I hear you, Brandon. This is a very complicated and counter intuitive program. I've been told that all DAWs are like this, and if that is the case the non-industry-standard ones days are numbered. Like you I'm confounded by the tutorials and 'help' for the most part.
 
Advertising something as "Quick and easy for beginners!" when nothing could be farther from the truth doesn't make sense. There is a lot of "This is the way things are done, so just do it." Sure, I've had a mixer and a few rack mounted devices so I know the principles behind a lot of this, but it's on a COMPUTER and it doesn't HAVE to be like this!!
 
Different programs are adding MIDI features all the time, I'm experimenting with one now. If it works out I'll let you know. I am still plugging away with MC-7 but that's because I have an external device for sound and I don't HAVE to rely on soft-synths at all, I'm still trying them out though, when I have nothing better to do. :)

Am glad am not alone Nick. My issue is down to logic. If I cant see any logic in something I question it. For example if all I want to do is add a midi track to a project and assign it to a synth why can't the programme simply recognise which synth I want to assign it to when I alter the inputs/outputs of the track in question (it can't be rocket science)  - instead of physically having to drag the actual soft synth onto the track pane. It might have a purpose but doesn't make sense as to why the synth needs to sit in the track pane and basically 'get in the way'. 
 
I used to love CPA9 - it did everything I could ever want. It was at the top end of the market and easy to use. Yes a few tweaks here and there would have made it absolutely superb. I didn't want to record 8 tracks live with it - there are much better stand alone dedicated hardware machines (Tascam, Zoom, Fostex, Boss) that do that for a very good price (so good that they are a similar price to the top version of Sonar - something that isn't even tangible). I have recordings made in CPA9 18 years ago that are far better than what I have achieved from MC6 so far.
 
I wonder if there are/were other users who do/did feel this way.
 
Please don't anyone think this is a rant - it's more of a cry for help. 
 

The only logic I can see in the way things are done is if you're using an old computer (a 486?) with 512K of ram! I use a i7 Quad core with 8 gigs of RAM, I can edit 2o tracks of video and should be able to run countless virtual instruments, why can't I just set the track perimeters and move on?
 
This is more of a rant. :D

Hi Scook,
 
You mention above;
 
Disable the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth and MC7 will automatically setup TTS-1 to playback MIDI files (IOW files with .mid extention). From there if you want to replace the TTS-1 for a track,

• add the synth
• in the "Insert Soft Synth Options" add an audio track only
• change the MIDI track output to the new synth and
• selected a program on the new synth.

However in MC6 there is no option to 'add an audio track only'. Have I missed something?
 
Thanks

I think he means do not select 'Create MIDI Source Track'.
That will insert the synth's audio output track without an associated MIDI track. You then would change the output of your already-created MIDI track to the just-inserted synth and it's audio track.

Is that the same as adding a simple instrument track? There doesnt appear much difference. 

No. A simple instrument track is a MIDI track and a soft synth track with it's audio output all in one track.
I don't think there's anything "simple" to it and have never liked them, or used them.

Brandon, forget all that stuff it'll drive you nuts! None of it makes a lick of sense and there is no earthly reason why programs like this are the way they are aside from "That's just the way it is!" If you're set on using programs like this I would strongly suggest looking on Craigslist for an external sound module, I got a Roland one for $25! I set the MIDI out (via my Roland duo-capture interface) to the module and control it with the software. If I want to record the track as audio I run a jack from the module to the interface, insert an audio track in the software, arm the track and record.
 
The way I look at it everything will be audio anyway when it comes down to mixing, maybe then this software will come into it's own, maybe. I expect you will spend countless hours on forums and watching tutorials! The good thing is all the Cakewalk software family functions the same, the bad part is it makes no sense, there are lots of variations in the versions and interface that are confusing as well.
 
A friends son, a DJ who also composes music recommended a loop based program called ACID, which also supports MIDI - I have been playing around with a demo and the help section has been a breath of fresh air, straightforward step-by-step instruction. Choosing a soft-synth was dead simple, as it should be, with no routing etc at all. If this keeps up I may give up on MC or just use it for MIDI editing.

Brandon2000
Hi Scook,
 
You mention above;
 
Disable the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth and MC7 will automatically setup TTS-1 to playback MIDI files (IOW files with .mid extention). From there if you want to replace the TTS-1 for a track,

• add the synth
• in the "Insert Soft Synth Options" add an audio track only
• change the MIDI track output to the new synth and
• selected a program on the new synth.

However in MC6 there is no option to 'add an audio track only'. Have I missed something?
 
Thanks

The above assumes there is a single TTS-1 instance with multiple MIDI tracks pointing to it and you now want to change one of the MIDI tracks to use a different synth. For example, say one instance of TTS-1 is currently playing drums, strings and bass from three MIDI tracks, one for each instrument. And now you want to use SI-Bass instead of TTS-1. Here are the steps.
 
1. Add SI-Bass to the project.
To do that, insert SI-Bass either from main menu Insert > Soft Synth > VST2 > SI-Bass Guitar or drag SI-Bass Guitar from the instruments in the Plugins tab of the browser or what I would do is click the + in the Synth tab of the browser and Insert Synth > VST2 > SI-Bass Guitar. When the "Insert Soft Synth Options" dialog appears, select only the "First Synth Audio Output" option, like this

This will add the synth to the synth rack and create an audio track pointing to the synth.
 
2. Change the Bass MIDI track output to SI-Bass

 
Now, if each MIDI track had it's own instance of a synth and you wanted to use a different synth, right-click the MIDI or Audio track header and select "Replace Synth" and navigate the menu to the new synth.
 

Brandon2000
Is that the same as adding a simple instrument track? There doesnt appear much difference. 

An instrument track is a hybrid track containing the input features of a MIDI track and the output features of an audio track. It differs from audio tracks in that instrument tracks are used exclusively by soft synths. An audio track may be used to record audio from an external source, play audio loops or play the output of a softsynth. A simple instrument track only records MIDI like a MIDI track and is intended to play back the audio from the synth associated with the track. The alternative to using an instrument track is using a MIDI track AND an audio track.
 
When instrument tracks were introduced they did not work very well. They have improved through the years and work much better now. The only issue I am aware of with instrument tracks is they cannot be cloned. On the other hand, they reduce clutter by presenting the synth as a single track. Instrument tracks are only appropriate when the synth has a single MIDI track for input and single audio track for output.
 
 

Thanks for the info - it is much appreciated. it also seems  along way of doing something simple. Its a shame Cakewalk couldn't do things in a user-friendly manner. For example a button that says - "I want to" and then link this to a drop down that says for example; "create a single midi track linked to the TTS", or "create a single midi track linked to the CSC" and so on. These commands could then trigger the above processes and voila  -a track appears as requested. A simple drop down in each midi track could then have a list of instruments to choose from. It certainly isnt rocket science and is probably one of the easiest things in computing to arrange. No hard calculations just a plain set of choices.