trying out CEP...

[Thom IV]

Hi

I’m contemplating making the leap (from Cakewalk GTPro) and purchasing CEP. I downloaded their demo program, as well as the manual to check it out.

I’ve read and reread the manual...I still have a few questions that I’m not finding answers to (perhaps I’m missing something...?)

Any responses would be appreciated:

What’s up with fact that I have to tell CEP that I want to monitor the input every time I want to record a track? Is their a way of setting this as the default? I ALWAYS want to monitor my input...

Are there no individual, dedicated track meters that display the input? I can’t seem to find them if there are.

When I save a .ses file, why does it always ask me about saving each individual wave file that I’ve recorded? Is this just the way CEP saves things? This is covered in the manual to some extent, but I’d appreciate any further enlightenment anyone might have to offer...

I guess I’m just used to Cakewalk GTPro (which I’ve been using for the past two years). That program does all of the above, and it seems to me that a multitracking program should do all of the above. Perhaps I need to accept the fact that CEP, while it has a lot of desirable features, it also has some disadvantages, ie; things that I just need to get used to.

If I’m missing things that are in the manual, tell me...I’ll reread it one more time (in the process of doing that already)...

Thanks
Tom

[chrisharris]

Originally posted by Thom IV


What’s up with fact that I have to tell CEP that I want to monitor the input every time I want to record a track? Is their a way of setting this as the default? I ALWAYS want to monitor my input...

Yes, there is. Under "Options" in the multitrack, just check "Monitor Record Levels

Are there no individual, dedicated track meters that display the input? I can’t seem to find them if there are.

If you select "Monitor on Play and record", then the meter at the bottom will show the input levels when you're recording, and it'll show the overall output levels when you're playing back. It's under "Options" in the multitrack too. Now, if you're recording 3 or 4 tracks at a time, then all you're going to get (I think) is a level of the combined instruments that you're recording to make sure that nothing is clipping...either individually or aggregately.

When I save a .ses file, why does it always ask me about saving each individual wave file that I’ve recorded? Is this just the way CEP saves things? This is covered in the manual to some extent, but I’d appreciate any further enlightenment anyone might have to offer...

Cakewalk is different here. The best way to save a session in CEP, in my opinion, is once you've got all the tracks the way you want them in the multisession, choose "CLOSE ONLY NON-SESSION WAVEFORMS"... first. Then, when it asks you if you want to save something, it's asking you if you want to save some file that you've recorded (and probably recorded over already) that's NOT in the multisession (i.e., you're not using it), so choose "no to all" and it will close all the crap that you've opened or mixed down or otherwise recorded and changed, but that's no longer in the mix. THEN, choose "save session," and it'll ask you again if you want to save a track...HERE, choose "YES, TO ALL," and it'll ask you what you want to save "Track 11 (3)" as, for example...if track 11(3) is your guitar solo , b/c you nailed it on the 3rd take on track 11, then call it "solo" and move on to the next one.

I guess I’m just used to Cakewalk GTPro (which I’ve been using for the past two years).

I started off using Cakewalk (bout 6 months), and with the exception of the saving procedure being weird to get used to, EVERYTHING about CEP is about 10X better, in my opinion. The learning curve is not all that steep...I use no midi, so any shortcomings in CEP in that department just don't matter to me. I sound like a Syntrillium plant here, but I'm just a huge fan of the software...

[Thom IV]

Hi Chris

Thanks for your reply. I tried to quote you, but haven't quite gotten it yet...bear with me...

You said:
Yes, there is. Under "Options" in the multitrack, just check "Monitor Record Levels"

But do I need to do this EVERYTIME I want to record something? This is what I'm needing to do on my system...I'd like to be able to check it once for each project...

You said:
If you select "Monitor on Play and record", then the meter at the bottom will show the input levels when you're recording, and it'll show the overall output levels when you're playing back. It's under "Options" in the multitrack too. Now, if you're recording 3 or 4 tracks at a time, then all you're going to get (I think) is a level of the combined instruments that you're recording to make sure that nothing is clipping...either individually or aggregately.

So what you're saying is that there is not a dedicated track meter display for each individual track, anywhere in CEP? Hmmmm...

Thanks for your other info re: the 'save' function, and your insights on the differences between CW and CEP. I appreciate it. I've heard lots of good things about CEP from people I trust. I will stick with it.

Tom

[chrisharris]

Originally posted by Thom IV
But do I need to do this EVERYTIME I want to record something?

Honestly, I don't think you should. I've never had to mess with it at all - It's just that way for every session I start. So I guess the answer is, "No," you shouldn't have to check it every time you wanna' record something...it'll do it when you're recording if you set it to do that by default, but I don't know how I set it to default that way, lol.

Now, if you're talking about monitoring BEFORE you record, to check the level, then it's a little bit different, but it's easy. Once you hit the red "R" button to arm a track, you can just double click on the meter at the bottom and it'll start showing you your input signal, so you don't have to go up to options to monitor the record level BEFORE recording. This is probably what you're talking about, come to think of it. My answer was that if you actually start recording, it'll show your input levels if you've got the "show levels on play and record" thing checked. Anyway, double clicking on the meter button is pretty easy, lol.

So what you're saying is that there is not a dedicated track meter display for each individual track, anywhere in CEP? Hmmmm...

I should have mentioned that the most I ever record is 2 instruments at a time, and the way I check the level of each instrument is by checking it individually. With me, it'll be a guitar and a vocal...I'll sing first, w/o playing the guit...and see if the level's too hot...then I'll hit the git w/o singing...then I'll do both together to make sure the overall signal is not too hot. I'm totally unqualified to answer something like monitoring a kick, a snare, a hat, and overhead tracks. I sorta' have to think that you can monitor each one individually, but I've never had to do it, lol. Maybe somebody smarter than me (like anybody) can answer this one.