Hey guys, I'm a bit new to the forums, but I've got nagging questions that just don't seem to be getting answered anywhere else. To say first of all: I don't have a midi keyboard plug in to play the virtual instruments- I have to use my mouse. It's frustrating and I would gladly invest in a midi keyboard, but I'm a teenager and I don't have a job yet, and most of my money goes towards gas in my car, so I can't exactly just stop by the store and get one. I don't know if you can actually record midi music with a mouse though. In the tutorial, he uses a keyboard, so it doesn't explain whether or not the recording process of drums or synth even works with a mouse. All I know is that every time I begin recording, absolutely nothing shows up. There is no track and nothing to save. Just empty space, as if I'd never recorded. It's getting to be frustrating, because on top of that, when I go to listen to the already pre-recorded midi tracks (the section with the Groove Monkee option), none of them will play. They'll show up, but no sound will come out. These problems may be related or not, but if anyone can help me, that'd mean a lot. Extra Information: It says my card is a High Definition ATI Device from ATI Technologies (which I'm pretty sure just means it's normal) and I just checked and made sure that it is in fact up to date. I'm not sure how much more specific I can get than that, but I do have a Dell desktop computer running on Windows 7 if that gives you anymore valid information. Thank you so much for reading this. Any help is appreciated. I'm so frustrated.

Welcome to  the forum.
Yes, you can enter MIDI data with the mouse, one note at a time, but you do need a MIDI track to click in the notes.
Click File>New at the top and select a MIDI template from the list.
Then Insert at the top, Soft Synths>Cakewalk TTS-1.
In a MIDI track, select TTS-1 as the output. You won't need to select an input since you're using the mouse.
Channel 1, Bank to Preset Normal, select an instrument sound (patch).
Go to Views at the top. Select Staff or Piano Roll. Select the Pencil (Draw) tool at the top. Now click anywhere on the staff or grid and you should hear the TTS-1 software synthesizer playing the notes.
You do not have to press Record to enter notes with the mouse; what you click in is 'recorded' as if writing it down.
Go back to the Track view and you'll see the notes in a MIDI clip. Rewind, hit play and the notes should play.

You can also use the smart tool to draw notes, by holding Alt and clicking. This way is easier, because you can easily edit the note length right after by releasing alt and click-dragging the notes to adjust their start times, duration and velocity. You can also use Alt+Click-Drag to draw MIDI event data in the controller pane to edit velocity, breath*, pan, expression, volume, delay*, cutoff frequency*, resonance* and chorus data.

Also, a graphics tablet is excellent for drawing notes, I use it extensively. See if you can get a Bamboo Fun Tablet.

* - Only certain synths support them, check your synth documentation to see what CCs they support.

oh my goodness, I don't think you realized how much that just helped me! I had no idea how important the Input and Output were on each track, and that helped answer every problem I was having. I was wondering why I couldn't hear tracks and it was because the output was wrong. Thank you so much. You guys are awesome :) PS- I do have a tablet, so it's neat that you mention that. I will try it out.

Gotta love those moments.
You'll have a few of them as you learn your way around MC6.
I'd suggest spending some time browsing the help files.
You will find answers to questions you wouldn't think to ask, and it's a great way to discover stuff the program can do.

Amanda... 

To get a keyboard.... you can look into a few options. 

1. Ask around with friends. Many people have midi capable keyboards setting in closets and attics collecting dust. They will give it away or sell it cheap in many cases.

2. Yard sales. I don't frequent these events because they are generally over before I get out of bed on Saturday mornings.... but I have seen the listings in the paper and you can sometimes find keyboards cheap here as well.

3. Online.... Ebay & Craigs list.  Use caution on these deals especially the local craigslist. 

4. Music stores: some do sell used gear...check the bulletin boards and I have seen some New keyboards at GC for $65..... on sale. 

With keyboards, doing the midi is soooooo much easier since you simply play it and then edit it if needed. Newer midi keyboards have USB ports rather than the old 5 pin DIN ports. 

hope this was helpful.