Newbie questions! (Music Creator 6 Touch)

I'm an amateur MIDI music composer who just began using Music Creator 6 in July of last year. I've had several questions on the product which have been answered by very educated users on this forum. I still have plenty more I would like answered. (* I have done as much searching across the web as I could to find answers, but unfortunately, some of the answers are just not there...)
 
As I progress, I notice that the learning curve is more steep than I'm used to. In the same instance, I hope these questions/answers will benefit other new users of the software as well.
 
1) Recently, the MC6 window loads behind whatever application windows I have open. How do I tell it to open "On Top"?
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2) What's the advantage of having each TTS track call to a common output track (so they can share a channel) rather than one channel per TTS instrument? Or vice versa? Are there any potential system constraints from doing this either way?
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3) Do I ever have to select a Bank number? Does a Cakewalk SoundCenter track require a channel number designation?
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4) I was previously educated about Bounce by another user on this forum. I would like clarity on the following:
     - Any synth (CSC, TTS, SI-Drums) track can be bounced to an audio track
     - All tracks for a particular synth must be selected at once...I cannot bounce on of these at a time?
     - I cannot select cross-synth tracks (one from CSC, one from TTS) for bouncing into an audio track
     - I can bounce any track, no matter how it was set up
     - Finally, for example in a new project, why would Tracks > Bounce to Tracks be greyed out?
 
I oftentimes get confused with this function, because I've had varying results. (Sometimes, no bounce progress meter is seen and the final audio track doesn't show.)
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5) I still get track types confused at times. I would also like to confirm that the track types are as follows:
     - Keyboard icon is Synth
     - Audio jack icon is Audio
     - Auidio jack + Keyboard icon is Synth w/output
     - Waveform icon is Audio (Wave)
     - Double waveform icon is ___________
 
6) Selecting a track for PRV editing...sometimes I get confused as to whether a track is truly selected. When I click a track number, it's selected for the Inspector, but not for PRV editing. I have to go up in the menu for the track I wish to edit and select "Piano Roll View". Is there an easier way to quickly select a Track for PRV editing?
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7) In a MIDI track, what difference does it make whether the Event Filter is set to Clips or Notes?
 
8) "Maximum number of instruments exceeded". This happens when I exceed 8 Synth Rack entries and this is error is misleading. Instruments? If there's a limit of 8 in the Synth rack and I can have 16 track channels per synth, how can I expect to call several TTS tracks to an Output track with this restriction? Or have more than 8 of either TTS or CSC tracks?
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9) If I were to create a MIDI template of my own to start my projects from -- and I wish to implement TTS, CSC and SI-Drums tracks, what would be the ideal way to lay the tracks out so as not to encounter restrictions?
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10) Clarification on limits (per Comparison chart link):
     - 16 TTS tracks per output (cannot be done with SoundCenter)
     - 16 channels per Synth (?)
     - 8 entries in Synth Rack (still don't understand why)
     - 128 tracks
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11) In the Synth Rack Browser, should I concern myself with the order of the entries or whether to delete unused ones?
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12) How big is a pitch bend and how can I broaden it?
 
Possibly more to come. Thanks again in advance for any answers or clarification you may provide.
 

The 8 synth limit is because MC is the lowest cost DAW Cakewalk sells, and has less 'stuff' than more expensive Cakewalk DAWs.
Chevrolets don't come with heated electrically-adjustable seats as standard, but Cadillacs do... but you have to pay more.
Being able to route 16 MIDI tracks through a multi-timbral synth such as TTS-1 allows you more tracks, natch, so you could have 8 instances of TTS-1 each producing sound from 16 MIDI tracks for 128 total tracks. With SoundCenter, you would only be able to use 8 MIDI tracks to reach the 8 synth limit, then you'd have to bounce in order to use more synths.

I thought all the instruments in TTS-1 were directly accessible via the instrument popup menu in the TTS-1. At least, I have never used the bank and patch drop downs and all the instruments listed in those drop downs are in the instrument popup menu. It is the case the instruments can be set using the bank and patch drop downs too.

scook
I thought all the instruments in TTS-1 were directly accessible via the instrument popup menu in the TTS-1. At least, I have never used the bank and patch drop downs and all the instruments listed in those drop downs are in the instrument popup menu. It is the case the instruments can be set using the bank and patch drop downs too.

True enough, Steve.
When you select the instruments from within TTS-1, all are available. Note the numbers before each patch. The first group of three is the patch, the second group of three is the bank.
When working within TTS-1, these numbers may not matter, and it behaves as any non-GM2 synth with unique presets available from a proprietary preset list.
However, if one chooses to use the bank/patch settings in the MIDI track, the bank suddenly becomes relevant.
You will see only the patches available in the selected bank.
I don't work with TTS-1 much, but when I do, I prefer using the track settings, because they take precedence over the settings within TTS-1.
Both approaches are valid. It just depends on what you are most comfortable with.
All in all, it is a potent synth, especially in MC, where you are limited in the number of synths you can use.
16 MIDI tracks, 4 audio outputs, 1 synth.

WRT to MIDI track usage, what ever feels right for you. Other than the limits to MC6 are spelled out on the comparisons page the only other constraints are imposed by your PC and interface.
 
If this is an accurate representation of the Metronome setup screen in Preferences (image from http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation/default.aspx?Doc=Music%20Creator%206%20Touch&Lang=EN&Req=Dialogs2.059.html#1175510), make sure the output is going to the correct bus. It can be any bus, in this example a bus called "Metronome" is used.
 
 

Try holding the SHIFT key when launching MC. It may restore the metronome audio files.

Does that mean the audio files are restored? If so, create a bus and assign the metronome output to a bus.
 
The big brother to SHIFT start MC, is CTRL+SHIFT start MC. This will reset all the init files and restore some registry settings.
 
If you elect to perform a clean install, make sure to empty the registry after uninstalling MC and before re-installing.

So I uninstalled Music Creator 6 and deleted all the registry entries I could find. (There is no complete uninstall method, from what I can tell.) Reinstalled MC6...Metronome still doesn't work.
 
Beagle, I tried your link to fixing the Metronome problem, which gradually took me to another link to the same problem in Sonar X1. It recommended I download the Metronome Fix ZIP file (which contained the Metronome sounds). It said to drop these in the Metronome folder, but I don't have a Metronome folder. Then I checked Folder Locations in the MC6 Options menu, but cannot determine where the Metronome sounds are.
 
On install, I didn't choose to omit anything except for the QuickTime converters.
 
Utterly and bitterly confused. (Metronome used to work on first install.) Please assist further...thanks!

Create a metronome.
 
Simply use the TTS drums and enter one measure of 4 quarter notes. kick and snare is all you need. copy and paste the measure for as many measures as the song project needs. Done.
 
I really never liked the click of a metronome so I started early on using a midi based drum loop for the timing. It work great and IMHO sounds better than the metronome.
 
Now days I work with audio drum tracks as my timing source.

The Controller Pane is freehand draw only. The patterns only work in automation lanes.
 
After selecting the notes, position the cursor on top of one of the selected notes, when the cursor show velocity bars above it, click and drag up/down to adjust velocity
 
How to setup a playback loop is here http://www.cakewalk.com/D...p;Req=Playback.08.html

if you want the audio metronome to work correctly, contact tech support.  it's email support only for MC, but they should be able to sniff out the problem.

RE#10:It's a matter of discretion, really. How many instruments do you need? Mix and match to suit. The important thing is you are beginning to understand the capabilities and limits of your software.
 
RE#17:Make sure it's the same kind of track. Audio to Audio. MIDI to MIDI. With SIT's I don't know what to expect. I don't like them and I don't use them.
 
RE#18:You'll have to clarify this. It doesn't make sense.
 
RE#19:Where did the "Theirs" image come from? I seriously doubt MC6 supports take lanes.

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ROBERT B
 
RE#10:It's a matter of discretion, really. How many instruments do you need? Mix and match to suit. The important thing is you are beginning to understand the capabilities and limits of your software.
 
RE#17:Make sure it's the same kind of track. Audio to Audio. MIDI to MIDI. With SIT's I don't know what to expect. I don't like them and I don't use them.
 
RE#18:You'll have to clarify this. It doesn't make sense.
 
RE#19:Where did the "Theirs" image come from? I seriously doubt MC6 supports take lanes.
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10: Thanks for the insight. I would imagine if you were to compose entirely of SoundCenter instruments, you could only technically have eight. (Unless a drum kit was included.) Based on this, I've decided pretty much that in my compositions, I may use TTS strictly for strings and bass guitars, considering they all sound quite similar to what CSC offers.
 
I would also imagine that, anyone who has purchased the Instrument Packs would have to be extremely conservative of how many of the instruments they use (unless more TTS or audio). That's just my perspective, anyway. I'm still enjoying some of the TTS instruments.
 
Therefore, I may be likely to still make significant use of TTS over SoundCenter, respecting the 8-synth limit. Bouncing to audio...I would have to be really sure before doing that. LOL. I tend to go back occasionally and George Lucas my work.
 
17: Copying among similar track types -- of course! Never thought of it. :)
 
18: Every once in a while, I apply a controller -- doesn't matter which method -- and I don't like it. I delete the controller but it still sounds. And recently I've discovered the Reset Audio button up on top by the digital time readout, but when I hit that, some instrument volume levels change. I'll have to experiment and report later...
 
19: Here's a link to a MC6 Touch reference pertaining to Take Lanes:
http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation/default.aspx?Doc=Music%20Creator%206%20Touch&Lang=JP&Req=Arranging.32.html
I use MC6, but not the Touch. I was unable to Google search any specific comparisons between the two MC6 packages.
 
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57GREGY
To get past the 8-synth limit, once you have a synth track where you want it, bounce the synth to audio, delete the synth from the synth rack and archive the MIDI track.
Then you can use another synth.
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Alright! I never thought of that. Audio tracks don't require a place in the synth rack. Now, when you say "archive the MIDI track" -- I'm sorry, is this a technical term? Please be more specific... :)
 

scook
Archiving is a way of removing tracks from processing in the DAW. It is associated with the button to the right of the snowflake with the letter A on it. In the illustrations in post #22, the archive option does not appear in the right-hand image.

That being said, I would assume MC6 doesn't offer the Archive feature. Or it is only available for an Audio track, because I've never seen the A button. Is this the case? (* A Google search apparently indicates that archive is only available for Touch.)
 
How's Archive different from bouncing to Audio, and what happens when a track is archived?

I just checked my X1 Essential, which MC6(non-touch) was derived from. It doesn't have take lanes either.
MC6Touch was derived from X2. There are enough differences that it would have probably been a lot less confusing if they had called it MC7.
As you have noted, the documentation doesn't really help figure out what the differences are.
Your best bet is to refer to the Help files included with your version.
I know it can be frustrating when the documentation is not entirely clear, but keep hammering away at it. You'll get it.