Dear all, welcome to this complete tutorial dedicated to Cakewalk by
BandLab, a great free-to-use DAW product to make your own music and
recordings, available for all Windows computers! In just 13 minutes
we will see everything you need to know to make your first audio project
from zero.
When you open Cakewalk a Start Screen opens with several options to start.
You can open your recent or existing projects or create a new one from
any ready template proposed. To see all the features inside Cakewalk we
will start from a new empty project.
The main interface is made by the central timeline and several panels
around that can be opened and hidden with their double-arrow button. On
top you also get several options that can change according to the template
chosen on the right. We will see just the Basic one on this video.
If you are just starting with Cakewalk the Help Module can be useful,
giving additional hints and information on what you hover with your mouse.
Let's see how to import sound. You can add samples and MIDI compositions
by dragging and dropping these inside the timeline. These are shown as
blocks called clips, within rows defined as Tracks or Channels. Audio
Tracks collect samples and audio waveforms, whereas MIDI Tracks collect
compositions, sequencers and notes. Make sure to extend these to get a
better preview on the clips.
You can also record from your microphone. Click on the plus button in the
top left corner to create a new Audio Track, selecting the correct source
under Input. When you arm such track with its record button you shall see
the deciBel meter reacting with your microphone. At this point enable the
Record button on top to start recording, turning the metronome
on the right ON or OFF as you need.
The timeline content is measured in bars and beats on top, with the
current time placement represented by the main marker and by the timer on
top in seconds. You can zoom in and out by holding down the ALT key and
using your mouse wheel. You can also move fast through time with the
sidebar on top.
Use the Space bar key or the play button on top to playback and stop.
You can also click and drag over the timeline to create a green loop
region and enable the Loop button to playback such limited part
continuously.
Before working on your project make sure to set its main options by
clicking on its sample rate, adjusting the main output source for your
sound (or Playback Master) and the main input (Record Master).
Now let's see how to compose with Cakewalk. You can use two different
tracks for this: the Instrument and the MIDI track. The Instrument track
is very good to compose notes on Cakewalk and then attach any digital VST
synthesizer (or synth). Whereas the MIDI track is suggested in case you
have to connect external instruments or keyboards as input sources. In
this video we will work with Instrument tracks and synths only.
To create a new Instrument track use the plus button in the top left
corner, selecting Instrument and then choosing the synth to use. At this
point you can import any MIDI file or any ready composition from the
Browser panel on the right, under Step Sequencer Patterns, MIDI Groove
Clips or PTN MIDI Patterns.
All these MIDI clips will sound using the VST instrument chosen for such
track. You can edit its properties by clicking on it on the left. You
can also change it by right-clicking on it and going to Replace Synth.
To start composing double-click on any clip or on the Instrument track.
This opens the Piano Roll at the bottom, showing the whole track content
in time without any clip border. Click on any note on the left to test
it and click and drag to drop notes with the right tone and in the correct
instant of time. Consider to create any loop region on the timeline and
keep the loop enabled to compose quicker and easier.
Click and drag an existing note to move it and right-click on it to remove
it. Whereas hold down the ALT key and use your mouse wheel to zoom in
and out.
At the bottom you can open the Controller Lane to adjust velocity and
other properties on each single note by clicking and dragging vertically.
Besides the Piano Roll Cakewalk also has a Staff and a Step Sequencer
view under the Views tab on top. If you see these greyed out, make sure
to have the Piano Roll open.
In particular the Step Sequencer is very good to make percussions with
dedicated drum synths, where each note (or row) is a different drum,
cymbal, snare or kick. Set the pattern beats and steps above and use
the play button to playback in loop while turning ON and OFF the correct
steps.
On the left set several options for each note. You can put the whole row
in mute or solo; adjust velocity, duration or swing. These can be
adjusted it step per step as well.
On top use the plus button to add more rows and the cross button to remove
any selected. You can always undo with CTRL+Z.
The Piano Roll and the Step Sequencer are completely independent. The
compositions made with these are represented as separated clips on the
timeline.
All these composed clips follow the tempo set on top, under the time
counter. This converts your beats into seconds, defining the overall
speed rate of your project. For example a higher tempo makes all your
notes faster. Next to the tempo you can also fix the time signature.
Now let's see how to manage audio and MIDI clips with the Smart Tool
enabled on top.
Click and drag any clip to move it in time or in another Track. On top
turn the snappings ON or OFF, adjusting their resolution in time if
needed.
To adjust the clip length click and drag from its edges. Standard clips
have a fixed duration and do not get looped. You can right-click on these
and go to Groove-Clip Looping to turn these into Groove clips. These can
be looped over and over and also become sensitive to the project tempo
set above.
Use CTRL+X, C and V on a selected clip to cut, copy and paste it. You can
click and drag over it to select a limited portion to cut and copy. Use
the Delete key to remove the clip instead. Always use CTRL+Z to undo.
In addition you can click and drag from the top corners of any clip to
add fade transitions to change its volume in time when it begins or ends.
Now let's see how to manage the Tracks on the timeline. All the properties
for Audio, MIDI and Instrument tracks are all listed on the left. If you
do not see these, extend the Tracks enough or change the options
from the top.
You can use the M button to mute the current track and the S button to
make it solo, muting all other tracks. You can check the deciBel
meter for the instant volume level coming from the Track and set on I and
O the correct input and output source to use.
Under FX you can include several effects including delays, reverb,
distortions and much more with the plus button. Then click on any effect
name to edit its properties or on its I/O button to turn it ON or OFF.
Right-click on it to either change or remove it.
Whereas to remove the whole Track just right-click on it and go to Delete
Track.
At the bottom you can open other special tracks such as the Metronome
and the Master Track, which collects the overall sound from your project.
In addition you can open the Inspector panel on the left to get several
options for your current Track selected on the left and for the Master
Track on the right. With the Gain knob adjust the volume at the input
source, before any filter or effect is applied on it. Whereas use the Sends
to send part of the Track content to other tracks and mix sound.
Tune the Pan knob to balance the left and right stereo outputs and
adjust the output volume level on the deciBel meter, after all the filters
and effects added.
With the ProChannel you can apply a professional equalizer by dragging
each node on the frequency diagram. You can also open a detailed panel
with the forth button on top, which also includes a very useful
compressor. Remember to click on the I/O buttons to turn ON and OFF any
of these features.
You can also open the Console panel from the Views tab to get a complete
overview on all your tracks to adjust and mix these in one place. Use the
F key to compress these quickly.
To save your project go to File and then to Save As. Choose a .cwb format
to save all the options, the timeline content and also all the files
imported inside. Whereas choose .cwp in case you want to save just the
project, leaving the external files as links.
If your project is ready to be exported create a loop region to define
what to render on the timeline and select all the tracks to be considered.
Then go to File, Export, Audio and set the correct file format, the
destination folder and several advanced audio options at the bottom.
Thank you very much for watching this super short tutorial! Visit our
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