Morten Saether Posted April 28, 2021 Share Posted April 28, 2021 [UPDATE 17-May-2021: Cakewalk 2021.04 Update 1 (build 27.04.0.175) is now available] Introduction The 2021.04 release integrates BandLab library access directly within Cakewalk, introduces a new Tempo track and Tempo Inspector, PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier ProChannel module, automation enhancements, Arranger enhancements, lots of other enhancements and optimizations, and over 80 bug fixes, all in keeping with our goal of making Cakewalk as reliable and enjoyable as possible. Please note that in order to automatically keep your activation status up to date, Cakewalk will renew your activation status whenever a new version of the application is installed and run for the first time, and when you sign in to BandLab from within Cakewalk. If you have never signed in to BandLab from within Cakewalk, you will be prompted once to sign in. The following highlights are intended to provide an overview of the more significant changes. Please also refer to the new features section of our documentation for more detailed information on the features. Please give us feedback on this release. We hope you like it! Update May 17 2021: 2021.04 Update 1 (build 27.04.0.175) Automatic activation refresh Cakewalk will now auto check and renew your activation status whenever a new version of the application is installed and run for the first time. It will also do this when you sign in to BandLab from within Cakewalk. You will see a "Cakewalk activation has been refreshed" message on starting the application for the first time. If you were not signed in to BandLab, you will be prompted to sign in, after which it will auto renew the activation status. Note that you must have an active internet connection for the automatic renewal process to work. As long as you stay logged in to BandLab within Cakewalk, and use Cakewalk occasionally, it will automatically stay activated with no further user intervention required. Improved error detection Using a DAW with many plug-ins can sometimes result in stability issues and crashes. It can be a difficult to troubleshoot issues like this. To assist, we have made several improvements to our error handling. Enhanced error detection is now integrated into the DAW. This feature is opt-in and may be enabled by adding the ExceptionHandlingSeverity value to the Cakewalk.ini initialization file. We appreciate users helping make Cakewalk better by reporting crashes to us as well as plug-in vendors when necessary. To control the error detection sensitivity, you can now add a new ExceptionHandlingSeverity value in Preferences > File - Initialization File. Valid values for this setting are: 1 - Only unhandled errors are caught (default) 3 - All memory access violations are detected and unhandled exceptions are caught. [May occasionally flag cases that are benign] 5 - Unhandled errors and heap corruption is detected 7 - Unhandled errors, memory access violations and heap corruption errors are caught (this is the strictest error detection mode and may occasionally flag errors that are benign) The error detection dialog has been redesigned and now has links to the crash dump file as well as a link to log an error report with Cakewalk directly. In addition to the crash dump file, a text log of relevant data specific to the session is also listed. Please include the log file as well as the dump file when submitting errors. The error detection dialog has a direct link to log an issue with customer service. We encourage you to report issues and include relevant information about the crash including the log and dump file. When applicable, the crash dialog allows you the option of continuing after a crash. Please note that the behavior after resuming is not guaranteed and is provided as a last resort to access project information when a crash occurs. It should only be used in cases where the crash is known to be continuable. If you have enabled ExceptionHandlingSeverity, to go back to the default value you can delete this variable. To troubleshoot problems that may arise when using plugins we recommend users set this value to 7 which provides the highest error detection capabilities. Bug fixes Recording: Recorded audio clips placed late on timeline by the ASIO record latency. Punch recording writes wave file data past the end of the punch region. Punch Recorded clips punched out too early in projects containing containing synths. Punch in recording occurs late with Aux or synth tracks. Last take punches out too early when loop and punch out regions coincide. Various improvements to punch and loop recording. BandLab integration: Instrument tracks upload to BandLab as separate audio and MIDI tracks when frozen. Track Mute state does not persist when uploading to BandLab. Revision description not setting project notes when downloading a revision. Browse BandLab Projects dialog does not display Unicode double byte characters. Tempo track: Process > Fit to Time supports Tempo track when Tempo Map is selected under Modify by Changing. Tempo track tempo not being set by New Project dialog. Tempo nodes are selected when selecting an Arranger section, even if Arranger Exclude is enabled on the Tempo track. Loading pre Tempo track projects by default will not attempt to create envelope shapes from the tempo map. Tempo node delete can delete selected clips. Deleting Arranger section clears the tempo envelope. Tempo nodes being added past the end of the project when loading older projects. Offset Tempo Map doesn't respect time selection. Default envelope shape for tempo track should be Jump (when using Clear All). Delete Hole and Ripple Edit don't work with Tempo track. Arranger Tracks: Deleting multiple Arranger sections doesn't work after changing section colors. Unexpected behavior with overlap threshold when not using Split MIDI Notes / Non-Destructive MIDI Editing. Articulation Maps: Articulation selected unexpectedly in some cases. Selecting a clip with articulations should partially select articulations outside the clip extents. Unexpected behavior using CTRL + right button drag articulation selection. Cut & paste articulation can cause overlapped articulations. UI: Misc. menu issues on multi-monitor systems when the monitors have significantly different resolution/scale settings: Menus not appearing. Menus appearing on the wrong monitor. Incorrectly sized menus Track view no longer visible in Keyboard Shortcut category dropdown. Piano Roll view Aim Assist line slightly off when left is scrolled beyond zero. Staff view not updating after nudging nodes. Misc.: Preferences > File - Initialization File saves a blank Cakewalk.ini entry which prevents adding new options. Note: Custom user themes saved in the public release of 2021.04 or Update 1 Early Access should be updated and resaved in Theme Editor after installing 2021.04 Update 1. Specifically, the following items should be updated: Meter/Key view: Insert Delete Properties 2021.04 Highlights Integrated BandLab library access The 2021.04 release introduces a major update to BandLab integration, with support for downloads and uploads and tracking revision state directly from within Cakewalk. Subsequent uploads to BandLab of a modified project are automatically tracked as revisions to the parent project. There is also support for importing clips and MIDI tracks from BandLab projects. The brand new Library view (File > Browse BandLab Projects) now allows you to navigate your projects on BandLab and set revision and song properties directly from within Cakewalk . Here are some of the benefits of BandLab library integration in Cakewalk: Easily publish Cakewalk projects, stems and mixes to your BandLab library Quickly open BandLab projects in Cakewalk Collaborate easily by sharing audio tracks via the BandLab cloud Bring projects started on mobile into Cakewalk for VST effects and advanced editing Fly in vocals or other parts for a Cakewalk project from iOS and Android Curate your music as playlists that you can play anywhere from your mobile device To publish the current project to your BandLab library, select File > Publish to BandLab or choose Export | BandLab from the export module on the toolbar. When publishing to BandLab, a project may be uploaded as a new project, or as a revision to an existing BandLab project. BandLab projects always point to the latest revision. Use the Upload Settings to pick the combination of project assets you wish to upload to the BandLab project. Tracks and buses are mixed down prior to uploading to BandLab. To open a BandLab project, select File > Browse BandLab Projects. You may open as a new Cakewalk project or import into an existing project. Note that revisions are only tracked if you open as a new Cakewalk project. Use the Download Settings options to select the types of assets from the BandLab project you wish to download and open. IMPORTANT: Cakewalk is no longer compatible with projects downloaded via BandLab Assistant. As of version 2021.04, BandLab Assistant should no longer be used for project integration. If you have multiple BandLab user accounts and would like to sign in as a different user, select Help > Sign Out from BandLab, then select Help > Sign In to BandLab to sign in with a different account. Tempo track The new envelope based Tempo track replaces the Tempo view and provides an overview of the project tempo. In the Tempo track, tempo changes are represented by envelope shapes. You edit the project’s tempo map the same way you edit automation envelopes. If a project has a single fixed tempo, the Tempo track shows a straight horizontal line. You create tempo changes by adding envelope nodes and editing their values. You can expand the Tempo track to give yourself more room to work, and adjust the range of values for the Tempo track. To show the Tempo track, do one of the following: Click the Track view View menu and select Tempo Track Show/Hide Select Views > Tempo or press ALT+SHIFT+5 (this also opens the Tempo Inspector) The Tempo track automatically zooms vertically to fit the tempo range each time the tempo envelope is modified. To zoom vertically, drag up/down in the tempo scale with the left mouse button To scroll vertically, drag in the tempo scale with the right mouse button To auto-zoom to fit the envelope, double-click the tempo scale The new Project > Offset Tempo Map command lets you speed up or slow down the entire tempo map. For additional options, right-click the Tempo track. Tip: There is a new workspace named Tempo that has a layout suitable for tempo editing. Note: Your old custom workspaces have no knowledge of the new Tempo track, so you must resave the workspaces if you want to store the state of the Tempo track. Tempo Inspector The Tempo Inspector shows a list of all tempo changes defined in the project’s tempo map, and allows you to edit each tempo change BPM, time position, and curve type. To show/hide the Tempo Inspector, click the Show/Hide Tempo Inspector button at the top of the Inspector pane. To show both the Tempo Inspector and Tempo track, select Views > Tempo or press ALT+SHIFT+5. PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier ProChannel module PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier is meticulously modeled after a legendary vintage electro-optical tube compressor. This compressor, known for its automatic gain control characteristics, delivers vintage sound with incredibly warm and rich compression. It is revered by audio engineers worldwide for its trademark sound, and has been used on countless hit records since the late 1960s. It is one of the true classics in the audio recording industry. Enhancements Loop current arrangement You can now loop the current arrangement indefinitely by enabling the Loop Enable/Disable button in the Arranger Inspector. Plug-in menu improvements Plug-in menus have been greatly enhanced to make it easier and faster to find and select plug-ins: Plug-in menus show color coded plug-in types (DX/VST2/VST3/32 bit) Large plug-in menus can now show over 1,000 plug-ins Multiple columns appear when applicable Clearer fonts Supports mouse wheel scrolling Supports keyboard navigation: HOME / END PAGE UP / PAGE DOWN Press any alpha-numeric key to go to the first plug-in beginning with that character; press the same character again to go to the next plug-in, etc. Improved automation envelope UI The appearance of automation envelopes has been updated: Automation envelopes are slightly thinner Nodes are smaller and no longer have a gradient Selected nodes are larger and outlined Ghosted envelopes no longer show nodes Show values on automation envelopes You can now optionally show values on envelopes. To show/hide values on automation envelopes, click the Track view View menu and select Display > Show Values on Envelopes. Track Manager preset support The Track Manager dialog box now has support for per-project presets. This is useful if you have a large project and you want to hide all other tracks apart from a certain group of tracks. For example, on a rock project you could have a "Drums only" or "Guitars" preset; on an orchestral project, you may wish to have a "Strings Section" preset that hides all tracks apart from your strings tracks. Note: Tracks within the Tracks Manager presets are "opted-out" - i.e. it remembers which tracks you want to hide, rather than which tracks you want to show (to avoid not being able to see newly created tracks). To open the Track Manager, click the Track view Tracks menu and select Track Manager or press the H key. Convert MIDI continuous controller (CC) events to/from automation envelopes You can convert back and forth between MIDI continuous controller (CC) events and automation envelopes. The existing Track view Clips > Convert MIDI Controllers To Envelopes command lets you convert all CC events on all selected tracks to automation envelopes. You now also have finer control with the ability to convert an individual CC type on a Piano Roll controller lane. You can also convert MIDI automation envelopes back to CC events. You can also choose to convert only a selected part of your CC events / automation envelope and back again. Converting MIDI controllers to envelopes: In the Piano Roll view Controller pane, click the name/label of the CC type that you want to convert to an envelope. Right-click the highlighted CC name/label and select Convert MIDI to Envelopes. Cakewalk converts the Piano Roll view controller data to a Track view envelope that controls the same parameter. Converting envelopes to MIDI controllers: This can be useful, for example, if you want to use the Transform tool in the Piano Roll view Controller pane. In the Clips pane, show the envelope that you want to convert to MIDI controller events. Select the time range that contain the controller data you want to convert, or clear the selection if you want to convert the entire envelope. Right-click envelope and select Convert to MIDI Events. Conversion uses the current Snap to Grid setting as a resolution for discrete CC events: If Snap is off, the resolution is the last selected snap setting If Snap is not set to a musical value (e.g. samples), the resolution is 1/32nd note Waveform outlines You can now optionally show waveform outlines in the Clips pane. To show/hide waveform outlines, click the Track view View menu and select Display > Show Waveform Outlines. Known issue: Waveform outline may not display correctly wherever there are tempo changes or clip mute regions, resulting in incomplete waveform outlines and/or vertical lines. The number of tempo changes, muted clip regions, zoom level and vertical waveform size all affect the severity of the issue. This will be fixed before the final release. UI theme compatibility checker IMPORTANT: The Inspector header has a new Show/Hide Tempo Inspector button . In addition to the new button, the other header buttons have been resized. Custom user themes must be updated in order to show the header buttons properly. When you select a theme in Edit > Preferences > Customization - Themes, or launch Cakewalk with an old custom user theme active, Cakewalk checks to make sure the custom theme is compatible with the current version of Cakewalk. A user theme is considered incompatible if Cakewalk contains new or resized UI elements that have not been updated in the theme. If the selected theme needs to be updated, Cakewalk will show a Custom Theme Incompatibility warning, and ask if you want to continue to use the theme: If you click Yes, some UI elements might be corrupted until the theme is updated and resaved in Theme Editor. If you click No, Cakewalk will revert to the factory Mercury theme. Improved plug-in exception handling / crash reporting NOTE: Plug-in crashes should always be first reported to the manufacturer's support channels to allow them to diagnose these issues. There are several improvements to error reporting to help diagnose plug-in or application crashes: Cakewalk now distinguishes between plug-in and application crashes and will list the plug-in name where available in the crash dialog. For easier reporting , the crash dump file when generated is now displayed as a hyperlink allowing you to click to open the location of the file. The application also intercepts and reports errors that would previously result in the application silently shutting down. You will now get a dump file where possible and the ability to save your current work in these scenarios. Behavior changes Disable Arranger Preview if project does not support it To reinforce that Arranger Preview is not supported in projects that contain video, ReWire synths, and active Region FX, Arranger Preview is now disabled in such projects. Optimizations High resolution plug-in automation improvements Plug-in automation envelopes were previously being decimated at a uniform 50 msec interval. The automation rendering process has been redesigned to render at a much higher resolution of (default = 5 msec) and also make automation sample accurate (for VST3). For VST2 (or VST3 plug-ins that do not support sample accurate automation) the rendering will be buffer accurate. These improvements allows for much tighter sync when automating plug-in parameters synced to rhythm even at higher latencies. The higher resolution rendering also makes automating filter sweeps audibly smoother and without aliasing artifacts. The decimation interval can be changed via the audio configuration property AutomationDecimationMsec (2-30) in preferences. Accurate automation writing via MIDI remote control Writing automation for plug-in parameters automated via MIDI remote control is more accurate and curves should be smoothly represented. Windows 10 high DPI rendering option (experimental feature) Note: This feature is experimental, so please report back if you notice any improvements or problems when using it. This feature will only benefit users with high DPI displays such as 4K monitors, and may not be noticeable unless your Windows display scaling setting is > 100%. Cakewalk 2021.04 introduces a new experimental Cakewalk.ini variable that enables improved high DPI rendering on Windows 10 build 1809 (October 2018) and above. When enabled, the rendering quality of text and other GDI-based primitives automatically improve when the window is displayed on a high-DPI monitor. All Cakewalk UI is potentially affected, including menus and dialogs, but plug-in windows are created without high DPI rendering improvements to avoid UI issues. To enable Windows 10 DPI awareness, add the following variable in Cakewalk.ini (Edit > Preferences > File - Initialization File). EnableWin10DPIAwareness=1 To disable again, set the variable to EnableWin10DPIAwareness=0. Latest release notes are here. See prior release notes. Check out all new features released to date. Previous release: 2021.01 Feature Overview 2020.11 Feature Overview 2020.09 Feature Overview 2020.08 Feature Overview 2020.05 Feature Overview 2020.04 Feature Overview 2020.01 Feature Overview 2019.11/12 Feature Overview 2019.09 Feature Overview 2019.07 Feature Overview 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timboalogo Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 (edited) Genius work on this, guys! The tempo inspector looks incredible and the envelope work is what I need. Thanks! Timbo Edited April 30, 2021 by timboalogo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now