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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

2046.0. "Cakewalk Sequencer for IBM/MSDOS Machines" by SWAV1::STEWART (There is no dark side of the moon...) Fri Jul 14 1989 18:50

	Anybody use the Cakewalk sequencer on an MS-DOS machine?  I
	recall a rudimentary review/comparison in one of the magazines a
	couple of months ago where it was crowned as the best of the
	MS-DOS bunch.  But I see a lot of people here use Mastertracks
	(on other machines, but there is an MS-DOS version) and I'd like
	to get my fellow noters opinions... 

	The cost difference is about $200 (in CA dollars) based on a
	phone quote from Guitar Center in Santa Ana.  Mastertracks is
	around $350 and Cakewalk is around $150.

	Thanks,
	John
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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2046.1One User's OpinionFGVAXZ::MASHIAWe're all playing in the same bandFri Jul 14 1989 20:3526
Re. Basenote
    
    I'm a Cakewalk user.  I works great for me, but I'm nowhere close
    to being a "power" user.  It's simple, straightforward, powerful,
    and I haven't seen any bugs.  Does all the standard stuff, and allows
    recording/editing/sending of sys ex data. 
    
    I have version 2.0, but there is a newer version called Cakewalk 
    Professional (probably my next software purchase) which allows
    keyboard macros (the lack of which is my only complaint about 2.0,
    I don't like needing two hands on the computer keyboard), standard
    MIDI files, finer time resolution (V2.0 is 120 div/beat), and some 
    other stuff, including a hardware/software option that allows multiple 
    MIDI systems (i.e. more than 16 MIDI channels), and SMPTE sync.    
    There's also an auxillary program (Cakewalk Live!) that
    allows you to load up a bunch of songs for 'instant' playback for
    gigging.
    
    I think the manual is pretty thorough (I've yet to see the 'perfect' 
    manual), and is concise and clear.  The only other sequencer that I've
    had any experience with was Dr.T's KCS, which was overkill for my 
    purposes. It was more powerful (and more $$$) than Cakewalk, but I
    think Cakewalk is an excellent value. (Plus there's no MS-DOS KCS
    :-). I'm a KISS man (Keep It Simple, Stupid), and it fit my bill.

	Rodney    
2046.2Looks pretty goodCSG002::ROACHFri Jul 14 1989 21:455
I have a demo of Cakewalk 2.0 that is not copy protected. If you`re interested 
and we can find a place to put it, I'll upload it. I haven't used it much, but 
my first impressions echo the previous note.

Geoff
2046.3KIPPIS::LEHTINENHe's here! The Phantom of The Opera...Sun Jul 16 1989 19:557
    Re: .-1
    
    I too would be interested in seeing the demo. If you upload it
    could you please post the location ?
    
    Timo
    
2046.4Pu it in MIDILIBDYO780::SCHAFERBrad - back in Ohio.Mon Jul 17 1989 21:388
    Feel free to copy the thing to the MIDILIB at

	DYO780::DISK$USER05:[MIDILIB.DEPOSIT]

    and send me mail when it gets there.  I'll put it in the TOOLS.IBM
    subdir. 

-b
2046.5Thanks for the input!SWAV1::STEWARTThere is no dark side of the moon...Tue Jul 18 1989 18:4314




	Thanks for .1.  I bought it Saturday, along with a used Simmons
	Portakit Guitar Center had taken in on trade...  Toy stores are
	just too irresistable! 






2046.610 for CakewalkPOSEUR::CARRUTHERSThu Aug 10 1989 19:3312
    I'm very new to the world of sequencing.  My decision to buy Cakewalk
    was based on the article in E.M. (sometime around December of last year)
    and it's great price.
    
    I've found it very easy to use.  I'm a DECwindows user so, being
    windows based has made it very easy to learn and operate.
    
    I've yet to come up with something I cannot do.
    
    Hope you have as much fun also.
    
    Tim.
2046.7Cakewalk -> Music-XWEFXEM::COTEYou make the knife feel good...Tue Jul 10 1990 10:3645
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Note 2388.0                    Cakewalk -> Music-X                       1 reply
MEALA::COLLINS "STEVE"                               18 lines  10-JUL-1990 05:43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    I have found a bunch of cakewalk sequencer files on the net which I
    assume are pc format. I managed to ftp them to my node ,download them
    to a pc formatted disk on my vs3100 and get them on to my amiga at
    home and un-archive them. 
    
    I had assumed these files would be in standard midi-file format but
    when I tried to convert them from Midi-to-musicX it didn't like the
    format. I guess this could be either the files got corrupted or the
    files output from Cakewalk are not STANDARD midi .
    
    Does anyone know if the files output from cakewalk are standard midi
    files , and or has anyone used these type files in a squencer other
    than Cakewalk ?
    
    Thanks...
    Steve

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Note 2388.1                    Cakewalk -> Music-X                        1 of 1
MUNLEG::RAUTENBERG                                   13 lines  10-JUL-1990 06:07
                         -< It depends on the Version >-
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    It's a question of the version. Cakewalk V3.0 and Cakewalk professional
    can import and export MIDI FILE format, and of course their own.
    I'm a regular user of it.
    
    Once I had a try  exchanging data with an ATARI system. 
    It worked fine. (See also Note 1996).
    
    If you give me a pointer to your files, I can try to convert them
    for you into MIDI File Format.
    
    Michael
    
2046.8minor clarificationLNGBCH::STEWARTWed Jul 11 1990 12:5115
                                       .
                                       .
                                       .
    It's a question of the version. Cakewalk V3.0 and Cakewalk professional
    can import and export MIDI FILE format, and of course their own.
    I'm a regular user of it.
    

       This is all true.  To clarify, though: if you want Standard MIDI
       files out of Cakewalk 3.0, you have to tell it to write the file
       in that format.  Cakewalks's native file format is not Standard
       MIDI.

       John

2046.9CAL macro language in Prof. V3MUNLEG::RAUTENBERGFri Aug 31 1990 07:1313
    
    Cakewalk Professional V3.0 has the feature of CAL macro language,
    something looking like LISP. Does anyone have experience in using it
    and like to discuss ideas?
    
    I'm going to use it for transposition of drum note assignments,
    to adapt drum sequences to a different drum mashine. In a way 
    just a conversion table.
    
    Maybe you have additional creativity.
    
    Michael
    
2046.10Cakewalk 4.0 AvailableDECWIN::FISHERI like my species the way it is&quot; &quot;A narrow view...Tue Nov 27 1990 20:2126
    I just got a notice about Cakewalk V4.0 today.  They are doing the same
    thing as Voyetra and getting away from usign all the h/w features of
    the MPU401 so they can use more interfaces.  
    
    You also get:
    
    Fractional tempos
    MIDI Thru with auto-mapping
    More realtime control (offset, patch, and port while playing)
    MIDI metronome
    Paste with replace
    Dos/Shell swaps out more of CW so you have more memory
    Configuration...some files for tailoring preferences
    Mouse...small but handy improvements
    Dialog boxes use gray +- keys (keypad, I guess)
    Faster help
    Event view:  When you change an event's time, you follow it around
    File/Merge and File/Extract now work with SMFs
    
    etc.
    
    Upgrade is $5 if you bot after Sept 1 for any variation.  Otherwise
    pro3->pro4 is 39, cw3->cw4 is 29.
    
    Burns
    
2046.11Twelve Tone's standard notation editor is NOT CakewalkPENUTS::HNELSONResolved: 192# now, 175# by MayFri Jan 18 1991 17:409
    Chatting with the Cakewalk suppport line today: not a whole lot is
    known, but the Twelve Tones standard notation editor is in beta test
    and is supposed to be released in February. It is entirely separate from 
    Cakewalk, reading and writing standard MIDI files. In other words,
    Cakewalk users could just as well use ANY standard notation editor
    (though maybe the interface will be similar). I'm disappointed: I
    thought Cakewalk itself was going to use standard notation.
    
    - Hoyt
2046.12Standard Notation EditorUNXA::PARLOCKThu Jun 06 1991 21:206
Re. .-1

	Does anyone know if the editor is available as of yet? Has anyone
purchased or demo'd this software?

	- Bob P.
2046.13I'am interested in the Cakewalk.BRSSWS::MORALESFri Nov 29 1991 11:535
    
    	High, I try to reach dyo780 but without succes !
    Can anyone give me the new nodename ? I'am intersted to try the Cakewalk
    on my pc ! 
    Thanks in advance , Sebastian .