Cakewalk Has Become A Nightmare

[DallasSteve 25]

I've been using Cakewalk regularly for about 6 months.  I've completed one album and am almost complete with another.  About 2 weeks ago Cakewalk forced me to refresh my authorization.  To do that I had to upgrade Cakewalk.  I hadn't upgraded recently because it's a hassle, what I have is fine, and I don't care about their new features.  But they forced me to do so.  That's not so big a deal except their install wouldn't run on my computer.  I tried and it gave me some file error.  Then when I clicked through that it said I was out of disk space, which is ridiculous.  I have around 100 GB of free space on my disk and other installs have worked recently.  I contacted Cakewalk support and they sent me a link to the same install which I ran again and the same thing happened.  I asked them about the error message (screenshot below) and they ignored my further emails.  Today I was looking at my events list and all of my notes in my recently touched files have been moved back one tick.  I never nudge my clips or notes and there's no way I accidentally nudge 5 different files.  This is a big problem because when I use the Arranger to commit a new version of a song it cuts off the first note if it is one tick before the bar.  I just tried a new upgrade/re-install 5 minutes ago and it gave me the same out of space error, but the install completed and I was able to open Cakewalk.  I hope that will fix the one tick error, but it probably won't.  I won't waste my time contacting Cakewalk support because they are ignoring me. 

Is anybody else having a similar problem with install or events being nudged?

Do you have any other suggestions for my nightmare? 

I may eventually have to bite the bullet and buy a better DAW, but Cakewalk has served me well up to this point.

 

[musekamp 27]

I think there is an issue with Commit Arrangement that moves midi events 1 tick earlier. Seems quite easy to reproduce.

I started this thread about it a few weeks ago: https://discuss.cakewalk.com/index.php?/topic/40929-commit-arrangement-loses-first-midi-note/

[Steev 98]

Ah where would we be without a sense of humor? 😜

I've been using Cakewalk DAWs for 3 decades, and while there were certainly occasional problematic updates, 9 out 10 problems I've had with it were MY FAULT.

Of course, I could easily blame that on drinking too much or smoking too much weed, but still it was my fault for drinking too much or smoking too much weed, now isn't it?

 I've tried every major DAW & more than several minor DAWs, and I'll stand firmly on my experiences that the CbB DAW, Support Team, AND forum help is all SECOND TO NONE.

Gett'in all pissy and scrapping Cakewalk ain't gonna fix yer rig.

That being said, 9 out of 10 times when you get that setup error code it's a "warning sign" that your Windows Registry has so many broken/dead end paths it's attempting to follow thru with it exceeds the limits of the computer's RAM & HD Disc's cache's swap file space, and times out giving you an error message. It has nothing to do with how much open "storage space" is left on your HD or SSD.

Just because the 1st time you've seen this error message was with trying to install CbB does NOT mean it's the fault of the DAW.

My 1st solution, or most likely educated guess if you will, would be the beginning of a Windows Reg. corruption/meltdown.

This could POSSIBLY be fixed with a reg cleaner app for FREE.

        2nd beginnings of HD/SSD failure.  NOT FREE.

        3rd your computer especially if it's a gen 5 Intel or earlier, may be getting bogged down by an exploit. You're SCREWED, you need a NEW COMPUTER. There are very good reasons  why Microsoft won't budge on allowing Windows 11 update for any computer WITHOUT an UEFI BIOS &  "Secure Boot 2.0" chip (made before 2018). It's a long boring technical story only "GEEKS" can understand..😫

I can go on & on, but I'm only guessing and these guessing only get considerably WORSE & scary from here.

[Steev 98]

The good people of CbB Support are ignoring you because this isn't a problem with Cakewalk, it's with your WINDOWS REGISTRY.

I would highly recommend doing a fresh CLEAN install of Windows and KEEP EVERYTHING up to DATE .

Or you can spend several hours trying to fix it yourself, or try to use this utility tool with from the link below which has a 50/50% chance of fixing it, but believe me, if you continue to not keep your software updated it won't fix it for long, and it's a LOT quicker & less painful to perform a CLEAN Windows INSTALL.

How to Fix Your PC | Windows Techies

Edited March 17, 2022 by Steev

[Will. 558]

Cakewalk requires you to activate your DAW every 6 months. You were not forced if this is an actual requirement. You can't sign insurance papers without reading the agreement. So the error here comes from yourside. 

Secondly: The web installer works smooth. Again: It is a requirement made by every software developer to UPDATE your software for a hassle free workspace. This is a really quick and easy step to do every month. I don't know about the others, but I refresh my activation with every UPDATE - this keeps my system running smooth with no issues. 

If you go to the Help Tab inside the DAW - everything you need to keep thing up and running are there. Rather invest in 2 minutes to sign in and keep things up to date every month. All this takes 2 mins every month. 

Edited March 17, 2022 by Will.

[DallasSteve 25]

2 minutes ago, Will. said:

Cakewalk requires you to activate your DAE every 6 months. You were not forced when this is a requirement. You can't sign insurance papers without reading the agreement. So the error here comes from yourside. 

Secondly: The web installer works smooth. Again: It is a requirement made by every software developer to UPDATE you software for a hassle free workspace. This is a really quick and easy step to do every month. I don't onow about the other, but I refresh my activation with every UPDATE - this keeps my system running smooth with no issues. 

If you go to the Help Tab inside the DAW everything you need to keep thing upd and running are there. Rather invest in 2 minutes to sign in and keep things up to date every month. All this takes 2 mins every month. 

It's not a 2 minute process.  Maybe 5 minutes if everything works smoothly.  I've spent more than 2 hours trying to get an update of Cakewalk to install without errors on my computer.  I'm able to install other software without these errors so I don't buy the explanations that the error is on my side or in my Windows Registry, but thanks for letting me know that it works for you.

 

[Steev 98]

Hmm.,,, 🤔..... That SURE  looks like a REGISTRY ERROR MESSAGE TO ME.

[Will. 558]

8 minutes ago, DallasSteve said:

It's not a 2 minute process.  Maybe 5 minutes if everything works smoothly.  I've spent more than 2 hours trying to get an update of Cakewalk to install without errors on my computer.  I'm able to install other software without these errors so I don't buy the explanations that the error is on my side or in my Windows Registry, but thanks for letting me know that it works for you.

 

Well, if you don't need help - don't b**ch about it. Everyone else runs a smooth UPDATE. 

Maybe that's why support dont reply to you. You ask for help, you get help, but then you wipe your a** with it. 

[scook 4,774]

22 minutes ago, DallasSteve said:

I'm able to install other software without these errors so I don't buy the explanations that the error is on my side or in my Windows Registry

OK but you may want to search the error message on the internet. Also keep in mind the installer has successfully run for a lot of people on a variety of hardware configurations. Your two threads are the only reports I have read regarding this issue.

The error is coming from Windows, not the installer.

One post I found on the net suggested this might be caused by having "Controlled folder access" enabled in Windows Defender. If you are running Windows Defender, it might be worth investigating.

[DallasSteve 25]

20 minutes ago, scook said:

OK but you may want to search the error message on the internet. Also keep in mind the installer has successfully run for a lot of people on a variety of hardware configurations. Your two threads are the only reports I have read regarding this issue.

The error is coming from Windows, not the installer.

One post I found on the net suggested this might be caused by having "Controlled folder access" enabled in Windows Defender. If you are running Windows Defender, it might be worth investigating.

scook

Once again you provide some useful information.  That may be the install problem.  I'll  check it out.   As for all the notes in my projects that have been nudged one tick earlier, I guess my Windows Registry did that, or maybe it happened while I was trying to wipe my a** with will's comment.  As for why Cakewalk's support didn't at least reply back saying, we don't know, or maybe it's your Windows Registry, they just didn't respond at all to 2 messages which for me qualifies as unprofessional behavior.

 

[DallasSteve 25]

26 minutes ago, Will. said:

Well, if you don't need help - don't b**ch about it. Everyone else runs a smooth UPDATE. 

Maybe that's why support dont reply to you. You ask for help, you get help, but then you wipe your a** with it. 

Thanks for letting me know that you've asked "everyone else" who uses Cakewalk and they all run a smooth update.  That's what I wanted to know.  Now, I've got to get back to wiping my a**.

[scook 4,774]

5 minutes ago, DallasSteve said:

As for all the notes in my projects that have been nudged one tick earlier, I guess my Windows Registry did that, or maybe it happened while I was trying to wipe my a** with will's comment.

This is not very helpful.

I find it hard to help people who engage this way.

[DallasSteve 25]

1 minute ago, scook said:

This is not very helpful.

I find it hard to help people who engage this way.

scook

That bit of sarcasm/humor was not directed at you.  I'm sorry if you took it that way.  I thought it was clear I appreciated your suggestion.

[Steev 98]

If you have 5 tracks selected/highlighted and "accidently" move/nudge one the other 4 selected tracks will "accidently" move together.

Easy fix. Select/Highlight the tracks by holding down the Ctrl button on the keyboard while clicking on the tracks you want to move/nudge with your mouse, then drag them where they belong whilst hold down the mouse button and BAM! problem solved. 👍👍

Edited March 17, 2022 by Steev

[Will. 558]

15 minutes ago, DallasSteve said:

Thanks for letting me know that you've asked "everyone else" who uses Cakewalk and they all run a smooth update.  That's what I wanted to know.  Now, I've got to get back to wiping my a**.

Good for you. 👏🏼

[DallasSteve 25]

4 minutes ago, Steev said:

If you have 5 tracks selected/highlighted and "accidently" move/nudge one the other 4 selected tracks will "accidently" move together.

Steev

I didn't say it happened in 5 tracks.  It happened in 5 different files to all the tracks in all 5 files.   There's no way I accidentally nudged 5 different files.  I think it's happening when I execute an Arranger commit, but I haven't tried to prove that, yet.

Edited March 17, 2022 by DallasSteve

[Will. 558]

2 hours ago, DallasSteve said:

 it happened while I was trying to wipe my a** with will's comment.  

No wonder it was smelling here inside. Glad my comment could freshen up the place. 

Edited March 17, 2022 by Will.

[Promidi 983]

4 hours ago, DallasSteve said:

I've been using Cakewalk regularly for about 6 months.  I've completed one album and am almost complete with another.  About 2 weeks ago Cakewalk forced me to refresh my authorization.  To do that I had to upgrade Cakewalk.  I hadn't upgraded recently because it's a hassle, what I have is fine, and I don't care about their new features.  But they forced me to do so.  That's not so big a deal except their install wouldn't run on my computer.  I tried and it gave me some file error.  Then when I clicked through that it said I was out of disk space, which is ridiculous.  I have around 100 GB of free space on my disk and other installs have worked recently.  I contacted Cakewalk support and they sent me a link to the same install which I ran again and the same thing happened.  I asked them about the error message (screenshot below) and they ignored my further emails.  Today I was looking at my events list and all of my notes in my recently touched files have been moved back one tick.  I never nudge my clips or notes and there's no way I accidentally nudge 5 different files.  This is a big problem because when I use the Arranger to commit a new version of a song it cuts off the first note if it is one tick before the bar.  I just tried a new upgrade/re-install 5 minutes ago and it gave me the same out of space error, but the install completed and I was able to open Cakewalk.  I hope that will fix the one tick error, but it probably won't.  I won't waste my time contacting Cakewalk support because they are ignoring me. 

Is anybody else having a similar problem with install or events being nudged?

Do you have any other suggestions for my nightmare? 

I may eventually have to bite the bullet and buy a better DAW, but Cakewalk has served me well up to this point.

 

Oh ok

[DallasSteve 25]

Steev

Thanks for that thoughtful reply.  That gets you some love.  I think scook spotted the answer with the 'Controlled folder access' idea.  I enabled that about a month ago.  I will try running the update again with that disabled and report back, but it may not be today.  Also, I tried doing an Arranger commit, and it did not appear to cause the nudge -1 tick on the tacks in the file, so I'm still watching carefully for any additional event nudge problems.

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by DallasSteve

[DallasSteve 25]

41 minutes ago, musekamp said:

I think there is an issue with Commit Arrangement that moves midi events 1 tick earlier. Seems quite easy to reproduce.

I started this thread about it a few weeks ago: https://discuss.cakewalk.com/index.php?/topic/40929-commit-arrangement-loses-first-midi-note/

musekamp

Thanks so much for that reply.  I did a test on Commit Arrangement last night and I couldn't recreate the problem, but maybe if I follow your steps it will happen.  This is very frustrating.  I think it happened when they "improved" the Arranger in one of  their updates.  Another example of why I didn't want to upgrade.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Cakewalk was working fine for me, and now this.  Next they will probably fix this and accidentally break something else.  I read the reply to your post about the workaround to add some lead in measures.  Sure, that will probably fix the problem but it's a clunky solution to a bug.

[Heinz Hupfer 168]

Hi🙂

With the Arranger you can involve notes that start earlier, from 1 tick up to 1 bar I think.

Bassman.