The Cakewalk Blog

Enter the Mod Matrix With SONAR X1d

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk] — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:53 +0000

By now you may have heard about the upcoming X1d update which will be free for all registered SONAR X1 customers. And you may have also seen the press release which lists all of the features and enhancements contained in the free update. However, what you might not have seen is just how insanely cool the [...]

Cakewalk Artists on Both PC and Mac Are Off to an Enormous 2012

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:03:58 +0000

Cakewalk Artists on Both PC and Mac are off to an Enormous 2012 We are well on our way into 2012 and many artists relying on various Cakewalk products are off to an enormous year. I’ve been fortunate enough to have spent some time with most of these artists recently, and even more fortunate to [...]

Become a master of guitar recording in SONAR X1

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:29:08 +0000

Craig Anderton is one of the most widely respected pro audio writers today. He has authored more than 20 books and is currently editor-in-chief of Harmony Central and executive editor of EQ magazine. He’s even worked closely with Cakewalk to create two critically-acclaimed SONAR X1 Advanced Workshop videos. So if you are looking for tutorials [...]

SONAR X1 on a Mac? Yes, you can!

Mike Trujillo [Cakewalk] — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:00:36 +0000

A question I am frequently asked is, “Do you guys make SONAR X1 for the Mac?” The answer to which is no, SONAR X1 is made for Windows. But do not despair, there is a solution! For Macs with Intel processors there’s an application called Bootcamp which [...]

How to ReWire Reason in SONAR X1

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:47:14 +0000

Our friends over at Obedia Tutor have created this simple video to show how to ReWire other software like Reason, Ableton, and Fruity Loops to be used inside SONAR X1. If you already own software like Reason, Ableton, and Fruity Loops and would like to purchase SONAR X1, you can now purchase the SONAR X1 [...]

Cori Yarckin video for new single “Floating” Released

Robin Kelly [Cakewalk] — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:43:13 +0000

If you own SONAR X1 Producer you have probably loaded up the project “Floating” by Cori Yarckin. The song was arranged, tracked and produced completely in SONAR X1. There were a few members of the Cakewalk team who worked on this song and others that are on the new album “Part of Me” which will [...]

NAMM 2012 in pictures

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:09:37 +0000

Winter NAMM 2012 was a huge success for Cakewalk. For the second straight year, we were located in the Roland Arena with a great location right by the entrance. We got to meet a lot of new, existing, and potential users. In addition, we had great demos from some of our favorite Cakewalk artists (and [...]

HP Rocks NAMM 2012

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:15:11 +0000

Cakewalk is back from NAMM and we will have a full recap of the show shortly. We would like to thank HP for outfitting our entire booth with the latest HP Z Series Workstations and HP EliteBooks. There is no doubt that HP computers are up to the task of handling any recording session you [...]

SONAR X1 Wins Electronic Musician’s Editors’ Choice 2012 for “Extreme DAW Makeover”

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:49:19 +0000

“SONAR X1 was the obvious choice” – Electronic Musician Magazine We were thrilled to pick up our Editor’s Choice award at the NAMM show last week. SONAR X1 won for “Extreme DAW Makeover” thanks to the new Skylight user interface. Thank you to all the editors at Electronic Musician who voted for SONAR X1 – [...]

Cakewalk at NAMM 2012 – Roland Arena (booth #7400)

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:35:18 +0000

If you’re heading to Southern California for NAMM this year be sure to stop by the Cakewalk booth, where we have many exciting presentations planned featuring some very special guest artists. And if you can’t make it in person, don’t worry, we’ll have something for you too. Demonstrations will take place at the Cakewalk booth [...]

New ProChannel Concrete Limiter coming NAMM 2012

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:08:39 +0000

Back in October 2011, we released SONAR X1 Producer Expanded which introduced ProChannel modularity. This included the ability to add new modules to the ProChannel. Since that time we have released two Cakewalk branded ProChannel modules, the PC4K S-Type Expander/Gate and the PC4K S-Type Channel Compressor. In addition, Softube has released the Softube Mix Bundle which includes [...]

Cakewalk’s 11 big product releases of 2011

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk] — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:33:58 +0000

2011 was a big year for Cakewalk and featured some major product releases. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most popular product releases of 2011 with links to each, in case you missed it. We’d love to hear your feedback on which was your favorite by voting in our Facebook poll. SONAR X1 Free [...]

Cakewalk elves hard at work perfecting SONAR X1

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:54:28 +0000

The Cakewalk elves are hard at work year round to bring you the worlds best software for recording and making music. But sometimes we just need to cut loose. And what would the holidays be without a little dance number? Go ahead and click that image.

5 cool gift ideas for the musician with everything

Marcus Dandurand [Cakewalk] — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:54:31 +0000

Your time for holiday shopping is running out, but odds are good that there is somebody on your list who is impossible to buy gifts for. Your best bet is find a gift that even the person with everything hasn’t heard of yet. Easier said than done. So I thought I would do you [...]

Hollywood Undead: On the road and writing with SONAR X1 Expanded

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:46:51 +0000

It’s two weeks into the tour and Hollywood Undead’s guitarist/vocalist/music creator J-Dog is without his tour laminate. “All the dates are on the back of the laminate,” he says in a calm voice and smiling, “so it looks like I won’t know where I’ll be heading for a while.” It could be a good thing, [...]

Ron Cote and Pristine Productions Utilizing SONAR X1 with Chart-topping Rock Acts

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:18:28 +0000

When it comes to SONAR, many of us often just think of recording and creating music for one medium, but there are many people out there using it in other ways. Pristine Productions is a company based out of Philadelphia that has been using SONAR for many years to record Major Label artists; only not [...]

SONAR X1 Video – Linear & Non-linear Music Production

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:43:27 +0000

There are lots of ways to make music – from precise, deliberate composition to live performance and freeform improvisation. You might want traditional, linear multi-tracking or you might want to just experiment and jam. The good news is you don’t have to choose. Merging the realtime, experimental approach of loop and phrase based composition with [...]

SONAR X1 – CakeTV Video Get Started – ASIO audio device Configuration

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:09:51 +0000

Once you have connected your audio device it is important to ensure you have the right settings in SONAR. Configuring your audio device properly in SONAR will ensure you get the best performance and lowest latency. This video tutorial will take you through how to get the settings right in SONAR to get the best [...]

SONAR X1 – CakeTV Video Get Started – MIDI Configuration

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:16:42 +0000

In this episode, learn how to setup SONAR X1 to work with your external MIDI devices. If you have a MIDI keyboard, synthesizer or control surface you will want to ensure that they are connected and configured properly. To set up a MIDI device for use in SONAR, first install the latest drivers for [...]

SONAR X1 – CakeTV Video – Get Started- Basic Mix Functions

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:48:42 +0000

Learn how to use the functions of the SONAR X1 mixer. This video will take you through the basic controls and their functions. SONAR’s basic mix functions can be accessed by selecting the mix setting in the track view. They can also be accessed in the inspector view and in the console view. The basic [...]

Hollywood Undead Invites You To Mix-it-up

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:17:08 +0000

Enter the Hollywood Undead remix contest today SONAR X1 user Hollywood Undead is one of the few modern bands that continue to sell records and play to sold out crowds around the world. This hard working band is considered as one of the biggest and most unique rock acts in the industry today, and now with the help of [...]

Shawn Clement: On A [Quantum] Quest with Intense Music

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:22:15 +0000

Award winning SONAR user – composer/producer Shawn Clement is at an exciting point in his “intense” career: His credentials and track record have allowed him to open an office/SONAR studio at the heart of Paramount Pictures. He just had a major successful event at The Kennedy Center in DC where his music was premiered during “A [...]

Congratulations to Cakewalk Artist and SONAR User Javier Colon for Winning NBC’s “The Voice”

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:32:32 +0000

Since April 26th we have been covering NBC’s new television hit “The Voice” and we are proud, and incredibly happy to congratulate Cakewalk Endorsee Javier Colon for winning the inaugural season. It was a long close ride, but in the end it was Javier’s gifted talents along with his first-class demeanor that drove America’s votes. [...]

Cakewalk Artist Javier Colon Making His Mark on “The Voice”

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:48:55 +0000

A little over a month ago we featured Javier Colon on our blog the day before “The Voice” premiered. I don’t think anyone had a doubt that he would be anything less than stellar on the show, but I don’t think anyone realized the impact he would have on viewers around the world. If you [...]

Cakewalk’s own Dan Kaplan on the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch”

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:33:10 +0000

SONAR has always been the “working man’s DAW.” From inception, it was built on the foundational theory that musicians should not be held back or creatively limited. From electronic beat-wizards to the most authentic acoustic musicians, SONAR has always been a DAW that creative musicians turn to for empowerment. With the financial troubles of the [...]

Grammy Nominated Luigie Gonzalez on SONAR X1

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Fri, 13 May 2011 22:54:16 +0000

Friday, May 13 – Los Angeles, CA In the Cakewalk Artist Relations Department we have the honor of working with many producers, songwriters, mixing engineers, composers and musicians on a daily basis. As we all know (or we should all know), the beauty of SONAR is that not only does it stand out as the [...]

SONAR X1 User Javier Colon to Appear on NBC’s “The Voice”

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:47:20 +0000

Tuesday, April 26 – New York, NY If you are making music I think you will agree with me when I say for better or for worse “What an interesting time it is for the recorded music industry.” There are a few elements that really make it “interesting;” Music creators now have options such as [...]

There’s Been a Murder (FM) on SONAR X1

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 22:00:43 +0000

Friday, April 8 - Dallas, TX “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” a song you most likely will not hear at a Murder FM show, but it is a location where you will find the band pounding out amazing material using SONAR X1. In terms of work ethic and sheer determination, one will rarely find a [...]

TC, and Paul Oakenfold’s Team on SONAR X1

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:31:57 +0000

Thursday, February 24th - Hollywood, CA On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I had the privilege of spending some time with an X1 pro user who really exemplifies the modern day musician on all fronts. His name is TC (born Anthony Crawford) and he is also known by some in the producing underground as [...]

SONAR X1 Essential overview

admin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:12:56 +0000

SONAR X1 Essential SONAR X1 Essential has a completely redesigned user interface that makes creating music faster and easier than ever. Create with cutting edge musical tools like the Step Sequencer and The Matrix. Customize your workspace with the Skylight interface. Get hands on control with Active Controller Technology (ACT). With a powerful collection of [...]

EMI Music Publishing US Headquarters Chooses SONAR X1, V-Studio 100 and PC Audio Labs for In-house Recording Room

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:44:02 +0000

New York City, NY – January 25th, 2011 Unlike the recorded music sector of the music industry, the publishing world is still thriving for those who have been able to adapt to the changes. Known as the largest music publisher in the world, EMI Music Publishing is indeed one of those companies and still a [...]

NAMM 2011 “Featured Artists” Special Guests Schedule

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:46:42 +0000

The NAMM Show 2011, January 13 – 16, Anaheim Convention Center In addition to the following presentations, Cakewalk will have many other demonstrations at The NAMM Show. Please visit us inside the Roland Arena [Booth# 7400]. Staff Music Creator/Producer for Paul Oakenfold TC (A.K.A. Spitfire) 2:00pm Saturday, January 15, SONAR Session – “Self-Contained Music Production” [...]

I Can See for Miles: The Journey of Universal/Decca Artist Raul Midon

Jimmy Landry [Cakewalk] — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:40:56 +0000

SONAR user Raul Midon likes to take chances to find that next new thing that will inspire him, make him complete, to drive him in a new direction; as an artist, it’s simply what he does. Taking chances has paid off as you can see here with his amazing performance on The David Letterman Show. [...]

Panels and Performances; Cakewalk at CMJ 2010

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:25:36 +0000

New York City, NY ~ It seems like just yesterday when Cakewalk/Roland endorser Andrew W.K. delivered his keynote speech to a packed auditorium at New York University during CMJ 2009. As the year went by fast, so did this year’s blistering 5 day event which took place last week in the same location at NYU. [...]

Introducing SONAR X1

admin — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:29:33 +0000

SONAR: Reimagined SONAR has evolved and so can the way you make music. Imagine the power and maturity of an industry standard DAW combined with the cutting edge creative tools essential for today’s music – all wrapped up in one of the most modern and (dare we say) beautiful user interfaces available. Learn more

Robin’s Riffs: How to create layered synth sounds

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:11:21 +0000

Cakewalk’s Robin Kelly has put together a series of tech tips for SONAR users in a section we are calling Robin’s Riffs. Each week, we will include a new tip. This week, Robin Kelly shows you how to achieve a layered synth sound in SONAR. In this example, Robin shows you how to create a [...]

Cakewalk Artist Notes

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:45:23 +0000

Gedeon Luke Instills Some Soul And Good Vibes Into The Lower East Side -NYC Gedeon Luke, a former American Idol semifinalist and Dimension Pro/Rapture user is creating quite a stir in the NYC Lower East Side music scene. His record which is being released at the end of October is “chock full of keys that [...]

SONAR 8.5 nominated for TEC Award

admin — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:02:33 +0000

The 26th annual TEC Award nominations are in and we are pleased to announce that SONAR 8.5 has been nominated for a TEC award in the category of Workstation Technology. Professional audio’s most prestigious awards will be hosted for the first time by NAMM, the international music products industry’s biggest trade show. The awards will [...]

First winners announced for “Intel Superstars Competition”

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:30:48 +0000

The voting results are in and the fans have selected the top 5 artists in the categories of Rock, Pop, and Country. The first round of the “Superstars” songwriting competition invited artists to submit original music in the Rock, Pop, and Country genres. The submitted tracks were judged by fans of Intel’s Facebook page with [...]

New Go Deeper Video, PCAL DAW, and CakeTV

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:45:31 +0000

by Seth Perlstein Another week is done and another video is produced. This time its a Go Deeper video about PX-64 Percussion Strip, which should make a nice compliment to the PX-64 Get Started video and the Drum Production Master Class. In fact, the video you see in the link above is rendering on my [...]

Life as a Cakewalker and new Get Started video

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:19:22 +0000

by Seth Perlstein Every day that I work on a SONAR video is a good day. However, while it’s a lot of fun to create demonstration videos about a product that I’m deeply passionate about, it’s also a ton of work. A perfect example of this is the Drum Production Master Class video that I [...]

Comic Book Heroes record “Drive On” for ESPN’s telecast of their NASCAR Nationwide season using SONAR 8.5

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:10:17 +0000

Last year we introduced you to Comic Book Heroes (CBH), a SONAR using artist with a pretty unique angle. While still in High School, CBH had accomplished more than many bands twice their age and on bigger labels. The guitar-driven rock quartet is manned by Steve Kowalski (bass, vocals), Collin MacGregor (drums), Ned Goldman (vocals, [...]

SONAR: Master Class on Drum Productions

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:30:28 +0000

SONAR 8.5 includes world-class tools, instruments, and effects that will allow you to achieve amazing drum tracks. We have put together a SONAR: Master Class video series that shows off these amazing features. This Master Class explores writing, arranging and mixing drums in SONAR. Spotlighted are production techniques and workflow using Session Drummer 3, Step [...]

The AristoTrax on SONAR

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:02:03 +0000

The setting is your typical California day; the type you see on TV all the time. The sun, the cars, the people and the sand leading to the famous Santa Monica Boulevard which is filled with a plethora of interesting characters. Just another typical day? Really? Not for R1CKONE; actually there is no such thing [...]

Use the V-Studio 20 with your favorite Mac recording software

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:52:56 +0000

Cakewalk has just released a free Mac Support Update for the V-Studio 20. The V-Studio 20 Mac Support Update enables the VS-20 hardware and Effects Editor to be used with all popular Mac-based recording software titles. The update provides Mac users with all the benefits of recording with the V-Studio 20 COSM guitar and vocal [...]

Intel Superstars Competition powered by OurStage.com

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:18:15 +0000

Cakewalk, Intel, and Ourstage.com have partnered up to launch the Intel Superstars Competition powered by OurStage.com. Beginning July 1, 2010 aspiring rock, pop and country artists are invited to upload their best original song in the Intel Superstars Competition of their genre. The Top 5 artists from each of the three competitions will receive prize packages including [...]

Flyleaf discusses new album and V-Studio 100

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:03:25 +0000

In this day in age there are very few bands that have the components to set themselves apart from other artists and also cut through in a lasting fashion the cluttered channels of this new digital music era. Flyleaf is absolutely one of these timeless artists and proof that a combination of amazing songwriting, creative [...]

Converting and Recording MIDI into Audio

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:43:54 +0000

MIDI files function like sheet music. Sheet music contains all the information an instrumentalist needs to make music. If the instrumentalist does not play what’s written on the sheet music, you hear nothing. Like sheet music, MIDI does not transmit audio signals (digital or analog). Meaning, if you were to plug your MIDI cable into a loudspeaker [...]

Jon Lee: Capitalist Turned Composer

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:52:32 +0000

So how does one of the top television-scoring professionals in the business get to where he is today? If you’re Jon Lee, first you run a hedge fund for 15 or 20 years… Huh? You’ll have to forgive Jon for not taking a more traditional route to the top of the film and television-scoring business. [...]

V-Studio 700 Controls Dutch Synth Master’s Studio

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:20:41 +0000

Synth Master, Composer, and Blogger on everything synth, Michel von Osenbruggen reviews the V-Studio 700. A pro-level SONAR user, Michel especially likes its tight integration with SONAR. As hardware and software synths make up the basis of his tracks, with the V-Studio 700 console, Michel can scroll through his projects and control his various instruments [...]

Watch the V-Studio 20 Webinar Today

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:57:22 +0000

If you missed our live webinar on the V-Studio 20, we’ve posted it here for your viewing pleasure. Hosted by Cakewalk’s Zac Kenney and featuring special guests, Charlie O’Neal and Craig Rawding of The Delta Generators, this exclusive presentation gives you a closer look at the brand new recording device for guitar players and singer-songwriters. [...]

You’re Invited to the V-Studio 20 Webinar

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:41:41 +0000

Don’t miss this exclusive event. Join us tonight at 7:00 pm (ET) for a virtual presentation on the V-Studio 20 to learn more about the brand new recording solution for guitar players and singer-songwriters. Since 3 out of 4 Cakewalk employees play guitar, we built the V-Studio 20 from the ground up (in conjuction with Roland and Boss) to [...]

Austin’s Next Big Thing

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:45:09 +0000

Austin, TX knows a thing or two about music. The home of musical institutions from Stevie Ray Vaughn to Austin City Limits, SxSW to Stubbs BBQ and Antone’s, the central Texas town knows music. After all, they don’t call it the Live Music Capital of the World for nothing. So when we tell you Alpha [...]

Northeastern University Recognizes Young Composers

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:35:51 +0000

For a 7th year, the Music Technology program at Northeastern University held an electronic music composition contest for high school composers. Students from across the Northeast US compete to receive a cash reward, music production software including Cakewalk’s SONAR Producer and the opportunity to perform their work at a public concert held on the university’s campus in [...]

The Missing Link for Guitar Players? Cakewalk’s V-Studio 20

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:22:42 +0000

Guitar Products Reviewer for DV247.com, Rob Sandall, was one of the first to lay eyes on the V-Studio 20 at Musikmesse 2010. At first, he thought it was just a foot pedal but quickly realized that the V-Studio 20 is so much more than what he expected. Combining an audio interface and control surface with [...]

Graduation Gifts for Musicians

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:36:50 +0000

Looking for the perfect gift for the high-school or college graduate? Give them the gift of music with Cakewalk. Whether enrolling in a music school, starting a career in the industry or enjoying music as a hobby, Cakewalk’s Graduation Gift Guide offers a wide range of products for the performing and recording musician. Check out these great products for making music in the dorm, on the [...]

How to Record and Playback Audio in Cakewalk Software

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:15:44 +0000

Recording your music on the computer is an adventure. There are thousands of different tools you can choose from, all with their own perks and obstacles. Recording your vocals, guitar, keys and drums is a process that takes time to learn in order to do it well. Before you attempt to record, make sure you [...]

Borthwicks’ Acoustic Jazz Album Heats Up the ‘HotBox’

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 14:48:58 +0000

In December, we announced the release of Ramona Borthwick’s new acoustic jazz album, One of Us, which was entirely edited and mixed in SONAR. Cakewalk CTO Noel Borthwick was at the helm of this project, cataloging the entire process on his blog. Earlier this week, we learned that One of Us was featured in the May issue of [...]

Support Music City Disaster Relief

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 18:39:09 +0000

A Nashville recording musician has put together a Facebook Group to benefit those effected by the severe flooding that devastated homes and businesses, following this weekend’s terrential rains in Music City. Historic industry landmarks such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry entertainment complex saw damage from the rising waters. As we are a community built upon music, we [...]

Sparks the Rescue: From Maine to Mainstream

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:59:05 +0000

Alex Roy barely has time to talk. He’s busy packing. Again. He just wound up a series of shows yet tomorrow Alex and his band, Sparks The Rescue, heads back out on the road. This time it’s the Lab Apparel-sponsored Bring Me Home Tour, a 19-date run that will run through the end of April. [...]

Making Music On A Netbook at GDC 2010

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:33:53 +0000

Netbooks are quickly gaining ground as the viable computing option for everything, from checking email to recording and producing music. The folks at Netbooknews.com were on hand at the recent Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California to chat with Cakewalk’s Seth Perlstein about the forth-coming release of the SD-50 Mobile Studio Canvas and it’s [...]

Special Offer: Amazing Savings on SONAR at Guitar Center

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:24:19 +0000

Guitar Center’s Green Tag Savings Event is back! This weekend only, you can save $100 instantly on SONAR 8.5 Producer, plus receive an extra $50 off with coupon. Why should you upgrade to SONAR 8.5? The latest version of SONAR has all of the innovations, instruments and effects that were included in version 8 plus a host of [...]

A Wicked Good Time for MusiCares Foundation

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:59:07 +0000

For those of you who couldn’t make it out to our first annual Cakewalk fundraiser, you missed a great night. Throughout the evening, Cakewalk employees took the stage at the Lansdowne Pub (right next door to historic Fenway Park) to show off their talents. Boston’s 93.7 Mike FM was the MC for the night, bringing with them a bundle of awesome prizes for the raffle and giving away [...]

Special Offer: Dimension LE Virtual Instrument for $19.99

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:53:37 +0000

With over 400 sounds, Cakewalk’s Dimension LE virtual instrument for Mac and PC, packs a sonic punch. It’s classic synth sounds coupled with Garritan Pocket Orchestra (strings, bass, woodwinds, piano, and percussion) is everything you need to create one-of-a-kind compositions. Powered by Cakewalk’s Expression Engine, Dimension LE supports multi-sample rendering, wavetable synthesis, waveguide synthesis, REX [...]

Video: V-Studio 20 Launch at Musikmesse 2010

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:33:27 +0000

The folks at Harmony Central were on hand at Musikmesse 2010 to film the debut of Cakewalk’s V-Studio 20, the portable recording studio for guitarists and singer-songwriters. Their video captures a live demo by Robin Kelly and accomplished guitar player, Gundy Keller, exploring the interface’s included DAW, Effects Editor and it’s many incredible tones: For more [...]

Songwriter Raul Midon Produces Music with Cake-Talking Technology

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:24:59 +0000

New York City singer-songwriter, Raul Midon celebrates the release of his latest album, Synthesis, which hits stores in the US today. Blinded as an infant, Raul was first introduced to music by his father, often listening to the uncomparable Beethoven, Mozart, John Cage, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. After studying music at a school for [...]

Find Your Inspiration at ASCAP’s “I Create Music” Expo 2010

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:14:00 +0000

Do you write your own music? Propel your songwriting career into new heights at ASCAP’s fifth annual, I Create Music Expo. Launched in 2006, the ‘I Create Music’ Expo is the first and ONLY national conference dedicated to songwriting and composing. From April 22 to April 24 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, attendees are invited [...]

Sound Design for Video Games at GDC 2010

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:45:41 +0000

Cakewalk’s Seth Perlstein was on hand at the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California to demonstrate SONAR’s role in sound design and sound editing for video games. In the video above, Seth shows how to sync sound effects to video clips using SONAR 8.5′s Audiosnap time-stretching tool with the V-Studio 700 console as [...]

MusicTech Focus Dedicates Latest Issue to SONAR

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:21:01 +0000

Everything you ever wanted to know about SONAR is now encased in a 132-page full-color guidebook! From cover to cover, this exclusive magazine is the most comprehensive guide to SONAR in print (besides SONAR 8! Power) – a must have whether you’re a SONAR user, or thinking of becoming one! Packed with 100% SONAR content, this magazine features [...]

SONAR 8.5 Earns Excellent Ratings in EM Review

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:18:59 +0000

Electronic Musician’s Brian Smithers highlighted just some of SONAR 8.5′s many strong suits in his latest review, stating that ”although SONAR was already a strong platform for groove manipulation, its new arpeggiator and Matrix view, along with the improved step sequencer and AudioSnap function, bring it to a new level of flexibility and power.” Smithers goes on [...]

Cakewalk Rocks for MusiCares Foundation

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:26:24 +0000

Save the Date! Two weeks from Sunday, Cakewalk hosts it’s 1st annual fundraising event for the MusiCares Foundation. Throughout the event, Cakewalk employees will show off their talents, performing in a diverse line up of bands and DJ’s. A charity raffle will be held with a chance to win a Cakewalk V-Studio 100-powered Recording Bundle [...]

Video: Sound On Sound’s Fast Facts on the V-Studio 20

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:35:26 +0000

One of the world’s top publications for music recording and technology, Sound on Sound, visited the Cakewalk booth at Musikmesse 2010 to get a close look at the V-Studio 20. Watch the video below to get the facts on Cakewalk’s new portable, USB recording device for Guitar players and Singer-Songwriters:

Doing Heavenly Work With the V-Studio 100

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:05:49 +0000

Dale “Rambro” Ramsey is one of the most respected producers and engineers in the business. His RamTrax Entertainment studio in Atlanta has worked on projects for some of the biggest names in music, from Justin Timberlake to Stevie Wonder to P. Diddy. His client list reads like a Who’s Who of musical talent, and it [...]

Create Record Label, High-Quality Productions With SONAR 8.5

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:21:24 +0000

For Chris Maguire, upgrading his DAW to SONAR 8.5 was a no brainer. For $99, Chris made the move from SONAR 8.0 Producer and immediately began to see the improvements made to the DAW’s feature set and functionality. In his review at Altsounds.com, Chris explains how he used the VX-64 Vocal Strip, PX-64 Percussion Strip and the Matrix view [...]

Musikmesse 2010: V-Studio 700 & V-Studio 100 Win at MIPA

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:20:50 +0000

At this year’s Musikmesse International Press Awards (MIPA), Cakewalk received 4 nominations for the development of the A-PRO Series Keyboards, V-Studio 700, V-Studio 100 and SONAR 8.5 Producer. Just being nominated is quite the honor, but we were humbled last night when we won in two categories, Best Recording Hardware for the V-Studio 100 and [...]

New V-Studio 700 E-Book Gives You A Closer Look

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:35:23 +0000

Cakewalk announces today the availability of a new eBook by Scott R. Garrigus – author of the “SONAR Power!” Book Series – that will cover the ins and outs of the SONAR V-Studio 700 music production system. Cakewalk V-Studio 700: A Closer Look is a free electronic book discussing basic and advanced functions of the V-Studio [...]

Cakewalk’s Portable Recording Solution for Guitarists & Singer-Songwriters

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:00:33 +0000

Every year at this time, Cakewalk travels to Frankfurt, Germany to attend Europe’s largest music trade show event, Musikmesse. This year, we are pleased to launch the V-Studio 20 from the show floor. As the third product in the V-Studio line of integrated hardware and software by Cakewalk and Roland, the V-Studio 20 is an affordable, all-in-one option for recording [...]

Education Profile: Doherty Middle School – Andover, MA

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:25:16 +0000

Jeff Buckridge directs the General Music program at the Doherty Middle School in Andover, MA. Besides being a well-known and accomplished guitarist in the New England area, Jeff is also an experienced music educator. His classes include General Music for all students, Intro to Guitar and Electronic Music as elective courses. SONAR Home Studio is [...]

Intel’s Core i7 980x Processor Brings Unbelievable Performance to Computer Music-Making

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:34:34 +0000

Slow and steady may win the race but it does not make creating music on the computer any easier! Accelerate your music-making experience on the PC with more power and better stability, check out Intel’s new Core i7 Extreme Edition Processor. Code-named “Gulftown” the Core i7 980x is the first 32nm, six-core processor with 12 computing threads! In [...]

IMSTA Holds Songwriting Contest: Perform Live for AKON & Win A Record Deal

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:17:40 +0000

IMSTA (International Music Software Trade Association) has partnered with AKON’s Hitlab to give professional musicians a chance at their big break! Submit your original tracks as high quality demos or master recordings to the IMSTA Song Competition for you chance to win killer prizes. Your song will be analyzed and scored based on the 78 different variables by HITLAB’s proprietary Dynamic Hit Scoring [...]

Cakewalk Nominated for 2010 MIPA Awards

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:20:11 +0000

Each year, more than 100 magazines from all over the world – including Mix, Electronic Musician and EQ – come together to vote on the world’s best audio and musical instrument products for the Musikmesse International Press Awards. This year, Cakewalk has earned 4 nominations for the development of the A-PRO Series Keyboards, V-Studio 700, [...]

Northeastern University Professor Teaches SONAR in Ghana

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:27:57 +0000

Head of the Music Technology program at Northeastern University, Dennis Miller and his wife, Susan, are spending spring semester in Ghana working as visiting professors for a local university. This trip marks the couple’s second trip to Ghana, having first visited the country in 2004. The pair will spend 150 days working on the campus [...]

Using Multiple MIDI Controllers in SONAR

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:26:44 +0000

Managing input from multiple MIDI devices, such as keyboard controllers and drum pads, through your DAW can be frustrating. Staying on top of all the cabling, routing and software settings is enough to make you throw in the towel and go back to point and click. However, with SONAR, you can choose individual MIDI input [...]

Comic Book Heroes Set to Take Off in 2010

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:00:23 +0000

2010 is shaping up to be another huge year for the band Comic Book Heroes. In just the first two months alone, their music and visuals will be part of the soundtrack to the NASCAR 2010 Season as well as the Winter X-Games. They will also be included on the Warped Tour-sponsored “Wonka Music Factory” [...]

Recording Magazine “Covers” V-Studio 100

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:36:36 +0000

Since its release, Cakewalk’s V-Studio 100 has received high acclaim from leading music industry publications worldwide. This month, V-Studio 100 made the cover of Recording Magazine. Along with their great advice for beginners and tips on recording solo, Recording Magazine tells how the V-Studio 100 is no longer just for the SONAR user. It’s durable design, cross-platform functionality and affordable price point make [...]

Receive Instant Savings On SONAR 8.5

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:18:34 +0000

Thinking about upgrading your DAW to SONAR 8.5? Now may be the best time to do so! As a leading choice in music production software for professional musicians worldwide, SONAR 8.5 has everything you need to compose, record, edit, mix and master your music. Its extensive array of virtual instruments and audio effects, gives you [...]

Recording Music On A Laptop With the UA-4FX

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:10:00 +0000

Ask any artist, they’ll likely tell you their best work comes when they least expect it. Inspiration knows no schedule. With the UA-4FX you are no longer tied down to the computer desk, forced to be creative while sitting at your home PC or Mac. This USB audio interface sources its power from your laptop [...]

New SONAR Update Enhances AudioSnap Functionality

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:54:32 +0000

We’ve just announced another free update for SONAR 8.5 Producer and SONAR 8.5 Studio. The SONAR 8.5.3 update focuses on AudioSnap 2.0, providing usability enhancements, optimizations, and overall improved stability for performing complex audio timing tasks. In conjunction with this release, we’ve created four new video tutorials on some of the key features in found in AudioSnap including aligning [...]

All Eyes On Cakewalk’s A-PRO Series Controllers

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:23:59 +0000

Electronic Musician caught a glimspe of the new A-PRO Series MIDI Controllers at the NAMM Show 2010. In this video, Cakewalk’s Alex Westner shows off the velocity-sensitive keys as well as the assignable sliders, knobs, pads and transport controls featured on each controller. The A-PRO Series controllers will be available for purchase in April this year.

Add A ‘Mixing Machine’ To Your Gig Bag

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:46:16 +0000

Your band is working on a new EP. You’ve got four shows lined up for the month of February. It would be really cool to record your performances to add a few live tracks to the new release. With Cakewalk’s V-Studio 100 you can record, edit, mix and produce those tracks without missing a beat. The V-Studio 100 is a cross-platform, 8 [...]

Have Gig Bag, Will Travel or Where in the World is Carmen Rizzo?

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:11:36 +0000

Carmen Rizzo checks his cell phone one last time as he boards the plane at LAX. This is the first of several flights that will take him half way around the world over the next 24 hours – from Los Angeles to Perm, Russia . He’s got a text message from the people he’ll be [...]

Stokes Audio Mixes Soundtrack for ‘Why We Laugh’

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:49:45 +0000

Owner and Senior Engineer of Stokes Audio Recording & Post, Joe Stokes, is credited for his work in post-production and video editing for radio, gaming, TV and film. With SONAR and the V-Studio 700 sitting at the helm of his studio, Stokes mixed the soundtrack for his latest project, a documentary entitled ‘Why We Laugh’ [...]

‘Going Back to Memphis’ with the V-Studio 700

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:25:54 +0000

Engineers James Lott and Matt Ross-Spang at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee move away from ‘point and click’ with the V-Studio 700. The pair use the V-Studio 700 in their main production room to mix an original tune, ‘Get Back to Memphis’. Artist Impression: Sun Studio on the V-Studio 700Uploaded by CakewalkInc. – [...]

SONAR 8.5 Goes Above & Beyond Typical Update

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:00:38 +0000

To upgrade or not to upgrade? That is the question for many SONAR users concerning the latest product release, SONAR 8.5. Although, it’s not your typical point release, Craig Anderton calls version 8.5 “another welcome step forward, it delivers more than it promises”. With its new tools for creativity and added support for Windows 7, SONAR 8.5 [...]

NAMM 2010: Creative Tools for Independent Minds

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:59:52 +0000

Jet-lagged and exhausted, the Cakewalk crew is slowly recovering from a monumental Thursday through Saturday at the NAMM Show. The weather was beautiful, the show floor was packed and the Cakewalk booth was the place to be. Each year, the National Association of Music Merchants hosts an industry-wide tradeshow at the colossal Anaheim Convention Center. [...]

Sonic State Gets First Look at A-PRO Series

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:25:28 +0000

Sonic State was first on the scene at the NAMM Show this weekend to get an exclusive look at the new USB Keyboard Controllers. Brandon Ryan demos the 49-key controller, the A-500 PRO, along side SONAR 8.5’s Session Drummer 3 virtual instrument. Whether you’re using SONAR, Logic, Ableton Live, Cubase, Digital Performer, Garage Band, or [...]

“Your Music Anytime, Anyplace” Songwriting Competition Winners Announced

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:15:43 +0000

This fall, Cakewalk, Intel Corporation and Ourstage set out to inspire music lovers across the country to get creative and share their musical talents for the “Your Music Anytime, Anyplace” Songwriting Competition. The most outstanding artists and engaged fans on the Ourstage circuit were outfitted with a brand new mobile music studio! Today, [...]

New Products Announced At The NAMM Show 2010

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:19:19 +0000

The 2010 NAMM Show is off to an exciting start as Cakewalk announces several new products to our line of fully-integrated software and hardware solutions for music creation and recording! Click the links below to learn how these products can benefit your music production needs: New Line of Keyboard Controllers Cakewalk introduces the new A-PRO [...]

CES 2010: Music Creator Shines During Intel’s Core Processor Launch

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:29:22 +0000

Cakewalk’s Gina Garda recently traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to take part in the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). “Although the taxi lines were longer and the halls more crowded than last year,” remarked Gina, “the bustle of this year’s CES is a sure sign that 2010 will be a phenomenal year for the [...]

Cakewalk Pro User Spotlight: Hollywood Undead

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:04:39 +0000

Fresh off a sold-out tour in Europe, Hollywood Undead (A&M / Octone Records) is tearing up the music scene with their latest album, ‘Desperate Measures’. Charlie Scene, Da Kurlzz, Deuce, Funny Man, J-Dog and Johnny 3 Tears started performing in 2005. Their first album, Swan Songs, hit #22 on the Billboard 200 in it’s first [...]