plug-ins!!

All that I have found to be accessable and usable are the ones that come up when you right click in the FX bin and select audio effects...cakewalk... and the list comes up.... they are useful, but you can add more.

Plugins for all reasons...mastering stuff, effects like verb, phasing, EQ...yadda yadda, are available for free and for sale on the net. Once you get them and properly install them, they will be available to you in the FX bin.

Good point Greg....

The plugin fx found in the FX bin....well...when you are in a midi track you will have access to the midi stuff which is very limited..even to the point that I do not use them ..ever.

In the audio tracks..you rightclick in the FX bin and the FX that are available are all audio related. Since TTS lives in the audio track, you can insert one of the CW FX into it's FX bin and it will work. There are a limited number of effects like reverb & chorus available to you in the deeper recesses of the TTS synth itself.

In my MC FX list, I have alot of things....it lists all kinds of stuff that is audio related, but ony one section of that list is usable FX plugins....and that's the stuff under the cakewalk effects list. ...I think about 18 or so plugins. some are good and some are just OK.... I use maybe a handful...less than 6.

As I said earlier ...... there are all kinds of plugins available from various sources. The simple ones are free. And there are some really nice plugins that will set you back some bucks, but are so'nuff worth it.

Search the forums, gear, software, techniques, and you'll find several threads discussing and extolling certain plugins. Do a google search too.

ORIGINAL: Peter Rabbit
If you insert a plug-in in the FX bin it is considered "non-destructive" because it hasn't really altered the track in any way. The original track remains in it's original condition even though you can hear the effect. Once the effects have been applied by going to Edit>Apply Audio Effects, it's considered "destructive" editing.

The other effects that adriane is referring to must be applied immediately to either the whole track or to the highlighted area of a track, which does indeed alter the original track. Therefore it's considered "destructive" editing.

Even though it's called "destructive" editing and it applies the effects to the track, you can un-apply the effect by using the undo function as long as you don't close out of the Cakewalk program before you decide to undo it.

Pete

Thanks Pete for the information. I was looking for this today. I just have one question. After you hear the FX and you decide you want to keep it, you use the PROCESS>APPLY AUDIO EFFECTS. do you have to play the whole track again or does it simply accept what is in the FX bin that you just listened to?

Thanks.

Nutty

Thanks Steve,

I'll be sure to give it a new file name so I can save the original.

Annette

ORIGINAL: SteveStrummerUK
Unless it's really slowing your computer down by leaving them running in your FX bins, there's no real need to apply any effects Annette.
Steve

Bear with me here because I obviously haven't made it to this stage yet. What do you do if you want to keep the FX for the mixdown? Will it automatically apply it if is in the FX bin with the setting you have chosen? Also, will it remain in the bin if you open the project up later? Also, I assume if you have more than 1 FX, it will apply them in order? Is there a limit per track or per project?

Thanks for your help.

Annette

Perfect. Thanks Beagle.

I guess the next step is to figure out the buses. I know there have been many posts about it, so that will keep me busy for a while. Plus I got my manual today for the Melodyne Uno program I got. I'm so excited. I have another manual to read! It looks like it does a lot more than I expected.

Annette

Geeze... just what kind of beast are we dealing with here???? Are you sure MC 4 is the right program? If I understand you correctly, all previous versions of that file, that could be saved under a different name are permanently altered? Wow, that is wicked. Applying FX is so different than the DAW I used before MC. I don't know guys. You are going to have to really sell me hard on this one. Sounds pretty dangerous for a person like me. So, the trick is to never process the effects? And they will always be there when you access the file.

We'll see how this goes. I have a new song I wrote last night from another forum I visit. I would like to do a quick and dirty version of it. So, I guess this will be my guinea pig on applying FX and mixing a file. So, hang around oh masters of MC.

One scared Nutty person!

Yes, you understand correctly. Don't be scared, just be smart.
The FX bin is fine. Bouncing a track is fine.
I never touch the Process Effects option. Too much commitment. And way too dangerous, unless you have a specific need to use it.
Keep the effects in the FX bin, keep an eye on your CPU, and export when you are ready.
The sun will shine.

Okay, so that I'm clear...you don't have to process the FX because the FX is always there as you need when you access the file. Also, if you were to mix down the project, MC would include the FX in the bin. Do I have that right? If I wanted to process the effects, I would follow your process Greg (clone, archive, unarchive). I haven't used the archive feature yet, but it dosen't sound too difficult (but Iprobably shouldn't make an assumption after this discussion).

That makes sense for the buses Greg. Where is the FX bin for the buses? Is it accessed the same way in the track vlew? Are there different FX for mastering? I may be starting a whole new subject here. Sorry. But I need to learn and understand all this stuff.

Thanks.

Annette

Annette, the busses look just like the tracks, with the effects bins in the same places and are utilized in the same way. Just think of them as tracks you can't record on, but can send recorded tracks through.
As for the 'mixing down', I'll have to defer to those who have actually done it. I never have. But there should be options to select how you want it done, whether to extract the info from the tracks or busses, or the do-everything "What You Hear".
RobertB, all of us are Always Learning.

ORIGINAL: RobertB
Hope my credibility isn't too badly damaged.

Well we'll let it go THIS time. Forty lashes with a wet noodle for you may be in order though!!

Annette

ORIGINAL: gamblerschoice

The "apply effects" thing might be partly my fault. I was responding to another question concerning cpu load, and suggested applying effects to eliminate the effect from the system completely. But, I can agree with the others here that you should not have to apply an effect if your computer can handle the load.

So, just wanted to appologise if I sent things in the wrong diresction on applying effects. If you don't need to, don't do it, unless you want to, and if it feels good....huh?
Later
Albert

Thanks for the info Albert. You don't have to ever worry about confusing me...it doesn't take much when it comes to MC it seems.

Annette

Thanks Greg, I found it. I think I was looking for it under FILE>EXPORT>AUDIO.

Annette