cakewalk.audio HowTo - VER. 1.0.1

(updated November 9th, 2003)

This is a collection of HowTo's gleaned from postings to the now defunct Cakewalk® product.sonar newsgroup and from subsequent postings to the cakewalk.audio newsgroup. The HowTo's are being done separately from the FAQ for two primary reasons.  First, the HowTo's are more detailed, step-by-step procedures or methods described by Sonar® users.  Hopefully, these are deeper than a standard FAQ answer.  Second, these HowTo's represent ways to accomplish tasks, but not necessarily the only ways.  They probably don't get asked as frequently either ...

Please visit the Cakewalk® web site at http://www.cakewalk.com/ for general product information and specifications. All copyrights are owned by their legal owners and used here only for reference.

The HowTo's


Using Sonar

Use envelopes on a VMAIN
Backup key bindings
Deal with the P4 denormalize problem
How do I remove Pace?

DR-008

Apply reverb and other effects to individual DR008 pads

Session Drummer


Softsynths, MIDI-to-Audio, etc.

Use multiple OUTS with drums in VSampler 3

Plug-ins


General

Contribute, make suggestions or send corrections for the Sonar HowTo's


HowTo Use envelopes on a VMAIN  (Ricky W. Hunt)

One problem with Vmain automation is you can't see what you're drawing.  For example, trying to draw a complex volume envelope is difficult because you don't have audio data visible for reference.  To work around this, pick a track in the track pane that has audio data.  Draw the envelope on this track, then cut and paste the envelope to the Vmain. Big headache remover!


HowTo Apply reverb and other effects to individual DR008 pads (Scott Reams)

The DR008 has internal Aux sends  (you can configure up to 8 stereo sends). Each pad has an Aux fader. The DR008 Aux outputs show up as input choices for audio tracks.  Setup an audio track with a DR008 Aux as it's input, and place your reverb, or other effect plugin in the track's FX bin.


HowTo Backup key bindings (Boogie Woogie Flu)

Key bindings are stored in the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR\2.0\Bindings

Use regedit to export the key to a .reg file. To restore them if you have to
reinstall, double click the .reg file and your bindings will be restored.


HowTo Deal with P4 denormalize problem (Greg Garner)

aud.ini has a parameter to counteract the problem.  The parameter in the ini file is the one listed as "zerofillmethod".  It should initially be set to "1".  To counteract denormals, set it to "2".  After changing this, I was still getting some denormal cpu spikes that luckily were not as pronounced as before.  BUT, there is another parameter - "zerofilldb".  I rolled it up by increments of 50 to 150 and was able to elimate the one remaining problem I was having.


HowTo Use muliple OUTS with drums in VSampler 3 (Glennbo)

Getting the sounds loaded and assigned to midi channels

1.  Get a Vsampler going.  (duh!)
2.  Switch to editor view by clicking "View|Editor View"
3.  Click the "Import" button on  the right
4.  Click the "Gig" button at the top.
    (should work the same for other file types, but I've only used Giga)
5.  Select a file to import
6.  Click a midi channel on the right to assign the imported sample to.
7.  Click the import button.
8.  Repeat steps 4 thru 7 until you've assigned all your drum parts.

Assigning the imported sounds to separate outputs

1.  Click the "midi" button on the right
2.  Double click the "Output Device" to the right of one your imported
    samples
3.  Double click an output device.  You have now hooked that sound up to
    a specific output.

Making the hihats work correctly

1.  Click the "VS" button on the right
2.  Click the "Zones" button at the bottom
3.  Click the "Manage Poly Groups" button at the top (it's the one with
    three dots)
4.  Click "Poly Group #1".  Your sounds show up in the middle column.
5.  Click a sound (like open hihat) and click the > button.  This puts
    the sound in the Assigned column.
6.  Repeat #5 until you have the sounds you want in the group on the
    right.
7.  Spin the "Voices Per Group" gadget at the bottom right down to 1
    voice (mono)

Create a drum map to match the Vsampler setup and you're ready to rock!


How Do I remove Pace?

The answer to all your Pace questions is included in the Pace FAQ.


HowTo contribute, make suggestions or send corrections for the Sonar HowTo's

Please send suggestions and corrections to sonarfaq@charter.net