John Vere

Lexicon has never made a good ASIO driver. I'm pretty sure it's some generic asio4all thing. You might want to purchase a proper audio interface. If it doesn't work under ASIO try WASAPI

My go to piano has been Addictive Keys. The demo version is free with the only limitation is a few octaves are silences. For most pop music you won't miss them. Do you have Addictive drums? If so you can download the demo from the XLN installer. If you don't just go to the XLN site and set up an account, download the installer and try the demos. I think there's even a good basic drum kit there. If you purchase any Focusrite interfaces they include a free ticket to any of the ADKeys add ons. A lot of folks never follow through with the free offering you get. My other piano I use came with Sonar a long time ago is called True Pianos. I use that when I can't use ADkeys. There's a few free Shareware type vst pianos kicking around and I think I've tried them all. They don't sound any better than tts-1 to me.

This is where a good brickwall limiter come to play. If there are just a few random overs it will tame them without compressing the whole song. You start the "turn it down" routine and your song will end up to quiet. Lately I have in my master bus bin the LP Multi Band then the BT Brickwall then Youlean loudness meter. The Multi band I set the output at -.08 and adjust the input until it's showing right in the Youlean meter. What I also like is it shows me what frequency bands are too hot. I can return to the tracks and busses if need be and sort that out. The Brickwall- I set @ 0.08 because I'm going to CD. For Spotify as example I would use - 0.1 I set the youlean to -14 LUFS and .08 This has resulted in, for the first time ever for me, an 18 song album with a variety of music styles that are all bang on the money level wise. The Youlean meter has been the best investment made this year. https://youlean.co/youlean-loudness-meter/

It's actually rare that I would send a whole kit to the reverb. This song is more ambient and like CJ said this is a matter of personal taste in what your after in a mix. The bottom line is to use these routing options to have 100% control over your mix. The concept of using only one reverb is based on the fact that people are used to hearing "space" this way. All the old recordings used one reverb or in most cases it was the "room" they were in. So the listener might be confused if you put them in 5 different rooms at the same time. But we are talking traditional recording here, you can do what ever you want and experimenting is a good thing, but it's good to have a understanding of traditional recording first. In a studio the drums are recorded in a special "room" and the overhead mikes pick that up. Some producers like lots of reverb on the snare and toms so that is added at the console. If you use a VST drummer most have built in reverbs and effects. This is 90% of how I will reverb to the drums. If the VST doesn't include effects (like Session Drummer) then you can split the parts into multiple audio outputs and apply effects the same way you do to a guitar track. Normally you don't put reverb on Bass or a kick drum as this will lead to mud. We have many options on routing but seems most of us follow the same path because we all grew up using analog mixing consoles. I think there's a danger for newbies to use way to many effects and tracks just because they can. You see how many instruments and vox I'm using? Six - and that's a full sounding mix. I think I'll add a harmony. Didn't anybody spot the routing error yet?

As I said it’s going back. I A/B it with my 6i6 for a few hours last night and the Scarlett is more stable. I am not about to fight to make the Motu work. This computer has been my DAW only computer for a long time now and as I said I have 2 older interfaces that run smoothly at 256 year after year. I plug in a brand new interface and I get crackles? If the Motu is that picky about my system then I’m not interested. The computer is about as optimized as possible. I unplug the internet most of the time just out of habit. it doesn’t even have on board sound driver I disabled long time ago.

Did you upgrade to 5? There were a lot of bug fixes applied.

Thanks. I always have sounds in windows disabled. Even in my office machine. I have put it back in the box and waiting to hear back from Long and Mcquade to return it. I'm happily back using my 8 year old 6i6 without any issues . I will see if I can get a Scarlett 8i6 instead. Of note is that Motu does not support Cakewalk. I think it's a good interface for Mac people etc. they obviously need to work on the windows drivers. And besides Focusrite on all the bench test sites comes in very close performance wise with DAC's etc to the M2 and M4. Motu gives you diddly squat in freebies. Focusrite gives you a bunch of good quality stuff worth well over $200. I already have it of course, but for first time buyers things like that are worth paying attention to. Focusrite has really grown as a company and seem to be keeping on top of things. I was real surprised to find a new driver for my 6i6. They donèt need to do this but they did so that brings loyalty. I see they even re vamped the Mix Control software now called just Control. Another feature lacking with the M4. Scarletts rear jacks have software controlled Pads. I couldn't plug my Korg 05/rw into the 3/4 of the M4 because the signal was way to low. No problem on the 6i6. Another deal breaker for me. So back she goes.

What can happen is you end up with more than one open, Check the task bar Show hidden icons. If that doesn't work go into apps and un-install it and re download and install again. It is a bit of a turd so it's not you fault. Just go slow and don't try opening it more than once. Check that task bar or Task manager.

I just set this up. I downloaded the latest version of OBS studio I opened a project in Cakewalk and plugged a mike into input 1 of my interface ( scarlett 6i6) In preferences I changed driver mode to WASAPI shared -this is important. Otherwise you won't get the DAW output. Opened OBS and in audio settings: Desktop audio ( this is sound from DAW ) = Speakers ( Focusrite USB audio ) Mic/Aux audio ( this is my mike input 1) Analogue 1+2 ( Focursite USB audio) In OSB when I play my Project the meter at top desktop audio shows signal. So I can balance the level here so the DAW doesn't come across to loud. The Mic Aux is my mike plugged into input 1 of the interface and shows full signal. I have not done this but the tools to have a little screen in the corner or ? are there by adding my web cam the the Sources list as a Video capture device. It seems to automatically show when hooked up. and I believe studio mode allows messing around with that. So everything you need and best of all just like Cakewalk- its free! I don't see why you would need Voicemeter what ever that is? What I do is use 2 monitors and put OBS on the second screen. I set OBS to only record monitor 1. Then I edit the MP4 in Vegas Movie Studio Platinum where I add the titles etc.

Possibly your moving the tool the wrong way.. Up makes them louder, down softer.

I got this to work. I'm pretty sure OBS can use ASIO drivers and capture. If not I might have been using WASAPI shared. It's just a matter of getting the correct settings. I think I had to go into windows sound settings and uncheck that let software take exclusive control option. Been awhile I can check later. OBS is defiantly the best capture program I have tried out. If you follow the links in my signature those videos were done with OBS and a Scarlett interface.

I'm sending the M4 back and hoping they will swap it ( plus $$) for the Focusrite 8i6. It's hard to get over that my 2013 Focusrite 6i6 is more stable than a brand new interface. The MAIN REASON I bought a Motu was everybody raves about the drivers. I guess if RTL is important then this might be true, But I don't use real time effects and what I need is rock solid stability. Misha possibly you should see if you can try a different interface? Is there a store you can demo one from? And one other thing is I've read a lot of threads with thunderbolt issues, seems you need the correct chipset from Texas Instruments or something like that.

It depends on the effect. Things like guitar effects- chorus etc. are put in the tracks FX bin or the pro channel effects chain. But it's best practice with effects like reverb and delay to share that effect to keep things in the same "space" and to avoid mud which can build if there are too many reverbs happening. So most create a Reverb buss and put the reverb in the bus FX bin. Then you can use a track send to control the amount and "mix" I took a screen shot of a typical song. Notice I use colour to match my buss to the tracks- See if you can find the routing mistake! I just spotted it. That's why it's a good habit to mute or solo busses to check your routing. I'll add here that normally there's no need to have a buss for a single instrument as in my bass and drums. But this is my method of controlling my mix. It's just the way I find works for me but everybody will have there own system. This song is not mixed yet I'm at the editing stage. I just love the new Melodyne 5!

In your first screen shot to me that is the wrong way of working. I would have never even thought of doing that. The tracks OUTPUT is sent to either a sub bus or the master. The SEND is for effects you want to share, like reverb ( using a Bus) or in some cases can be used for cue mixes ( monitoring) . This goes back to using a mixing console which have AUX sends on each channel to be used for monitors and effects. Some larger consoles had sub busses. In the DAW world we have a mixing console that 20 years ago would have been 20' wide and the price of a small Car. ( and people still complain) If you send the tracks OUTPUT to your audio interface directly you loose control. The worst would be you'd probably be clipping. Most of us keep a very sharp eye on the master bus level. A limiter is almost always recommended for this reason.

What I would think is the only way to prove this is Cakewalks audio engine is to transfer this project into another DAW. There are many that you can demo. Cubase is easy to use, I have transferred project into it without issue other than pre channel stuff you need to set up differently. https://new.steinberg.net/cubase/trial/ It's only $100 for Elements which is all I need. Some Cakewalk Plug in won't work like BT. Another DAW that I've transferred Cakewalk projects into,, bought it on sale for $30 back when Sonar was abandoned. https://harrisonconsoles.com/product/mixbus/ Both of these just gather dust but it was worth it just to make sure the grass isn't greener.

Your answer might be in this one, watch the posted down the page a bit video I also found this which I was unaware existed https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=AudioPerformance.14.html

I think there's a way to make that work. Sorry I have no experience with anything more than 6 cores on mine. But I think I've seen lots of threads about your issue. Did you try Google just type in using 16 cores in Cakewalk I guess.

That's great, but still your not giving any info about when and how. In the other thread you replied in this was made clear that dropouts will happen in any system and any DAW but it depends on what you are trying to do that will make it happen. If this happens with 1 plug in running you have an issue but 40 plug ins running is a different kettle of fish.

What audio interface are you using, You don't say much about what leads up to this.

I copied this from another thread but it belongs here as well. Update: Just did a test. First just to make dang sure I re-installed both drivers for the M4 and the 6i6. Seems this has cured the playback speeding up issue with the Motu. I can't get it to do it for now. So even though the exact same driver, something must have been corrupted in the initial download and install. But the crackling is definitely an issue. Just a hint of it at 256 but if I switch to 128 it is totally garbled. So then I turned off the Motu and turned on the Scarlett 6i6. The Scarlett played silky smooth and I switched to 128 and all I got was very random glitches. The project has a lot of stuff already but I added 6 instances of the Adaptive limiter which I think is a heavy hitter and it didn't change. I returned to the Motu and now 256 is glitching worse. You would have to use 512. Interesting things between the 2 interfaces- When I turn off the Motu and turn on the scarlett with Cakewalk open I get the disconnect and the choose device pop ups. When I turn off the Scarlett and turn on the Motu I get the disconnected but no choose device pop up.. I did this a few time too. Also notice in the screenshots the Motu adjustment for mixing latency is not adjustable. Then later due to an answer in the other thread from @rsinger I swapped the Motu to my front USB 3 ports and now I'm not really hearing crackles at 256 but 128 seems just as bad as before? I fail to see how it would make a difference but the M4 does come with a USB C connector so ?? FYI the Scarlett is still plugged into the USB 2 ports on the back. This machine only has two USB 3 ( 12 years old ) ports and I like to reserve them for external drives. Notice the Motu has better RTL than the 6i6. Possibly this is why it has trouble coping. They have sacrificed stability for better RTL performance?

Just did a test. First just to make dang sure I re-installed both drivers for each unit. Seems this has cured the playback speeding up issue with the Motu. I can't get it to do it for now. So even though the exact same driver something must have been corrupted in the initial download and install. But the crackling is definitely an issue. Just a hint of it at 256 but if I switch to 128 it is totally garbled. So then I turned off the Motu and turned on the Scarlett. The Scarlett played silky smooth and I switched to 128 and all I got was very random glitches. This is a fairly busy project with lots of goodies but I added 6 instances of the Adaptive limiter which I think is a heavy hitter and it didn't change. I returned to the Motu and now 256 is glitching worse. Interesting things between the 2 interfaces- When I turn off the Motu and turn on the scarlett with Cakewalk open, I get the disconnect and the choose device pop ups messages. When I turn off the Scarlett and turn on the Motu I get the disconnected but no choose device pop up.. I did this a few time too. Also notice the Motu adjustment for mixing latency is not adjustable. But you can see the Motu wins the RTL test with about 10ms better performance. So just now I opened this thread and seeing what @rsinger said about USB ports I swapped the Motu to my front USB 3 ports and now I'm not hearing crackles at 256 but 128 seems just as bad as before? I fail to see how it would make a difference but the M4 does come with a USB C connector so ?? FYI the Scarlett is still plugged into the USB 2 ports on the back. This machine only has 2 USB 3 ports and I like to reserve them for external drives. The Motu has better RTL performance so perhaps this is a case of sacrificing stability for better RTL performance.

Melodyne 5 introduced a sibilant detection that I'm not sure was in 4 or before. I haven't really used Melodyne much until after the last upgrade I figured it now costing me $100 more, I'd better dive in and get it working for me. I watched a release video which clearly shows the ability to detect all sibilants in a clip , highlight and delete. So I'm not sure what your issue is because it would seem the opposite should be happening if you used the tool correctly. For me I have deleted a bunch and without Melodyne I would have not been aware they were even present.

You shouldn't need to go that high, there is something seriously wrong with your set up. I can have dozens and dozens of VST effects and instruments at 256. I have used 256 on lots of systems and interfaces. And these are older interfaces and basic computers . No wonder Motu doesn't go that high, I doubt if anyone would need use it?

Wrong driver mode

I just re-read this whole thread and if you translate some of incorrect terminology the OP is using you can sort out that the correct answer was to either switch to the 1/2 inputs or try the PAD toggle found in the Software mixer or add a mixer ( preamp) ahead of 3/4. This was a Gain Staging issue and not anything to do with meters other than they were visually reporting the low level. I posted a diagram of the common way to hook the system up and OP has said this was what they were doing so we can rule that out. So this from the beginning was a simple matter of the Korg's output signal is a bit low for the 3/4 inputs on the rear of the 4i4. If the 4i4 is the same as my 6i6 this will be true unless you toggle the PAD button. The 3/4 inputs are line level and best driven by a small mixer or pre amp but you might get a hotter signal by trying the PAD button in the Control software. So the OP's question if it had correctly read " audio track levels are too low " there would have been an answer within a few posts. All the talk about meters and midi cables only confused the issue. Oh and someone way back said " see that big Gain Knob?" that is incorrect, the big Knob is not a gain but a monitoring level control. There are no Gain knobs for inputs 3/4. Everything is done internally with software. Not sure about gain. The 4i4 as uses "Control" software to activate Pads and the Air etc. features., this is why there are no buttons on the front just indicators. ( I just read the entire user manual because I might end up with the 8i6)