scook

Once installed, it has 6 months run time. When people "update", this period is reset. It is possible "re-activate" without update, but that is only true for Cakewalk itself. Bandlab Assistant has to be updated to "re-activate" Cakewalk. At no time this process was painless for me, automatic update of assistant was producing errors. Update Cakewalk from assistant also.... I mean in a class environment it is not a matter of seconds to "re-activate" using some low band connection (f.e. mobile). It will be quite some work. Yeah, I am no stranger to the environment described by the OP albeit not with DAW software. This is why I suggest contacting support.

Not much as changed WRT the staff view but there have been quite a few bug fixes and improvements elsewhere. Here is what's new since the rollout of Cakewalk By BandLab in April 2018. Now that you have Platinum running, consider adding CbB. It installs like a upgrade (think X3 to Platinum) so both Platinum and CbB will be available with updated shared folders. CbB will use all the old SONAR content. The installation process is documented here. Use the "If you are installing from BandLab Assistant" method, Welcome back.

The DAW that is the subject of this forum.

AFAIK the refresh was added to make it easier to reactivate without updating. Pretty sure it still wants to phone home to reactivate but I could be wrong.

Your best bet is contacting support@cakewalk.com This is not accurate. Activation requires internet access. Activation must be renewed at least every six months. Most users do not get re-activation notices because of the software update frequency.

You will need an audio interface capable of low latency and input echo enabled on the track(s). Input echo is the button to the right of the record button on each track.

Automation Write Modes

Same here, I moved on to CbB. Glad you got it working.

The cwp file is 2GB? That would be extremely large. There used to be problems with audiosnap blowing out the size of project files but I doubt they ever approached 2GB. Are you using a lot of Region FX, long clips in Region FX or audiosnap? Is the virus scanner turned on where the projects are saved?

See if the size of the files with cwp extension are significantly larger for the slow saving projects.

Using Windows Explorer compare the size of the problem project file with other project files.

yes, it was user created

Is an unusual location. Is the rest of "Cakewalk Content" stored there too? I believe it must all be there. The path to "Cakewalk Content" is stored in ContentDir in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cakewalk Music Software. If so, you can move "Cakewalk Content" using the Cakewalk Command Center by clicking the gear in the upper-right of the CCC UI then click the path tab and change the Content Path.

Using dots in names can result in export files with unexpected extensions like the .4 mentioned in the OP. Best to stay with the old Windows restriction of not using dots in file names (or in this case project names).

Check out the To specify a delay before playing the next song section in http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Playback.39.html

It is in the track inspector for instrument and MIDI tracks. The upper control in "Q" below.

Numbers in names are fine. Use dashes or underscores to as separators instead of dots.

This should tell you the path to the themes. Try opening the Tungsten theme from inside preferences using the Edit button. Once opened, using "Save As" opens the folder where SONAR themes should reside. There is no preference setting for themes they are hard coded to be in a folder "Cakewalk Content" called "SONAR Themes" (for SONAR Platinum). The suggestion to look at preferences was to confirm where "Cakewalk Content" was located. But using the theme editor as mentioned above is a better method.

Not really. An aux track is shorthand for creating a track using a patch point as its input.

Ha...that seems reasonable.

SHIFT-C

You may create a shortcut key to call up the Tempo Change dialog. To do so open Keyboard Shortcuts in preferences search for tempo in the Global Bindings Area assign an unused key combination to "Project | Insert Tempo Change"

CbB uses a different folder for themes. The OP asked about SONAR Platinum, at least that is how I read it. By default both use folders in "Cakewalk Content." But you may be right. Re-reading the OP it may be a question about CbB and NOT Platinum. If the question is where are CbB stored - by default they are stored in C:\Cakewalk Content\Cakewalk Themes

Yes "Cakewalk Content" may be anywhere on the PC. By default it is the root of C. By default several of the entries in Folder Locations in preferences use "Cakewalk Content" such as Track Templates, Track Icons and CAL Files. Another way to see where themes should be is run the theme editor (assuming it is installed) and try to open a theme. It should open the theme folder. The Edit button next to the theme drop down in preferences runs the theme editor.

Don't use dots in project or export names Add .wav to the files if you do (and you are exporting wav files otherwise add the appropriate file extension for the export format).