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 on CakeTV is your on demand resource for the information you need presented in full HD. Watch as we show you everything from setting up your audio interface to recording a track, applying effects and everything in between!
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 SONAR like SONAR X1 Studio and SONAR X1 Producer. If you love the modern synthesis sounds and pristine high-resolution sampling of Rapture LE, expand you library and sound manipulation capabilities by upgrading to the full version of Rapture for just $19.99.
SONAR X1 Producer Expanded
Take SONAR X1 Producer even further with exciting new production tools and delivery options. Upgrade from SONAR X1 Producer to SONAR X1 Producer Expanded for only $19.99 (you must own SONAR X1 Producer to get this upgrade).
The PC4K S-Type Expander / Gate Module
Take SONAR X1 Producer Expanded even further with this ProChannel module for just $19.99. The PC4K S-Type Expander / Gate module is not just any Expander plugin. It’s based on the legendary vintage-style channel expansion used on large format studio consoles and heard on countless albums over the past 30 years.
The PC4K S-Type Channel Compressor
Another great ProChannel module exclusively from Cakewalk for just $19.99. A must-have addition to your effects arsenal, the new PC4K S-Type Channel Compressor adds vintage-era, console-style, channel compression to every ProChannel strip in SONAR X1 Producer Expanded.
SONAR X1 Advanced Workshop Videos
Two video downloads with never before seen tutorials from DAW master Craig Anderton for $19.99 each. Download the first Advanced Workshop video or step up to The Next Level.
Music Creator 6 Download or Boxed version
Are you new to Cakewalk? Do you need to upgrade your home recording studio to Windows 7? Music Creator 6 is regularly a great value at $49.99 for a complete recording solution, but what you can get today for just $19.99 is an astonishing value that can’t be missed. Music Creator 6 includes song construction kits with 1000+ music loops, Cakewalk instuments, IK Amplitube guitar effects, instructional videos, and more.
Cakewalk Instrument Expansion Packs
Download fresh content for Cakewalk synths like Rapture, Dimension Pro, Session Drummer 3, and Z3TA+ 2 for as little as $4.95!
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 to draw. In this post, I will dive into a few tips and techniques and focus in on The ProChannel to show how fast and easy it is to create a more tailored sound with Beatscape content (and any other sample based content for that matter.)
For me and my style of music production, it’s all about layers and a multi-dimensional vibe. I started out like a lot of folks, on 2” tape and followed a lot of rules, but in this new digital era I rely more on my ear than I do on following fundamentals. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s more important now than ever to understand the fundamental concepts of recording and producing music, but it’s also just as important to rely on what you are hearing in relation to what you are going for. Sometimes I will start out with something that sounds quirky or not pleasing to the ear; a person in the room will look at me like I have two heads, and then within minutes they don’t even recognize what I started with.
I like to blend multiple elements together to create a “part.” In this video example by simply using the Beatscape content and The ProChannel, I will take 8 samples that sound cluttered together, and then shape them into one interesting loop that will sound more professional than where it began.
1.) I started with the basics by finding 3 kicks I liked, and 3 snares [snare and claps] I liked and shaped both using the ProChannel so that they worked well together as a groove. As you will notice, working with the ProChannel is lightning fast in terms of a workflow; everything is right there so there’s no inserting plugins or switching back and forth between screens and menus.
2.) I then arranged the snares and claps using the Smart Tool so that they created a unified part.
3.) Next, I added top loops to add depth and dimension to the groove. As you will hear, when these loops are first pulled into the mix they are very prominent and overbearing. Again using the ProChannel I was able to quickly sculpt these top loops to add character to the groove as a whole. Using the Smart Tool once again, I copied over one of the loops and reversed it to set up a dramatic effect.
4.) Finally, using the ProChannel I called up a mastering Preset which instantly added thickness, volume and control over the whole new loop.
In this video you will see and hear not only how great the Beatscape content is, but also how powerful the ProChannel is in terms of sound, workflow, speed and ease of use. There’s a solid reason behind the fact that SONAR X1 is buzzing in the music industry. There’s no other DAW on the market that covers the territory of SONAR X1 Producer. If you are serious about music creation and production, go to our Dealer Finder here and pick up an investment in yourself and your future; The SONAR X1 Production Suite.
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 individual Edit Filter.
To choose a track’s editing data type, click its Edit Filter control and choose a type from the menu. You can also hover your mouse over the track and open the Tools HUD (press the middle mouse button or press T on your PC keyboard) to access the Edit Filter from there. Once chosen, the data type becomes active, and all other data types become inaccessible so that you don’t make accidental changes. For example, choosing Automation allows you to edit automation envelopes, but it doesn’t allow clip or audio transient editing.
In addition, instead of using the track or Tools HUD to access the Edit Filter, you can Shift+click on a data type to quickly switch to that type for editing. For example, Shift+click on the background of a clip to choose Clip for the Edit Filter. And Shift+right-click switches back and forth between the last two data types. You should also be aware that inactive data can be displayed as either “ghosted” or not shown at all by choosing View > Display > Display Ghosted Data from the Track view menu. For a demonstration of the new Automation and Edit Filter features, watch the video below. Continue reading “How to Automate Data Selections in SONAR X1 and Earlier Versions of SONAR”
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 had a steady stream of great questions coming in throughout the demo.
Of course, we understand that many of you couldn’t make it to the live broadcast, so we’ve uploaded the video to YouTube for your viewing pleasure. This hefty video weighs in at one hour and forty minutes and is loaded with music production workflow techniques straight from Brandon Ryan’s bag of tricks.
