The Cakewalk Blog

Intel Video Superstars Competition 2012

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:36:58 +0000

You use powerful tools to help power your creativity. Show off your technology-fueled vision with Intel’s Video Superstars Challenge. It’s about going beyond “point and shoot”. Filmmakers, here is your chance to win big! Thanks to Intel and the Video Superstars competition’s sponsors, your dreams can become a reality. Enter the competition now for a [...]

New SONAR X1 Master Class Video In the Works, Old Videos Refreshed

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:42:42 +0000

A couple of years ago we started SONAR University with a bang by releasing a fourty-plus minute long Master Class on drum production. Since then we’ve released two more Master Classes and dozens of Get Started and Go Deeper videos. And right now we’ve got one more Master Class video in the works. Our first [...]

Got SONAR X1? Get up and running with our free Get Started series of videos on CakeTV!

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:13 +0000

So you’ve purchased and installed SONAR X1 and now you’re ready to get in and start making music? Let us make it easy for you with free step by step videos that cover every step of the setup process for all versions of SONAR X1. Available any time you need it, the Get Started series [...]

Cakewalk Spring Sale: 15 downloads for $19.99 or less!

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:11:54 +0000

Stock up for spring at the Cakewalk Store! Spring is here and we are having a huge sale at the Cakewalk Store through May 22nd. Download 15 of our hottest products for $19.99/£14.99/€19.99 or less. Here are a few of the highlights. Rapture upgrade from Rapture LE Rapture LE is inlcuded in many versions of [...]

Create Unique Percussion Beats with the Beatscape Factory Content In SONAR X1: Part 2; ProChannel

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:33:06 +0000

In Part 1 of this blog series, I highlighted the basic information to get the Beatscape content going in SONAR X1 Producer without using the Beatscape program. If you read that post and starting working a bit with the Beatscape content you probably found out that there’s some really good samples in there from which [...]

How to Automate Data Selections in SONAR X1 and Earlier Versions of SONAR

Scott R. Garrigus [SONAR Power! book series] — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:21:57 +0000

One of the main features of SONAR X1 that has been revamped is Automation. The problem of accidentally clicking on the wrong envelope or node has been eliminated via the new Edit Filter control. SONAR’s Edit Filter allows you to choose the type of active data for editing. Each track in SONAR provides its own [...]

Second CakeTV Live Broadcast Now Available on YouTube

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:01:06 +0000

Last week Brandon Ryan and I hosted our second CakeTV Live webinar on music production with SONAR X1. Broadcast live over the internet from Burbank, CA, this latest installment of CakeTV Live was every bit a success as the first CakeTV Live webinar. With a steady 240+ viewers this time from all over the world, we [...]

The ProChannel Pack for SONAR X1 Producer Expanded- Buy the bundle, save a bundle!

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:16:11 +0000

You’ve got SONAR X1 Producer Expanded, now expand your ProChannel with the ProChannel Pack and get four of our awesome dynamics modules for only $179! By purchasing the bundle, you save $77 off the individual prices of the modules.The ProChannel Pack comprises four unique ProChannel modules that cover all of your dynamics control needs with brilliant [...]

Create Unique Percussion Beats with the Beatscape Factory Content In SONAR X1: Part 1

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:25:54 +0000

There’s no doubt that SONAR X1 comes with a lot of great content, but one component that I think is sometimes overlooked is the Beatscape content. Beatscape originally came with SONAR 8 and it’s a great sampler machine for mixing and mashing up content. And now with the power of the Browser, Drag and Drop [...]

SONAR X1 – Easier to Use

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:10:48 +0000

SONAR X1 brings a lot of significant changes from previous versions of SONAR; changes like the Unified Preferences View, ProChannel, Enhanced Automation, Key Clusters, the Skylight User Interface, and so much more. All of these changes are designed to enhance workflow, which means you can get more done in less time with SONAR X1. The [...]

SONAR X1- The DAW that plays well with others

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:43:06 +0000

Whether you’re mixing down or pulling individual tracks for use with a collaborator, SONAR’s flexible export options make the process fast and simple. Getting your stereo or surround mix out of SONAR is a breeze with options for every major file format, sample rate and bit depth. You can also take advantage of SONAR’s pristine [...]

New Video: Z3TA+ 2 shreds on a Misa Kitara digital guitar controller

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:49:32 +0000

The folks at Misa Digital recently posted a few videos showing off the sounds of Z3TA+ 2 played on their flagship Kitara digital guitar. Check it out! “Here I connect the kitara to the cakewalk z3ta+ 2 software synthesizer. Basically, the kitara becomes an extension to the synth, as a new way to control it. [...]

We want your feedback: Please take this survey about SONAR X1 content

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:26:07 +0000

Survey: What content would you like to see more of in the future? Since the release of SONAR X1, Cakewalk has stepped up its’ efforts to provide more free and paid content for SONAR X1 users. That started with the creation of CakeTV and SONAR U, and continues in 2012 with more blogging, videos, and [...]

From SONAR directly to the masses, send your music soaring on SoundCloud.

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:34:50 +0000

Included in SONAR X1 Producer Expanded, the SoundCloud app gives you the ability to upload your mix directly from SONAR to your free SoundCloud account for the world to listen to! SoundCloud is a hosting site for distributing your music to the masses through either streaming or the option to offer the song for download. [...]

10 Reasons to Get Up and Running with SONAR X1 Producer

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:21:44 +0000

To celebrate Marathon Monday here in Boston and our MARATHON Sale at the Cakewalk Store, here are 10 great reasons you should be running SONAR X1 Producer today. 1. Begin with Better Training: Cakewalk has prepared free SONAR X1 training videos for every skill level on the SONAR U channel of CakeTV. Learn everything you [...]

CakeTV Live: Join our second live webcast on music production in SONAR X1

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:55:43 +0000

In case you missed part one of this two-part series, Cakewalk’s Seth Perlstein shared his favorite SONAR X1 music production tips, tricks, and techniques like using the Mod Matrix in FX Chains 2.0, Groove Matching with AudioSnap, creating variations with the Loop Construction View, and much, much more. Plus, he gave a sneak peak of [...]

How TC Spitfire used the ProChannel on the track “Surrender;” Currently #3 on Billboard Club Chart

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:06:23 +0000

Congratulations to Paul Oakenfold and TC Spitfire who found themselves at #3 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs this past week with the track Surrender. The track was written by Paul, TC and J Hart who also sang the track. TC Spitfire who is a passionate SONAR X1 Expanded user co-produced and mixed the track [...]

How to edit multiple MIDI notes simultaneously with the Event Inspector in SONAR

Scott R. Garrigus [SONAR Power! book series] — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:07:53 +0000

Did you know that you can use the Event Inspector to easily edit multiple data events (such as MIDI notes) simultaneously? In SONAR, right-click the Control Bar and choose Event Inspector Module to make the Event Inspector visible. If you don’t see it appear, you may need to hide some of the other Control Bar [...]

SONAR X1 for the win! Interview with the MixFest Competition Winner

Tara Zanett [Cakewalk] — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:37:01 +0000

Alex Niedt (pronounced “neet”) is a Kansas City recording artist, producer, and mix engineer whose releases include the Don’t Forget To Tip Your Bartender and Song To The Siren EPs and the Lex Luger-produced single “Hold Me Down”. In early 2012, Niedt won the MixFest Competition, hosted and judged by Grammy-winning mix engineer Dave Pensado, [...]

Musikmesse 2012 – An Inside Look

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:00:43 +0000

Each Spring the Musical Instruments world descends upon Frankfurt, Germany for the planet’s largest MI trade show; Musikmesse. Cakewalk’s had a presence at the Frankfurt Musikmesse for decades and with one small exception this year was no different. This year I was a part of the crew. And this year I wrote a blog about it! [...]

How Jon Lee Uses SONAR X1 Expanded to Create Music for Some of America’s Favorite TV Shows

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:00:34 +0000

Some artists spend more time trying to catapult their image into the status spotlight than they do actually creating music. Some artists lay low under the radar diligently doing their thing. In this day and age, there really is no right or wrong way to be an artist in the music industry, you just have [...]

Recording guitars- A survival guide pt2: Microphones, your DAW’s ears

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:27:08 +0000

In part two of the series let’s take a look at another crucial element for recording guitars, the microphone. Just as a speaker plays a large role in the sound of an amp, the microphones used to record it are just as important to getting that tone into a recording. And just like speakers, all [...]

How Building Cost Effective Acoustic Treatment for the Music Studio Will Help Your Music Production; Final Links and Video

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:51:05 +0000

A 3 Part Resource for D.I.Y. Acoustic Sound Treatment and Room Development As a conclusion to my series on Building Cost Effective Acoustic Treatment, I wanted to put a link to all three articles in one place along with a “before and after” video. I also wanted to put this up on our forum in [...]

New Neyrinck V-Control Pro iPad Controller for SONAR

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:03:14 +0000

V-Control Pro provides a fully-featured, multi-touch control surface for SONAR. V-Control Pro uses WiFi to control transport, editing, and mixing functions. V-Control Pro provides advanced control of sends, automation, groups, auditioning, plug-ins, jog/scrub/shuttle, I/O assignment, and other controls within an easy-to-use interface. Learn more about the V-Control Pro

Create Dub-tastic delay effects in SONAR!

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:19:45 +0000

Looking for a way to create dub style delay effects in SONAR? Look no further, by following these steps you can easily get that classic dub sound. First, insert two stereo busses into the project. The first bus “Delay feed” will send the drum signal to the other bus “Delay” which will house the delay [...]

Why you should use “Scan VST Plug-ins On Startup” in SONAR X1. Really.

Brandon Ryan [Cakewalk] — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:34:23 +0000

You’ve seen it before. That painful scanning procedure on startup that makes many DAWs seemingly take forever to let you start actually making music with them. Is it a necessary evil? I mean without it you wouldn’t have all your plugins available to you. Or would you? SONAR X1 has a very sophisticated and clever mechanism that only scans your plugin [...]

Introductory offer on the PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier for ProChannel [EXTENDED]

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:07:10 +0000

Faithfully modeled after one of the most sought after studio compressors in history, the PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier puts the silky, smooth sound of this highly desirable unit right into SONAR’s ProChannel. Special offer [UPDATE]: Due to overwhelming demand, the intro price for this brand new module has been extended. Customers can now save 50% [...]

SONAR X1 on Windows 8: What we learned from the Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Willy Jones [Cakewalk] — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:40:04 +0000

Cakewalk support rep Dean ‘The New Guy’ Capper recently spent some time with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview and SONAR X1 Producer Expanded. Disclaimer: SONAR X1 is not officially supported on Windows 8 but our support staff did get the opportunity to run some early tests and make some observations about SONAR’s performance. This is [...]

How Chris Standring Used SONAR X1 to Hit Two #1 Chart Positions

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:33:45 +0000

The success of SONAR X1 user Chris Standring’s groundbreaking 2010 CD Blue Bolero, which topped several year-end lists and produced a No. 1 single, made it tough for him to create a follow-up record; but all early indicators are showing that he managed quite nicely with the new Electric Wonderland recording which came out yesterday. [...]

Recording guitars- A survival guide pt1: Taste testing speakers

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:15:07 +0000

Getting awesome guitar tones recorded in any setting is not as hard as you might think. After recording a huge number of different guitarists including myself over the last 20 years, I have found that great results can be achieved in almost any space. While there are no rules when setting out to record the [...]

Musikmesse Preview And New ProChannel Module

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:39:41 +0000

If you thought NAMM was something, wait until next week when Musikmesse 2012 opens itself to the world in Frankfurt, Germany from March 21st – 24th. The planet’s largest Music Industry trade show is looming just over the horizon and we’ll be there to show off our latest wares, gadgets, and goodies, including a new brand [...]

Cori Yarckin’s New Record “Part of Me” Released in Japan Today: See How SONAR X1 was used in her living room…

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:16:55 +0000

After a long road of hard work and perseverance, the new Cori Yarckin record titled Part of Me was released today in Japan on Spinning Records. Cori is a busy international singer/songwriter who is also signed to BMG publishing in the United States. In the past, she has toured extensively, being known for her powerful [...]

Take the Matrix to the stage with cue mix style clip auditioning.

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:21:37 +0000

Anyone who has used the Matrix View in SONAR X1 can attest to its awesome music creation powers. But it can also be used in combination with the Browser View’s flexible audio preview routing in a DJ setup to make instant remixes on the fly! There are several ways this can be done depending on [...]

How to Create Deluxe SlapBack Echo Using Channel Tools in SONAR X1

Bill Edstrom [Groove 3] — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:17:54 +0000

I love to use mono slapback echo to support lead vocals or guitar solos. This classic effect has been used for decades and continues to be an important music production technique. Slapback has its roots in reel to reel tape and is characterized by the vocal or guitar part mixed with a single, audible echo. [...]

QuadCurve EQ Demystified

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 01:22:09 +0000

If you’re a SONAR X1 user then you’ve probably already seen that the free SONAR X1d update has been released for all versions of SONAR X1. And if you’re a SONAR X1 Producer Expanded user, then you’ve probably already noticed that you’ve got a shiny, new EQ in the ProChannel called the QuadCurve EQ. However, you might be [...]

How to Create Custom Drum Kits and Drum Patterns in 5 Easy Steps – With SONAR X1 Producer

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:12:49 +0000

Have you ever wanted to create a drum kit from your own samples and make your own drum loops? Part 1 of this Drum Production Master Class shows you how to create a drum part from scratch with Session Drummer 3, Step Sequencer 2.0, and other tools that come with SONAR X1 Producer. Watch the [...]

Remix K’Naan’s New Single to Win $1000 and SONAR X1 Production Suite

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:56:31 +0000

Hopefully by now you have a version of the award winning SONAR X1 running on your machine, because A&M/Octone recording artist K’NAAN wants to hear from you; musically. With this exclusive opportunity through Cakewalk, Roland, Indaba Music and A&M/Octone, you can sign up for this contest and download the actual stems to craft your own work [...]

How to Pitchbend a Chord on a Keyboard Perfectly Every Time

Bill Jackson [Cakewalk] — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:33:23 +0000

Have you ever tried to pitchbend a chord on a keyboard? It never works as you expect. Sometimes it would be great to transition from one chord to another gradually, like you can with single notes. But there’s a problem: you can’t bend a full chord with conventional synth pitchwheels because the same up/down range [...]

Leading the DAW industry with Windows technology and education for music production

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:06:12 +0000

SONAR X1 continues to be the leading the digital audio workstation for the Windows platform for many reasons. For 25 years Cakewalk has focused almost exclusively on development for Windows operating systems and Windows based computer technologies (see our section on SONAR X1 leading technologies for more information). While cross-platform DAWs may seem like a great [...]

How Building Cost Effective Acoustic Treatment for the Music Studio Will Help Your Music Production; Part 3: Wall Panels

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:17:04 +0000

[Click on any picture for higher resolution] For the last couple of weeks I have been writing about how I’ve been building custom acoustic treatment panels for my new project studio which is running SONAR X1 Producer Expanded. I started with the sound cloud over the mix position and then showed how I basically cut [...]

Where does that pumping saw bass sound come from? Z3TA+

Sharooz [Guest Blogger] — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:27:48 +0000

Guest Blogger: Sharooz of Sample Magic Bio Information: Sharooz has proven himself as a talented sound designer, and provides sounds and patches for numerous companies including Cakewalk. His biggest record to date was ‘Get Off’ which was released more than 3 years ago on his own label ‘La Bombe.’ The record was played by some [...]

CakeTV Live: Video from the Feb 23 2012 SONAR X1 Webinar – Music Production Part 1

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:17:49 +0000

Recorded live at Center Staging in Burbank, CA, Cakewalk’s Seth Perlstein and Brandon Ryan bring you the inaugural broadcast of CakeTV Live. Sit back, relax, and hang out as Seth and Brandon show you music production tips, tricks, and techniques in SONAR X1 Producer Expanded, including what’s new in X1d. Upgrade to SONAR X1 to [...]

Softube’s Mix Bundle for SONAR X1 Producer Expanded’s Pro Channel delivers the goods at NAMM

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:08:47 +0000

Softube’s new Mix Bundle for the Pro Channel in SONAR X1 Producer Expanded includes five awesome sounding modules that will make your mixes come alive! In addition to three distinctly different EQs (Passive, Active and Softube’s own creation the Focusing EQ), the Mix Bundle has the TSAR-1R reverb and a great FET Compressor. I used [...]

Meet a Rep Returns as Cakewalk JAM Session – Just Ask Me!

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:36:22 +0000

For the past several years our Meet a Rep events have been a fantastic alternative to the traditional clinics and scripted demos that have, for the most part, gone the way of the dinosaurs in our industry. Rather than being rehearsed demos, Meet a Rep days were more of a casual hangout where we would [...]

It’s in the bag – SONAR X1 on a Laptop

Robin Kelly [Cakewalk] — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:20:05 +0000

Just like many of the members of the Cakewalk staff, part of my job requires me to travel all over the world giving trainings and demonstrations on SONAR X1 Production Suite and the other members of the SONAR family. Although shows like NAMM have dedicated machines for demos like the HP Z800, the majority of [...]

How Building Cost Effective Acoustic Treatment for the Music Studio Will Help Your Music Production; Part 2: Corner Traps

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:32:46 +0000

So maybe you have SONAR X1 Production Suite running on a killer computer, and now you might have a sound cloud over your mix position; what’s next? Last week I exemplified how I built and installed a hanging sound cloud and this week I will go into detail how I built corner traps to help [...]

CakeTV Live SONAR X1 webinar February 23rd – Free to the public

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:58:38 +0000

Join Seth Perlstein for a live webinar on February 23rd, 2PM PST Sit back, relax, and watch our NAMM demos in the comfort of your own home. In part one of this two-part series, Cakewalk’s Seth Perlstein shares his favorite SONAR X1 music production tips, tricks, and techniques like using the Mod Matrix in FX [...]

Computers In the Studio (Part 2 – Going Online)

Brandon Ryan [Cakewalk] — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:55:59 +0000

Going Online It has long been held that connecting your DAW to a network, or worse, to the internet is something you should never, ever do. But is it really all that dangerous to your security or detrimental to performance? What kinds of precautions should be taken? Let’s find out. First of all, why would anyone want to connect their DAW to the internet? [...]

From the Temples of Syrinx to your drum tracks, get the sound of Rush for Session Drummer 3!

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:01:47 +0000

Sonic Reality’s Neil Peart Drums SD3 for Cakewalk’s Session Drummer™ 3 features samples of the authentic Drum Workshop® Signature “Snakes and Arrows” kit of drum legend Neil Peart from the band Rush. Recorded by producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains) this powerful stereo kit offers the ultimate high fidelity rock sound [...]

NAMM 2012 Videos and CakeTV Live Webinar

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:00:21 +0000

Recently we released our NAMM videos to CakeTV. The six videos contain over an hour of footage of SONAR X1 demonstrations narrated by a combination of Cakewalk staff and Cakewalk artists. And there’s certainly a lot of interesting and useful information to be seen (and heard). However, due to circumstances beyond our control, the video’s audio quality didn’t turn [...]

How Building Cost Effective Acoustic Treatment for the Music Studio Will Help Your Music Production; Part 1: Sound Cloud

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:50:33 +0000

(Part 1: Sound Clouds) Just as important as having a killer DAW such as SONAR X1 Production Suite 64bit running on a good machine, one needs to take a good hard look at their recording and mixing environment. If you are starting to get to the point where the word “professional” (as in making some money) comes [...]

NAMM 2012 Backstage Pass: SONAR X1 Music Production Live Demo

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:00:20 +0000

Live from NAMM 2012 at the Cakewalk booth in the Roland arena, Cakewalk’s Mike Trujillo demonstrates creative music production and recording techniques with SONAR X1 Production Suite. Mike’s demo features SONAR X1 Producer Expanded’s Browser, Track Templates, Matrix View, FX Chains 2.0, ProChannel, Session Drummer 3, and more. Plus he lays down tracks with Rapture [...]

NAMM 2012 Backstage Pass: Creating music in SONAR X1 with Yogi Lonich

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:00:08 +0000

Live from the Cakewalk booth in the Roland arena, longtime SONAR user, producer, singer, and songwriter Yogi Lonich (Wallflowers, Melissa Etheridge, Buckcherry, and Fuel) shows off his latest SONAR project and breaks down why he loves to create music in SONAR X1. Upgrade to SONAR X1 or or find a dealer to become a new [...]

NAMM 2012 Backstage Pass: Scoring Music for Video Games with SONAR X1

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:59:49 +0000

Live from the Cakewalk booth in the Roland arena, learn why SONAR X1 rocks for video game scoring. In Part 1 Sean Murray (Call of Duty: Black Ops) and Chuck Carr (Twisted Metal) share their favorite SONAR features and break down why SONAR X1 is the fastest, most powerful DAW for scoring to games. In Part [...]

NAMM 2012 Backstage Pass: Scoring Music for Film in SONAR X1

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:59:21 +0000

Live from the Cakewalk booth in the Roland arena, learn why SONAR X1 rocks for film scoring as Shawn Clement (Quantum Quest) shares his favorite SONAR X1 tips, tricks, and features. In the video Shawn talks about his process of writing and delivering music for film and TV and how SONAR features like Track Folders, [...]

NAMM 2012 Backstage Pass: The perfect computer for SONAR X1?

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:58:55 +0000

Live from the Cakewalk booth in the Roland arena, take a look inside the perfect computer for SONAR X1 as HP’s Dan Bennett opens up and tears down the powerhouse HP Z800 workstation. Featuring a BMW designed, tool-less chassis, an incredibly unique power supply, a plethora of powerful under the hood options, and so much more, the Z800 truly is [...]

How do I record audio on a Windows PC?

Tara Zanett [Cakewalk] — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:21:02 +0000

While recording audio is one of the most basic function in SONAR X1, it still remains among the frequently asked questions. Within one minute this get-started video demonstrates the 4 basic steps necessary to record audio. 1.) Insert a new audio track 2.) Select your input 3.) Arm your track 4.) Hit record If recording [...]

Why you need a subwoofer. Or, “What’s goin’ on down there?”

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:59:32 +0000

So your newest masterpiece is ready to be mixed in SONAR’s pristine 64bit audio engine for the rest of the world to hear, but are you really hearing the full range of your mix? If your monitoring system does not include a subwoofer, then you most likely are not. While an ear can be trained [...]

Tracks and Busses: A Guide to Routing in SONAR X1

Robin Kelly [Cakewalk] — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:02:37 +0000

In any project you will have tracks and these tracks are routed to busses. Sending a track to a bus and not directly to the Master output gives you additional control and allows you to take a group of similar track, like back ground vocals and control the overall volume, pan, add effects, EQ and [...]

Computers in the Studio (Part 1)

Brandon Ryan [Cakewalk] — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:05:46 +0000

Musician or IT professional? It seems today’s musicians must be part artist and part IT professional. It’s a difficult dance that requires knowledge, time, and patience in order to achieve a level of success. The intention of this series of blog posts is to help with the IT part or the equation. My goal is [...]

What happens when you send a problem report to Cakewalk?

Willy Jones [Cakewalk] — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:42:24 +0000

New in SONAR X1 Expanded is SONAR’s built-in fault reporter. Aside from the fault reporter we have also have been using The Problem Report form on our website to collect feedback from users for many years now. Both of these tools do basically do the same thing – collect information so that our development teams [...]

Enter the Mod Matrix With SONAR X1d

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:53 +0000

By now you may have heard about the upcoming X1d update which will be free for all registered SONAR X1 customers. And you may have also seen the press release which lists all of the features and enhancements contained in the free update. However, what you might not have seen is just how insanely cool the [...]

Cakewalk Artists on Both PC and Mac Are Off to an Enormous 2012

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:03:58 +0000

Cakewalk Artists on Both PC and Mac are off to an Enormous 2012 We are well on our way into 2012 and many artists relying on various Cakewalk products are off to an enormous year. I’ve been fortunate enough to have spent some time with most of these artists recently, and even more fortunate to [...]

Become a master of guitar recording in SONAR X1

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:29:08 +0000

Craig Anderton is one of the most widely respected pro audio writers today. He has authored more than 20 books and is currently editor-in-chief of Harmony Central and executive editor of EQ magazine. He’s even worked closely with Cakewalk to create two critically-acclaimed SONAR X1 Advanced Workshop videos. So if you are looking for tutorials [...]

SONAR X1 on a Mac? Yes, you can!

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:00:36 +0000

A question I am frequently asked is, “Do you guys make SONAR X1 for the Mac?” The answer to which is no, SONAR X1 is made for Windows. But do not despair, there is a solution! For Macs with Intel processors there’s an application called Bootcamp which [...]

How to ReWire Reason in SONAR X1

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:47:14 +0000

Our friends over at Obedia Tutor have created this simple video to show how to ReWire other software like Reason, Ableton, and Fruity Loops to be used inside SONAR X1. If you already own software like Reason, Ableton, and Fruity Loops and would like to purchase SONAR X1, you can now purchase the SONAR X1 [...]

Cori Yarckin video for new single “Floating” Released

Robin Kelly [Cakewalk] — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:43:13 +0000

If you own SONAR X1 Producer you have probably loaded up the project “Floating” by Cori Yarckin. The song was arranged, tracked and produced completely in SONAR X1. There were a few members of the Cakewalk team who worked on this song and others that are on the new album “Part of Me” which will [...]

NAMM 2012 in pictures

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:09:37 +0000

Winter NAMM 2012 was a huge success for Cakewalk. For the second straight year, we were located in the Roland Arena with a great location right by the entrance. We got to meet a lot of new, existing, and potential users. In addition, we had great demos from some of our favorite Cakewalk artists (and [...]

HP Rocks NAMM 2012

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:15:11 +0000

Cakewalk is back from NAMM and we will have a full recap of the show shortly. We would like to thank HP for outfitting our entire booth with the latest HP Z Series Workstations and HP EliteBooks. There is no doubt that HP computers are up to the task of handling any recording session you [...]

SONAR X1 Wins Electronic Musician’s Editors’ Choice 2012 for “Extreme DAW Makeover”

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:49:19 +0000

“SONAR X1 was the obvious choice” – Electronic Musician Magazine We were thrilled to pick up our Editor’s Choice award at the NAMM show last week. SONAR X1 won for “Extreme DAW Makeover” thanks to the new Skylight user interface. Thank you to all the editors at Electronic Musician who voted for SONAR X1 – [...]

Cakewalk at NAMM 2012 – Roland Arena (booth #7400)

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:35:18 +0000

If you’re heading to Southern California for NAMM this year be sure to stop by the Cakewalk booth, where we have many exciting presentations planned featuring some very special guest artists. And if you can’t make it in person, don’t worry, we’ll have something for you too. Demonstrations will take place at the Cakewalk booth [...]

New ProChannel Concrete Limiter coming NAMM 2012

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:08:39 +0000

Back in October 2011, we released SONAR X1 Producer Expanded which introduced ProChannel modularity. This included the ability to add new modules to the ProChannel. Since that time we have released two Cakewalk branded ProChannel modules, the PC4K S-Type Expander/Gate and the PC4K S-Type Channel Compressor. In addition, Softube has released the Softube Mix Bundle which includes [...]

Cakewalk’s 11 big product releases of 2011

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:33:58 +0000

2011 was a big year for Cakewalk and featured some major product releases. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most popular product releases of 2011 with links to each, in case you missed it. We’d love to hear your feedback on which was your favorite by voting in our Facebook poll. SONAR X1 Free [...]

Cakewalk elves hard at work perfecting SONAR X1

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:54:28 +0000

The Cakewalk elves are hard at work year round to bring you the worlds best software for recording and making music. But sometimes we just need to cut loose. And what would the holidays be without a little dance number? Go ahead and click that image.

5 cool gift ideas for the musician with everything

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:54:31 +0000

Your time for holiday shopping is running out, but odds are good that there is somebody on your list who is impossible to buy gifts for. Your best bet is find a gift that even the person with everything hasn’t heard of yet. Easier said than done. So I thought I would do you [...]

Hollywood Undead: On the road and writing with SONAR X1 Expanded

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:46:51 +0000

It’s two weeks into the tour and Hollywood Undead’s guitarist/vocalist/music creator J-Dog is without his tour laminate. “All the dates are on the back of the laminate,” he says in a calm voice and smiling, “so it looks like I won’t know where I’ll be heading for a while.” It could be a good thing, [...]

Ron Cote and Pristine Productions Utilizing SONAR X1 with Chart-topping Rock Acts

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:18:28 +0000

When it comes to SONAR, many of us often just think of recording and creating music for one medium, but there are many people out there using it in other ways. Pristine Productions is a company based out of Philadelphia that has been using SONAR for many years to record Major Label artists; only not [...]

SONAR X1 Video – Linear & Non-linear Music Production

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:43:27 +0000

There are lots of ways to make music – from precise, deliberate composition to live performance and freeform improvisation. You might want traditional, linear multi-tracking or you might want to just experiment and jam. The good news is you don’t have to choose. Merging the realtime, experimental approach of loop and phrase based composition with [...]

SONAR X1 – CakeTV Video Get Started – ASIO audio device Configuration

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:09:51 +0000

Once you have connected your audio device it is important to ensure you have the right settings in SONAR. Configuring your audio device properly in SONAR will ensure you get the best performance and lowest latency. This video tutorial will take you through how to get the settings right in SONAR to get the best [...]

SONAR X1 – CakeTV Video Get Started – MIDI Configuration

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:16:42 +0000

In this episode, learn how to setup SONAR X1 to work with your external MIDI devices. If you have a MIDI keyboard, synthesizer or control surface you will want to ensure that they are connected and configured properly. To set up a MIDI device for use in SONAR, first install the latest drivers for [...]

SONAR X1 – CakeTV Video – Get Started- Basic Mix Functions

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:48:42 +0000

Learn how to use the functions of the SONAR X1 mixer. This video will take you through the basic controls and their functions. SONAR’s basic mix functions can be accessed by selecting the mix setting in the track view. They can also be accessed in the inspector view and in the console view. The basic [...]

Hollywood Undead Invites You To Mix-it-up

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:17:08 +0000

Enter the Hollywood Undead remix contest today SONAR X1 user Hollywood Undead is one of the few modern bands that continue to sell records and play to sold out crowds around the world. This hard working band is considered as one of the biggest and most unique rock acts in the industry today, and now with the help of [...]

Shawn Clement: On A [Quantum] Quest with Intense Music

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:22:15 +0000

Award winning SONAR user – composer/producer Shawn Clement is at an exciting point in his “intense” career: His credentials and track record have allowed him to open an office/SONAR studio at the heart of Paramount Pictures. He just had a major successful event at The Kennedy Center in DC where his music was premiered during “A [...]

Congratulations to Cakewalk Artist and SONAR User Javier Colon for Winning NBC’s “The Voice”

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:32:32 +0000

Since April 26th we have been covering NBC’s new television hit “The Voice” and we are proud, and incredibly happy to congratulate Cakewalk Endorsee Javier Colon for winning the inaugural season. It was a long close ride, but in the end it was Javier’s gifted talents along with his first-class demeanor that drove America’s votes. [...]

Cakewalk Artist Javier Colon Making His Mark on “The Voice”

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:48:55 +0000

A little over a month ago we featured Javier Colon on our blog the day before “The Voice” premiered. I don’t think anyone had a doubt that he would be anything less than stellar on the show, but I don’t think anyone realized the impact he would have on viewers around the world. If you [...]

Cakewalk’s own Dan Kaplan on the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch”

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:33:10 +0000

SONAR has always been the “working man’s DAW.” From inception, it was built on the foundational theory that musicians should not be held back or creatively limited. From electronic beat-wizards to the most authentic acoustic musicians, SONAR has always been a DAW that creative musicians turn to for empowerment. With the financial troubles of the [...]

Grammy Nominated Luigie Gonzalez on SONAR X1

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Fri, 13 May 2011 22:54:16 +0000

Friday, May 13 – Los Angeles, CA In the Cakewalk Artist Relations Department we have the honor of working with many producers, songwriters, mixing engineers, composers and musicians on a daily basis. As we all know (or we should all know), the beauty of SONAR is that not only does it stand out as the [...]

SONAR X1 User Javier Colon to Appear on NBC’s “The Voice”

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:47:20 +0000

Tuesday, April 26 – New York, NY If you are making music I think you will agree with me when I say for better or for worse “What an interesting time it is for the recorded music industry.” There are a few elements that really make it “interesting;” Music creators now have options such as [...]

There’s Been a Murder (FM) on SONAR X1

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 22:00:43 +0000

Friday, April 8 - Dallas, TX “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” a song you most likely will not hear at a Murder FM show, but it is a location where you will find the band pounding out amazing material using SONAR X1. In terms of work ethic and sheer determination, one will rarely find a [...]

TC, and Paul Oakenfold’s Team on SONAR X1

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:31:57 +0000

Thursday, February 24th - Hollywood, CA On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I had the privilege of spending some time with an X1 pro user who really exemplifies the modern day musician on all fronts. His name is TC (born Anthony Crawford) and he is also known by some in the producing underground as [...]

SONAR X1 Essential overview

admin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:12:56 +0000

SONAR X1 Essential SONAR X1 Essential has a completely redesigned user interface that makes creating music faster and easier than ever. Create with cutting edge musical tools like the Step Sequencer and The Matrix. Customize your workspace with the Skylight interface. Get hands on control with Active Controller Technology (ACT). With a powerful collection of [...]

EMI Music Publishing US Headquarters Chooses SONAR X1, V-Studio 100 and PC Audio Labs for In-house Recording Room

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:44:02 +0000

New York City, NY – January 25th, 2011 Unlike the recorded music sector of the music industry, the publishing world is still thriving for those who have been able to adapt to the changes. Known as the largest music publisher in the world, EMI Music Publishing is indeed one of those companies and still a [...]

NAMM 2011 “Featured Artists” Special Guests Schedule

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:46:42 +0000

The NAMM Show 2011, January 13 – 16, Anaheim Convention Center In addition to the following presentations, Cakewalk will have many other demonstrations at The NAMM Show. Please visit us inside the Roland Arena [Booth# 7400]. Staff Music Creator/Producer for Paul Oakenfold TC (A.K.A. Spitfire) 2:00pm Saturday, January 15, SONAR Session – “Self-Contained Music Production” [...]

I Can See for Miles: The Journey of Universal/Decca Artist Raul Midon

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:40:56 +0000

SONAR user Raul Midon likes to take chances to find that next new thing that will inspire him, make him complete, to drive him in a new direction; as an artist, it’s simply what he does. Taking chances has paid off as you can see here with his amazing performance on The David Letterman Show. [...]

Panels and Performances; Cakewalk at CMJ 2010

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:25:36 +0000

New York City, NY ~ It seems like just yesterday when Cakewalk/Roland endorser Andrew W.K. delivered his keynote speech to a packed auditorium at New York University during CMJ 2009. As the year went by fast, so did this year’s blistering 5 day event which took place last week in the same location at NYU. [...]

Introducing SONAR X1

admin — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:29:33 +0000

SONAR: Reimagined SONAR has evolved and so can the way you make music. Imagine the power and maturity of an industry standard DAW combined with the cutting edge creative tools essential for today’s music – all wrapped up in one of the most modern and (dare we say) beautiful user interfaces available. Learn more

Robin’s Riffs: How to create layered synth sounds

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:11:21 +0000

Cakewalk’s Robin Kelly has put together a series of tech tips for SONAR users in a section we are calling Robin’s Riffs. Each week, we will include a new tip. This week, Robin Kelly shows you how to achieve a layered synth sound in SONAR. In this example, Robin shows you how to create a [...]

Cakewalk Artist Notes

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:45:23 +0000

Gedeon Luke Instills Some Soul And Good Vibes Into The Lower East Side -NYC Gedeon Luke, a former American Idol semifinalist and Dimension Pro/Rapture user is creating quite a stir in the NYC Lower East Side music scene. His record which is being released at the end of October is “chock full of keys that [...]

SONAR 8.5 nominated for TEC Award

admin — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:02:33 +0000

The 26th annual TEC Award nominations are in and we are pleased to announce that SONAR 8.5 has been nominated for a TEC award in the category of Workstation Technology. Professional audio’s most prestigious awards will be hosted for the first time by NAMM, the international music products industry’s biggest trade show. The awards will [...]

First winners announced for “Intel Superstars Competition”

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:30:48 +0000

The voting results are in and the fans have selected the top 5 artists in the categories of Rock, Pop, and Country. The first round of the “Superstars” songwriting competition invited artists to submit original music in the Rock, Pop, and Country genres. The submitted tracks were judged by fans of Intel’s Facebook page with [...]

Links for 2009-08-19 [Digg]

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Cakewalk's Music Creator 5 | Using Technology ...
A while back I blogged about two Windows/PC entry-level DAW applications that promised to be near-equivalent to Apple's GarageBand: now Cakewalk's Music Creator 5....
New Recording Equipment « Mark Murray's Blog
Just ordered this… its by Cakewalk, called Guitar Tracks Pro 4. It comes with a USB interface so you can plug direct in, or run an XLR to 1/4″ and mic your amp. It has modeling for amps, effects and whatever.
Review: 5 USB turntables convert LPs to MP3s - Network World
What can you do when you have favorite old LPs that haven't been converted into digital form? Convert them yourself. Here are 5 USB turntables that can make it easier.
Cakewalk Launches SONAR V-Studio Clinics
So there's never been a better time for free, which is just how much this clinic tour will cost audio engineers interested in learning about Cakewalk's SONAR V-Studio 100, and in some locations SONAR V-Studio 700.