New To CW. How do i add a synth track? Does the addition figure out the key/chords and 'play along' a bass line (what i'm lookin for)

[User 905133]

36 minutes ago, rayray said:

the other part of my question was when you add a synth track (or instrument)  what will that do?  does it detect the key of the song and "play along" or do i need to go through every measure and add chords or notes?  in this case bass notes that are say an octave or maybe 2 lower than the key of the song,

will this be in the instrument track options once i get in there?  like setting the octave of the instrument and if it doesn't autodetect the key choosing the Key of the song?

I have some "Intelligent Arranger" sound modules (hardware) made by Roland during the last century that will play background / accompaniment in different accompaniment styles based on notes that are sent to them on specific specific MIDI Channels.  I assume there are third-party software synths available  you can purchase that are similar, but I don't keep track of them.  Maybe some other members of the forum can suggest some to look at. There might be some free ones or ones that have demo/trials.

On 5/19/2025 at 12:16 PM, User 905133 said:

On 5/5/2025 at 3:35 PM, rayray said:

i guess i don't know how to use or how synths or how to apply them and what they do,

Read the manuals, watch videos, explore, ask questions.  Each synth is different. So how to use one and what they each do will vary quite a bit.

I'm not sure the products from Mario Nieto [Currently Harmony Bloom and Chord Generator] will fit with what you want to do, but maybe watching some of their videos and tutorials from third-party You-Tubers will help you decide what you want and what you don't want. 

Not trying to dodge your questions about automatic chord detection, how to tell an arranger (or other) tool notes, chord, part ranges, etc. 

Your question seems to be straightforward.  You want to know "when you add a synth track (or instrument)  what will that do?" The basic straightforward answer is:  It adds a track routed to a hardware or software synth/instrument so you can send MIDI data to a sound producing device, record the MIDI data instructions (note data, FX control data, etc.), edit and save, etc.

Beyond that it really depends of what synth/instrument you have.  So, with my 1990s Intelligent Arrangers I can record or enter) note data and control data that tells the device how to compose the arrangement.  Mario Nieto's software tools will also let me do things to create music, but they both work in very different ways.

Hope this helps.

[57Gregy]

On 6/4/2025 at 4:42 PM, rayray said:

i like this way also,.  i have yet to get back from my travel and try it.   i should be back soon.  

the other part of my question was when you add a synth track (or instrument)  what will that do?  does it detect the key of the song and "play along" or do i need to go through every measure and add chords or notes?  in this case bass notes that are say an octave or maybe 2 lower than the key of the song,

will this be in the instrument track options once i get in there?  like setting the octave of the instrument and if it doesn't autodetect the key choosing the Key of the song?

tia

No, most Cakewalk programs are recording apps which require input from the musician. By "instrument", they mean a software synthesizer which will play the MIDI note data you recorded, wrote or imported.