I insert an instance of the Aria Player, and load a single instrument patch from the Garritan Personal Orchestra. Everything works fine. Then I hit play, and play along with the one other (audio) track in the project - still OK.
 
I hit the space bar to stop the transport. 
 
At this point, the volume on the Aria drops dramatically - it is still there, but it is ridiculously quiet. The fader is up, there is no automation...I thought this might be a corrupt project, so I have opened a brand new blank project, which has only the Aria and one audio track.
 
 
Same issue! Any ideas please? 
 
I tried inserting an instance of DimPro directly (not through the Aria), and it works normally. 

I think many GPO patches respond to CC1 as volume.  Therefore if you set select Preferences | Project | MIDI "Zero Controllers When Play Stops" , then Cakewalk will issue a CC1 = 0 when you stop the transport.  If you have loaded a patch where CC1 effects volume this may explain it.

What I have done with GPO5 is made a template that has CC1 = 127 event at the start of every MIDI that drives the ARIA player and that has the "Zero Controllers When Play Stops" setting disabled.  Remember that setting is a per project settings.  That's why I save a template.

This is very helpful - I am an audio guy who is only now trying to get into MIDI. So, I can set up a track template - How do I set CC1 = 127 as per your post? If I disable "Zero Controllers When Play Stops", will this affect anything else that I do? 

Marshall
This is very helpful - I am an audio guy who is only now trying to get into MIDI. So, I can set up a track template - How do I set CC1 = 127 as per your post? If I disable "Zero Controllers When Play Stops", will this affect anything else that I do? 

Yes, it will. Mod wheel data won't be reset to zero, nor will pitch bend messages. The correct way to handle these situations is to do what Promidi recommends: Add a base starting point for every midi CC that you need.
 
This is much easier to do if you have a midi controller that can send various CC messages that you can record.
 
Regards,
Dan

Marshall
This is very helpful - I am an audio guy who is only now trying to get into MIDI. So, I can set up a track template - How do I set CC1 = 127 as per your post? If I disable "Zero Controllers When Play Stops", will this affect anything else that I do? 

The quickest way to enter CC1 = 127 in all of your MIDI tracks controlling the various GPO5 tracks is as follows

1) Move the NOW pointer to where you want the CC1 events inserted
2) Select all the MIDI tracks you wish to place the CC1 events
3) Right click on the time value on the transport and copy - you'll need this for the "Insert Series of Controllers" dialogue box
4) Go to the menu item Insert | Series of Controllers
5) In the "Insert Series of Controllers" dialogue box select the following
          Select Controller
          Enter Controller 1 as the Number
          Make sure the start and end are 127
          Paste the time copied previously into From and To fields
6) Hit OK

Now all of your selected MIDI tracks will have CC1 = 127 at the NOW pointer

I know there are a lot of steps, but the above method is easier than entering MIDI track at a time.

With the "Zero Controllers When Play Stops" setting, it's easy to switch back on if something is adversely affected.

Hope that helps

Oh boy.

All I want to do is have a nice clarinet sound in my song. I hoped and expected that GPO5 would allow me to do that without, excuse the expression, screwing around like this.

Thank you for taking the time to give me step by step instructions. As I have already declared, I don't understand midi, and whilst I will be able to follow your instructions parrot fashion, I don't understand what I'm doing.

Hi Marshall,
 
With most Garritan programs it's important to remember that the CC1 value provides not just a volume change but also changes the expression of the sound. Example- a clarinet sounds different when the player forces more air into the mouthpiece. Same thing for almost all instruments ' mot just a volume change it's timber and quality of sound.
 
You should be using the Mod wheel level in the same way a instrument player changes how he controls his instrument to get the full range of expressive sounds.
 
Using a single CC1 level such as CC1=127 will only give you the sound of a  clarinet at ffff
 
Read the manual and you'll better able to utilize all the complex sounds that Garritan instruments are capable of
 
"By far the most important controller in Garritan instrument libraries is the modulation wheel (MIDI controller #1), which is used to control the volume and timbre of all sustaining Garritan instruments"
 
Here's a link to the Makemusic site that explains the importance of varying the Mod wheel CC1 control throughout the entire performance
http://usermanuals.finalemusic.com/Finale2014Win/Content/Finale/GarritanHP7.htm
 
Best of luck,
 
Fred

I use CC7 for base volume, CC11 for expression or on-the-fly changes. With GPO, CC11 acts as fine-tuning for the volume. (On EWSO and other libraries, it acts as a timbral effect). I use Event List to enter CC events. Just go there, hit the insert key on your keyboard, and enter the necessary data. I start all inst's off with CC7=100. I adjust them as needed. Clarinets in GPO, while wonderful, are loud, so I usually have to reduce the starting volume to 80 or 90. Others may need more than 100. It's a nice way to do a little mixing from the getgo. One other thing: with GPO, CC11 doesn't work on percussion, so use CC7 all the way through.

I use a slightly different method when I use Garritan's software and my keyboard controller.  At the start of each Garritan track I write in my starting CC1 setting.  Then as I am playing I will use the mod wheel as needed or I will draw in my CC1 data after the fact.
 
I find Garritan's software much easier to use with my wind controller.  You may want to investigate using a breath controller.  Garritan's stuff works much better with breath control, CC2, IMHO.  YMMV

promidi

Marshall
This is very helpful - I am an audio guy who is only now trying to get into MIDI. So, I can set up a track template - How do I set CC1 = 127 as per your post? If I disable "Zero Controllers When Play Stops", will this affect anything else that I do? 

The quickest way to enter CC1 = 127 in all of your MIDI tracks controlling the various GPO5 tracks is as follows

1) Move the NOW pointer to where you want the CC1 events inserted
2) Select all the MIDI tracks you wish to place the CC1 events
3) Right click on the time value on the transport and copy - you'll need this for the "Insert Series of Controllers" dialogue box
4) Go to the menu item Insert | Series of Controllers
5) In the "Insert Series of Controllers" dialogue box select the following
          Select Controller
         Enter Controller 1 as the Number
         Make sure the start and end are 127
         Paste the time copied previously into From and To fields
6) Hit OK

Now all of your selected MIDI tracks will have CC1 = 127 at the NOW pointer

I know there are a lot of steps, but the above method is easier than entering MIDI track at a time.

With the "Zero Controllers When Play Stops" setting, it's easy to switch back on if something is adversely affected.

Hope that helps

I have followed this as best I can, but it has made no difference - same results when the transport stops. I guess it is step one that I don't understand. I don't want the volume to drop when transport stops...I'm not sure how this relates to "Move the NOW pointer to where you want the CC1 events inserted". I have selected "Zero Controllers When Play Stops" in preferences. 
 
Sorry to be so stupid - I really appreciate your help.