Tech: Cakewalk question

Subject: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:06 PM

Help please from you clever bunch.How do you get cakewalk to do "repeats"? That is to put in a sign/symbol that means the piece has to start again from a point

Thanks

Eric

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: PeteBoom
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:20 PM

Ummmm..... what Cakewalk software are you running?

Pete

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:25 PM

Don't know, can find out. It's for a friend-I have 1! I'm not clever enough to start playing with big boys toys. I will check which version etc.

Thanks

Eric

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Ed.
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:31 PM

This may be really obvious, but have you tried searching the help files for repeat?

Jon Freeman uses this, and I'll alert him to the thread if he's not along soon.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:42 PM

It's a sequencing, not scoring, program; I don't think that you can just insert a staff-style "repeat" instruction (at least in older versions). I've always copied-and pasted relevant passages as required. You can "loop" an entire track, but I don't think that's what your friend means.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: PeteBoom
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 04:01 PM

True Malcolm, unless he's running Scorewriter - which was sold by Cakewalk for a couple of years. Depending on what he has, I believe you are correct...

Ah well....

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 04:36 PM

OK, thanks for the interest.

version is; Cakewalk music creator 2002.

If that helps, yes he's checked the help files. He a really accomplished musician, but stuck on this.

He doesn't want to loop and entire track, but certain passages, such as when you get to the end of a chorus and need to go back to a refrain_These might be incorrect terms as I'm thick.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 08:19 PM

I don't know the program. I use "Professional 3" but have tried other later versions. As far as I know, on the one I use and on the others I have tried, it simply can't be done and would use the same approach as Malcolm.

I thnk that we again come down to understanding different types of music packages and recognising what we are trying to do with them. MIDI sequencing software is not really a tool to produce "written" music. Cheap/ free solutions including abc, Noteworth Composer and Melody assistant will all do better.

I've never run into the Cakewalk program Pete Boom mentions but by its name, it does sound as if it may well be notation orientated and would cater for details like repeats.

Jon

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Jeri
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 09:28 PM

Eric, you can highlight the part you want to repeat, click on the "set loop to selection" thingie to the right of the times, then click the "loop on/off" thingie to the left of the times. The program will now play that part (and ONLY that part) over and over until you scream. This does NOT work if someone listens to it with a program other than Cakewalk - for instance if you save it as a MIDI and e-mail it to someone.

(To find the loop toolbar, click on Tools, Toolbars and make sure "Loop" has a check mark by it.)

If you only want a certain part to repeat, then have it go back to the beginning or another part, the only way I've found to do it is to simply copy and paste the repeated part in again.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 04:59 AM

Thanks all.
I don't know enough about this stuff, either music or software-does repeat have little dots at the end of a bar, like 1 dot- repeat one? He doesn't want it to go round and round in cirlces, but repeat once, then play on -

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 10:43 AM

Eric, WHY does he want to do that?

If he just wants to play the music or produce a MIDI to play, it is little extra hassle to use copy and paste to duplicate the section that needs to be repeated.

If he wants to produce printed music showing the double dots to mark a repeat section, he is probably using the wrong software.

Jon

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: pete au
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 08:23 AM

I have cakewalk v9 and I have the same problem trying to fing the repeat,

but i must add that it is a great program but noteworthy is much more user friendly for writing music

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 08:23 AM

I think he uses it as a transposing tool-but I'm not sure. I don't see him very often, but will see him this week. I think he also needs to print out the transpositions.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 08:38 AM

Punkin, I guess much depends on you as a user. I much prefer the score entry on Cakewalk. That said...

Eric, Noteworthy that Punkin mentioned may well be a better program for your friend's needs. It is shareware and is only about $40 to register if he finds he likes it.

Jon

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 09:05 AM

Oh and Eric, this has been covered many times before but as you seem a little uncertain, I suppose it will do no harm to outine a little in a bit more depth again.

Music software (without considering software that deals with digital recordings such as wav files) splits into 2 categories.

1. Sequencing software. Most of Cakewalk's products (and the only ones I have used) fall into this group. This type of software is very "performance orientated". It is designed to send a sequence of instructions to a MIDI devide. It for example can allow timings (note lengths) that simply can not be represented in musical notation. A good program like Cakewalk also allows full control of every MIDI feature and makes things like selecting an instrument, panning from left or right channel, even bending pitch, gradual tempo change, etc. easy. It could be used professionally to produce a backing track say played through a quality keyboard or dedicated MIDI device.

2. Notation software. Here, the focus changes from "perfomance" to producing written music.

There is a certain degree of cross over between the 2 types of software and it is probable (I've no experience) that some of the higher end notation programs may incorporate a lot of MIDI features but generally speaking, I think it is best to consider the 2 types as very different software. Personally, I have uses for both - though it's quite a time since I last had a real play with sequencing.

Jon

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Big Mick
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 01:55 PM

I have Cakewalk Pro Audio 9. I also have a registered copy of Noteworthy Composer, v1.70. I use the Noteworthy for all composing, or for key transposition, etc. In other words, I use it for all transcription. I often will then take it and load it into Cakewalk for manipulation or for just playback. The two programs are very complimentary, in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 07:55 PM

Mick, I seem to remember some time ago that you were intereste in the recording (or audio) side of things and that your version of Cakewalk seemed to look like a good method of integrating both.

Could you please give an outline of your experience?

Jon

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 02:29 PM

Haven't seen him yet-will ask for more info

Cheers

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: harpgirl
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 03:06 AM

Well, I finally took garg's advice and bought Cakewalk. I've been recording on Nathan's HP laptop. I get this buzz on all my recordings. What is it? Is it the fan? It sounds more like a low buzzing tone that is always on everything? Arghhhh! harpy

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 04:42 PM

Sorry you have a problem. Is it the 60 cycle hum of U.S. electircal systems or the whirl of the fan?

What type of laptop? Where is the power-supply?

Checkout their help page:
http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Lessons/WindowsMixer.asp

Look up the Graphic EQ

Can you isolate it to a single track?

What and where are your input devices (microphone type)

This is from the software tutorial:

Having trouble recording digital audio? Here are some things to check:

·        Check that the microphone is plugged into the microphone jack on the back of your computer. It should be labeled "MIC IN" or "MICROPHONE".
·        Check the levels on the Windows 95 software volume control:

1.        If you see a small speaker icon in the lower left of the Windows 95 taskbar, double-click on it. Otherwise, open the Windows 95 start menu, and start the Volume Control program, located in the folder Programs / Accessories / Multimedia.
2.        Make sure you see a control called Microphone Balance. If not, choose Options | Properties, select the option to show the Microphone volume control, then click OK.
3.        Turn the microphone volume up with the slider, and make sure the Mute option is not selected.

·        Make sure that the Source setting for the track you are recording is set to your digital audio device. To change the Source setting:

1.        In the Track view, double-click in the track's Source column.
2.        In the Track Properties dialog box, change the Source setting to the Left channel of your digital audio device. (Right will probably work also.)
3.        Click OK.

If you're not sure which Source option to use, you can keep trying until one works.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: harpgirl
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 07:36 PM

garg...it's an HP laptop with Windows XP. It is the 60 cycle hum. I think it is in how I am using the reverb. Why don't you give me a temporary hotmail address and I'll send you a song file so you can hear it? Oh, and BTW...have you been on a trip so far this summer?

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 06:17 PM

Love to hear it hum. Your address is not in the listing. Post and I will reply.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: harpgirl
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 09:52 PM

...well, garg... ordinarily I eschew intrigue but I have set up a yahoo mail account at [e-mail]. If you write me back I'll send you a song file so you can hear what I am talking about. Thanks, if you are serious. No tricks from me. I just want an opinion. harpy

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: harpgirl
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 10:02 PM

Since I ahve not sent cakewalk files yet, I don't know if the whole file will go or if the effects will be hearable either. I assume you will send me a note so I can send you my file, by yahoo????? harp

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 11:42 PM

You have been "yahooed."

No need to send the entire file. A 12 bar sample should be enough to hear the problem....You have not isolated it to the microphone track, or the acoustic quality track?

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: harpgirl
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 12:17 PM

I think it is in the microphone, garg. But I don't know how to fix it. I have been tweaking all the sound thingies on the computer and the only way to get it out is to turn the mic in the computer down all the way or off. Maybe I just need a better mic or a better sound card????? I sent the files. Not sure if I sent whole files or what because I have never sent anything from Cakewalk over Yahoo. harpy

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 12:39 PM

Harpgirl, how are you set up to record to the laptop? I would like to know how.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: harpgirl
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 02:57 PM

Hi Kim,
I have Cakewalk loaded. I stick a small mic into the mic hole on one of my computers ( the laptop, because I won't bore you with this week's computer disaster) and adjust the mic settings on the computer and then work with the Cakewalk settings to get the effects, tempo, beat, etc I want in each recording.

I can do more than one track on a recording just like a four or eight track digital or analog recorder. I have earphones stuck into the computer since we don't have adequate speakers on this new lap top. I am assuming I can burn CD's from Cakewalk but I haven't done that yet. And as you will note, I am still working the bugs out of my recording process!!

Without Cakewalk, Kim you can find the free RealJukebox players and use those to record in a similar manner. Then you can send the wav. files or convert them to Mp3. Dale Rose helped me find a free RealJukebox player which I have used until I got Caekwalk and started to play with it. Before that I used Mediaring to record and send songs.

With my Boss532, I record into the Boss then take the smart card and convert it with a downloadable wav program and then I can burn CD's from that. However, I haven't figured out how to make sure the effects are properly recorded so my Cd's still sound like crap!

I also have only just begun working with Cakewalk Music Recorder (not the fancy ones) but it seems to work like a more complex recording/mixing board and is a lot of fun. I'm slowly teaching myself all this stuff so I don't want to sound like I know a lot but not many people I know can do any of this around here, so I am teaching myself. Even the guy who sold me the Boss532 didn't really know much after I ran into some issues and finally admitted he hadn't really used it!!!!

I have found that reading sites on home recording with BOSS and other sites, and asking questions on Mudcat has helped me get started!

harpy

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 03:03 PM

You're using just an itty-bitty microphone?

From what I have read about Cakewalk, I believe you can burn CDs from it. I'm interested in their Music Creator program.

What's a Boss532? I am completely ignorant in technological matters. When my sound engineer friend kept referring to his digital hard drives as "the tape machine," I was still looking for TAPE! Everything I used to know about sound recording, I learned before there was any such thing as digital! (besides, it made perfect sense to me that you might make a tape backup of your recordings...)

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: harpgirl
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 03:13 PM

yes becaue I haven' figured out how to plug in my good mics which I use on the Boss532. They are vocal and instrumental Shures. I imagine there must be a way to plug in the good mics with some thingie that makes a little hole bigger!!! haha

I am using the Music Creator program. The Boss 532 is a fourtrack (bounces to 32)digital recorder which looks just like an analog machine except it has a little floppy hole on the side instead of a place to pop in the cassette tapes. Otherwise it works the same, except for the smart card not being a wav. recording....which no one tells you when you
buy it!

Evidently Jeri uses the program as well. I plan on asking her some questions when I get to something complicated like taking out breaths and inserting stuff, which she mentioned earlier in the thread.

Now off to the nutritionist!!! byeee   hg

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 04:18 PM

Okay then.... so recording directly into the computer, and recording into the Boss, are two entirely different operations. You are saying, when you record into the Boss, you use the Smart Card to get those things onto the computer, then you can edit or do whatever.

Did I get that right?

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: harpgirl
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 04:58 PM

Back from the nutritionist and I didn't lose or gain this last week after all that stress!!! I'm down a little over eight pounds!!! In six months I will be gorgeous!!!! yea!!!

Yea Kim, recording directly onto the computer with Cakewalk is separate than recording with the Boss532. The Boss is a digital fourtrack but the Cakewalk is like having the recorder mixer without buying another machine, if I understand it correctly.

Except, doing effects are a little easier to understand on the Boss because it is all manual and it is a self contained box like the old analog four and eight tracks. YOu can do all the mixing on the Boss as well but capturing the effects while using the computer to turn smart card data into wav. or mp3 files has still eluded me.

I'm told I can run the recordings into Cakewalk and do my mixing there which I may try this weekend if I have time. I'll let you know the result. It is really fun to do three part harmonies and to have more than one instrument on your recordings!

So all in all, I would say buying Cakewalk music creator for thirty bucks and recording directly into your computer is much easier than buying a digital four or eight track machine. But I am just a (old) girl and hardly a techie....hg

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 05:04 PM

Cool! We have an old 4-track cassette recorder... wonder how we might rig that thing up? Someone traded it to us a long time ago, and we've never used it... I know one or two people that swear by them.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: hesperis
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 11:30 PM

You can get an adapter, make sure you get a stereo one though. I got mine from radio shack.

Laptop sound cards are usually not the greatest. If there is a "line in" rather than a "mic" use the "line in" instead. The mic in is made for vocal recognition and talking over the net and is not usually as high quality as the line in which is actually made for music. That may be the source of your hum right there.

As for repeats in cakewalk, I have 9, and use markers a lot. Once I have a section marked as the "chorus" it's easier to copy and paste that entire thing and see where it begins and ends. If you use markers, you can look at the marker view and see the structure of your entire piece.

My music was made in cakewalk 9.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Kim C
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 09:44 AM

I have those little ports for mic and headphones...

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From:
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 11:13 AM

One of the problems with music recording on any PC is having good input and output devices. Your computer speakers and microphones are NOT up to the job of doing good sound.

If you're getting lousy sound, it's probably trying to listen using the computer's standard speakers. If you go through the links above, you will see that most of them are designed to enhance part of the audio frequencies, and are not flat across the board. You would have to take that into account before burning a CD from what you mix.

As hesperis said above, take your microphones, plug them into a pre-amp, and THEN put that into your sound-card's Line-In port to get good sound.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Kim C
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 01:14 PM

At this point I'm not prepared to get into worrying about great sound - I'm just thinking that PC recording would be a good way to archive my songs for my own personal edification. :-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: harpgirl
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 01:17 PM

Very helpful, Hesperis! I do think I need to use line-in. I don't think I did on my son's computer. And of course, an adapter! Thanks! harpy

George, I was listening through my earphones and the sound is pretty good except for the hum. I didn't bother with the external speakers because they cost ten dollars!

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 01:55 PM

Harpgirl - MY instalation of Cakewalk is refusing to open (I have not used it for nearly a year)- I need to remove/reinstall the software and try again....it crashes as loads. Your files look excellent. You are definately learning a lot. Is the "hum" on ALL tracks or just the vocal? Yes, you can easily create WAV cd's. Try their suggested procedure http://cakewalk.com/tips/techtipsept01_2.asp

Hesperous - What program do you use to convert the "WRP" to "WAV"?

No doubt your music is as wonderful as your artwork...but, that is a "dirty-trick" inviting us listen to but then requiring a registration for a sound-byte.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: hesperis
Date: 03 Jul 03 - 09:37 PM

Ok, ok, I'll take that off... I do want to know who's listening though. Sigh.

If you have cakewalk 9, make sure to get all the patches from cakewalk's site, too.

I have an awe64gold sound card, so generally record the midi data from wrk files to wav through the creative wave editor. I've used goldwave at times too.

When recording from midi to wav, I set up the recording properties of the windows volume thingy to just listen to the midi and wavedata channels. When recording the line-in, I select just the line-in. If other channels are selected than what's being used, that can add hum as well.

Once everything is in audio inside cake, just go to tools - mixdown audio - export to file.

The problem with cakewalk is that the maximum sound level is rather lower than almost any other program, so I then take the mixed file into goldwave and amplify it a bit for the final version.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Kim C
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 04:57 PM

Okay! I got Music Creator 2003, and a plain little ol' microphone. I have read the manual. And it ain't working. I think it's the audio drivers but everything I know about sound recording, I learned back in the Bad Old Analog Age.

My little XP Sound Recorder works just fine - but it will only record up to 60 seconds. So if that's working, and the mic works, and the speakers work, why ain't Cakewalk working? I sent them an e-mail last week but they haven't answered me yet.

Subject: RE: Tech: Music Creator 2003
From:
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 06:18 PM

Kim C, do you have an actual Creative Soundblaster card? Or is it a clone or a competitor?

Are you getting nothing at all recorded in Music Creator?

You might look at the Mixer Panel which shows the status of all the devices. I wonder (I don't have Music Creator), but in the Creative Recorder which came with my SoundBlaster, it can set the input for the Recorder to be from the Microphone, or the Line In, or the soundcard's output itself.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 09:56 PM

I don't know what kind of sound card I have. My Gateway information doesn't say, except that it's all "integrated." I bet, though, there's someplace on the computer that will tell me. Where do I look?

Subject: RE: Sound Card
From:
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 10:37 PM

It would probably not be a SoundBlaster, but "compatible" with it.

Down at the bottom of the screen, do you show a task-bar? On the right hand side, is there a speaker shown? If there is, click on it. Now click on the top left under Options. Then Click on Properties. IT should show either Recording or Playback Checked off. Just below that you should see a number items Checked off or NOT Checked Off. Make sure all items are checked off. Try that next. It could be that something isn't turned on.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 08:19 AM

When you record a track, make sure the 'Source' (double-click it) is set to your sound card's wave recording function, and 'Port' is set to wave playback.

If you don't get the wave/.wav device to select, go to the Options/Audio/General tab and click on the 'Wave Profiler' button at the bottom.

Hope this helps, but Cakewalk seems pretty complicated to me!

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Kim C
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 09:46 AM

I have a Microsoft Uni-modem Half-Duplex audio device.

I'm at work now so I won't get to play with it at home anymore until probably.... oh, Friday...........

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 11:31 AM

Kim, I'd imagine you have another sound device in adition to the modem one!

I see your sound recorder works - this presumably means you can play audio back too???

Audio as in .wav and MIDI are different beasts. You will need both working to use everything in Cakewalk.

One possibility that has occured to me is that maybe you have the wrong trak settings in Cakewalk for what you are trying to do, e.g. a MIDI track wouldn't take any notice of mic input.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Kim C
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 11:35 AM

The sound recorder works great. I can record and play back with it. I can play CDs and DVDs on the computer, and listen to the radio.

I know MIDI is different, but I don't have anything that I'm using MIDI with. There may be another sound device but I don't know how to find it. I got that from the Gateway configuration page by entering my serial number.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 11:58 AM

You can go to "My Computer" (should be a desktop icon), then "Control Panel" then "System". Single click "System Devices" tab and then the "+" sign by "Sound Video and Game Controller". This should show you what sound cards you have. Mine says "Creative Sound Blaster, (yada, yada)"

Subject: RE: Tech: Cakewalk question
From:
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 12:00 PM

Found a copy of Cakewalk Plasma on one of my Magazine Disks.

In it, on the top Menu-bar, under Options, it lists Audio. When I click on Audio, I get a dialog box with tabs for General|Advanced|Input Monitoring|Drivers|Driver Profiles. If you click on these you can get to see what your input device is. IF you're not using Cakewalk Plasma, you may have something similar on yours.