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Description
Discover the possibilities of digital music creation with Cakewalk by BandLab, a powerful and intuitive DAW that caters to both novice musicians and seasoned producers. This robust software offers a comprehensive suite of tools for composing, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering your tracks, all under one virtual roof. With its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with BandLab’s cloud platform, Cakewalk provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with artists worldwide.
Cakewalk by BandLab boasts an impressive array of features, including unlimited audio, MIDI, and instrument tracks, and a full suite of editing tools that make it easy to sculpt your sound. The software's 64-bit mix engine ensures pristine audio quality, while advanced automation capabilities allow for meticulous control over every aspect of your project. Plus, with its support for VST3 instruments and effects, you can expand your sonic palette with a wide range of third-party plugins.
Whether you're laying down a simple demo or crafting a complex arrangement, Cakewalk by BandLab’s flexible workflow empowers you to bring your musical ideas to life. Its integration with BandLab’s social music platform opens up new avenues for sharing your work, getting feedback, and collaborating with a global community of musicians.
Key Features:
- Unlimited audio, MIDI, and instrument tracks
- 64-bit mix engine for high-quality audio production
- Advanced automation capabilities
- VST3 support for third-party instruments and effects
- Integrated with BandLab’s cloud platform for collaboration and sharing
- Comprehensive suite of editing tools for detailed sound sculpting
Product specs
| Operating Systems | Windows |
| Downloadable | free |
Videos
`Transverse Audio
How To Use Cakewalk by Bandlab - Tutorial For Beginners (FREE DAW)
Reviews
PROS
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Free DAW with extensive features comparable to paid versions
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"Sound on Sound" recording mode enhances live instrument recording
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Customizable interface with professional Pro Channel effects
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Supports both 32-bit and 64-bit plugins seamlessly
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WASAPI audio engine outperforms dedicated ASIO drivers
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Unlimited MIDI and audio channels for extensive sessions
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Includes powerful plugins like Addictive Drums 2 and Melodyne Essential
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Ideal for recording and mixing with a professional channel strip
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Highly intuitive for musicians, not just sound engineers
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Lifetime upgrades offer long-term value
CONS
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Intimidating and cluttered interface may require multiple monitors
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Lacks ability to send RPNs to VSTs, limiting some MIDI capabilities
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Occasional audio dropouts and choppy playback issues
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Not the best choice for electronic music production
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Graphic quality perceived as outdated by some users
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 27 Reviews and 107 Ratings
1468
So true!
6782
My favorite DAW and why am i using it?
1 - Customizable interface 2 - Pro Channel (Studio quality effects, channel strip) (SSL compressor emulator and EQ, 1176 compressor Emulator, Tape Emulator, Console Emulator (SSL - NEVE - American Type), BREVERB 2, REmatrix SOLO) 3 - I can use my Cakewalk CA-2A in Pro Channel 4 - One knob effects in pro channel 5 - Sonitus FX Bundle 6 - TH3 for Cakewalk 7 - Studio Instruments 8 - Cakewalk TTS-1 Rompler 9 - 32 Bit and 64 Bit Plugin Support 10 - Cakewalk Channel Strip Plugins (PX-64 Percussion Strip, VX-64 Vocal Strip, TL-64 Tube Leveler, Boost 11 Limiter) 11 - Best of all its FREE (I bougth previous versionons)
187
My childhood DAW
Technically, I started with Cakewalk Pro Audio 9, but I do have my SONAR 8.5 installation files still. Still fantastic for working with old MIDI modules straight out of the box. As a DAW, it's still just as functional, though the lack of ability to send RPNs to VSTs is a major turnoff, given I use VSTs where their pitch bend ranges can only be changed with the use of RPNs. Also, missing out on additional timestrretch algorithms compared to its latest BandLab incarnation + REAPER is a bummer. :(
Version: Cakewalk SONAR 8348
My impressions on Sonar Platinum.
I've been a long time Sonar user, starting with 8.5 Producer and eventually upgrading to X1 Producer, X3 Producer and now Platinum. With today's technology, where VST3 and 64bit plugins are the standard, the experience of working with this DAW is VASTLY superior to what it used to be 5 or 6 years ago. The WASAPI audio engine works even better than the dedicated ASIO drivers for my M-Audio ProjectMix which is amazing. Using WASAPI, I can also have a second audio interface (my Focusrite Scarlett 2i4) and use it along with the other one with no problems at all. In order to do that on Cockos Reaper, I had to use ASIO4ALL. As you would expect, the DAW would become really sluggish and unresponsive to the point of frustration. Not with Sonar Platinum. This DAW not only looks pretty, it's FAST, SMOOTH and can handle absolutely EVERYTHING you can think of in a session without even flinching. Too many tracks and too many plugins on a session? No problem. Sonar Platinum will handle it like a champ. It works even better than Cockos Reaper, which is the DAW I've been using for the past 4 years almost exclusively. I will be using Sonar Platinum from now on as my main DAW. You really have to give the Cakewalk guys a thumbs up for their LIFETIME UPGRADES deal recently. Plus, there's so much good content included on the package, it's just too good to pass by. I use this DAW with a powerful PC (mine is an 8 core 32GB machine with Windows 10) and it's just flies. I can imagine adding a SSD drive to really take it to the max. It's just awesome as it is already. Absolutely recommended.
Version: Cakewalk SONAR1787
Have used Cakewalk Products on and off Since Guitar Tracks 2.0
This'n's a winner. It does what it says on the tin. Most days, anyway. Sometimes you get weird distortion, audio dropouts, and just choppy playback. Not sure what the culprit is, as I've tried all the things online to "fix" it, including the BIOS fixes, the buffer fixes, and the driver/ASIO/MME fixes.
Ah well, it works pretty decent for the most part, and since it's free, who am I to complain about dropouts/choppy playback, eh?
773
Awesome
Been using this DAW with dual display monitors , for the past 5 years in windows 7, it's a breeze to use and the ability to have unlimited midi channels and audio channels is a a welcome must . I haven't had to look elsewhere for a better DAW, it does the lot, a real keeper this one.
Version: Cakewalk SONAR40991
I had this running in xp as well as cubase sx way past their lifespans LOL
2926
Have it
I won this DAW (tnx Equipboard) and though it has amazing mastering, effects and synth plugins I find myself ignoring it more and more because of it's intimidating and quite messy interface. I honestly can't work with it because it fills up too much too fast. though I believe it's an amazing DAW which can help me create tons of ideas I'm just gonna let it be for now because I honestly think I need an extra monitor for it (a big one for that matter) and because I need to get my head around it.
Version: Cakewalk SONAR40991
a lot of programs like sonar and Cubase are better with 2 monitors
2138
Too hard to operate
I tried cakewalk recently and I didn't quiet have the experience I wanted,first of all the graphic quality was bad and it had many features but it did not have the features I was looking for.
88
100% FREE
Best free DAW out there. Some people say that UI looks old. But tbh it's like logic Pro. You should give it a try because it's free won't cost you any penny
105
Versatile DAW
SONAR Platinum is one of the most versatile DAWs on the market today. It has all the tools you need to record and mix music in the box. I love the fact that it comes with so many handy plugins including Addictive Drums 2 and Melodyne Essential. My biggest areas of weakness are vocals and drums, and I don't think you can find a better DAW to give you an edge in those areas. Highly recommended for all Windows Users.
Version: Cakewalk SONARArtist usage
Add artist
Pro Audio 9 is mentioned in this July 2003 Sound on Sound interview.
Hebden's main tool for creating and manipulating sounds is Ross Bencina's cult shareware program Audiomulch, an idiosyncratic modular virtual studio package for PC platforms which is downloadable from www.audiomulch.com. He also uses Syntrillium's Cool EditPro to chop up and trim audio, before assembling the results in Cakewalk's Pro Audio 9.
(...) "To get the right feel of the beat and to get the basic loop working right, I use Audiomulch loads, but then I transfer everything over into Cakewalk, and then I start chopping it up, and then I start making all the variations in the drums. I usually take a whole bar or so from a record, and then start to add other sounds to it to get the sound I want. If the bass drum's not quite right I might get that and I might add other sounds to that, or if there's a bit I don't like in the drum loop I might chop it out and replace it with something else. It's often the case that my drum loops may be a combination of two or three drum loops from something else."
In this video, Chromeo talk about the old Pentium 2 computer they use to run an early version of Cakewalk.
Here’s what Craig has said about Cakewalk’s Sonar: Craig (#5) is one tough customer. As the man who creates digital media, sequences and samples to meet the heavy demands of his band Slipknot, he is faced with no easy task.
“I used Pro Audio for years on the road and in the studio, so the move to SONAR was inevitable. I needed a digital multitrack studio that could stand up to the abuse,” said Craig.” and SONAR is so powerful that its possibilities are frightening.”
Craig turned Slipknot DJ Sid (#0), guitarist James (#4), and percussionist Clown (#6) onto SONAR, and they have been working on new songs while on the road.
“We all have SONAR loaded on our laptops,” said Craig. “It makes it real easy to work on ideas when we get back to our hotel. I’m also getting a lot of use out of the VSampler. I like being able to trigger and manipulate a wide variety of samples right on my laptop.
“We also have a tour case with a rack mounted PC, mic preamps, a mixer, reference monitors, and some other gear. Before the shows we wheel the case into our dressing room and the whole band gets involved with the tracking in SONAR.”
"SONAR’s QuadCurve EQ and ProChannel are stellar. Out of all the EQ’s I have used, I truly believe SONAR’s sounds the most musical and useful to me in most cases."
When asked why he uses Calkwalk, Ilan explains that it's what he's used for so long that he can't seem to switch. "I've been using Cakewalk ever since" at 1:55
Adventure Club stated in an interview that they use SONAR producer by Cakewalk, "If you’re in the EDM scene you probably wouldn’t know about it. A lot of other producers will come up to us and be like “What do you use?” and we’ll say “Sonar Cakewalk” and they’ll just be like “What the FUCK is that?!” They’ll have the deer in the headlights look– no one really uses it for EDM, it’s mostly for band-oriented tracks, which is what we used to record on."
"... it was to use the ReDrum and I would import it into my session in Sonar."
In this video, David is using Sonar. In the top left corner, the window says "SONAR 8.5 Producer".
Susumu Hirasawa utilizes Cakewalk by BandLab as his DAW, as detailed in the report by Ikebe-gakki.
He's explaining how to use EZ Drummer and on 1:23 minute he's open the DAW on his computer.
" used to use a PC with Cakewalk, which I began recording the "I Get Wet" album on years ago, but since then I've changed over to a Macintosh - I actually don't know what type it is (probably a G4), but it's relatively old at this point and I've thought about upgrading more recently to a newer Mac. I use all the Glyph hard drives, those are really really good.
Album Usage
The Cakewalk by BandLab has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Cakewalk by BandLab, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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