How to lay new track w/o prior tracks being included in the track

[Wally Mayo]

I used the old original Cakewalk, and loved it (but doesn't work right in Windows 10). The new version seems terrific with great power.

In old version, I would mainly used tracks in AUDIO mode, and I would lay track after track just fine, and as I laid new track, it would only record the new sound entered (via input into sound card), not the combination of any past tracks also sounding into the track. What good is trying to lay an independent separate track if all prior tracks sound off and get included? I read where I'm supposed to MUTE all other tracks. How can I time or match prior music if I have to mute it? I know there is a metronome, but my music is not conducive to using it -- beside the metronome gets recorded too!! What am I missing?

Admittedly, in the past scenario, I used LINE IN instead of STEREO MIX from the sound card. I was using a synthesizer audio out then. I'm trying to use CODA ARIA sound engine now for it's top sounds. Perhaps that is just impossible with CakeWalk (by using internal sound generated by computer, instead of actual importing of audio from external source).

Should I try a strictly MIDI strategy? Or is there a magic setting or switch in the software that can cure this "duplication" challenge?

Thanks.

Edited June 18, 2020 by Wally Mayo

[chris Bowman]

Edit

Preferences

click on Project Record tab on left.

Select the Overwrite button.

Then select apply button at bottom of window.

I believe it defaults to Comping that's why your hearing your old recording.

Edited June 18, 2020 by chris Bowman

[Wally Mayo]

Thanks! Hmmm, did that (easy). But, no change (tried all 3 options). I'm pretty sure it has to do with using "stereo mix" for audio input (windows SOUND control panel-which is only choice if no "line in" is used). It really does mix everything, and outputs it so. I rechecked my old strategy of using "line input" with a Roland XV-3080 synth module hooked up. Then, it IS separate, in that laying a new track only uses the new "played in music" to capture, ignoring prior tracks. If that is so, then unless there is some other option (not sure how buses work in this software), it may mean that I cannot use any of the fantastic orchestra sounds from ARIA in Cakewalk, as I can't "line in" that, ARIA sounds are computer produced and only found on "Stereo Mix!"

The only other idea I wondered about was to go strictly MIDI. But, ARIA seizes the MIDI input (USB interface) for playing its sounds out with keyboard, and CakeWalk then can't access MIDI input.

Edited June 18, 2020 by Wally Mayo

[David Baay]

Yes 'Stereo Mix' is the output of the soundcard. You need to be recording from the input by setting the source to Line In. I gather ARIA is the name of the wavetable synth in your soundcard, not referring to Garritan Aria Player plugin. Wavetable synths are generally not usable in Cakewalk anyway due to latency issues. You'll want to get a good orchestral VSTi.

[Wally Mayo]

Well, yes, I'm actually using the Garritan Aria Player plugin (came with Finale--actually I also added Orchestra 5). One time, I accidentally did something that allowed a choice in dropdown for inputs in Cakewalk, labeled as ARIA something. I would try  selecting it to test, and got no result. But, again, it gave me some hope, and wondered then about configuration factors. ARIA and Finale both were able to be configured with very low latency. But, that was without Cakewalk  as a factor.

[Wally Mayo]

Finally, I figured out installing and activating the ARIA plug-in. That should solve my problem.