Last week we took a stroll down memory lane with the Boss BR-8 Digital workstation. This week we’ll take those same audio files and start piecing together some songs.
We’ll be using Cakewalk by Bandlab. Since April of 2018, this excellent software is free. Some of the plugins are harder to find now, but if you’re just getting started you don’t need them.
Get the Software
Go to the link and get the software:
https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk
The Bandlab assistant will start to download the software. This may be one of the more frustrating things about downloading the software. I recall this taking quite some time to download.
Create an Account
Now you need to create an account. Don’t worry, they won’t spam you to death.
You may get a warning about your firewall. You should be okay to install it. Use your own judgment.
Now, on the top row click Apps. You’ll see Cakewalk. Click the install button. Depending on your connection this may take a while. Don’t get in a hurry at this point. I recall this took quite some time, however, I have a slow internet connection. My image says update since I’ve already installed it.
Since this isn’t a tutorial on installing the software, you’re on your own. If you’re having trouble, leave a comment below.
Equipment Needed
Now depending on what you plan on doing, you may need to purchase an audio interface. I’m using a simple 2 channel USB Interface that I picked up. The audio latency (delay) isn’t the best, but with a few tricks, you can get the job done. See below for the affiliate link.
PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 2×2 USB Audio Interface
Let’s assume you already have an interface or you have .wav files from last week’s article. If you have an audio interface, go ahead and plug it in.
1. Starting a new Project
Now that you’re up and running, you’ll be greeted with the start screen. Click the 4 or 16 track option, and a new project will automatically open.
This software may look overwhelming, to begin with, but don’t fret. It’s easier than it looks.
2. Importing a .wav file
Last week we extracted a bunch of audio from the BR-8 digital audio workstation. Here’s how you can import those files into Cakewalk for mixing.
In the upper left, click File -> Import. Choose Audio. Navigate to the file you’d like to import.
Note that you can import multiple files at once by highlighting them. They will import to separate tracks.
If everything worked correctly you should see audio in your tracks.
3. Adding a New Track
If we’re going to say, for example, add guitar to our imported tracks we need to add a new audio track. Click the big + near the track counter in the middle of the screen.
In my case, I’m using the left channel of my audio interface. I’ve also chosen record enable. In order to record a track, you’ll need to arm the tracks for recording. Either arm when you add the track or after. Just don’t forget to turn it off, otherwise, you’ll record over your take.
You should go ahead and name your track. Trust me, it’s better to do this now and be in the habit of doing it versus doing it when you’ve got 30 tracks. Your track should look something like this:
4. Sound Check / Level Set
Plug your instrument into the proper channel and set the level with the knob on your device. Most interfaces have a clip LED if your input is too loud.
Go ahead and connect your headphones. Any pair will do, but keep in mind that you may need an adapter to convert from the 1/4″ to 1/8″. You should avoid Bluetooth headphones as they could cause latency issues. These are the cans I’ve been using for years. They’re tough and I also use them in the yard when I do yard work. This pair also comes with an adapter.
Vic Firth Stereo Isolation Headphones V2 (SIH2)
5. Make a Test Recording
Let’s see if everything is working. First with your track armed, see if there is an audio signal coming into the software. Look on the right side of the track when you play for a green audio bar to be moving along with your playing. It should be rising to about 80% or so of the level. If it turns red you may need to back down the input knob on your interface.
Now let’s try a test track. With your track armed, find the record button with the red circle. Go ahead and click it. If everything is set up correctly, you should begin recording. You should see your level on the right going up and down and audio showing up in the new track.
Once you’ve got a few seconds in click the Stop button. The track should go back to the start. Now press the play button to make sure everything is good. If you hear popping or skipping, go to the troubleshooting section at the end of this article. I’ve been through this pain so you don’t have to.
6. Using the Metronome
Hopefully, you’ve got everything working now it’s time to get the timing down. Let’s get the metronome working. Let’s start by looking at the controls.
By default, the metronome is on during recording and set at 120 beats per second. You can click the bps to change it.
It’s also useful to turn on the Record Count-in, this will start the metronome before the recording starts. In this case, having a 2 in the count in will give you 8 clicks of the metronome before the recording starts. Click the metronome icon just below the tan button. This will open the metronome menu.
You’ll find many options for the metronome here, experiment with the settings to figure out what suits you.
A note on using a metronome: Looking back years ago, I wish I would’ve taken advantage of the metronome in the beginning. That would’ve saved many recordings. If you’re doing live recordings with a band, this isn’t as critical.
7. Trimming your tracks
Quick basic edits are really easy and intuitive with this software. Let’s start with trimming. Note that some of these commands can be done with multiple tracks. Hold the control key and click the track numbers to select multiple tracks.
To trim a track hover near the edge of the track, you’ll see a symbol pop up like the one below. Click and drag to trim the track to the desired location.
8. Fading your tracks
To fade a track hover over the edge of a track near the top, a different symbol will appear. Click and drag to fade your track.
9. Splitting a Track
Splitting a track is useful if you’d like to move or delete only part of a track when editing or touching up.
To split a track first, click in the area where you want to split. Then right-click and choose split.
You’ll probably notice that you cant click the exact spot you want. This is due to the snap feature. To turn it off find the icon pictured below and click it.
10. Fixing Audio Driver Problems
I could write an entire article on this. However, there are a few things to try that will usually get it working for you.
A Word on Troubleshooting
Remember when you’re troubleshooting to note your original settings so you can put them back if needed. In addition, only try one thing at a time. Do something, try it and put it back if it doesn’t work. It could take a combination of adjustments, but if you do 10 things you’ll never know what fixed it. Finally, make notes of what fixed it. This could apply to anything you’re working on.
Typically the type of audio problems I’m referring to is clicking or stuttering. This section isn’t really for no audio or latency problems. If you need help with that leave a comment or send me a message and it could be a future article. Moving on…
Adjusting the Buffer Size
Click Edit, then Preferences. Choose Driver Settings. Adjust the Buffer Size slider and try playback and recording again. You may need to restart the software. This setting can cause latency issues, so be mindful of that.
Adjusting the Driver Type
In the Preferences menu, under Playback and Recording, you can change your driver mode. Choose one of the different driver types and click Apply and OK. Usually, you will need to restart the software. Your results will vary depending on the hardware you’re using. This can be tedious, but hang in there.
Again, you may need to restart the software and check to see if it is working.
Conclusion
I’ve been using this software since 2004, I wish I had this article to get me started. Now you’ve got enough information to get going. There is so much to the software beyond this. If anyone is interested in more articles like this one, comment or reach out to me. Thanks for reading!
