Jim Fogle

This thread is turning into a really interesting discussion of guitar VSTi. @Tezza and @David Baay thanks for sharing your observations.

Per Google translate: Please explain what you mean by sidewalk design. Por favor, explique o que você quer dizer com "desenhos de calçada". Perhaps you would find Mix Challenge useful. https://mix-challenge.com/ Talvez você ache o Mix Challenge útil. https://mix-challenge.com/

@mettelus, I also am curious how the disabled ones differ from the newer ones. Having said that, all I have are the ones that are disabled in CbB since I don't have Sonar.

I've read numerous posts asking variations of what is a User Theme, how to install a User Theme and how to select a User Theme. I'm requesting a forum moderator create a sticky post that answers the questions. I'm taking a stab at creating a sticky worthy post but I'm certainly open to alternatives. What is a Theme? A theme is a graphic image and color container, or skin, that changes the looks of the Cakewalk by Bandlab user interface or UI. A theme does not change features or behavior, just how the program looks. Cakewalk by Bandlab has two Bandlab Technologies created themes, Mercury and Tungsten. All other themes are created by third parties and collectively named "user themes". Theme files have the .sth file extension and are stored at c:\Cakewalk Content\Cakewalk Themes by default. Select themes by pressing p on the computer keyboard, or navigate to Edit > Preferences to open the Preference window then Customization > Themes Unless you are going to create or modify a theme, the theme editor available as an add-on selection in the Bandlab Assistant is not needed.

This post is my first exposure to Duckbar. I clicked on the link, read the content and discovered Duckbar 2020 is a feature add-on for Cakewalk by BandLab and that Duckbar was previously a Sonar feature add-on for Sonar. There is still much I don't know. How is Duckbar 2020 installed? Does it run inside or outside CbB? Will it need to be installed each time CbB is updated? I'm looking forward to trying it out.

scook, I thought "Refresh Activation" selection was added to the Bandlab Assistant so the existing installation can maintain active without having to access the internet and check in.

How does one go about obtaining the Cakewalk MP3 encoder? I found this announcement on the old website, provided my email address but haven't received an email. I've tried it while signed into my account and as a visitor.

@chuckebaby Well, that 2012 thread was as clear as mud. As far as I can tell one term selects which track is displayed in the track inspector while the other term selects which track will accept edits, right? I did click on Karl Rose's links and discovered his pdf files are still available on DropBox!?

@Olaf, No preferences but thank you for asking.

@chuckebaby, I'm confused. Okay so you place focus on a track so you can work on the track while a second track is selected. What can you do with the selected track? Why would you want to have a selected track while working on the track in focus?

@Olaf, I don't think I've seen a post where multiple feedback suggestions are presented in a poll so your post will be a first for this forum. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Keeping the track number first and then the track label as the name for exported tracks makes sense to me. One of the things that makes Cakewalk by BandLab useful to so many different people is how adaptable the program is. It's not unusual for studios and libraries to have a unique track naming convention so allowing a user to specify a naming convention for exported tracks makes sense.

Pretty nice idea, I like it.

@Gary Shore Wow, thanks for sharing your timestamped outline. It will be very helpful.

@yeto, here is a 10 minute video on creating realistic audio tracks using VST guitars:

Olaf, I agree a discussion about intent is a little off topic. I apologize for that even though I'm actually enjoying having a civil discussion. Civil discussions seem to have lost favor as a way to exchange different points of view. You last post gave me an idea. When you create a new topic there are two tabs across the top, one for discussions and one for polls. How about creating a poll for each of the 76 suggestions?

Robert with Home Studio Simplified recently created a seven minute YouTube video that covers some common Cakewalk by BandLab installation issues. I thought I'd post the link so forum members can easily point to the video as a step toward resolving the issue.

Mike with Creative Sauce posted a video demonstrating the steps to enable the disabled plugins. The video is available here: https://youtu.be/CNX2TzX4nAs

@Bill Phillips, To add onto your post, for those that are not aware (like I wasn't) the little box is called the Track Manager Dialog. In the Console View the Track Manager Dialog can be called by pressing the letter "h" on your computer keyboard or "Strips" menu > "Track Manager". In the "Tracks" menu > "Track Manager".

In one respect it is nice placing all your suggestions in one post. It illustrates your desire for change and indicates you have given the post considerable consideration. The issue is I (using the generic I in this case) may not agree with all 75 suggestions. Or I may want to discuss or clarify some of them. Placing all of your suggestions in one post makes it more difficult for me to agree or disagree with each suggestion. My personal opinion is I would rather see one or two ideas presented for consideration in each thread so each suggestion can be debated and rise or fall on it's own merit. However, everyone has their own method of doing things and my personal preference does not make that preference the best way because there is no best way in most cases.

@Starise, Thanks for creating and sharing the video. For one I didn't realize how easy it is to convert from monophonic audio to midi using Melodyne. I know ARA 2 lets Melodyne integrate with Cakewalk but that's the first video where what that means really sinks in. Another user informed me the Assistant, Editor and editions of Melodyne can transform a monophonic audio track to midi. Cakewalk by BandLab offers the demo edition of Melodyne through the add on Cakewalk app button in BandLab Assistant. PG Music's Band-in-a-Box program includes a feature that can convert a monophonic audio track to an audio track but the method is MUCH more complex than the method you demonstrated. Some people may not be aware but all Band-in-a-Box for Windows packages include the identical Band-in-a-Box program. So all have midi from monophonic audio capability.

Great first episode Mike! You have some good ideas of things to do when beginning a song project. I really liked the idea of using tap tempo while listening to a rehearsal track to set the project tempo and using Studio Instrument drums to create a click track that matches the "feel" of the song. I'm looking forward to the next episode.

@Eddie, please leave your link. I'm sure some beginners will follow your link and find exactly the information they hoped to find while my link will not help at all. For other beginners just the reverse will be true. The more links to choose from the more likely a beginner will find this thread useful. Again, thank you for placing the link.

@Skyline_UK, Thanks for detailing your test and posting your test results. Excellent work and nice information for all interested users as well as the developers.

@Eddie, while I agree your link has merit I think that it is biased toward the Mac operating system by using GarageBand for it's examples. Since Cakewalk by BandLab operates on the Windows operating system and is not a cross platform application I believe it is in the best interest for beginners that whatever links provided in this thread be either operating system agnostic or biased toward the Windows operating system. A short internet search revealed MANY "first studio" internet articles ARE biased toward the Mac operating system. In fact I'd go so far as to say the vast majority of articles are based on the reader having a Mac computer or laptop or Ipad as the starting platform. There are relatively few articles that are operating system agnostic or directed toward those using Windows computers. One I found is Your First Home Recording Studio. Take a look and see what you think.