Recording in Cakewalk

Follow these steps to start a new project and record tracks in Cakewalk:

  1. Start a new Project (File Menu > New > Normal)
  2. Set time and key signatures for Project (View Menu > Meter/Key)
  3. Set Metronome (Options Menu > Project > Metronome)
    1. Set metronome to sound on Recording and Accent first beat
    2. Set Count-in to two measures
  4. Setup Basic Track Parameters (Columns in Track View)
    1. Set Channel
    2. Set Patch
    3. Set Volume and Pan (optional at this point)
  5. Arm track by pressing the R button
  6. Check if Start Position is where you want it to be
  7. When ready, press Record button, count-in 2 measures (8 beats) and start playing
  8. Rewind and listen to playback
  9. When done recording, disarm track by pressing the R button
  10. Repeat steps 4 to 9 for each track to be recorded

Suggestion: Save your work after recording each track

When done recording, open the Console View and set Volume, Pan, Reverb and other effects as needed for each track

The Sidebar

October 26, 2004

Now that we're finishing up our first look at sequencing and starting music notation and Finale, it's a good idea to go back and re-read some of the pages you studied at the beginning of the semeser.

So, take another look at the MIDI section of the Desktop Music Handbook. See if the material makes more sense the second time around. If it doesn't, tell me!

By the way, good work on your first two sequencing projects. Nicely done!

Some terms to keep in mind: MIDI, synthesizer, sequencer, multi-timbral