Idiot question here.CW Pro Audio...

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BadHorsie01

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Hi guys,
This is my first post here, so please be gentle :)
I have Cakewalk Pro Audio (V7 I think) and am getting to grips quite well as far as composing goes. I can use the basic sounds and get drums on channel 10 etc.
The problem I have is that I bought it from a friend and then promptly dropped the manual in the bath and didn't notice for 10 mins (doh!)
I have found the importable sound banks on my soundcard (Soundblaster 128. Not the live soundblaster unfortunately) and have "imported" them.

When Right clicking on a track and going to properties, I can see where the instruments CAN go and the channel options etc, but when I go to "define" and am presented with a bunch of banks, I have NO CLUE how to bring them into the channel so I can use them on the track I want...... :o

Can anyone help, or point me at a help guide please?

I can't afford Sonar yet, and my lack of experience doesn't warrant the cash yet.

Thanks in advance,
Mick
 
Ther is a help system with Cakewalk that has everything that the manual do...

Also, I'm afraid there are no banks to choose for that card, there's only the one bank with its 128 patches.
 
Thx for the reply AlChuck.
I wonder where the soundbanks I can see are from? I Have what looks like Korgs, Alesis, Yahama, Roland (xp80/50/drumsets).
Are they part of the actual Cakewalk package.
Sorry for being a pest :)
 
They are not soundbanks. They are instrument definitions. They map MIDI messages to what's used on particular synths. For example, a DX-7 instrument definition would have patch #12 defined as whatever patch #12 happens to be on a DX-7. Even on General MIDI instruments there can be differences -- some count patches from 0-127, others from 1-128... Each is only useful to you if you have the particular synth to plug a MIDI cable into and send messages to from Cakewalk.

And don't worry, I don't think you're being a pest...
 
Thanks again ALChuck,
I guess I have a lot to learn about cakewalk/midi :)

Next questions.....
When I record Audio tracks there are 2 things that occur. I also use Quartz audiomaster freeware (for when Cakewalk gets confusing) and can sometimes hear the playback when I record , sometimes can't.
I have noticed that in the volume control panel properties that I have all the usual options in record/playback, but am not sure what should be ticked for me to be able to playback the audio files I record and also hear the midi accompaniment, but at the same time not get the midi music bleeding over into the audio when I record an audio channel.
I have "microphone" and "auxilliary" for inputs. No Line in setting that I can see, which is confusing.....

The last question is . I think , just a matter of finding a setting and adjusting it. When I playback an audio in cakewalk, it seems to jump and stagger every time. It doesn't in Quartz, which is a smaller (only 4 audio) program. Is there a Buffer setting in cakewalk somewhere, or is it simply that Cakewalk (v7 Pro Audio) is too big for my PII 64ram machine to work with?
Again, thanks in advance
Mick
 
I have noticed that in the volume control panel properties that I have all the usual options in record/playback, but am not sure what should be ticked for me to be able to playback the audio files I record and also hear the midi accompaniment, but at the same time not get the midi music bleeding over into the audio when I record an audio channel.
Click to expand...

Set to record just from the auxiliary in and the MIDI and the existing audio tracks will not be bleed over.

I have "microphone" and "auxilliary" for inputs. No Line in setting that I can see, which is confusing.....
Click to expand...
Auxiliary would be the one.

When I playback an audio in cakewalk, it seems to jump and stagger every time. It doesn't in Quartz, which is a smaller (only 4 audio) program. Is there a Buffer setting in cakewalk somewhere, or is it simply that Cakewalk (v7 Pro Audio) is too big for my PII 64ram machine to work with?
Click to expand...

Cakewalk has a Wav Profiler utility that runs when you install, typically, and usually configures the card properly, but there might be stuff you can tinker with if it seems to not behave as it should. Cakewalk's documentation has tips in this regard. But with 64 MB of RAM, you're pushing it a bit. (What OS? What's the speed on the PII?)
 
Thanks again ALChuck !
I have a pentium II clocked up to 233mhz and it's running windows 98. I'd LOVE to upgrade but with a wife, car and familiy of guitars to support, it'll be a while !
If cakewalk is very processor hungry, I can keep using quartz for audio (it's adequate for a learner) and create my midi files through cakewalk ( I love the piano roll function beacuse I don't play keyboard)
I'm also going to scour the bookshops around here for a copy of the manual.

Can you suggest a good free/shareware starter synth package so I can get away from the GM sounds?

Thanks again for the help. I really appreciate it :)
 
I'm afraid Alchuck is right, a 233MHz machine with only 64Meg RAM is low for music. Thats why you are experiencing drop-outs upon playback. You can try optimising the settings. Under Tools> audio>settings (CWA7 may be slightly different to my HS2002) there is a buffer slider and other such variables that may help your system give a better response. I upgraded my RAM to 768 Meg for less than £70 pounds before Christmas. Even 128 would improve your set-up.

I don't know the answer to your other qusetion about freeware synth.

BTW, if the manual for CWA7 is as brief/bad as the HS2002, then forget it. Use the help files + this great forum.

I won't ask what your friend was doing with the manual to drop it into the bath! But I'm kinda curious?Lol:D
 
Thx Paul :)
It was actually me that dropped it in the bath :(
I'd put it down to scrub up and must've caught it with my elbow....
I can't wait to upgrade my pc, but my wife is quite ill, and my wages are supplementing hers right now.
When she's better, and my visa gets paid off, I'll be cramming the spare room with gear :)
 
I doubt you will find a decent software synth that will run very well on that box...

Also, Cakewalk does not sell their manuals, but there is a good third-party book called Cakewalk Power! by Scott R. Garrigus.
 
Cakewalk power? I'll order it from the bookstore. Thanks again guys.

Waterproof eh? THAT'LL be useful :D
 
The author is a member of this forum, Scott Garrigus. Amazon UK are having a sale at present and you can buy it from there for under 20 quid.
 
Excellent!

I have another question (as IF it wasn't going to happen!)

When starting out, to get basic sounds to come through in a midi format composition, I go into track properties and choose omni (ok so far. I learned this reading in here)
The odd thing is that I have to set the default to default2 (port 2 if you will) and when I save the composition, close down and go back in, I have to do the same again. I am assuming that the "default" setting is pointing to the soundbank somewhere, because I can only hear it on default 2 , but I got eye ache yesterday trying to find how to change it.
Any Ideas?

I LIKE this place!:D
 
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