

 

Behavior Changes

BandLab integration:

  • The File > Browse BandLab Projects and File > Publish to BandLab commands are now key bindable

Tempo track:

  • Option to not update BPM display in the Tempo track header during playback/recording. To prevent the BPM display from updating during playback, right-click the Tempo track and disable Update BPM Display During Playback. Tip: Disable Update BPM Display During Playback if you want to use tap tempo during playback.

Plug-in menus:

Plug-in menus now support keyboard navigation:

  • HOME / END
  • PAGE UP / PAGE DOWN
  • Press any alpha-numeric key to go to the first plug-in beginning with that character; press the same character again to go to the next plug-in, etc.

 

    Waveform outlines

    You can now optionally show waveform outlines in the Clips pane.
    To show/hide waveform outlines, click the Track view View menu and select Display > Show Waveform Outlines.

    Known issue: Waveform outline may not display correctly wherever there are tempo changes or clip mute regions, resulting in incomplete waveform outlines and/or vertical lines. The number of tempo changes, muted clip regions, zoom level and vertical waveform size all affect the severity of the issue. This will be fixed before the final release.

    image.png

     

    View list of updates in Early Access 1

     

    Bug fixes

    Stability

    • Crash closing Cakewalk after opening Upload Projects dialog

    BandLab integration

    • Upload Settings fail to persist after closing and reopening Cakewalk
    • Upload Track Mixdowns to BandLab causes mixdowns to be muted unexpectedly

    Tempo track

    • Cannot click/create a node and drag immediately / crashes occasionally

    UI

    • Regression: Unable to move punch point ends on timeline
    • Cut/Copy/Paste does not work with envelopes when nodes are lasso selected
    • Increase plug-in type text color contrast in plug-in menus
    • Changing the Track's output MIDI channel does not update Arpeggiator UI
    • Keyboard Shortcut for Record Arm does not work for Synth Audio Output tracks
    • Quick Group engage of Console Emulator fails to load modules as expected

    Arranger

    • Incorrect sections and arrangements combo box colors in Arranger Inspector
    • Copy of Arranger section not working as expected in some projects

    Automation

    • Latch Write Automation becomes stuck when quick grouping
    • Quick-group latch automation results in overwrite automation faders until saving and re-opening the project
    • Envelope related time selection issues
    • Clicking on a automation node does not clear selected tempo nodes & vice versa

    Misc.

    • Changing Preview Bus in Browser is not respected by files played previously
    • Bounce to clip(s) not working with Arpeggiator if MIDI event channel doesn't match Arpeggiator MIDI Channel
    • Track templates cause project image in Browser to disappear unexpectedly
    • Regression: Adding synth tracks when current track is in a folder causes tracks to be incorrectly created

     

    Early Access 1 Highlights

     

    New features

    Note: Screenshots may not reflect actual UI in latest build.

    Integrated BandLab library access

    The 2021.04 release introduces a major update to BandLab integration, with support for downloads and uploads and tracking revision state directly from within Cakewalk. Subsequent uploads to BandLab of a modified project are automatically tracked as revisions to the parent project. There is also support for importing clips and  MIDI tracks from BandLab projects. The brand new Library view (File > Browse BandLab Projects) now allows you to  navigate your projects on BandLab and set revision and song properties directly from within Cakewalk .

    Here are some of the benefits of BandLab library integration in Cakewalk:

    • Easily publish Cakewalk projects, stems and mixes to your BandLab library
    • Quickly open BandLab projects in Cakewalk
    • Collaborate easily by sharing audio tracks via the BandLab cloud
    • Bring projects started on mobile into Cakewalk for VST effects and advanced editing
    • Fly in vocals or other parts for a Cakewalk project from iOS and Android
    • Curate your music as playlists that you can play anywhere from your mobile device

    To publish the current project to your BandLab library, select File > Publish to BandLab or choose Export | BandLab from the export module on the toolbar.

    When publishing to BandLab, a project may be uploaded as  a new project, or as a revision to an existing BandLab project.  BandLab projects always point to the latest revision. 

    Use the Upload Settings to pick the combination of project assets you wish to upload to the BandLab project. Tracks and buses are mixed down prior to uploading to BandLab.

    image.png

    To open a BandLab project, select File > Browse BandLab Projects. You may open as a new Cakewalk project or import into an existing project. Note that revisions are only tracked if you open as a new Cakewalk project. Use the Download Settings options to select the types of assets from the BandLab project you wish to download and open. 

    image.png

    Note: The Help button in the Browse BandLab Projects dialog box will not launch the correct help topic until Cakewalk 2021.04 has been officially released.

    IMPORTANT: Cakewalk is no longer compatible with projects downloaded via BandLab Assistant. As of version 2021.04, BandLab Assistant should no longer be used for project integration.

    If you have multiple BandLab user accounts and would like to sign in as a different user, select Help > Sign Out from BandLab, then select Help > Sign In to BandLab to sign in with a different account.

     

    Tempo track

    image.png

    The new envelope based  Tempo track replaces the Tempo view and provides an overview of the project tempo. 

    In the Tempo track, tempo changes are represented by envelope shapes. You edit the project’s tempo map the same way you edit automation envelopes. If a project has a single fixed tempo, the Tempo track shows a straight horizontal line. You create tempo changes by adding envelope nodes and editing their values. You can expand the Tempo track to give yourself more room to work, and adjust the range of values for the Tempo track.

    To show the Tempo track, do one of the following:

    • Click the Track view View menu and select Tempo Track Show/Hide
    • Select Views > Tempo or press ALT+SHIFT+5 (this also opens the Tempo Inspector)

    The Tempo track automatically zooms vertically to fit the tempo range each time the tempo envelope is modified.

    • To zoom vertically, drag up/down in the tempo scale with the left mouse button
    • To scroll vertically, drag in the tempo scale with the right mouse button
    • To auto-zoom to fit the envelope, double-click the tempo scale

    The new Project > Offset Tempo Map command lets you speed up or slow down the entire tempo map.

    For additional options, right-click the Tempo track.

    Tip: There is a new workspace named Tempo that has a layout suitable for tempo editing.

    Note: Your old custom workspaces have no knowledge of the new Tempo track, so you must resave the workspaces if you want to store the state of the Tempo track.

     

    Tempo Inspector

    image.png

    The Tempo Inspector shows a list of all tempo changes defined in the project’s tempo map, and allows you to edit each tempo change BPM, time position, and curve type.

    To show/hide the Tempo Inspector, click the Show/Hide Tempo Inspector button image.png at the top of the Inspector pane.

    To show both the Tempo Inspector and Tempo track, select Views > Tempo or press ALT+SHIFT+5.

     

    PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier ProChannel module

    PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier is meticulously modeled after a legendary vintage electro-optical tube compressor. This compressor, known for its automatic gain control characteristics, delivers vintage sound with incredibly warm and rich compression. It is revered by audio engineers worldwide for its trademark sound, and has been used on countless hit records since the late 1960s. It is one of the true classics in the audio recording industry.

    image.png

     

     

    Enhancements

    Loop current arrangement

    You can now loop the current arrangement indefinitely by enabling the Loop Enable/Disable button image.png in the Arranger Inspector.

    image.png

     

    Plug-in menu improvements

    Plug-in menus have been greatly enhanced to make it easier and faster to find and select plug-ins:

    • Plug-in menus show color coded plug-in types (DX/VST2/VST3/32 bit)
    • Large plug-in menus can now show over 1,000 plug-ins
    • Multiple columns appear when applicable
    • Clearer fonts
    • Supports mouse wheel scrolling
    • Supports keyboard navigation:
      • HOME / END
      • PAGE UP / PAGE DOWN
      • Press any alpha-numeric key to go to the first plug-in beginning with that character; press the same character again to go to the next plug-in, etc.

    image.png

     

    Improved automation envelope UI

    The appearance of automation envelopes has been updated:

    • Automation envelopes are slightly thinner
    • Nodes are smaller and no longer have a gradient
    • Selected nodes are larger and outlined
    • Ghosted envelopes no longer show nodes

    image.png

     

    Show values on automation envelopes

    You can now optionally show values on envelopes.

    To show/hide values on automation envelopes, click the Track view View menu and select Display > Show Values on Envelopes.

    image.png

     

    Track Manager preset support

    The Track Manager dialog box now has support for per-project presets.

    This is useful if you have a large project and you want to hide all other tracks apart from a certain group of tracks. For example, on a rock project you could have a "Drums only" or "Guitars" preset; on an orchestral project, you may wish to have a "Strings Section" preset that hides all tracks apart from your strings tracks.

    Note: Tracks within the Tracks Manager presets are "opted-out" - i.e. it remembers which tracks you want to hide, rather than which tracks you want to show (to avoid not being able to see newly created tracks).

    To open the Track Manager, click the Track view Tracks menu and select Track Manager or press the H key.

    image.png

     

    Convert MIDI continuous controller (CC) events to/from automation envelopes

    You can convert back and forth between MIDI continuous controller (CC) events and automation envelopes. 

    The existing Track view Clips > Convert MIDI Controllers To Envelopes command lets you convert all CC events on all selected tracks to automation envelopes. You now also have finer control with the ability to convert an individual CC type on a Piano Roll controller lane. You can also convert MIDI automation envelopes back to CC events. You can also choose to convert only a selected part of your CC events / automation envelope and back again.

    Converting MIDI controllers to envelopes:

    1. In the Piano Roll view Controller pane, click the name/label of the CC type that you want to convert to an envelope.
    2. Right-click the highlighted CC name/label and select Convert MIDI to Envelopes.
    3. Cakewalk converts the Piano Roll view controller data to a Track view envelope that controls the same parameter.

            image.png 

    Converting envelopes to MIDI controllers:

    This can be useful, for example, if you want to use the Transform tool in the Piano Roll view Controller pane.

    1. In the Clips pane, show the envelope that you want to convert to MIDI controller events.
    2. Select the time range that contain the controller data you want to convert, or clear the selection if you want to convert the entire envelope.
    3. Right-click envelope and select Convert to MIDI Events.

    Conversion uses the current Snap to Grid setting as a resolution for discrete CC events:

    • If Snap is off, the resolution is the last selected snap setting
    • If Snap is not set to a musical value (e.g. samples), the resolution is 1/32nd note

            image.png

     

    UI theme compatibility checker

    IMPORTANT: The Inspector header has a new Show/Hide Tempo Inspector button image.png. In addition to the new button, the other header buttons have been resized. Custom user themes must be updated in order to show the header buttons properly.

    When you select a theme in Edit > Preferences > Customization - Themes, or launch Cakewalk with an old custom user theme active, Cakewalk checks to make sure the custom theme is compatible with the current version of Cakewalk.

    A user theme is considered incompatible if Cakewalk contains new or resized UI elements that have not been updated in the theme.

    If the selected theme needs to be updated, Cakewalk will show a Custom Theme Incompatibility warning, and ask if you want to continue to use the theme:

    • If you click Yes, some UI elements might be corrupted until the theme is updated and resaved in Theme Editor.
    • If you click No, Cakewalk will revert to the factory Mercury theme.

    image.png

     

    Behavior changes

    Disable Arranger Preview if project does not support it

    To reinforce that Arranger Preview is not supported in projects that contain  video, ReWire synths, and active Region FX, Arranger Preview is now disabled in such projects.

     

    Optimizations

    High resolution Plug-in Automation improvements

    Plug-in automation envelopes were previously being decimated at a uniform 50 msec interval. The automation rendering process has been redesigned to render at a much higher resolution of (default = 5 msec) and also make automation sample accurate (for VST3). For VST2 (or VST3 plug-ins that do not support sample accurate automation) the rendering will be buffer accurate. These improvements allows for much tighter sync when automating plug-in parameters synced to rhythm even at higher latencies. The higher resolution rendering also makes automating filter sweeps audibly smoother and without aliasing artifacts. The decimation interval can be changed via the audio configuration property AutomationDecimationMsec (2-30) in preferences.

     

    Accurate automation writing via MIDI remote control

    Writing automation for plug-in parameters automated via MIDI remote control is more accurate and curves should be smoothly represented.

     

    Bug fixes

    Stability

    • Crash loading custom plug-in layouts
    • Multichannel WAV files from Behringer X32 mixer crash on import to 24 bit
    • Crash on close of attached project
    • Crash when adding some plug-ins from track template
    • Crash when writing plug-in automation on top of existing automation
    • User reported crash with AmpleSound Cloudrum
    • Crash drag exporting MIDI to browser
    • Dragging a MIDI clip to Kontakt causes crash
    • Crash after moving Arranger Section
    • AmpleSound VST3 plug-ins crash when trying to play attached MIDI file
    • Crash swapping Sections in attached project

    UI

    • FX Chain assigned controls not working after project reopen
    • Aim Assist is not visible when moving the mouse in the Piano Roll time ruler
    • Drag move of Step Sequencer clip crops unexpectedly
    • Clip outlines in the Piano Roll are practically invisible in the Tungsten theme
    • Dimmed envelopes difficult to see in Tungsten
    • Hide Muted Clips in Piano Roll does not hide MIDI CCs
    • Ripple Edit turns off unexpectedly after bouncing clip.
    • SHIFT-drag of split point causes other clips to crop unexpectedly
    • Drawing error when changing sample rate
    • Velocity of muted and hidden clips can be edited within Piano Roll
    • Unexpected behavior when adding notes in Piano Roll when muted clips are hidden
    • Scrollbar in Piano Roll track list no longer working
    • Drag drop move MIDI selection doesn't shrink the destination clip to the events extent
    • Reassign Control menu does not use Choose Parameter
    • Choose parameters dialog does not show for effects on instrument tracks
    • Context Menu for Select Module causes module to disappear
    • Drag and Drop of MIDI file creates unexpected extra MIDI clip
    • MIDI Ports from synths should not be exposed to their own inputs

    Plug-ins

    • Insert effect not working for audio clips
    • Systems with high plug-in counts can fail to show all plug-ins
    • 2021.01 Update exposes internal Style Dial parameters
    • VST plug-in automation rendering is not accurate  
    • Cakewalk incorrectly reporting sample rate to VST2 plug-in after project sample rate is changed
    • Dragging an effect from one track to another goes to the wrong index
    • Nomad Factory FX included with SONAR Platinum do not show as assignable parameters in FX Chains
    • When Custom Layout does not contain plug-in, MRU fails to load
    • Plug-in Menu MRU shows duplicate entries when plug-ins are loaded from different places
    • Cakewalk loses keystrokes when plug-in hosted by Waves StudioRack has focus
    • Plug-in automation written via MIDI control not writing as expected

    Arranger

    • Arranger section without data copy operations fail.
    • Arranger inspector: Prevent moving a section against itself
    • Arrangement playback timer does not match project playback timer
    • Show/Hide Arranger should show shortcut in Track View View menu

    Articulation Maps

    • Articulation Chase Notes/CC does not respect order of events within the articulation
    • Error changing articulation event to keyaft event in event list
    • Modifying Section Length changes project Time Signature Unexpectedly
    • Move section with overwrite & leading notes sometimes fails to move the correct part of the clip

    Misc.

    • Changing tempo during playback causes synth audio to cut out
    • Convert MIDI to Envelopes not working for multiple lanes with different channels
    • Punch in recording occurs late with Aux or synth tracks 
    • Quantize can quantize MIDI behind frozen instrument tracks
    • Save / Save As .mid file should ignore selection - only Export should use selection
    • Save As MIDI using selection after doing Export as MIDI with selection
    • Incorrect folder behavior when inserting a synth
    • Add Track for Split Instrument Tracks does not respect track count
    • Bounce to Clip(s) not always deleting original clips after bounce
    • Sign-in view fails on Windows 7

     

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    I cannot believe the amount of Quality of Life updates you people have made in the last year or so. The fact that these keep coming and that it's still free blows my mind (doesn't mean I don't blow a hole in my pockets on plugins from time to time... 😅) but I simply cannot thank you enough for this.

    The game changer for me lately has been the Articulation mapping you've added. Made Midi composing with most VSTs 100x easier.

    Again, thank you.

    Christian

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    I had to do some automation today and it was a pleasure with the upgrade that was made to it. Really nice. Makes our work easier and simply works great.

    Is it just me or before when you opened the automation lane it would, as now, create a volume automation lane. But before, to get rid of it we had to erase the data, the minus would only close the lane but keep the automation. Now if we do not do any editing and close it using minus, the automation is erased. If it is the case, to me its a great improvment. Countless time I would open the automation lane and change my mind and have to erase the volume automation.

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    У меня мерцание окна при выборе плагинов.Торможение тоже есть но не критичное.

    Нет нового компрессора ((((везде искал так и не нашел

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    Hello!

    In-app update Installation worked perfectly and quickly. Really liking the updated automation envelopes, nodes, and node snapping. Tempo track is a huge improvement!

    Question about MIDI CC 64 Pedal sustain in the controller lane. I'm curious as to why the MIDI data isn't either at 0 or 127? When using the draw tool to manually add or change data in the lane it can be drawn at any value from 0 to 127. See attached example. I used the line tool to draw the diagonal line. Do you think it would make more sense if the data in the lane was either on or off? I know it's been this way for years. Just curious if there was any plans to update that, as well?

     

    Thank you!

    JON

    Screenshots1.jpg

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    37 minutes ago, Jon Hemingway said:

    Hello!

    In-app update Installation worked perfectly and quickly. Really liking the updated automation envelopes, nodes, and node snapping. Tempo track is a huge improvement!

    Question about MIDI CC 64 Pedal sustain in the controller lane. I'm curious as to why the MIDI data isn't either at 0 or 127? When using the draw tool to manually add or change data in the lane it can be drawn at any value from 0 to 127. See attached example. I used the line tool to draw the diagonal line. Do you think it would make more sense if the data in the lane was either on or off? I know it's been this way for years. Just curious if there was any plans to update that, as well?

     

    Thank you!

    JON

     

    CC 64 isn't always on or off.  For example, my digital piano has 4 levels of sustain intensity. 

    In any case, some synths may decide to use CC64 for something else other than sustain.

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    50 minutes ago, msmcleod said:

    CC 64 isn't always on or off.  For example, my digital piano has 4 levels of sustain intensity. 

    In any case, some synths may decide to use CC64 for something else other than sustain.

    Disclaimer: I am not an expert on this subject. 😂

    I agree with @msmcleod. For example, I am using a Roland DP-10 sustain pedal, which has half-pedal (or "continuous pedal") capabilities, i.e. it puts out a continuous stream of values from  0-127 instead of just on/off. (See this Gearspace discussion for examples.)

    Of course, your piano instrument has to support half/continuous pedaling as well, which many do, nowadays.

    That said, when you don't need CC64 to be continuous, it might be nice if it was possible to have another "view" of the automation lane where it's only possible to draw and display 0 or 127. Maybe something for a future feature? 😄

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    Great additions as always, However, I don't know if there's an issue with the automation envelope UI or if it's by design. When already having selected some nodes and selected Edit > Copy, it's not possible to extend the selected area with additional nodes the way I would expect. Here's a short video:

    WKEj0ps.gif

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    14 hours ago, Morten Saether said:

    Bug fixes

    Misc.

    • Changing Preview Bus in Browser is not respected by files played previously

    FANTASTIC, thank you for this fix! ❤️😄

    It bugged me for years, and I've been pestering forum members about it. 😂Then I finally figured out how to reproduce it, and reported it to support. :)

    I have also noticed that the selected Preview bus changes now and then when opening projects... it will be interesting to see if this fix has any bearings on that problem as well. Or maybe it's something else?

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    8 hours ago, BlackTown said:

    У меня мерцание окна при выборе плагинов.Торможение тоже есть но не критичное.

    Нет нового компрессора ((((везде искал так и не нашел

    Я тоже вначале не мог его найти среди модулей Проченнел, но потом просто пересканировал плагины, и он появился. Раньше при добавлении каких-то модулей или элементов в Проченнел, они появлялись сами, а сейчас сделали вот так. Пересканируйте плагины, и он появится.

    Edited by Igopp
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    11 hours ago, Jacques Boileau said:

    I had to do some automation today and it was a pleasure with the upgrade that was made to it. Really nice. Makes our work easier and simply works great.

    Is it just me or before when you opened the automation lane it would, as now, create a volume automation lane. But before, to get rid of it we had to erase the data, the minus would only close the lane but keep the automation. Now if we do not do any editing and close it using minus, the automation is erased. If it is the case, to me its a great improvment. Countless time I would open the automation lane and change my mind and have to erase the volume automation.

    I don’t think this is new behavior. The data should go away if no actual edits were made.

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    How to download and install the newest Theme Editor?
    I cannot download it from the Bandlab Assistant app, because the "install" button is greyed out, so I cannot click on it.
    Also, the Bandlab Assistant app invites me to update it, but when I click on the "Update" button, the assistant window just disappears and nothing happens. No download, no installation. The app icon still shows in my Windows menu bar, and I can quit it from there, but the app doesn't seem to update.
    Anyway, the most important thing for me is: how to update my current Theme Editor in order to gain access to the new icons and update my themes?
    Is it available somewhere as an independent download?

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    Really?

    I mean, does it automatically update and contain the newest icons each time I update Cakewalk (which I did today)? That would be awesome, because Cakewalk warns me at the beginning that my current custom theme has incompatibility issues.

    Edited by Grebz
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