Shayne White

Thank you Noel!

I think there's been some discussion about zoom settings and workspaces previously in this thread. I've always had an issue in the new Sonar where it doesn't remember my zoom settings properly when loading a project - but I discovered that I can just hit the "1" key and it'll pull up the Workspace I'd saved with my project. (I never had this problem in CbB.) Easy enough. However, in the latest update, my projects will now sometimes load with vertical meters displayed (I use horizontal meters) and it doesn't let me hit the "1" key to revert to my saved settings - nothing happens. I now have to close and reopen the project, then the horizontal meters will come back and I can hit 1 to change to the correct workspace. This behavior seems to occur at random and it's not always reproducible.

I for one am hoping to get VST versions of the Sonitus suite, it would make saving/loading presets a lot easier. That being said, the 64-bit DX versions work great too.

I've run into an issue in Sonar (I'm using the latest version) where some older VST plugins that are not "DPI-aware" don't work properly when I disable the DPI-aware option. Basically, the on-screen controls can't be edited at all. Can't turn any knobs or change settings. The plugins are only functional when I have DPI-awareness turned on, and then the UI is the size of a postage stamp on my 4K monitor. (Well, maybe not quite, but you get the idea.) Examples: Soundtower's MophoX4 Plug SE MIDI controller (for my DSI hardware synth), Vladg Limiter No6, and some others. It really seems to depend on the plugin. Some plugins where I have to disable DPI-Awareness still work fine.

AFAIK the DXi version of Rapture was never upgraded to 64-bit, so it probably won't load in your modern Sonar DAW. I've run into the same issue with old projects trying to load the old 32-bit DXi Rapture that won't load on my modern 64-bit system. Thankfully I kept my old 32-bit PC lying around. Sorry but I don't think there's a workaround as there was never any kind of 32-bit > 64-bit wrapper for DX plugins.

Let's look on the bright side. At least the new Sonar isn't anywhere as hideous as Ableton Live. In my opinion the new graphics will take some getting used to, but I can probably be brought around eventually. Having full 4K compatibility will be great.

Hey Cakewalk community! Today I've just released two new songs online, recorded and produced entirely with CbB. My style I've termed "electro-dreamwave" and I use a blend of analog & digital synths, voice, harp, and more. I'm putting out these songs ahead of my album I plan to release this coming summer. I'm including Bandcamp links for you to check out, but they're also available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon, and all the other major streamers. Enjoy! https://shayne.bandcamp.com/track/the-first-time-hd-96khz-24-bit https://shayne.bandcamp.com/track/jacobs-dream-hd-96khz-24-bit

I think this was turned off in an earlier version of CbB if I remember correctly, and I had to go find that option as well. So this isn't anything new to Sonar.

I also have always had to install 8.5 off the DVD just to get Lexicon reverb for older project compatibility. As I recall, there was no online "activation" for that version - you just had to have your serial number and reg code written down (there was a sticker on the disc sleeve to do that). You might have to launch the app in Admin mode for it to work, I remember that was an issue for Dim Pro and/or Rapture as well.

While I'm excited to see what the new Sonar will be like, in the meantime I'm happily using CbB to produce my music and I'm in no kind of hurry. Besides, it's still the free version. ?

You're adding 2 audio streams together which will cause the output level to rise by 3db (assuming both the L and R channels are the same amplitude). If you're worried about clipping, you can hold down your CTRL key with the Smart tool enabled and drag the clip gain down 3db prior to bouncing.

It depends on your genre and desired sound. I mostly produce electro-pop music. First, take a look at the waveforms on your tracks to determine whether you should use compression. Generally, there should be compression on anything with spiky peaks - percussion/beats, bass, plucky instruments. Vocals need a lot of compression so you can hear all the words and your voices rise above the rest of the mix. On the other hands, anything with smooth or constant levels, like filler pads, need little to no compression. Use short attack and release times whenever possible - it'll help eliminate the "pumping" sound. BTW, I use the Sonitus Compressor that comes bundled with Cakewalk -- it almost always sounds great.

I still use Rapture (not Pro) from time to time. It was always a great synth.

Anyone I talk to doesn't know about Cakewalk because it's Windows-only and I guess they don't take it seriously. I'm hoping that since Next will run on Mac, it'll bring the Cakewalk brand to a new audience.

I took some audio classes that involved recording onto 24-track tape while I was in college. It was in San Francisco so the professor talked about how the fog that seeped in through the building's air vents would get the tapes damp. The damp tapes would shred if you played them, so you had to bake them in an oven to get them playable. Yeah. Don't complain about your DAW.