Looking for Email Tutor for Cakewalk 5

Hi -  I've had Cakewalk MC 5 for over a year and really haven't been able to get off the ground with it.   I use Pyro for basic editing of .wav files I record on a digital recording unit.   I'd like to use the Cakewalk application tools for condensing and other mixing but I can't seem to open the .wav files.   If this can be done, then I've got about another four or five basic questions.   So if you're up for some email dialog tutoring, reply and we can connect.    Otherwise, I'll be watching the forum for the .wav how-to.   Thanks for the read. 
 
-- Solo Guy

Hi
 
Maybe I'm missing something (which is possible in view of input from another reply), but when I'm in Cakewalk, it ONLY looks for Cakewalk project files.  My projects have been recorded on a Zoom R16 which saves them as wav files.  Using Pyro I can convert them to mp3.  
 
I've never really looked, but if there's an option to same wav or mp3 files as a Cakewalk project via Pyro that would solve my problem. 
 
Thanks
 
Solo Guy

Hi Beagle
 
Thanks for the prompt reply.  That is correct, that is exactly what I want to do - import mp3 files into a Cakewalk project so I can use Cakewalk tools and features.  My question is how do I do that?   Cakewalk only looks for Cakewalk project files to import. 
 
Solo Guy
 
 

Right, it will default to the Cakewalk Projects folder, but if you click the arrow next to the title bar, you should be able to get to all the files on your computer.
And if you have the .wav files saved, I think it would be best to import them than to import an mp3.

oops

Still no luck.   I tried to save files as a Cakewalk project from Pyro.   Pyro has a "project" save as   option, it looked promising but Cakewalk wouldn't even acknowledge it was there.   Getting frustrated but will keep trying.   Thanks again for the input on this. 
 
Solo guy

Solo Guy, I've been kicking this around, just trying to figure out where you are getting tangled up.
The menu options you are seeing suggest that you may be clicking "Open", rather than "Import" from the file menu. They are very different selections.
Also, be sure you are importing to an audio track. A MIDI/Instrument track will not accept an audio file (actually, the Import>Audio option will be greyed out).

To be certain you are working with an audio track, you may want to start with a blank project template, and insert audio tracks as needed.

Before we move forward, let's clear up something about the Cakewalk Project files. These do not contain audio data at all. They hold information about your project, such as track count and type, input/output settings, effects and soft synths used in the project, and bit depth/sample rate settings. They do include reference tags that tell the project which audio files are associated with the project.
Hopefully that explains why you cannot convert an audio file to a CWP file.

Now, there are atleast three ways to import audio into your project, some of which have already been mentioned.
All three require that you first highlight your desired audio track.
Click on the track icon. The border will change color, probably green.

Next:
1. Click File>Import>Audio


-OR-
2. Right click in the clips pane, and select Import Audio


-OR-
3. Click the Import Audio button (artificially tinted red in this view)


Any of these will bring you to the Import Audio menu, where you can navigate to your desired wav or MP3 file.
Select your file, and click "Open".
Note: the file will be dropped into your project at the current Now Time.
If you want the file to start at the beginning of your project, click "W" on your keyboard first. This will rewind the project to the start time.
Hope that helps.