Best replacement for Cakewalk

[RobertWS]

On 9/27/2023 at 6:39 AM, pwalpwal said:

that sounds weird? possibly a part of a required windows update? (i'm assuming you're talking the browser?)

I think it was called:  WebView2 Runtime

Which I think is a sneaky way Microsoft is trying to force their browser onto our machines by illegally taking advantage of their monopoly.   The .NET framework already includes browser tools.

In any event, put this in a batch file and run it as administrator:
 

Quote

 

@echo off

:: Creator: Dave Kirkwood
:: Created: 24/09/2020
:: Updated: 21/09/2022
::

:: First Stop Microsoft Edge Task
taskkill /F /IM msedge.exe  >nul 2>&1

CD %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\Desktop
echo %CD%

REM ************ Main process *****************

echo *** Removing Microsoft Edge ***
call :killdir C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe
call :killdir "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge"
call :killdir "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate"
call :killdir "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeCore"
call :killdir "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView"
echo *** Modifying registry ***
call :editreg
echo *** Removing shortcuts ***
call :delshortcut "C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Microsoft Edge.lnk"
call :delshortcut "%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Edge.lnk"
call :delshortcut "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Microsoft Edge.lnk"
echo Finished!
pause
exit

REM ************ KillDir: Take ownership and remove a directory *****************

:killdir
echo|set /p=Removing dir %1
if exist %1 (
    takeown /a /r /d Y /f %1 > NUL
    icacls %1 /grant administrators:f /t > NUL
    rd /s /q %1 > NUL
    if exist %1 (
        echo ...Failed.
    ) else (
        echo ...Deleted.
    )
) else (
    echo ...does not exist.
)
exit /B 0

REM ************ Edit registry to add do not update Edge key *****************

:editreg
echo|set /p=Editting registry
echo Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 > RemoveEdge.reg
echo. >> RemoveEdge.reg
echo [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate] >> RemoveEdge.reg
echo "DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium"=dword:00000001 >> RemoveEdge.reg
echo. >> RemoveEdge.reg
echo [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{9459C573-B17A-45AE-9F64-1857B5D58CEE}] >> RemoveEdge.reg

regedit /s RemoveEdge.reg
del RemoveEdge.reg
echo ...done.
exit /B 0

:: Delete Microsoft Edge Folders
rmdir /s /q "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge"
rmdir /s /q "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeCore"
rmdir /s /q "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView"
rmdir /s /q "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Temp"

:: Delete Edge Icons, from all users
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir /b "C:\Users"') do (
del /S /Q "C:\Users\%%a\Desktop\edge.lnk" >nul 2>&1
del /S /Q "C:\Users\%%a\Desktop\Microsoft Edge.lnk" >nul 2>&1)

:: Delete additional files
if exist "C:\Windows\System32\MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe" (
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir /b "C:\Windows\System32\MicrosoftEdge*"') do (
takeown /f "C:\Windows\System32\%%a" > NUL 2>&1
icacls "C:\Windows\System32\%%a" /inheritance:e /grant "%UserName%:(OI)(CI)F" /T /C > NUL 2>&1
del /S /Q "C:\Windows\System32\%%a" > NUL 2>&1))

:delshortcut
echo|set /p=Removing shortcut %1
if exist %1 (
    del %1
    echo ...done.
) else (
    echo ...does not exist.
)
exit /B 0

 

Be gone demon spawn!

[Shane_B.]

The more I think about this topic, the more I realize that the visual appearance is just as important, maybe more, than what features the DAW has. 

I guess that's why I've always preferred Sonar. It's still to this day my favorite visually. And it does everything I need. That has always been one big hangup I've had with Studio One. It's just not visually appealing, to me, although it is the better choice for now on a 4K monitor.

I just got an email for an upgrade to the new 6.5 version of Studio One. I just don't see anything there that I need or want.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Shane_B.
Fixed typo.

[HOOK]

I get the visual thing, but I could get over that to a large degree.  For me it continually comes down to long-standing workflow problems where I refuse to change - even if it's just a couple of things.  Some things are too disruptive to accept when I don't have to.

If I had to, I'd probably switch to Reaper or Cubase.  But as they are, and continue to be, Sonar/Cakewalk wins as long as it still  works on my machine.

Because, among other problems, Reaper can't keep busses on top...and Cubase won't pass audio through a channel that's armed for recording - even if it's punch recording.

When you grew up on a DAW that does those things, changing is settling for less.

 

 

 

[Shane_B.]

4 hours ago, Shane_B. said:

just got an email for an upgrade to the new 6.5 version of Studio One. I just don't see anything there that I need or want.

Ok. I have to correct myself here regarding this.

This was a free update to version 6. When I clicked for details in the email my browser said it was unsecure so I never read the full details. I just manually went to the site and checked it out.

This was actually a huge update in some regards. They now have native Dolby Atmos support. You don't have to pay extra for a Dolby Atmos license/plug-in. You can mix and export.

This is something I would actually use. I always liked mixing instrumentals I recorded in surround but never had a way to export to a file that was playable on a surround system.

[mettelus]

23 minutes ago, Shane_B. said:

This was a free update to version 6. When I clicked for details in the email my browser said it was unsecure so I never read the full details. I just manually went to the site and checked it out.

That seems to slip under the radar for folks, but historically the "upgrades" come every 2 years (whole version releases), with the .5 releases on the off years. Only the whole numbers matter for "buying" the upgrades, but the .5 releases on the past 3 versions have had some heavy hitters in them.

[michaelhanson]

3 hours ago, Shane_B. said:

Ok. I have to correct myself here regarding this.

This was a free update to version 6. When I clicked for details in the email my browser said it was unsecure so I never read the full details. I just manually went to the site and checked it out.

This was actually a huge update in some regards. They now have native Dolby Atmos support. You don't have to pay extra for a Dolby Atmos license/plug-in. You can mix and export.

This is something I would actually use. I always liked mixing instrumentals I recorded in surround but never had a way to export to a file that was playable on a surround system.

Did the update this morning.  

[kennywtelejazz]

14 hours ago, HOOK said:

 For me it continually comes down to long-standing workflow problems where I refuse to change - even if it's just a couple of things.  Some things are too disruptive to accept when I don't have to.

+1000

I an beyond fed up with having to deal with all of that  ? It kills my free spirit and creativity .

Kenny

 

 

[RobertWS]

On 9/29/2023 at 4:49 AM, pwalpwal said:

beware that uninstalling WebView2 can impact other apps

Name one.

[RobertWS]

7 hours ago, pwalpwal said:

Office 365

Fair enough.   Name a non-Microsoft app.

[Bobby Thistle]

Studio One +

$179.00 per year gives you Studio One 6.5 Pro and the use of every VST instrument and effects plugin they have.  I don't know how much the new Sonar is going to cost when I have to pay for it but I've seen from estimates predicted here that it's going to be anywhere from $300 - $500 for a one time purchase.  BUT... what is it going to include?

Good thing is, if I really don't like Studio One + I have the option to cancel before renewing and then come back and get the new Sonar.  (but from what I've seen so far, that's not going to happen.)

[Jeremy Oakes]

17 hours ago, Bobby Thistle said:

Studio One +

$179.00 per year gives you Studio One 6.5 Pro and the use of every VST instrument and effects plugin they have.  I don't know how much the new Sonar is going to cost when I have to pay for it but I've seen from estimates predicted here that it's going to be anywhere from $300 - $500 for a one time purchase.  BUT... what is it going to include?

Good thing is, if I really don't like Studio One + I have the option to cancel before renewing and then come back and get the new Sonar.  (but from what I've seen so far, that's not going to happen.)

You are aware that nobody except the Bakers know the pricing structure ? Don’t believe any pure gossip and speculation you read on the forums - nobody knows.

J

[craigb]