RICHARD HUTCHINS

Really interesting posts. I am proposing to use Stage Traxx 3 and an iPad and keep it simple. Except it isn't simple! I'd like the option of mixing it a bit at different venues but not sure how to do that as yet. I use a variax guitar and it has a nice sitar, although I always fancy a curry after playing it! As to the Beatles I was also of the opinion of that " how hard can it be" crowd. How wrong could I be. I've been in rock and metal bands and they all love to whizz around the fretboard showing off how fast they are and how many hours they spent in their bedroom practicing the arpeggios of doom, etc etc but its actually easier to do that than do a Beatles song correctly for some bizarre reason. I think it is because the amount of talent in the Beatles was so huge, mere practice is not enough to even come close to getting that sound. I have to admit I'm finding it hard work, but I don't mind because I get to listen to their songs and learn all about the structure, harmonies and arrangement. ( Also I grew up with them here in the UK and they were Gods to us!) But how did they make it look so easy, and sound so good in front of thousands of screaming kids, using a couple of Vox AC30s? Errr...talent. ?

Thanks for replying, I appreciate it, but that doesn't mean much to me I'm afraid. I'm a Complete novice with tech stuff, despite my best efforts to learn. So, What do you mean by "Something else?" Something else has got what open?

Hi all, I'm trying to export a backing track as an MP3 for my iPad, done dozens with no problem but today I got an error message ( see my screenshot) saying " an internal error occurred while processing the mixdown" So I mustered my huge technical skills and tried; renaming and exporting...nope closing CW and restarting; nope doing it all again; nope. I was basically adding an audio file of an extra vocal ( track 8 on the screenshot) to the backing track in MP4 format, don't know if that confused the DAW? Ideas welcome, I'm a bit stumped here. ( Doesn't take much)

Thanks all. John we have Black Friday here in the UK too, so I will do some shopping but I take on board your positive comments for the plug in. Thanks again Rich

John, I watched your very helpful mixing video. I like the youlean plug in and got the free version, I'm assuming I need to get the pro version to set an optimum LUF level for the tracks? It looks disabled in the free version, which I suppose is fair enough. I assume its simple to use? Has to be for me I'm sorry to say. All I want is for the tracks to be the same level for the gigs.

Ah! Okay I will revisit forthwith! Thanks John.

Yep, just had a look, and it doesnt support MP3's unfortunately.

Interesting, thanks Max I'll have a look.

Thanks I'll check it out. Need all the help I can get vox wise.

John, can it help with weedy vocals ( me) by double tracking them and maybe a bit of pitch correction?

That's all very helpful, I hadn't heard of the voice harmoniser nor the expose2 app. My set up will have a lead vocalist and I try to do the harmonies but the problem is that whilst I can sing in tune my voice is thin and reedy, with no real character. Nothing I can do about that I daresay. Thanks again I will check all of this out, and probably come running back with questions!( I'm not on a learning curve here, its actually vertical!!)

Hi John Of course as a novice I wont attempt arguing with these very salient points. Except maybe to offer my two penn'orth worth; " Why use a click track?" I do Beatles songs, and some have gaps with just Vox until the drums come back in so its nice to have something to follow and then come back in to the song on time. "Kill those harmonies" Again, playing Beatles songs harmonies are simply everything and whilst I can sing after a fashion, I am on a different planet to the mop tops, who were all three great singers in their own right. So I either stay silent or get some help! Just my own point of view obvs ?

Ah! The default export option in CW is stereo so I will try that thanks. So far, I haven't chosen a setup, still rehearsing. But I saw a web site video on you tube that recommended mono files unless you have separate outputs from the iPad. I think because sometimes there are two harmonies on one track on karaoke version, in stereo, so you would lose one unless it was bounced to mono. On the other hand they could tell me the iPad was made of cheese and I wouldn't really know the difference, as I am so inexperienced in this type of thing. Much happier just playing my guitar and not getting bogged down in tech stuff, but of course that will get me nowhere except my bedroom! I'm very thankful for forums like this to say the least.

Hi again! Firstly, in response to the tech stuff above, " yeah, what he said, "! ? Over my head but interesting and worth an effort to try to understand. Anyhow, back to the humble land of the novice; whilst working through all of this I hit another problem and I am sure its something silly, but would appreciate help? Basically I download the backing tracks from karaoke version, individually i.e. bass, drums, vox etc. and copy them to a cakewalk file. I then convert them to mono so I can use them live. But when I play it back in cakewalk, the signal seems to be just on the left side, i.e. when I pan the master fader to the right 100% no sound, pan to left full sound. Why is this and what am I doing wrong here? ( see screenshot) Apologies in advance for the rather basic questions.

Well as usual thanks guys for taking time to give full replies, much appreciated. I am going to digest the info and decide on a way forward but with all of this I'm confident I can sort it. If I don't add to this post with more questions, it means its been a success, I hope that makes sense.? Thanks again, I've said it before but this is an excellent forum.

Hi all, I am setting up 40 songs with backing tracks from karaoke version. I edit them in cakewalk and export them for our gigs as MP3's. Is there a good way to ensure the finished songs are at roughly the same level? I noticed quite a variation in the output volume for some songs. Is there a plug in out there? Or a decent tutorial...? All new to me I'm afraid!

Thanks Skook just seen this!

I think I have this sussed thanks all

OK thanks

Thanks, I will look at this link in detail, meanwhile, so where exactly ( ie which path) does Cakewalk store the templates that open up when it first starts? For eg "basic" " empty project" vocals etc. It would help to see this so I can get it in my head! I think this is why I'm not getting it, despite its apparent simplicity.

Hi I am struggling to understand templates, even though it should be easy. Basically when I set up a template, I save it as "template" in the drop down and then choose " template files" on the choose folder drop down. As per advice given by lots of people. But when I do this it goes wrong somehow,. All I want is for the template to appear in the " new project" choices when CW first opens ( " lets get started") But when it opens it doesnt seem to have saved all my changes, its not the file I " designed" for my project. I think the path should be cakewalk content/core/track templates/ and this is where I navigate to using " save as" But next time I open CW its not there. I know I am missing something here, and its embarrasingly basic to ask but I just cant see what I'm doing wrong?

It is indeed a paid up version. Thanks for the steps

Yes I suspected Melodyne, it causes me problems as my use is a bit amateurish. I'll redo and try that. Thanx

Hi all, Its been reassuringly refreshingly quiet for a while on the problem front, so the CW gremlins decided to annoy me again! Tried today to export audio and save a track in MP3 format and got an error message, see screen grab. Tells me it cant save due to an internal error. Very helpful...not. I checked to see if I needed to log on to the app and update my copy but this didn't seem to be an issue., although the update button was grayed out. I usually get a pop up message when I need to refresh my copy. Did this a while ago but no pop up message this week so I assume its not that. Clues anyone? I've got pals waiting for this song!!

What can I say? Mouse scroll wheel solved it in a second. And "V" gets rid of video, saved me ages of trial and error thanks all for taking time to help a novice.!