Cakewalk FAQ

What Driver Mode should I use? (Options-Audio-Advanced)

There are 3 driver modes supported in Home Studio. MME is the oldest and works with just about any soundcard. WDM is newer and better and works with most newer soundcards. ASIO is the newest, but only works with soundcards that have an ASIO driver. There is an ASIO4ALL driver available on the web at http://www.asio4all.com/ that will work with some soundcards that don't have their own ASIO driver. I recommend starting with WDM. If that doesn't work, go to MME. If WDM works and you have a decent soundcard, then try ASIO and see if it works. If not, go back to WDM.

You change the driver mode on Options-Audio-Advanced-Driver Mode. Run the Wave Profiler after changing the mode (except for ASIO).

2) Home Studio tells me I don't have a MIDI device. What's up with that?

Not every computer comes with a hardware MIDI device. Windows XP allows you to play MIDI files by providing the MS GS Wavetable synth which is a softsynth built into Windows. If you want to use this in Home Studio, go to Options-Audio-Advanced and change the Driver Mode to MME. Then you will get the MS GS Wavetable synth listed as a MIDI device. The bad news is that its not very good. A better option would be to ignore the no MIDI device message and use the softsynths that come with Home Studio. Take the Tutorial on Using Softsynths to learn how to do that.

How do I use Softsynths?

One of the best innovations in music software has been the advent of softsynths. Softsynths allow you to add more sounds without investing in a lot of equipment. There are a number of softsynths available for free and some really great ones for under $100.

Try these links for some softsynths:

http://www.arturia.com/en/default.php

http://www.kvraudio.com

Home Studio comes with the TTS-1 (or Edirol VSC - Virtual Sound Canvas on older versions) a multi-timbral General MIDI synth. There are others you can get on the web. Take the tutorial on Using Softsynths or load Tutorial1.cwp and follow these instructions:

1) View-Synth Rack
2) Click the Insert DXi button (looks like an asterisk)
3) Click on TTS-1 - Check First Synth Output and Synth Property Page checkboxes
4) Edit Select All (to select all tracks)
5) Track-Property-Output
6) Select TTS-1 from the MIDI Outputs pulldown (that makes the TTS-1 the output for all MIDI tracks)
7) Hit play

You can also get Triangle II, a ballsy analog-style monophonic synth plug in from rgc:audio for free at:

http://www.rgcaudio.com/triangle_II.htm

4) What audio/sound hardware should I use with Cakewalk?

If you have a desktop computer, your best bet is a PCI card audio interface with a breakout box. I use an M-Audio Delta44. There are many others available. If you don't have any free slots, but you have a firewire or usb port you could use those. Firewire is faster than USB 2.0, a USB 2.0 is faster than USB 1.1. I don't recommend using a USB 1.1 interface. If you have a laptop, you could get a PCMCIA (PC Card) interface like the Echo Indigo or Emu 1616. You could also get a Firewire or USB interface as with a desktop. Before buying an interface, you should consider how many simultaneous inputs you need. If you're recording at home by yourself, 2 or 4 inputs should be enough. If you're recording a band, you will need an input for each instrument. The inputs are usually mono so a stereo input will take 2 inputs. Keep in mind that most instruments only produce a mono output, i.e., microphones, guitar, bass, etc. Drums usually require at least 2 inputs or more. Most keyboards have a stereo output.

http://www.cakewalk.com/tips/audiohw.asp

5) Find out more about these products and more by visiting http://www.cakewalk.com

6) New to MIDI and audio recording on your computer? Read the "Cakewalk Desktop Music Handbook"

http://www.cakewalk.com/tips/desktop.asp

7) Need an INS file for your synth? Go to the download section of cakewalknet.com

http://www.cakewalknet.com/index.php?page=download/instrument

INS files are just text files that contain patch lists for your instrument. For example:

; --------------------------- (A semicolon at the start indicates this is a comment.)

.Patch Names (This line tells CW that lists of patch names follow)

[Korg 03R/W Bank A] (The info in brackets describes the instrument)
0=Ephemerals (Each line following is the Patch# and Patch name)
1=Analog Pad
2=Orch Brass
3=Galaxies
4=RosewoodGt
5=VS Bells

and so on. For more info on INS files, read this article http://www.cybertron.com/~brtubb/text/062.txt

8) Need band instruments and hard to find accessories? This site has stuff I never knew existed!

http://www.giardinelli.com/?sourceid=qIZcQ0vNgoGRAmjGjqU3&befree_site_id=0040421006

9) Need good prices on music equipment with fast, cheap delivery? Bookmark this site:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/?sourceid=qIZmQ0vNF4BEAmjGjg1W&befree_site_id=0040421006

10) MP3 Encoder expired? Get the LAME encoder at http://lame.sourceforge.net/index.php for free. (This is not a Cakewalk product.)

Download and install the LAME encoder.

Instructions:
Open SONAR 3, 4, 5 and go to Tools -> Cakewal Ext. Encoder Config.
In the Friendly Name Field write: Lame Mp3 Encoder.
In the Extension field write: .mp3.
In the Description field write whatever you want.
In the Path field write the path where the Lame encoder is located. That is where lame.exe and lame_enc.dll are located. I keep my Lame encoder in my C:\Program Files\Cakewalk\Shared Utilities\Lame Folder or (copy and past the extracted zip file to your Sonar shared utilities folder and then when you have to perform this step, click the browse button to find the location.
In the Command Line field write: lame -b 192 -m j %I %O
Press Save button.
Uncheck Keep Wave File.

This will export to a 192Kbps, joint stereo mp3 file. If you want 128Kbps, replace 192 with 128 in the Command Line field. The next time you click on File->Export->Audio in SONAR 3, 4, 5 you'll find 'Lame mp3 encoder' as a type of audio.

If you didn't find your answer here, click on this link to go to another Sonar FAQ by Cakewalk Forum user Rousseau.