CA-2A registration

[biddi4]

Hello,

This is going to be a long shot.

Here's my story. I purchased Cakewalk Sonar PE in 2017. At some point but before they shut down, I discovered the free giveaway of the CA-2A. I know I downloaded it and registered it. I LOVE free stuff. At that time I still didn't quite understand how to use it.

Anyway, I went over to another DAW and occasionally would see the Cakewalk plugins listed and I'm fairly certain that I could open that plugin along with the LP-Multiband and the LP-EQ but none of the other ones.

I stuck with the other daw but had Cakewalk still installed. Then when they actually shut down I downloaded the installers from command center. Then, that computer's HD died. So I had to rely on command center anyway and after I reinstalled everything I realized that I didn't see CA-2A. I have since learned how to use that style plugin from my Waves version and wanted to try this one. Now I just get 15 seconds of lush compression interrupted by silence!

So I found and downloaded the trial version thinking the offline registration would get it out of demo mode. Well it gave me an error. Then I contacted support and after a back and forth they finally suggested this:

"That said, here’s a little tip: some users on the Cakewalk forums have been known to archive these older giveaways, and they’re often kind enough to share them with others in similar situations. It might be worth posting there to see if someone still has a copy of the CA-2A installer and registration info from back in the day." 

I asked if they meant to ask to share the plugin with someone, which doesn't sound legit and am waiting for that reply.

So, here goes! Does anyone have the free giveaway download and registration that they would share?

I wouldn't ask, but this came from Mia at Cakewalk support.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[msmcleod]

You should be able to activate it via the Cakewalk Command Center - you can download the latest version here:   https://legacy.cakewalk.com/Command-Center - make sure you have this one, as older versions won't connect to the new servers.

[biddi4]

Hey Mark, thanks for this. I already have this version. CA-2A doesn't appear. I know! It should be if I registered it! lol

It's been years. I swore I did. I feel like it was so close to when they closed that it didn't survive the change. CA-2A, that is. Everything else did.

Thanks again though.

Mike

[Clint Martin]

I could be wrong but this is what I plan to try.

Delete Cakewalk by Bandlab. Use the old legacy command center to install Platinum and everything in my old account. 

Then re-scan Cakewalk Sonar plugins. Will that work?

[msmcleod]

Just now, Clint Martin said:

I could be wrong but this is what I plan to try.

Delete Cakewalk by Bandlab. Use the old legacy command center to install Platinum and everything in my old account. 

Then re-scan Cakewalk Sonar plugins. Will that work?

That WONT work.

SONAR Platinum didn't install CA-2A - it was always a separate installer.  If CA2A isn't appearing in the Cakewalk Command Center, then it's not available for you.

[msmcleod]

FWIW,  PC-2A is included in CbB / Sonar, which is exactly the same as CA-2A except:

• It's a Pro-Channel only module
• There's no side chaining
• There's no Mac version

 

[John Vere]

Yes the PC -2A is a great option but you can’t use it in any other Daw. 
 

There’s a few free ones.  I like the LA-LA I think it’s available from plugins 4 free. 
Im not near my computer but I believe I have at least 3 others. 

Edited Tuesday at 04:00 PM by John Vere

[Clint Martin]

On 7/15/2025 at 10:38 AM, msmcleod said:

That WONT work.

SONAR Platinum didn't install CA-2A - it was always a separate installer.  If CA2A isn't appearing in the Cakewalk Command Center, then it's not available for you.

Thanks for the info. I guess we should leave Cbb installed then?

[msmcleod]

3 minutes ago, Clint Martin said:

Thanks for the info. I guess we should leave Cbb installed then?

There's really no reason to uninstall unless you're desperate for HDD space.  Most of the installation is common to both Sonar/CbB, so you'd not be freeing up much.

Also, when CbB does fail to activate, it WILL still play back if you have a problem project - only save/export is disabled.