user905133

For me, I also like having the old-style tools in the Staff View windows. However, that should be in its own feature request thread.

Just to be clear, your basic request is for the ability to create and use Instrument Definitions for soft synths (currently only available for synths accessed via ports and channels) as clarified in the following quote. It makes sense to me if it can be done, esp. for custom patches and patch banks (in addition to factory patches/banks). To clarify: when you referred to ". . . selecting by archaic and meaningless numbers" earlier, I was asking if you were saying the midi port/channel selection process was archaic and meaningless. You have clarified this--it refers to selecting banks and patch numbers devoid of patch names. Thanks.

Not sure if anything in the colors settings or theme editor would meet your needs; a few weeks ago I played around with some color elements:

2021-08-24: This is an old thread. Much has changed. So people don't think my comments from August 10, 2020 are still relevant, I have put them in a light grey font. Also, please see this: =========================================================================================== Not doubting others have had issues; just sharing a few things I noticed on a fresh Cakewalk installation on a new-to-me PC (2012 era computer recently refurbished by a certified reseller with Win 10 Pr v. 2004) in case they help others install Cakewalk. Earlier I had installed the drivers and software for my legacy PCI card. Downloaded Bandlab Assistant from the Cakewalk by Bandlab website. Website warned about using cookies; I said OK. Win 10 Defender red flagged it and ask for my OK; I did. Ran Bandlab Assistant, logged in to my account, chose to install Cakewalk only (no add-ons just yet) Had no downloading meter; just flashing text. Switched to Task Manager to verify the program was doing something (not hanging); it was indeed running. After Cakewalk downloaded, I said OK to run it; watched the progress in the dialog; got the finished message. Ran Cakewalk and stepped through the setup wizard. After testing the PCI card and Cakewalk, the plan is to uninstall Cakewalk, install a few other versions of SONAR so I get my old plug-ins and then re-install Cakewalk. Perhaps that won't go as smoothly. Many tips have been posted previously in different threads. I hope this adds a few more.

2021-08-24: This is an old thread. Much has changed. So people don't think my comments from August 10, 2020 are still relevant, I have put them in a light grey font. Also, please see this: =========================================================================================== I suspect that (1) below [killing all Bandlab processes via Task Manager] achieved the same thing as closing it in the system tray. I haven't had an update not work in months, but if I do, I will try the system tray close trick. Thanks for that tip.

Makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.

By this are you referring to midi ports and midi channels?

Did you try opening the *.wrk files up in Cakewalk by Bandlab? I have had no problems with files that predate the Pro Audio series. In fact, being active in the forum during the past year I have seen that the developers have worked on fine tuning compatibility with *.wrk files. You might find that yours work, or maybe there are still some snags. If not, perhaps some more fine-tuning could be done. Doesn't hurt to ask. On the other hand, if you want to pay someone else to do that for you, that's also a valid approach.

In another thread, on another matter, I wrote the following: Personally, while I think additional improvements in the download / update installation process are possible and while difficulties and frustrations with all things technological are inevitable, I think (1) you could have made your initial point with less drama and (2) you could be less reactive -- so could some of the people who held up the anger / hostility mirror to you. Just my opinion. You might not be aware that over a span of several months a number of people expressed issues with the need to have their DAW Computer online in order to update Cakewalk. The result was an off-line activation procedure.

I wrote the following two days ago, but didn't post it. I'm still not sure.

Funny, a few days ago (after my laptop forced v. 2004 on me), I changed some Windows setting and the next thing I knew, my browser had picked up the dark theme--presumably from Windows. For those of you that like dark themes, if Cakewalk dialogs could grab that from Windows, you might like it! Let me see what the forum looks like.

I was curious, because I remember having/using SFZ+; so I looked to see what I had (legitimate copies, not cracked versions). In a folder, I have sfz+.exe, sfz+.dll, and sfz+DXI.dll (all from 2003). The standalone version works under Windows 10 Pro (tested with files from a recent CM issue, 4GMGSMT.SF2 (1996)).

You are making excellent progress teaching yourself Theme editing!! Definitely don't neglect the family!!!!! Looking at the Matrix View, if I can keep my colors for other views (which I suspect is very possible), I might want to borrow some of your choices!

This topic is a problem for Google translate [if on, turn off auto-translate to read]: "SE CUELGA AL CONVERTIR EN MONO" became "HANGS UP WHEN BECOMING MONKEY" !!!!! ? However, the actual post is a bit clearer: "Después de la actualización de windows 10 última parece que cuando ejecuto 'convertir a mono' se cuelga el motor de audio." became "After the last windows 10 update it seems that when I run 'convert to mono' the audio engine hangs." I never knew "mono" meant "monkey." Now I do.

Maybe its Edirol? I have never been able to get my Edirol VSC to work under Windows 10, but it still works under XP.

I have used SI-Bass Guitar a handful of times and I never use Melodyne, but I was curious about this and did a quick test. Using the built-in "Groove It" bass pattern [under "Electronic & Pop"], I played a few different basses. For all of them, SI-Bass seemed to respect note duration. If you try that and get he same results I did (midi durations/note lengths work), perhaps that points to an issue with the durations in the midi file? Just a thought. ADDENDUM: On a hunch, I played some patterns with the guitar in mono mode and pressed my sustain pedal (CC64) and got what sounds like you described. Any chance there is a hidden CC64 [sustain] in the file? HMMMM: Just to clarify: in the event list, the items checked in the manager just tell the event list what to display; it is not a midi event filter in terms of playing notes. So, if you uncheck everything there, no midi events will be shown, but the track will still play all midi events.

Thanks for the reminder. I had been meaning to do this with "ExpressFX" [Sound Forge] plug-ins, but just generally kept the folder closed and ignored them. Out of curiosity, other than saving me a line in the Browser (which I ignored), does excluding them have any other benefit?

Super interesting behind-the-scenes/historical details, too!

Excellent attention to detail in your updating efforts!! And thanks for mentioning the blurriness issue--I wasn't sure if it was my eyesight or my PC when I posted this:

I do not have FB and can't imagine I ever will; however. I have used several sites that have open-to-the-public content. On the other hand, I have explored Bandlab (the online app) with the idea of maybe someday using it collaboratively. I guess you could say I'd be a candidate for the Semi [or Selectively] Anti-Social Social Club--the SASS Club as opposed to the one you named!

I think its great that you have taken this on. I can imagine the steps in this discussion might help others who want to rescue other old themes that have previously been shared by their original designers.

I have super high regard for those who can do full themes; I have only done a few tweaks (some of which you might have seen in the Theme Guide thread). I know I do not have the patience or the artistic skills to do a complete theme. Perhaps you could take an updated theme you like and make minor tweaks borrowed from Dark Aqua, and build it step at a time. The theme editor offers the ability to revert to the elements used by the original theme that the new one is based on. So perhaps you can: Make a copy of Dark Aqua, rename it MyTweaks, and revert elements that seem to be problematic. Load an up-to-date theme. Import MyTweaks and save it with a name like MyTheme. The idea is that you can create files of personal customizations and import them on top of other themes. Out of curiosity, what's not looking right? Maybe others here can help you locate the correct elements that need to be fixed. Based on my admittedly limited experience, finding the right element can take considerable time. Of course, the theme guide is a great help! BTW, in order not to hijack this thread, if you want to create a thread on "Updating the Dark Aqua Theme," I would delete this here and repost it there.

Good news: Surge v.1.7.1 seems to have solved the AntiVirus issue. (v. 1.7.0 still shows 5 flags at TotalVirus; 1.7.1 only shows 1 which doesn't affect my PC). Like others, I had noise [crackle] and then the dreaded audio drop with some of the Jacky Ligon patches--even after upping my audio card's ASIO buffer 3 fold!!!!! As noted above, it did not seem to be related to extreme CPU usage. Anyone know where strings are hidden? EDIT: With the new version, Surge continues to function as an FX processor--a little like Z3ta+ FX, though so far as I can see, there is no midi learn for Surge FX controls).

Maybe a virtual midi port utility might help, as suggested in the following thread (re: LoopBe)?

I used to use this for hardware and would assign instrument definitions based on midi ports and channels. Can we use this method with software synths?