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To Set MIDI Metronome Sounds from your Instrument 1. Select a track in the Track view that is assigned to the MIDI device that you want to use for the metronome sound. 2. Click Metronome Settings in the Metronome toolbar. 3. Make sure the Port and Channel settings match those for the current track in the Track view. 4. Click on the Key item in either the First Beat or the Other Beats section. 5. Play a note on your MIDI instrument. The note number is entered automatically. 6. Click OK when you are done. Your metronome settings will be saved with the project file. Setting the Audio Sampling Rate Each Cakewalk project has an audio sampling rate and a bit depth that indicate the level of accuracy with which audio data are stored. The same parameters are used for all of the digital audio in a project. When you create a new project, if you do not want to use the default settings, you must select a sample rate and bit depth before you start recording audio. Cakewalk lets you select from five different sampling rates: 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz, 44100 Hz, 48000 Hz, and 96000 Hz. The default is 44100 Hz, the same rate as audio CDs. A higher sampling rate produces better quality sound. However, a higher sampling rate also means that each audio clip takes up more memory and disk space, and requires more intensive processing by your computer. If you have an older computer, or a slow hard drive, you might be better off with a lower sampling rate. For more information, see Improving Performance with Digital Audio. By default, the bit depth of audio data is 16 bits. If your sound card supports 18, 20, 22, or 24 bit audio, you can choose to take advantage of these higher resolutions. If you are creating a new project that will contain only MIDI material (and no audio), you do not need to set the audio sampling rate or bit depth. If you import audio from a wave file or other digital audio file, the sampling rate will be set automatically to your default setting. Note for Experts: If you are planning to move your project to a DAT or some other media via a digital transfer, set your sampling rate to match the target unit. For example, use 44100Hz for a project that will be mastered to a CD, so that no sample rate conversion is required. For step by step instructions: How to Set the Sampling Rate for a Project To Set the Sampling Rate for a Project 1. Choose Options-Audio to display the dialog box that is appropriate for your hardware. 2. Select the desired sampling rate from the Default Sampling Rate list. 3. Set the desired bit depth in the Default Bits per Sample box. 4. Click OK. The sampling rate and bit depth will be saved with the project file. Setting the MIDI Timing Resolution Each Cakewalk project has a setting for the timing resolution, or timebase, that indicates the resolution of MIDI data. This resolution is measured in ticks or pulses per quarter note, and is often abbreviated as PPQ. The default resolution is 120PPQ, which is accurate enough for most applications. In this timebase, each quarter note is represented by 120 ticks, each eighth note by 60 ticks, each eighth-note triplet by 40 ticks, and so on. In some projects you may need a different or even more detailed timebase. For example, if you wanted to use eighth note septuplets (7 eighth-notes per quarter note) and represent them accurately, you would need to have a timebase that is divisible by 7, such as 168PPQ. Cakewalk uses the timebase you choose for a project to determine the range of tick values in the Now time. For step by step instructions: How to Set the Timebase for a Project To Set the Timebase for a Project 1. Choose Options-Project and click the Clock tab. 2. Select the timebase you want from the Ticks per Quarter Note list. 3. Click OK when you are done. The timebase will be saved with the project file. Preparing to Record To prepare for recording you need to do the following: · Set the recording mode · Choose your input source or sources · Arm one or more tracks for recording · Check your recording levels (Audio only) · Set the Now time to the point where recording should start · Start recording After you record, you can use the Undo command to erase the most recently recorded material. You can use the Redo command to restore the recording, and toggle between Undo and Redo as many times as you like. If you are using MIDI sync or time code sync for the clock source, Cakewalk waits to receive external timing data before it begins recording. For more information see Synchronization. See also: Recording Modes Choosing a Source Arming Tracks for Recording Auto Arming Recording Modes Any material you record is stored in a new clip. If you record into several tracks at once, one clip is created in each track. If you record into a track that already contains clips, you can choose one of three recording modes that determine what happens to those existing clips. When you save your project, you also save whatever recording mode you chose together with that project. Recording Mode How it Works Sound on Sound The new material is merged with any existing material. This means that any existing clips on the track are left unchanged, and all newly recorded material is stored in brand new clips. While recording, you will be able to hear material from existing clips. Overwrite The new material replaces (overwrites) any existing material. This means that portions of existing clips may be "wiped clean" to make room for newly recorded material. While recording, you will not be able to hear material from existing clips. Auto Punch Recording only takes place between the punch-in and punch-out times. The new material replaces (overwrites) any existing material. For step by step instructions: How to Choose a Recording Mode To Choose a Recording Mode Do one of the following: · Select a mode from the drop-down list in the Record toolbar. · Choose Realtime-Record Options or click to display the Record Options dialog box, and select the desired mode. Note: Cakewalk saves the recording options you choose with each project, so you can save a different recording mode with each of your projects. Choosing a Source To record into a track, you must choose a source for the music or sound to be recorded. Usually, you choose MIDI Omni to record material from a MIDI instrument, or the left or right channel of a digital audio device (such as a sound card) to record audio material, or stereo if you want to record stereo audio in a single track. The source for each track is displayed in the Source column of the Track window, and at the bottom of each module in the Console window. When you choose MIDI Omni as the input source for a track, Cakewalk merges together material from all MIDI sources (ports) and instruments. This means you don't have to worry about port, channel, or other MIDI settings. Sometimes, you may want to record different MIDI channels into different tracks. To learn how to do this, see Recording Channel by Channel. While each track can have a different source, it is also possible for several tracks to have the same source. For step by step instructions: How to Choose a Source in the Track View How to Choose a Source in the Console View To Choose a Source in the Track View 1. Double click in the Source column of a track to display the Track Properties dialog box. 2. Choose a source from the Source list, and click OK OR 1. Click in the source column of the track you want to set. 2. Press the + or - key until you reach the source you want. To Choose a Source in the Console View · Click on the Source button and choose a source from the list. Arming Tracks for Recording Cakewalk lets you record any number of tracks at one time. You indicate the tracks you want to record by arming the tracks. You can arm a single track, or several tracks at one time, or all tracks at one time. Each track records material received though its own input source. Guitar Studio will never record MIDI on top of an audio track. For step by step instructions: How to Arm a Track for Recording To Arm a Track for Recording There are several ways to arm tracks for recording: To arm a single track, do one of the following: · In the Track view, click the track arm button (labeled R). · In the Console view, click the track arm button (labeled R). To arm multiple tracks: · Select one or more tracks in the Track view, then right-click and choose Arm from the menu. To arm all tracks at once: · Click the red r button in the Solo toolbar. To display the Solo toolbar, choose View-Toolbars-Solo. The track arm buttons in both the Track view and Console view are displayed in red to indicate that the track is armed for recording. Auto Arming You must arm tracks in order to record. To safeguard your data, there is no automatic arming of any tracks. Recording Music from a MIDI Instrument Once you have set your tempo, metronome, source, and armed one or more tracks, you are ready to start recording. For step by step instructions: How to Record MIDI See also: Virtual Piano To Record MIDI 1. Set the Now time to the point in the project where you want to start recording. 2. Click , press R, or choose Realtime-Record. If your metro nome count-in is turned on, it will play the count-in. 3. Play or perform the material you want to record. 4. Click , press the space bar, or choose Realtime-Stop to stop recording. Cakewalk displays a clip containing the new material in the Track window. To listen to the new material, set the Now time to the start of the clip and press the space bar or click . If you're not happy with the recording, use Undo to erase the new material. If you do not see a new clip in Track window, you may have a problem with MIDI input. See Troubleshooting, for more information. To Record MIDI 1. Set the Now time to the point in the project where you want to start recording. 2. Click , press R, or choose Realtime-Record. If your metro nome count-in is turned on, it will play the count-in. 3. Play or perform the material you want to record. 4. Click , press the space bar, or choose Realtime-Stop to stop recording. Cakewalk displays a clip containing the new material in the Track window. To listen to the new material, set the Now time to the start of the clip and press the space bar or click . If you're not happy with the recording, use Undo to erase the new material. If you do not see a new clip in Track window, you may have a problem with MIDI input. See Troubleshooting, for more information. Virtual Piano Utility Even if you don't have a real MIDI instrument, you can still record MIDI in your projects using the Virtual Piano. The Virtual Piano is a utility that lets you use your computer keyboard and mouse to make music. When you click on the keys with the mouse or play notes using your computer keyboard, the Virtual Piano converts the information to MIDI data and sends it to Cakewalk. for complete information about the virtual Piano, use the on-line help system. For step by step instructions: How to Use the Virtual Piano To Use the Virtual Piano The Virtual Piano is not automatically installed when you install Cakewalk. To install the Virtual Piano, see . 1. Choose Options-MIDI Devices to display the MIDI Ports dialog box. 2. Make sure that Virtual Piano is highlighted in the Input Ports box. 3. Click OK to close the MIDI Ports dialog box. 4. Choose Tools-Virtual Piano to start the Virtual Piano. 5. To read the on-line documentation, choose Help-Contents. Recording Audio There are a couple of other important considerations in recording audio. First, many popular audio cards that come with personal computers are half-duplex sound cards. If you are recording audio with a half-duplex sound card, you won't be able to hear any existing audio while recording additional audio. This is a limitation of the sound card--a half-duplex card can record audio or play back audio, but it cannot do both at once. If you have full-duplex sound card, and you "drop into" overwrite recording on the fly, there may be some slight delay until existing material is muted, due to buffering latency. To enable full-duplex operation on a sound card that supports it, choose Options-Audio, click the advanced tab, and select Simultaneous Reocrd/Playback. Before you record audio, you should check your input levels. If the levels are too soft, you may end up with too much hiss and background noise in your recording. If the level is too loud, your recording will be inaccurate or distorted. To check your audio levels, use the audio meters in the Console view. To adjust the input levels, you must use your sound card's software mixer program (or the Windows mixer), or an external hardware mixer for certain sound cards. The audio meters indicate the volume at which the audio will be recorded in units called decibels (dB). The meter values range from -90dB (soft) to 0dB (loud). In order to maximize the dynamic range of your recording, you want to set the levels as high as possible without exceeding 0dB. When the audio level exceeds 0dB, some of the audio information is lost. This is known as an overload. Many sound cards use clipping to deal with an overloaded signal, which can result in distortion of the audio signal. As a result, you should avoid letting the meter level exceed 0dB. Note to Experts: Since Cakewalk is a digital recorder, a level of 0dB indicates digital zero. Digital distortion will occur at 0dB. You will not get analog compression or warmth from "pushing" the input levels. If you are transferring data from a DAT or other device, you may want to calibrate the input levels of your sound card with the output levels of other devices in your studio. This will ensure that 0dB on one unit will appear as 0dB in Cakewalk For step by step instructions: How to Check the Input Levels How to Record Audio To Check the Input Levels 1. In the track view, set the sources for the tracks you want to record, and arm the tracks for recording. 2. Choose View-Console or click on the toolbar to display the Console view. Meters will be displayed for the tracks that are armed. 3. The default meter range is from 0 dB to -60 dB. To change the range, right-click on the meter and choose a new range from the menu. 4. Perform as you plan to while recording at the same volume, with the same attack, and so on. 5. As you perform, watch the meters respond. If they are always hovering near the same level, then you should turn up the input volume. On the other hand, if they move all the way to 0 dB, even for an instant, then you need to turn down the input level. 6. When you are satisfied that your input level is correct, you are ready to record. Once you have set your sampling rate and input levels, you are ready to start recording. If the meters do not move, check your sound card software's mixer program and make sure that you have the proper source enabled for recording. When you record audio, Cakewalk actually stores each audio clip in a separate file. These files have the same format as a wave (.WAV) file, but have special names and are stored in a separate directory on your hard disk. Cakewalk automatically manages these audio files for you, making it easier for you to manage your projects. If you want to work with these files directly, or to learn more about how Cakewalk stores audio data, see Digital Audio Data Management. To Record Audio 1. Set the audio sources for the track or tracks you want to record. 2. Arm the tracks for recording 3. Set the Now time to the point in the project where you want to start recording. 4. Click , press R, or choose Realtime-Record. If your metronome count-in is turned on, it will play the count-in measure. 5. Play or perform the material you want to record. 6. Click , press the space bar, or choose Realtime-Stop to stop recording. Cakewalk displays a clip containing the new material in the Track window. To listen to the new material, set the Now time to the start of the clip and press the space bar or click . If you're not happy with the recording, use Undo to erase the new material. If you do not see a new clip in Track window, you may have a problem with audio input. See Troubleshooting for more information.