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[CLOSED] Cakewalk 2021.06 Early Access [Updated to build 41]


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[Updated 24-Jun-2021]

We're pleased to announce Early Access for 2021.06! This release introduces improved input/output port naming, improved dropout management, several Arranger enhancements, Tempo track grid lines, shape smoothing options when using the Freehand tool on envelope shapes, improved VST3 support, lots of other enhancements and optimizations, and over 25 bug fixes.

We'd love for you to check it out before we drop the official public version. 

Please note that Early Access installers are update installers, which only update from a specific version. To install the 2021.06 Early Access build, you must be on the latest public release of 2021.04. 

Download Cakewalk 2021.06 EA installer

Should you need to revert to the 2021.04 release, you can download the Cakewalk 2021.04 Rollback installer.

If you haven't already done so, please read about the Early Access Program before participating.
Please keep responses specific to problems or comments on this release. Unrelated bugs or feature requests should be posted in other threads or the feature request channel.

Thanks again for your participation!
The Bakers

 


 

2021.06 Highlights

 

New features

Improved input/output port naming for hardware and software ports

In Cakewalk all ports are grouped into stereo pairs of channels. In order to make it easier to associate these pairs with the physical channels exposed by the hardware or virtual instrument, the port naming conventions have been improved.

  • Audio and soft synth input and output ports now include a channel number prefix before the port name.
    Additionally, port names now always show the actual names of the referenced channels. (previously only the first channel name would be shown). Since many instruments have different names for channels or even dynamic names, the channel index can be used to identify a specific instrument output more easily.
  • When using user defined device names (Use friendly names to represent audio drivers) you can now specify both the left and right channels in the stereo pair by using the pipe symbol “|” to delimit the channel names. For example, entering a friendly name of “Guitar|Voice” may show 1: Guitar, 2: Voice, 1+2: Guitar + Voice in the menus.
  • Port names have been shortened to skip the device vendor name for greater legibility in the Track view, Console view and Inspector. The tooltip for the name will show the full form of the name.
  • Port names are no longer compacted. With the smarter port naming, in most cases there should be no need to use friendly names to shorten the strings, unless you wish to use instrument names for the ports.
  • Edit Filter values and MIDI channels are no longer compacted, which makes it easier to read parameter names in most cases.
  • In the Console view Hardware Outs section, hardware out names now show channel indexes as well as channel names in ASIO mode.
  • Sends now show shortened port names and use port numbering when applicable.

image.png

 

Improved dropout management

In version 2019.09 we introduced Dropout Analytics to allow diagnosing and resolving common causes of audio dropouts. While dropout messages may be useful to diagnose the cause of problems, they can be intrusive to workflow when small audio interruptions are inconsequential, such as when editing projects, loading and saving sessions, etc. 

In this release we manage dropouts more intelligently throughout the application by masking certain categories of dropout notifications when they are less important. The following dropout codes are considered maskable since they are caused by CPU load issues, while other dropouts are caused by system events that cannot be resumed from easily:

  • Dropout code 1: Audio processing took longer than the buffers allotted time slice.
  • Dropout code 3: Driver did not request audio buffers for over DropoutMsec milliseconds. Possible driver overload.

Dropouts are masked in the following scenarios

  • The application is idling (transport is not running)
  • Performing various editing operations
  • Performing real time bounce/export/freeze (rendered data will be free of glitches even if the audio playback contains glitches, as long as you are not rendering external hardware inserts)
  • Playing back using the Play List view
  • Opening and closing views
  • Opening and closing documents
  • Operating screen sets
  • Mix Recall

Handling dropouts during playback and recording

Under normal conditions, Cakewalk always stops playback or recording if too many late buffers are encountered while playing. However there may be circumstances where a dropout that stops playback is disruptive, such as when doing an unattended recording or playing back in a live scenario.

To handle these cases, a new MaskDropoutDetection option in Edit > Preferences > Audio - Configuration File can be used to suppress dropouts.

image.png

Setting this value to True will activate dropout masking during playback and recording.

When activated, Cakewalk will continue playback and recording after it encounters a maskable dropout. This can prevent unwanted interruption of playback or a lost take while recording.

Notes:

  • If the dropouts are extreme, recorded audio may contain glitches. Please follow the normal dropout diagnosis procedure for minimizing dropouts.
  • The Play List view will always ignore dropouts irrespective of this setting.
  • Only CPU load related dropouts are masked. Other dropouts such as driver requested stops or disk underruns will still cause playback to stop.
     

Create new arrangement based on existing arrangement

You can now quickly create a new arrangement by selecting sections in an existing arrangement. To do so, select the desired sections in the Arranger Inspector’s Arrangements pane, then right-click in the Arrangements pane and select New Arrangement From Selection.

 

Insert committed arrangement at the Now Time

You can now insert a committed arrangement into the existing project at the Now Time. To do so, right-click the Commit Arrangement to Project button image.png in the Arranger Inspector and select Insert Committed Arrangement.
Sections for the inserted arrangement are added to new Arranger track. Any other existing Arranger tracks, sections and arrangements remain unaffected.

Any existing events after the Now Time will be shifted over to make room for the inserted arrangement.

As with the Commit Arrangement to Project command, holding down the SHIFT key while selecting the command will cause the events under the arrangement sections to be copied as linked clips.

image.png

 

Optional grid lines in the Tempo track

To show grid lines in the Tempo track, right-click in the Tempo track and select Show Grid Lines.

image.png

 

Specify shape smoothing behavior when using the Freehand tool on automation envelopes

You can specify how shape smoothing works when using the Freehand tool on envelope shapes. To do so, click the Track view Options menu, point to Freehand Smoothing, then select one of the following options:

  • Smooth. Uses the existing fit-to-curve functionality. This is the default setting.
  • As Drawn (Linear). Joins the nodes up with linear shapes.
  • As Drawn (Jumps). Leaves the nodes as is, making them jump shapes.

image.png

image.png

 

Replace synth on a single Instrument track

When inserting a multi-output soft synth with the Instrument Track Per Output option enabled, Cakewalk creates multiple Instrument tracks that share a single instance of the soft synth.

You can now replace the soft synth on an individual Instrument track without affecting other Instrument tracks that share the same soft synth instance. To do so, right-click the Instrument track strip and select Replace Synth for This Track Only.

 

Note Names in the Piano Roll view persist per track

When assigning a custom Note Name setting in the Piano Roll view (right-click the piano keyboard or note label pane), the setting now persists on a per track basis. Closing and re-opening the Piano Roll view remembers the last setting used for each track. The settings are with the project.

image.png

 

Articulation Map Editor: optional time offset and duration override for ‘New Note’ transforms

In the Articulation Map Editor, you can now offset the start time and override the duration of New Note output events in the Transform Existing MIDI Events section.

  • Time Offset (T). A positive time delay in MBT that will be applied to the new note.
  • Duration Override (D). A replacement duration for the new note. If left at 0:00:000, the new note will inherit the duration of the original note.

image.png

 

Reorder multiple tracks simultaneously

You can reorder multiple tracks simultaneously by dragging in the Track pane. To do so, select the tracks that you want to reorder, then drag any selected track.

Restrictions:

  • You can’t move the selection on or before tracks within the selection (i.e. in effect trying to move it onto itself)
  • You can’t move a selection containing track folders into a track folder (nested folders are currently not supported)
  • If a track folder is selected (whether or not all the tracks within the folder are selected or not), the whole track folder is moved, unless you are moving selected tracks from within a single track folder out of the track folder.

 

‘Duplicate Selected Clip(s) as Linked Clips’ command

To duplicate the selected clip(s) as linked clips, press CTRL+SHIFT+D.

image.png

 

Improved VST3 support

  • Support for VST3’s new MIDI CC learn functionality. This is used by any VST3 plug-ins that utilize MIDI learn from CCs.
  • VST audio buses (inputs/outputs) are now disabled by default and enabled on demand based on which tracks utilize the buses. With instruments that have many outputs this can save memory and CPU.
  • Added support for IPlugInterfaceSupport and IProcessContextRequirements and IComponentHandlerBusActivation

 

Misc. enhancements

  • ALT+mouse wheel now zooms in the Piano Roll view Drum Grid pane
  • Improved font rendering in new menus

 

Behavior changes

Insert Tempo Change dialog defaults to ‘Change the Most Recent Tempo’

The Insert Tempo Change dialog box defaults to Change the Most Recent Tempo, unless clicking the Insert Tempo Change button image.png in the Tempo Inspector, in which case it defaults to  Insert a New Tempo.

 

Optimizations

Improved app startup time when using WASAPI driver mode

With some multichannel audio devices, app startup could be very slow in earlier versions while Cakewalk tried to evaluate the number of output channels. This information is now cached to allow the app to start up quickly.

 

Bug fixes

Stability

  • Cakewalk crashes if AWS is down
  • Crash in CCmdAddTempoTrackTempo after wiping tracks 

UI

  • ASIO Input and output port names and indexes are incorrect if preceding audio devices deselected in preferences  
  • Adding Time Signature change from Meter/Key view causes Now Time to jump unexpectedly
  • When no markers are selected, clicking empty space in the Markers view shows Lock unexpectedly
  • Unexpected behavior in localized Kind of Event dialog (Event List)
  • Clip Fade Attenuation not drawing as expected

Tempo track

  • Tempo track does not respond to commas for decimals
  • Delete Hole not working with Tempo track
  • Undo of Cut/Delete loses Tempo track selection
  • "No change" tempo entries being removed
  • REGRESSION: Nudging MIDI notes with absolute time not respecting tempo changes
  • Extract tempo using Melodyne, AudioSnap & Fit To Improvisation should not use "smooth shapes"

Arranger

  • Commit Arrangement losing tempo entries
  • Incorrect Arranger section numbering when inserting sections in the Inspector
  • Buses are selected unexpectedly after moving Arranger section

Articulation Maps

  • Reassigning an articulation using the Choose dialog not working

Misc.

  • Track templates ignore phase settings
  • MIDI input ports not assigned correctly after saving as track template
  • Undo of delete instrument track not working with drum maps in project
  • Drag Moving a MIDI clip crops it
  • Strips menu in Console view hides Instrument tracks unexpectedly with MIDI tracks
  • Process > Slide produces unexpected results with envelopes
  • Exclusive Solo does not initially work as expected after export
  • Automation to MIDI controllers: Incorrect conversion for pitch wheel
  • Spurious dropouts on project load/close/bounce

 

Known issues

The following issues are known and will be addressed before the public release:

  • Incorrect font sizes in Articulation Maps dialogs.
  • A small number of users have reported seeing unreadable text in plug-in menus. We are currently investigating and hope to release a fix soon. In the meantime, we have made a temporary workaround available. If you are experiencing this problem, add the following variable in Cakewalk.ini (Edit > Preferences > File - Initialization File).

    EnableStandardTextLayouts=1

    To disable again, set the variable to EnableStandardTextLayouts=0 or delete the variable.

 

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Always appreciate new features and changes. 

Awesome work guys. Been at it for 4hours with no issues to this update. 

Just a Question: When changing the interleave to MONO on a send aux - shouldn't the Input Names Reads/Change to Mono too? Right now it say's L+R Filter instead of following the interleave on the channel and reading as MONO FILTER (M: Filter) when the interleave on the "FX Aux channel" has been changed. 

 

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1 hour ago, Will_Kaydo said:

Always appreciate new features and changes. 

Awesome work guys. Been at it for 4hours with no issues to this update. 

Just a Question: When changing the interleave to MONO on a send aux - shouldn't the Input Names Reads/Change to Mono too? Right now it say's L+R Filter instead of following the interleave on the channel and reading as MONO FILTER (M: Filter) when the interleave on the "FX Aux channel" has been changed. 

 

Are you sending to a hardware out, bus or aux? Please post a screenshot since its not clear what the routing is.

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I think this may be a pre-existing issue but there seems to be a bug that prevents you dragging  an instrument track into a folder 

See attached GIF. I wanted to drag the Kontakt track into the Bass Folder and for some reason it won't let me ( the blue box won't appear around it if I try to enter from above  )

Yet it will do it for all the other folders. If I try it from underneath the Bass Folder then it works..weird 

Cakewalk-Drag-to-Folder-Issue.gif

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2 hours ago, Noel Borthwick said:

Are you sending to a hardware out, bus or aux? Please post a screenshot since its not clear what the routing is.

Hi Noel.

Thanks for responding. No, I'm sending to a normal Aux track.

Input.jpg.bb7bb91dab1fbd39a70f7d6e6dc88e23.jpg

I'm just asking, shouldn't the input display follow the interleave as well. 

Example: "M: Reverb" to indicate that it's in fact in Mono on the input too. 

Edited by Will_Kaydo
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Now that plug-in only users may want to access the "Instrument and Note Names" dialog how about removing the need to have a MIDI output device enabled to click on the Define button in Preferences > MIDI > Instruments?

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3 hours ago, Will_Kaydo said:

Hi Noel.

Thanks for responding. No, I'm sending to a normal Aux track.

Input.jpg.bb7bb91dab1fbd39a70f7d6e6dc88e23.jpg

I'm just asking, shouldn't the input display follow the interleave as well. 

Example: "M: Reverb" to indicate that it's in fact in Mono on the input too. 

No because the output has nothing to do with the bus interleave setting. All that does is force the  effects track to mono or stereo. It's up to you to route there bus output to whatever you want. I.e routing and interleave are not related in any way

 

 

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2 minutes ago, Noel Borthwick said:

No because the output has nothing to do with the bus interleave setting. All that does is force the  effects track to mono or stereo. It's up to you to route there bus output to whatever you want. I.e routing and interleave are not related in any way

 

 

I Understand.

Although it would make more sense for the input to follow the interleave as well.

It's not a big deal - just a naming/visual thing. 

Just thought some might find it confusing to read. 

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IMO it would be more confusing and unexpected for I/O connections to change based on interleave. Interleave affects signal flow not connectivity in the engine.

9 minutes ago, Will_Kaydo said:

I Understand.

Although it would make more sense for the input to follow the interleave as well.

It's not a big deal - just a naming/visual thing. 

Just thought some might find it confusing to read. 

 

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6 minutes ago, Noel Borthwick said:

IMO it would be more confusing and unexpected for I/O connections to change based on interleave. Interleave affects signal flow not connectivity in the engine.

 

Just asking: Shouldn't it be that way? Having the I/O to read as "Mono/Stereo-in" | or | "Mono/Stereo-out?"

What defines the strips I/O as "Mono or Stereo?" 

Maybe I'm just confusing myself with this. 😂 

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‘Duplicate Selected Clip(s) as Linked Clips’ command

To duplicate the selected clip(s) as linked clips, press CTRL+SHIFT+D.

I dont understand what is this suppose to do... I just seems like the same duplicate that was already in place. Am I missing something here?

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28 minutes ago, Xel Ohh said:

‘Duplicate Selected Clip(s) as Linked Clips’ command

To duplicate the selected clip(s) as linked clips, press CTRL+SHIFT+D.

I dont understand what is this suppose to do... I just seems like the same duplicate that was already in place. Am I missing something here?

Bro, I'm with you on this one too. 😂

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