Next, don't open local BandLab projects.

[Insexticide]

Hello!

I've installed Cakewalk Next to make the transition. Initially, it installed without issues. I also connected the VST and plugin folders without any problems.

The problem started when I tried to open projects previously created with Cakewalk by BandLab. I go to the menu, "Open Local Project." I navigate to the folder, select the *.cwp file, and nothing happens... It's as if I didn't give it any instruction. It doesn't give errors, doesn't say anything is missing, just does absolutely nothing. Any help or ideas about what might be happening?

Thanks! 🎸

[Bass Guitar]

You cannot directly open a CWP file in Next. Next has a different file extension CNP

There is now a Cakewalk Exchange File format  available in New Sonar including the Free Tier that you first "Export"  which creates a CXF extension which Next will open. The project will not be the same as it was in Sonar due to the lack of advance features like Pro Channel. But the Midi and the Audio will populate the project along with some of your effects.

The free version of Next does not include the many instruments that the Subscription version has so it's very limited. Sort of a waste of energy really.

Edited July 25 by Bass Guitar
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[User 905133]

10 hours ago, Insexticide said:

Hello!

I've installed Cakewalk Next to make the transition. Initially, it installed without issues. I also connected the VST and plugin folders without any problems.

The problem started when I tried to open projects previously created with Cakewalk by BandLab. I go to the menu, "Open Local Project." I navigate to the folder, select the *.cwp file, and nothing happens... It's as if I didn't give it any instruction. It doesn't give errors, doesn't say anything is missing, just does absolutely nothing. Any help or ideas about what might be happening?

Thanks! 🎸

I could be wrong, but as I have understood it ever since development of the new products were first announced a couple of years ago, Cakewalk Next was never intended to be the next step after Cakewalk Pro Audio, Cakewalk SONAR, and Cakewalk by Bandlab, but rather from Bandlab the web app / Bandlab Studio.

Others have commented on converting *.cwp projects and accessing them in Cakewalk Next if that's what your intent is.

Another option is to use Cakewalk Sonar, not Cakewalk Next.

 

[Bass Guitar]

With the introduction of Sonar and Next they implemented a new file format that allows the exchange of projects between the 2 Daw’s. 
It’s called Cakewalk Interchange Format or CXF and is found in the File menu Export. I don’t think many people know about this. 
It didn’t work very well at first but they fixed it and I have used it with out issue a couple of times. Especially handy for creating stems in Next and transfer to Sonar. 
I noticed that it is still working fine in the free versions. 

Of course Next doesn’t have pro channel so it’s not an exactly the same transfer. 

A plus side to this is that it gives Sonar users a way to collaborate with Mac users. 
Example you have a collaborate partner with a Mac and just need drums or guitar parts added. 
Now they can use the Free version of Next to do this. 
You simply export and send them the CXF file from Sonar. 

They add the parts using the Mac version of Next and then they send the updated CXF file back. 
 

 

[Starship Krupa]

On 7/22/2025 at 12:11 AM, Insexticide said:

've installed Cakewalk Next to make the transition.

....

The problem started when I tried to open projects previously created with Cakewalk by BandLab.

Cakewalk Next can't open CbB project files directly.

Are you sure you want to transition to Cakewalk Next? The successor to Cakewalk by BandLab is Cakewalk Sonar. It has all of the features of Cakewalk by BandLab, opens CbB projects just fine. It looks very much like CbB and has the same workflow.

Cakewalk Next is a separate DAW program.