User 905133

I don't use the start screen, but I tested it (scroll bar to see beyond 8 items) with File > Start Screen. At first I saw no scroll bar. After adjusting the angle of my laptop's monitor I saw a very thin scroll bar with the famous dark grey on black theme. I am not sure you can see it below. Not sure if you are getting it on your display. Not sure if there are colors for the scroll bars in the theme editor, but I will look. Maybe others know. For me clicking on the grey area did allow me to see more recent projects (2 more after the first 8 for a total of 10). Not sure this helps; just wanted to share my observations. Addendum: I used the touch pad on my laptop, moved the cursor to the dark grey area, and tapped to "scroll." Addendum # 2: I copied other *.cwt files (from different versions of SONAR) and put them in the Cakewalk Core / Project Templates folder. I stopped counting after 40, but I'd say I now have at least 50 templates in there [some are copies] which I can see by using my usual touchpad-to-scroll method--press/hold left button on the scroll bar's hard-to-see drag area and drag up/down on the touch pad. I did not see any colors in the theme editor that would make the start screen scroll bar more visible. I was able to change some other scroll bars, though.

I can relate to some of your experiences--the first real synth I had the please to play with was in 1970 at college (a 1969/1970 era Moog). As for those "low-cost" usb/midi interfaces, I have read some unpleasant things about them. I wish I could find the link for an article that goes into the problems and the reasons for the problems from a rather technical standpoint. I vaguely recall issues with sysex (system exclusive midi communication) and full two-way simultaneous communication. But maybe yours is not as bad as the ones I read about. I would encourage you to look up "cheap midi interfaces." Some people report some success under some circumstances. A few of the sites/forums I looked at touch on some of the issues. Steve Didn't mean to imply not to try to get it to work, just that even if it does work somewhat, there might be other issues. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

From my experience over the past several months, the Win 10 Sound Troubleshooter has worked to solve problems, even when it claims in didn't detect the problem. In fact, by just running it, I had what sounded like two audio channels competing for control of the audio "fix itself." I suspect that by running the troubleshooter's different tests, some internal virtual circuit got kicked. It was fairly consistent and I reported it (with screenshots) to Microsoft and eventually it stopped happening--probably from sheer coincidence. Anyhow, it was so easy to run (thanks to the Sound icon), even though its a longshot, I now add it to my audio debugging process. Also, when somehow Windows reconfigures my audio devices because that's what Windows does, if I select the device >I< want to use and use the troubleshooter, sometimes it somehow gives me back my device. Again, simple to set in motion and if it fixes it, I am happy!!! Sometimes, Windows says it needs to reboot in order to give me back the device I wanted to use--so I assume in powering down and restarting, Windows is mysteriously doing some reconfiguration/recordkeeping. Finally, I like saving the complete device report the troubleshooter generates, so if if I ever have to TRY to fix stuff manually, I can compare the states of the devices as reported. And congratulations on getting the interface working; thanks for sharing the results. Steve PS: In my experience, the silent bus message usually means that the bus is not pointed to the current/proper/working audio output device. Usually, I have gotten a choice of what driver/audio channel to change it to and usually clicking OK sets it to the audio device of my preference.

Good point, IMO. I know I tend to be overwhelmed by new things (e.g., software) but once I take things step-at-a-time (i.e., getting over the initial humps on the learning curve--which often looks so steep I doubt I will make it) I find the knowledge I have gained through the process becomes second nature. Once on that plateau for a while, I am rested enough from climbing to venture up the higher hills of complexity. Based on your observation, I am wondering if just like users can choose from a variety of templates for new projects, perhaps first time users can be given a choice of starting places for their initial Cakewalk Desktop. And perhaps (to borrow from a different thread) beginners (and others) can choose to opt-in for automatic tips ([ ]once a day, [ ] at launch, [ ] after idling for ____ minutes, [ ] never). Perhaps based on the first use and the response given, the configuration might default to a sort-of-basic lens with the first tip being something like "Since you self-identified as a first-time user, Cakewalk has been configured to start with a beginner's 'Lens.' You can change to a more advanced lens or choose other "Screen Sets" to completely customize your Cakewalk Desktop." Maybe tips for first-time users could be on by default. Perhaps a one-at-a-time Tips Viewer could be integrated into BandLab Assistant, rather than bringing them back into Cakewalk. Just saying that there are things that could be done to make the learning curve less initially daunting for new users--so they are not overwhelmed, frustrated, agitated, turned off, etc. Who knows, maybe the good people at BandLab are already working on it. Sample tips from Sonar 3 (yes, extremely outdated, but IMO easy to update--from the reference guide, on-line documentations, and maybe even from the many excellent power user tips in thus forum):

Its a long shot, but have you tried Windows 10's Sound Troubleshooter? It might not show your audio device without the drivers installed, though; not sure. Also, does the sound card have a configuration utility? If so, maybe there's something there which might help point to a solution.

For me, the customizability of Cakewalk is a blessing. I don't regret having spent the time modifying the graphics to meet my specific visual needs. Having re-sizable fonts would not have helped me. I had already lowered the size of my monitor's resolution to make everything bigger. Using collapsed modules on the Control Bar with my easy-for-me-to-see graphics allows me to do music again!!!! As for clutter, Cakewalk has long had many features/options for making the work space as cluttered or as basic as many different users want at different times to meet specific needs. You can have single components of the software cover an entire monitor or even spread out over several monitors. I have found for me having a small synth rack pane allows me to open/select various softsynths which I often place on a second monitor with a different resolution than my main Cakewalk display. I would really hate to see Cakewalk get rid of its flexibility. BTW, at a time when I thought Cakewalk was gone for good, I bought another DAW (highly recommended by many user from what I have seen) and despite many hours of problem solving, it was never able to give me access to the full range of my sound card's ASIO I/O channels like Cakewalk does. Not every DAW is for everyone.

reboot the computer? or reboot Cakewalk? reinstall on the system/PC level? or enable them in Cakewalk? Addendum: (1) What audio i/o device does Cakewalk see when you reboot [whichever reboot you mean]? (2) Are you using/Do you routinely use that device? (3) If not, have you tried disabling it? (I ask because I see some device I/Os under Recording that say "Not Plugged In and am wondering if you have another audio device under Playback that it might be defaulting to if not disabled. Just guessing as to possible causes based on my experiences with two resident E-Mu PCI cards and a mobo card/chip. )

For me, Sonar/Cakewalk used to print out the name of the file. Not sure if that has changed in the new Cakewalk or if I did something special. Have you saved the project with a name? Are you using the print button from the Staff View screen? Just tried it; not sure how to get rid of ".cwp" though. Not sure if there is another solution. UPDATE: Put a name in the name box in the Notes Browser.

This is an interesting thread to me as I might want to do something like this at some time. Clarification: Are you talking about a two-pass process or a one-pass process? Two pass = (1) Record audio/midi track, (2) record tempo/conductor track. One pass = Record audio/midi track and while making the recording using a controller of some sort to change the tempo. If you are talking about a one-pass process (recording notes/audio and at the same time recording tempo changes), I can imagine how it might be possible using CCs, PB, etc. "To slave Digital Performer, you’ll need to generate values of 392 or higher — you send a 392 value by going precisely to it, but also by going past it." Is this what you meant by "real-time?" I did not get that at first because you said "you can record the tempo track while you listen to . . . " not while recording the MIDI or audio track. In either case, thanks for the discussion.

A few decades ago, I used some Roland "Intelligent Arrangers," with a midi track consisting of chords going to the Roland's chord recognition midi channel. The boxes would then "orchestrate" the chords based on various arrangement algorithms (aka "Styles"). It had some options (choice of a basic or an advanced arrangement, fills, etc.). Not sure if that's the kind of thing you have in mind, but if it is, maybe someone knows if there are plug-ins which do something like that. Just a thought.

Thanks for the clarification. It help me to see that there's a two-part question that I think someone more expert than I am needs to answer to help you out. Basically, (Part A of the question:) if you combine all of the installation files from the X1, X2, and X3 folders into one folder to preserve as a backup and retain only one copy of the files that are duplicates (100% duplicate), if you later need to reinstall any of those 3 (X1, X2, X3), will that present problems for the installation? For example, the DimPro setup and expansion pack installers seem to be the same size as do the three Loops and One-Shot files, so if they are 100% identical (byte for byte) I am guessing someone with more knowledge that I will say, "No, having only one set of those in a common X1, X2, X3 installation backup folder will not cause any problems." (Part B:) If you combine all the other installers and content (unique to each of the three--X1, X2, and X3) to a common installation backup folder, will that present ay problems for installing any of the three should you need to do that at some point? My guess is no, but before I'd combine these into a common folder, I'd want another opinion. If it were me, I'd put the installation patches in the same folder. I thought you previously deleted the duplicate patches (e.g., the ones that have (1) and (2) in the file name when you already have the same file without the number), but I see them there in the screen shot you posted; so maybe not. Hope this contributes to your making successful archival copies of the installation files. Steve

I am confused by this thread. Is there anything different than was discussed here in another thread? If so, maybe you can hone down the questions. BTW, if it were me, I'd take Chuck E. Baby's suggestion: Reorganize the backup installers on another medium--usb thumb drive, backup HDD, writeable DVD medium, etc.

I can see that this feature might be useful. Perhaps it might go along with a flexible Go To / Song Position Pointer feature (and maybe other Transport Control features--including the use of a standalone wi-fi controller someone requested in another thread). If it all can be done with markers, that seems like one possible option. I have not done anything with MCI Commands, and I am not sure if this is even possible, but perhaps if the Cakewalk transport apparatus could be treated as an MCIcmd controllable sequencer (or perhaps if it could have a sophisticated MIDI/SysEx Control), the automatic stop and related functions would be useful to a wide assortment of DAW users. Just thinking out loud because it opens up a number of possibilities (assuming it can't already be done). Steve

Thanks, tdehan, for the question; it makes me want to try to install all my versions of Cakewalk/SONAR to compare my old midi tunes before I just start updating them in the new Cakewalk. And thanks, Matthew, for the comments on Roland's VSC. I have been wondering where mine is (and if it would work with the new Cakewalk), because if I recall correctly, there are some sounds my older tunes used that are not in TTS-1. Tdehan, just saw your reply to Matthew and wondered if Sonar 3 installs on Windows 10. If so, I might give it a try (gotta find my Roland VSC* for a few old tunes I did in the '90s for a few patches!). *Update: I just found a *.cwp file from a few years ago--evidently it was branded as "Edirol" not Roland.

Not sure if you tried disabling all but your preferred/default Sound > Playback device. Not sure, but maybe that will help? [image from 3 years ago showing disabled devices deleted to reclaim space]

Another option for entering and editing midi data including notes is the Events List. The problem with that is the tendency to micro-manage data down to the level of ticks, but it is an option. (That is, its not a tool for perfectionists because of the minute level of editing possible.) For more information, see http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Views.27.html

I know you said you are " . . . not interested in addressing or having feedback . . . ." However, you do not seem to be just writing notes for yourself, you are proclaiming what you think is wrong with Cakewalk in a public forum. Perhaps I am the only one customizing Cakewalk's visual elements to accommodate a vision impairment, but for me the Theme Editor is a blessing. Likewise, I have found the customizing abilities of Lenses very helpful in organizing Cakewalk workspaces--from very easy to see what's there (simple/basic) to cluttered, but I know where everything is (advanced). I have only recently started using the Theme Editor, but even with lowering my monitor's resolution (i.e., making everything bigger thereby taking up more space), I have found I can change the control bar to make it work for me. See examples below. For some people, tweaking track icons might be helpful. For others, different customizations might be helpful. For my eyes having the names of tracks based on type (MIDI, Audio, etc.) in different colors is more efficient.

Thanks for mentioning this plug-in. (Is it the one below?) I have never used it before, but I am wondering if it is "safe" to use in the new Cakewalk (on a 64-bit system)? [Are DX FX problematic and should not be used?] Thanks.

This thread was started in an attempt to find a solution for a specific set of circumstances. Is there a thread of a more general nature (here or elsewhere) to discuss such things as noise, noise floor, performance, etc. of MOBO sound chips, PCI sound cards, firewire and usb external audio devices, etc. (i.e., not opinions on specific devices, but more along the lines of (1) what to look for if changing/selecting audio devices and (2) factors to consider in deciding (a) to change and (b) to not change. 2 images showing approx -130db noise floor deleted from ancient post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COZzsTwDghQ Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today [Decades before "More Cowbell" became a "meme!"]

TY for the retro-link.

Just to clarify: I had sent a PM. "I am assuming the suggestion of using separate tracks for your per track CC data didn't help." was a reference to that which I thought would elicit a public clarification. It didn't. My bad for mentioning that. It will be utterly confusing to anyone reading your reply if I try to reconstruct the whole interaction because the narrative will have overlapping time frames. So I will delete that from my post.

Non-Problem/Solution content and OT aside deleted

Having paid quite a bit over the years (multiple hundreds of USD, maybe more), this thread has made me realize that I need not be jealous of people who are now able to get Cakewalk for the cost of setting up an account, downloading the software, and updating it periodically--I have some wonderful softsynths and many FX plug-ins that I have acquired as part of my Cakewalk/SONAR purchases!! ?

Thanks for raising the issue. It prompted me to play around with the step sequencer to make make drum patterns. As a tool for entering midi data into tracks based on visually tidy measure/beat/step divisions, I can integrate it into my workflow. As you noted, it might not be the easiest tool to enter notes of different durations into a single track since that seems to require changing the number of steps for each different duration. Although the "traditional" method of music notation (staves, notes heads, stems, rests, etc.) is a few centuries old and some might say "outdated," it is somewhat logical and can be learned with a not-too-steep learning curve. However, to change note/rest durations in staff view, you would still need to change settings using the data entry tool. Sorry the step sequencer doesn't integrate well into your workflow., but I am glad you pointed me in its direction.