Any Cakewalk users?

[JammerMatt]

I've got Guitar Tracks Pro Version 3 up and running on my machine. Unfortunately, I had to go to GC to get it. :argh:

So, after the utter chaos at GC... (but the guy at the door with the rubber gloves was surprisingly gentle) :eek2: ... I swear, with my 2 year old with me do I even look like I have the energy to shoplift? I'm 38 yrs old for chrissake. :wrf:

Okay, rant over. I get it home and running, and then I have to run back to GC to get XLR outs, and frankenstein a connection to my soundcard.

Well, anyway, it's up and running and so far I'm pretty pleased with how it's turned out. Just learning to use it, I recorded Dee in almost one take guitar straight into the card, and it sounded pretty nice through the Jackson w/Jazz.

I've always wanted to A/B my guitars, so last night I stayed up late and set up 3 tracks to do a side-by-side. Well, to my ears the guitars sound pretty close to each other with means: 1. My ears suck. 2. I was using too much gain. or 3. My taste is pretty one-dimensional and I've managed to set up two Jacksons and an LP pretty much the same :laugh2: .

Anyway, I've got a ways to go because I've only read about 10 pages of the Destruction Manual.

The upside is that I can start putting my "album" together. The downside is that this is an entirely new avenue for GAS. Soundcards, interfaces, mixers, mics....

Anybody have any comments on the Cakewalk stuff?

 

[chcjunior]

Re: Any Cakewalk users?

My only experience with Cakewalk is via Sonar and Guitar Tracks. Typically I just run my Digitech GNX 3 straight into my sound card and roll from there.
Great compositional tool to objectively listen to what you're playing and writing. As you pointed out, it's also a great tool to work on harmony and overlapping parts.

At times I use it for no more than capturing licks/songs while they're fresh.
It also works great for laying down solos as I tend to be somewhat structured in my soloing (for better or worse). Other times I will try to get the song perfect in execution and recording with multiple parts.

Features that will help with sound quality is the obvious making sure your signal doesn't clip. Play with the "3 DB Louder/Quieter" function as well the "Normalize". Sometimes I'll copy the track completely and eq it differently with effects.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Any Cakewalk users?

I use Sonar for editing, and it's great. The problem with normalizing tracks is that it makes the tracks very noisy ...

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Any Cakewalk users?

T.O.,

Do you use an overdrive/distortion ahead of your amp when you play? Do you use it all the time, or do you just punch it in to solo?

-Matt

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Any Cakewalk users?

T.O.,

Do you use an overdrive/distortion ahead of your amp when you play? Do you use it all the time, or do you just punch it in to solo?

-Matt

Matt, when playing distorted, I always use the Full-Drive 2 in front of my heads. The only exception to this rule is when I use my Engl preamp, because it's not needed ... In every case, tho, I use the Fat Boost after the Full-Drive to boost for solos. When playing with a head, it leads to a bit of tap-dancing, since you have to kill the OD before you channel switch, but that's not a problem for recording.

My signal chain is: GTR > FULL DRIVE > FAT BOOST > RIVERA or MARSHALL

The other thing I've found helpful when recording guitar tracks, Matt, is to corner-load the speaker cab. I get a much fuller sound out of the cabinet when I place it in the corner than when I stick it along the long wall of the studio ...

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Any Cakewalk users?

Gotcha. I'm running my Tube Screamer with Drive at 1/3 and Level about 2/3 ahead of my Line6. As of late I've been using the JCM800 modeler on my amp with the drive about 7 or 8. I have been leaving it the same for rhythm and leads. But, I'll continue to tweak.

My Line6 has this A.I.R. modeling, or whatever, that allows you to change the "mic'ing" of the whole deal. For now at least it will be straight into the soundcard with no external mic'ing. However, it will probably come to the day when I just wanna crank this sucker to record it and I'll remember the corner-loading trick.

Funny thing with these Line6's. I downloaded some software that allows you to tweak hard with it using the computer. Now with this and the Cakewalk I had to move my computer station into the "jam" room.

Thanks a ton!

-Matt

 

[Naps]

Re: Any Cakewalk users?

I have ProTracks in my computer. It's actually a really good sounding system. I'm only using 16 bit right now due to my sound card, but I don't see any reason to up grade. I've got some sound samples and a start to a cool demo going. I'd post them, but I don't know how and I'm not intrested in learning right now. L

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Any Cakewalk users?

Where do you guys get drum tracks? ACID loops?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Any Cakewalk users?

When writing demos, I use a Boss DR-3 drum machine. All my drum parts are custom written for each song, and done in step time. Very time consuming, but I want my drummer to know exactly what I want. For finished tracks, I play live with the drummer until we get a good take ...

 

[Stevo]

Re: Any Cakewalk users?

I recently got Guitar Tracks and like it a lot. I had a couple of older versions of Cakewalk and they are all similar. I like the 2 view options of GT and I really like the compression effects, which I did not have on the other versions. I used to use a separate program for that.
I also like the high bit rate. Other programs at the same price don't offer that. You need to have a sound card that can handle those rates though.
I use ACID loops but I create the drum parts in ACID instead of Cakewalk. Then I import the whole drum part as a wave file.