• Music Creator
  • Newbie here, nothing happens when I try to add "distortion" to my guitar track :/ CWMC 6
2014/03/14 12:56:07
unclanrhino
Hello all, I'm actually not a 'total' n00b, been using Cakewalk since GuitarTracks 2.0 (also have Guitar Tracks Pro, and CWMC 3)... Total hours spent in Cakewalk messing around though -- only ~30 hours I'd guess...
 
Anyways, just picked up Music Creator 6, recorded a simple 10 second guitar test, right-click it, add effects, I see a long list and select "distortion" and nothing happens. Nothing at all.
 
I then poked around and selected to only display Cakewalk effects, couldn't figure out which is distortion, found a simulated 3rd part amp somewhere in the right click menu and it wants me to upgrade it but it has permissions problems I think when installing the upgrade... Apparently it has only 9 days left??? Not even sure what it is so I'd rather use a non-3rd party distortion effect (or one that works without special activation).
 
Any idea what's going on with the long list of effects (none of them do anything at all when I click them) or what Cakewalk's version of distortion is? I also want to add ambience to a vocal solo soon, any help would be appreciated!
 
Thanks guys!
W7 Ultimate 64bit, i7, 16GB RAM, Alesis Mixmaster4 USB, AISO4All, etc etc.
2014/03/14 22:02:30
Beagle
I'd ditch the 3rd party amp simulator.
 
with MC6 you have a powerful simulator included with several sounds including some distortion.  I think MC6 comes with TH2 amp simulator with a lot of FX on it.  use that.
2014/03/15 08:57:10
Guitarhacker
You need to insert the amp sim into the FX bin as an audio plug.  You may have already known that....
 
 
I have several amp sims. I don't particularly like any of them although a number of people here do.
 
A free amp sim that I have is ACME BAR GIG.... it has a free but slightly limited version on it's web site. One of the cakewalk users here is involved in the creation and tweeking of that amp sim. The others I have, about 3 total.... all came with my software and are the full featured registered versions. 
 
I much prefer using a POD 2 and running the signal straight in. That way I have NO latency. I tend to get the most latency when I use the amp sims. Barely noticeable but I'm very sensitive to pitch and timing issues in a song so I don't often try to use a sim.
 
Mic the amp or the guitar is also a very acceptable solution and easy to do. A standard SM-57/58 is a perfect mic to use to mike electric guitars. I prefer a condenser on the acoustic instruments.
 
2014/03/15 16:50:55
unclanrhino
Thanks for the replies guys.
How does one "insert the amp sim into the FX bin as an audio plug"... lol
I've always used my actual distortion pedals and really haven't done much in-program editing besides volume and mixing.
 
I now want to record guitar and vocals, and experiment with effects in Music Creator 6... I understand that right click the track, and process effects is the place -- but why does it list a ton of pluggins that don't work?
 
Also, if you know off the top of your head -- for basic distortion, what's the Cakewalk solution and how do I find it?
Same for comon vocal effects.
 
Thanks again!
 
2014/03/16 10:22:30
57Gregy
Welcome to the forum.
To insert any VST or DX effect into an audio track, right-click in the track's FX bin, select the effect you want to try. Click the track's Input Echo button.
2014/03/17 08:35:18
Guitarhacker
Be aware that when you click to add the guitar sim to the audio track's FX bin.... look in the AUDIO FX list.  It's easy to mistakenly add a midi synth, and that will not work with audio
2014/03/17 12:10:11
Beagle
57Gregy
Welcome to the forum.
To insert any VST or DX effect into an audio track, right-click in the track's FX bin, select the effect you want to try. Click the track's Input Echo button.


and notice that while that will allow you to monitor the plugin during recording - it also adds an echo to the path because of the delay between the input of the guitar through the soundcard, through the computer and back out.  so what you play will be delayed by the time you hear it.
the delay is directly affected by the latency settings on your soundcard.  if you have a good soundcard wtih low latency, your delay will be very little - if not, it will be intolerable to use that way.
2014/03/18 15:45:01
unclanrhino
Thanks guys, a lot of good info.
 
I have successfully applied FX to guitar and voice - I didn't have the FX bin even visible with the layout I was in...
 
So about the delay, I am using an Alesis Mixmaster4 USB as my in and out, and do notice a slight delay with the echo enabled. I read about reducing the latency with a buffer setting... Anyone know where it is and what to set it at to try and reduce the latency?
2014/03/19 03:18:33
Kalle Rantaaho
unclanrhino
 
   I read about reducing the latency with a buffer setting
   Anyone know where it is and what to set it at to try and reduce the latency?
   How does one "insert the amp sim into the FX bin as an audio plug"... lol


I think most of the answers you can find in the help files and tutorials. When there's something specific you don't understand, you'll get answers here, but it's no use we start copy pasting the manual for you here.
2014/03/19 10:04:40
unclanrhino
Point taken. Searching the help files is painful when you don't know any relivant terms. I found my answers thus far by searching with terms you guys provided. :)

I'll be recording soon where I have no internet too, which is why the rapid abusive info extraction lol -sorry bout that.

My last question was on latency, I read I think at the alesis site to adjust latency down until you get popping feedback, then raise it a little above that.

Does that sound correct? And the popping, do I need to be worried about it coming through the inputs if I set it too low, or is it just on my headphones?

I think I can find the settings. If there's anything else about latency I might overlook, do share! If anyone uses an alesis mixmaster4 usb, what's your latency at?

Thanks again for the info thus far guys!
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