Cakewalk Sonar doesn't give possibility to open a project with several midi files at the same time

[Descamps]

Hello,

I was using since more than 10 years cakewalk (free version). I have bought Cakewalk Sonar those last days.

I have installed all the updates. I am have now a problem I didn't have with the free version. Before it was possible

to open at the same time for instance a project (cwp file) and several midi files. It was really usefull to make some copies/pastes or 

navigate between each windows/opened files in a same Cakewalk instance.

Now with Cakewalk Sonar, I am not able to do this... Each time I want to open a new file, it close automatically the current file.

If I go in the menu "Window", only the current file is shown... That's really boring and complicate my work !

Have you also been faced with this behavior and how did you managed to solve it ?

I cannot imagine Sonar doesn't allow anymore this...

Thanks a lot in advance.

Stéphane

[Kurre]

I'm not sure, but do you have "recycle plugin windows" checked?

It's in preferences/file/vst settings. To have several plugin windows open at the same time it have to be unchecked.

It affects plugin windows but you talk about projects..?

[msmcleod]

Uncheck "Allow Only One Open Project at a Time" within Preferences->File->Advanced

[Descamps]

Thank you msmcleod for your answer. Effectively, it works now.

Nevertheless, this lead to another problem... 

Please read the strange behavior I've had in this topic I've written some weeks ago.

This is not necessary to read all the discussions. Only my initial message explains the issue.

When I uncheck the  "Allow Only One Open Project at a Time" button this lead to the behavior

I've explained in my first topic: between around each 5 to 15 seconds I get this waiting blue circle turning.

I cannot make any actions during several seconds and I have to wait it stops. This is really frustating to

be blocked in my work untimely...! It's never mind I have only one opened file or several, the problem is the same.

Do you know how I could solve this issue ?

This is strange Cakewalk Sonar proposes a restriction to allow only one open project at a time...

I'm wondering if this is done for some users to avoid this bug/behavior...

Thank you in advance.

Stéphane

[Kurre]

How about the audio buffer?

Adjusting the Settings:

Edit > Preferences > Audio - Sync and Caching: Locate the Playback I/O Buffer Size and Record I/O Buffer Size. 

Double Increments: Cakewalk recommends increasing the buffer size in double increments (e.g., 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048). 

Experiment: Experiment with different buffer sizes to find the setting that works best for your specific needs and computer setup. 

[Glenn Stanton]

also - make sure you're not opening files from a cloud service (Google, OneDrive, DropBox etc) file directory, and you have the anti-virus (e.g. Defender) and search exceptions setup to avoid your AV and indexing from trying to scan your files when you open them. these types of services tend to be aggressive in competing for the file even if they're not blocking it, the file handles can be prioritized causing delays (and worse file corruption).

[David Baay]

1 hour ago, Descamps said:

This is strange Cakewalk Sonar proposes a restriction to allow only one open project at a time...

I'm wondering if this is done for some users to avoid this bug/behavior...

No it's just a convenience feature to facilitate quickly switching between projects without having to deliberately close one before opening the next. And the feature has been around since before Sonar.  I didn't actully think it was the default so it's a bit curious that you had it enabled. In any case, there has never been any particular issue with opening multiple projects or MIDI files at once; I do it all the time, and have not encountered any related delays. It's more likely the issue is related to the source or architecture of the files in question or to plugins, interface initialization or Start Screen/Browser setup. I have sometimes seen file-opening delays related to the Start Screen having a browse path on a network drive. Realtime Antivirus scanning by Windows Defender or other AV can also cause this as can having large archive files on your Windows desktop.

[Descamps]

Thanks for your suggestions.

I have first tried to change the settings of audio buffers. As you said I've increased the reading and writting buffers progressively up to 2048 ko.

Unfortunately this didn't changed the issue... 

All my files (*.cwp and *.mid) are stored on my SSD. I always store them in local and not on a network.

My AV (Bitdefender) contain an exception on the folder of my music files (my cakewalk projects and midi files). All the inner folders are then also excluded

for AV scan.

I tried again and when the option "Allow Only One Open Project at a Time" is checked in the file preference settings, the problem never occurs.That's really strange... My PC configuration hasn't changed since several years. I was using the free Cakewalk version during those years and I didn't have this problem.

The issue occured some monthes ago I don't know why. I have bought recently the Cakewalk Sonar hopping it will get rid of the issue.

Do you have any ideas what could lead to such strange behavior ?

Thanks.

[57Gregy]

On 5/29/2025 at 4:55 PM, Descamps said:

it was possible

to open at the same time for instance a project (cwp file) and several midi files.

So, you want to open several MIDI files in a single CbB project at the same time?
I suppose if the files you believe are .mid are actually .cwp, you would get the results you are seeing. Are they really MIDI files?
Have you tried dragging the MIDI into the open CbB project?

[Howard B]

I am having the opposite of this issue. I am using the playlist editor for live performance but Cakewalk is keeping multiple projects open as I progress through my playlist.

I have my songs set up with Halion Sonic 7 and there is no midi data or note data in my projects. They is only sysex data to send to my Roland JV-80 and the Halion Sonic 7 patches that I play with a controller. The songs are advancing correctly. All sysex data is correctly being sent to my JV80 at the beginning of each song and Halion Sonic 7 is setting up correctly as well but when  a new song starts the previous song is remaining open in the background even though I've checked the box to only allow one project at a time. I've just started setting up my playlist so it may be that once I progress to the third song the first one might close but I'm kind of doubting that will be the case. I remember having this issue years ago when I was playing a solo act with WRK files but I'm pretty sure I fixed the issue. I don't remember what the fix was or if it would even apply to this version of Cakewalk (I was using version 3.0 back then)

[Descamps]

In fact, I have the project   .cwp file and I need to open at the same time several midi files (.mid) to make some cuts and pastes from those midi files

to the   .cwp project. For others reasons I need to navigate from the midi files to the project file.

The problem occurs when I uncheck the option "Allow Only One Open Project at a Time". I have to mention that in this case same if I open only the

.cwp project (without other files), I am also faced to this boring blue circle turning and stopping me during several seconds...

Is there somebody who have an idea how to solve this issue ? Do you know if it's possible to submit my problem directly to the support team

of Bandlab ? If yes, what is the mail to contact them ?

Thank you in advance.

[Bristol_Jonesey]

support@cakewalk.com

Edited June 2 by Bristol_Jonesey

[Promidi]

On 6/1/2025 at 6:00 AM, Descamps said:

My AV (Bitdefender) contain an exception on the folder of my music files (my cakewalk projects and midi files). All the inner folders are then also excluded for AV scan.

In addition to the above folder, you might want to also exclude any other folder to do with Cakewalk - the following folders also:

Cakewalk resource folder, (there is a default, but it can also be a custom location)
C:\ProgramData\Cakewalk 
Any Sample content folder
Maybe even your %AppData%\Cakewalk  folder

[Descamps]

For information, I have sent two emails to the Cakewalk support : one for explaining my problem and a second mail to restart.

Unfortunately I didn't have received an answer yet... I hope somebody will help me.