Desperately need help - Music Creator 6: did I get ripped off?

Welcome Kevin.

OK... many points. 

first... I use Chrome as my browser here because FF started acting up after FF6 was upgraded.

Next: 

I think, for orchestral stuff, you might want to consider X1 essentials since it allows more synths ...HOWEVER..... 

While MC6 is limited to 8 active synths in the rack, so too are many other DAW's because of the computer limitations.  At some point, every computer will choke on the number of synths and not be able to keep them all running in real time.

For larger compositions, it would simply be a matter of working around this issue. 

Insert the synth, set up the patch or the sample and compose the part. Get it right then BOUNCE the part to a new audio track. Name this track according to the instrument it represents. Then, simply drag the midi track to the bottom,,,, mute it and change the output of the midi track to NONE. This essentially archives it and midi tracks do not take a huge amount of space. 

What ever you do.... DO NOT HIDE THE TRACKS IN MC6.  There is no "unhide" function. That is the one bug that we have discovered. 

Now.... simply add a new midi track and set its inputs and outputs as needed, change the patch and repeat the process, recording the new midi part. 

Most modern computers with any decent processor and a respectable amount of memory can easily run dozens of audio tracks without a problem. Processing a synth in real time is a CPU consuming process, so working in audio is best, especially if the project is large. 

Another issue. Do not attempt to run this on a factory soundcard. If you are serious about 30 track orchestral pieces, spend the money to get a really nice audio/midi interface (around $200-300) and that will make life easier for you, if you don't already have one. 

Next, Yes.... the GUI in MC6 is based on X1 and is a bit different than MC5 or MC4. It's simply a matter of learning where everything is. 

Also, learning about midi and changing patches and sample and bouncing...... highly recommended. If you have questions about midi and channels and such..... ask. I have some basic stuff on my web site about midi in general.... using TTS as an example to set up 3 different instruments to play out of TTS.  See the page here>>>>  http://www.herbhartley.co...edited_slimmer_005.htm  browse down to ADVANCED TTS Setup to see how to play multiple different things in TTS at the same time.

Which brings me to another point. 

Synths like the Cakewalk Sound center are one trick ponies. They do one instrument at a time, and with 8 tracks and 8 instances of CSC installed ....you have reached the maximum.

HOWEVER...... TTS to the rescue. TTS is a 16 channel synth. In my tutorial I explain this using 3 of those channels. You can insert TTS  ONE TIME....and add 16 midi tracks. You assign each midi track to a different TTS input channel and assign a different patch to each channel. By turning the inputs in teh midi channels on and off, you can record a unique track in each. then, for example have channel 1 play trumpet, ch 2 play flute, chan 3 play violin, chan 4 play oboe, chan 5 play timpini....and so on. 

All out of ONE instance of the synth.  Now... if you need more instruments, add TTS-2 to the project and TTS-3 and so on..... so if you want you can have 128 active midi channels playing live synths. 

First.... become familiar with synths, explore TTS and see if that will solve the problem. 


So what the sales person at Cakewalk told you was correct. Using TTS you can run a ton of midi tracks through synths.  


I hope this helps you and clears up some of the confusion.   MC6 is a great program, especially considering what it costs, and what it has in it and what it is capable of.