FAQ link!!

Daveny5 has created his own link for Frequently Asked Questions!
[thanks dave!]

If you're new to this forum, please check these for answers:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3bn4h/id6.html

If people bump this, it may actually get noticed and used.
Or am I just being optimistic?

I hope Cakewalk won't push back doing it themselves because there is a forum member doing it already.

ORIGINAL: boten

I hope Cakewalk won't push back doing it themselves because there is a forum member doing it already.

Yeah me too bo.

But hey!! Good on ya Dave!!
Thats a great FAQ you've put together.
I say CW should consult with you (and many other skilled members) when they do their own for this forum.

If Dave can do it.... so can CW :)

Hey! Thanks for the FAQ--I'm a really new user and you answered some of my questions. I'm reading a book on Cakewalk, but this really helped too.

I'm looking at purchasing cakewalk HS and I've got some questions that are incredibly basic. I was hoping someone here wouldn't mind answering them for me. The questions are:
1) I've got a Fostex mr8 8-track recorder that exports recordings as .wav files. Is it possible/easy to import these WAV files in HS and get them to match up with one another time-wise with the beats and whatnot?
2) Regarding pre-amps for mics: could I avoid buying a pre-amp if I just line out of a PA head?
3) How are people connecting their guitar amps to their computers?

1)Yes, it is possible, but you'll probably need to export each track one at a time if you want to preserve the separate tracks. Then you'll need to make sure they are lined up properly. So you can do it, but it will take some time.

2)Yes, but it probably won't be as good as a mic pre-amp.

3)Mic'ing the amp with a Shure SM57 is a typical solution (if you have a good amp). You can use the Line Out on a guitar amp, but then you lose the character of the speakers and cabinet and the room acoustics. You can line out of a multi-effects box like the Line 6 POD. There is an almost infinite number of possibilities. It depends on what kind of sound you want.

Thanks for the response, Dave. So if I line out of a guitar amp, how do I line into the computer? Do I have to get some kind of 1/4" to 1/8" adapter to plug into the sound card?

I really appreciate the help here!

nice thanks!

Still needed.
*kick*

Hey Dave,

I'm in the same boat as Mead Maker, I'm also looking at buying Cakewalk HS and importing my .wav files from my Fostex 8HD recorder, my question is, when doing it this way how critical is the quality of your sound card?

Thanks

OH!!! one more quick questioin, I have a TC Helicon voiceworks voice processor, is it possible to apply external effects into Cakewake HS?

posting this question elsewhere.

thanks Dave - it really helps. I am such a newbie - This is the most complex thing I have ever tried to do. I found the jargon and technicalities of entomology, botany and ornithology heaps easier than this.I'm slow but this is what I think I understand now from much hair tearing and your and others many info postings.

I can:
- record only an audio track from a mic . The audio track is analogue if the cable is plugged straight in to the computer and digital if I go through my Tascam US 122 audio/midi interface. Digital is best for vocals and guitar because it transmits the nuances of musical production that midi type data cannot transmit
- record a midi track from my keyboard via midi interface as above
- convert a midi track to audio via the synth eg Edirol that comes with HS. I have to do this to be able to hear the track because midi is computer data language and not audible?
- only get piano roll and staff view and their composing features from a midi track
- cannot convert an audio track to midi because a mic doesn't have the software to send midi type data
- can only change instrument 'voice' or type etc on a midi track because this data holds note etc data whereas audio track does not

I'm waiting for my midi cable to arrive and then I think I'm all set to put in melody and rhythms through the keyboard on to midi tracks where I can change instruments through the synth. The vocals go through the mic to an audio track where I will loop, make groove clips etc.Then I reckon I put it all onto a master track by bouncing? and save it as a completed work in MP3 form

I'm new to digital recording as well as new to Cakewalk. Apparantly, there are drum presets and I can't find them or get drums to work without doing a Drum Map Machine layout manually. Can you help me out. Thanks, Tony

Guys - this is a FAQ thread - no one's going to see your posts here to answer your questions. Use the NEW POST button on the forum to start a new question.

hopeis4all@yahoo.com - I don't know what you would be referring to - there are audio loops of drum sounds in the XL version available, otherwise the drum map or third party plugin or third party audio loops are what you'll need to do.

mc_spad - do this:
OPTIONS>AUDIO>DRIVER MODE change it to MME
close SHS
open SHS
let it run the wave profiler
go to: OPTIONS>MIDI DEVICES change the output to MS GS WAVETABLE SYNTH
move that option to the TOP of the list
hit play

continue following the tutorials...good job!

daveny5, your FAQ is great. It sure has helped me get it together...Drumz