PROJECT 13B: INTEGRATING MIDI WITH DIGITAL AUDIO
(Cakewalk Home Studio for PC)

Directions

1. Connect a MIDI keyboard or other MIDI device to your computer.
2. View the Cakewalk Setup help in Project 13B Part I
3. Open the application by double-clicking on the file "Cakewalk Home Studio" within the Cakewalk folder of your Start Menu
4. Complete the tasks on the Guidesheet below and use the Project Worksheet for Project 13 to record the results of your work.
5. Complete Project 13B Part I of the Cakewalk tutorial.

Software

Full or Shareware version of Cakewalk Home Studio.

Hardware

Your computer will need to have a CD-ROM device or other external audio device (i.e.  tape deck, CD Player, etc...) connected to your sound card.

Project Menu

There are four parts to this project:

1. Setting up Your Recording Defaults
2. Basic Operation
3. Recording your own audio file in Cakewalk
4. Advanced Audio Editing

Step 1  Setting Up Your Recording Defaults

        It is assumed that you have setup your PC to appropriately handle MIDI data.  If you have not done so, please view
        the PC MIDI Setup guide in order to do so.

Setup Options.

Go to Tools => Audio Options to configure you audio hardware for use with Cakewalk. Set the Default Sampling rate as you wish. The Playback and Record wave devices are taken from the Multimedia panel in the Control Panels of your system.  If you do not have audio properly configured in Win95, you will not have much luck capturing audio in Cakewalk.  Resolve any conflicts and then return to this menu. Clicking on the Wave Profiler forces Cakewalk to test and "identify" the audio hardware in your system to make sure it's working.  This is always a good idea to do this when you are experiencing trouble with your audio sound cards. Using the Advance tab allows you to configure default directories where Cakewalk will save the captured audio.  Cakewalk will most likely set the defaults for most of the audio options.  If you are unsure about any setting, don't

change it.  It may produce undesired and strange behavior from your sound card.

• Further Setup Items of Interest

 
• Hardware Issues.

Recording digital audio is a huge task to ask of any computer.  Here are some suggestions to help speed up the process.
 
• Large Hard Drives.  Digital audio takes up a lot of space at certain settings.  With the falling prices of hard drives in the last year or so, you might consider purchasing a larger drive.  It's not uncommon to see 1 or 2 gigabytes dedicated solely to digital audio on a sound engineer's drive.  If you expect you'll be doing a lot of audio work, it's worth the investment.

 
• RAM   Not only does digital audio eat up space on the hard drive, but it also takes a large amount of memory to perform signal processing.  Again, with the falling prices of computer hardware it may be a worthwhile investment if you plan on doing this with any frequency.

 
• Sound Cards  You have seen, no doubt, the array of multimedia sound cards on the market of late.  While we cannot recommend one brand over another, we can say a few general rules of thumb concerning what you should look for in purchasing one.
• Make sure the sound card if full duplexing.  This means the card can record and playback data at the same time.
• Avoid the CD ROM/Sound Card packages offered by most stores.  These are usually bargain items that could lead to a lot of headaches down the road.
• Make the right purchase to suit your needs.  If all you need is a card to digitize audio, you may not need a sound card with wavetable effects.  On the other hand, if wavetable effects are what you would like as well as digitizing audio, you might consider 2 different sound cards.  Check your local newsstand for magazines that deal with these issues, and stay informed.

On your Project Worksheet for this project, record any problems or concerns you have with the setup procedures described here. If all seems well, continue with the project. Return to this part of your worksheet later, however, and record any changes in the setup that you made as you began to use the program and your hardware.

Return to Project Menu

Step 2: Basic Operation
Now that we have our software ready to go and our hardware in place, let's begin by opening a Cakewalk/MIDI file that has already been entered and learn how to add digital audio to it.

• Opening an audio file in Cakewalk

 
1. Start by opening a MIDI file within Cakewalk.  (The 2-part invention we used in the previous tutorial will do.)

 
2. Double-click on the Source panel of an empty track.

 
3. Set the Source, Channel, Bank, and Patch to read "None".  In the port window, select your audio card device.  You may have to do this step again if the audio file your are going to use is a stereo file.  Stereo files in Cakewalk can use a track each for the left and right sides of the stereo spread.  If the file is a mono file, then configuring one track is OK.  More on this in the next steps.

 
4. Go to Insert => Wave file.  A new window will pop up asking you to select the file for importing.  Select the file you wish and click OK.  Notice a check box next in the bottom right corner of the window that says, "Split Stereo".  If you leave this unchecked, both the left and right sides of the stereo file are placed onto one track.  If you check this box, the stereo signal is split between two tracks.  If the latter is the case, you may need to re-configure the port device in the source panel of the "added" track.  Mono tracks will always be placed on a single track.

 
5. Cakewalk will automatically place the file into track that has the Source panel highlighted.  It will also default to placing the sound file at the point you've placed the "Now Time Bar".  The vertical black bar that scrolls through the piece as it plays.

If the placement is not correct, which often times it will not be, you can click on the audio clip and drag it where you wish.  Note, the snap to grid works with digital audio as well as MIDI information.  You can use this to your advantage to help place the files on the beat if need be.  Remember you can advance the Now Time bar by clicking in the measure number area of the clip window.

6. Experiment with a stereo file.  Insert a stereo file into your Cakewalk sequence.  Make you have "Split Stereo" selected.  Now, pick up one channel of the sound (i.e. left or right) and move it.  You can actually split the stereo file!

 
7. That's it!  That's all there is to adding audio clips in Cakewalk.  If you have Sound Forge XP or a comparable digital audio editing software package, create a few of your own samples and add them into a Cakewalk sequence.  You can, if you wish, use Cakewalk as a multitrack digital audio program.  You don't have to use MIDI with your audio clips.

 
Before we begin the next section, a few more additional words need to be said about Cakewalk's audio capabilities.  The major difference between Cakewalk Home Studio and Cakewalk Pro Audio is the amount of digital audio tracks you can have in any one sequence.  Cakewalk Home Studio allows for 4 tracks of audio.  If you split a stereo signal across to tracks, you have 2 tracks left to go.  Pro Audio allows for more.

Cakewalk also allows for general editing and signal processing of your imported audio clips.  If you wish to experiment with these tools, click on the wave file you wish and click the Edit menu.  Select either the Audio or Plug-Ins submenu to view the tools you have at your disposal.

If you have the full-featured version of Cakewalk, save different versions of this file in a location appropriate for your situation. If you are using the demo supplied with the EMT-CD and have a tape recorder or other kind of recording system connected to your MIDI equipment, record a few versions of this file.

On your Project Worksheet for this project, provide a complete description of the experiments you have conducted while working with the basic operation of this software.
 

Return to Project Menu

Step 3: Recording your own audio file(s) in Cakewalk

For the following example we will be using your CD-ROM as the input device.  You can later hook up a tape player, VCR, or other device to the "Line In" on your sound card.  At this point, it is assumed that you have configured your system to properly playback sound and music CD's.  If you are having trouble, please view the Sound Configuration help page for some tips on how to setup up your devices.

If you don't own a program like Cool Edit, Sound Forge XP, or other digital audio editing/capturing software package you can use Cakewalk to capture your audio files.  One word of caution:  if you make a MIDI sequence and add digital audio to the sequence, it will NOT be portable unless the end user also has Cakewalk.  These files must be played back with Cakewalk and cannot be used in Media Player (Microsoft's proprietary playback device) or any web media plug ins.  The files you create now are designed to be used on your computer only.

Follow the steps below to record audio from a CD into a blank Cakewalk document.

1. Create a new file in Cakewalk by going to File => New.

 
2. Decide whether you are going to record a stereo or mono file.  (for our purposes we'll do a stereo file!)

 
3. Double-click in the Source panel in track one to configure the track properties.  In the Source window select the Left Channel of your Sound Card.  Don't forget to set the Port of the track to the sound card!

 
4. Double-click in the Source panel in track two and this time select the Right Channel of your Sound Card.

Your track window should look something like this.  If you can't see the whole pane, slowly move your cursor over the dividing lines and watch as it changes to a bar with two arrows pointing left and right.  Click and drag the bar to widen the pane so that you can see more of the pane contents.  This works in almost all of the Cakewalk windows.

You will be able to distinguish your sound card device from your MIDI device in the fact that there are jagged lines next to the Left and Right wave In devices.
 
5. Press the "R" buttons next to each of the tracks.

 
6. Put your CD into your CD-Rom drive.  The CD Player should automatically play your CD.  If it does not, go to Start => Programs => Accessories => Multimedia =>  CDPlayer.  Most systems have the Player installed into this directory.  Consult your PC manual if you have further troubles.

 
7. Check your recording levels using the Console View window.  (See below)

 
8. Place the "Now Time" bar where you want the music to be recorded at and press the Record button on the Transport toolbar.

 
9. When finished hit the Stop button or use the Spacebar.

 
10. There is no need to save your audio file.  Cakewalk does this automatically and places it into the default directory you specified in the setup items in Step 1.  (If you didn't manually change this, Cakewalk uses its default and places it there.)  Because Cakewalk has its own system of naming and placing the audio files, you may not be able to use them in another program such as Sound Forge XP.  So, if you foresee the chance that you may want to use the file elsewhere, you might consider importing files rather than recording them.



Using the Console View Window to Set your Audio Levels
 

11. Configure your tracks by setting the port and source devices of each.

 
12. Press the Record Arm button on each track you wish to monitor.  (R button)

 
13. Click on the Console View button on the View Toolbar.

 
14. Sliders will appear for each track selected.  Press play on the CD Player and watch the levels.  If they are too loud/soft, open up the Sound Config Panels (on system tray in Win95) and adjust the volume.

 
15. When you are satisfied with the levels, you can either click OK to close the console or keep the Console open and click on the record button to monitor while you record.




 

16. To record a mono file, follow the steps above.  However, instead of arming two tracks for recording you will only arm one.  Then, record your sound.

Return to Project Menu

Step 4:  Advanced Audio Editing

Cakewalk offers a few digital audio editing and signal processing tools in Home Studio 7.  For the following exercises we will need a digital audio file already imported into Cakewalk (pre-existing file) or one that you created in the step above.  Make sure the audio file is in place before continuing and that it is on one track. (Don't split the file!)   Once the file is in place on a track click the Audio View button found in the View Toolbar.  A new window will appear that looks something like the one below.  We will be doing most of our editing and processing from this window.

  Applying a Fade or a Swell to an Audio File

• Click on the Draw tool (Diagonal Line Icon) in the Audio View window
• Click in an event at the starting point of the fade or swell.
• Drag toward the right to the end of the fade or swell.  You'll see two horizontal lines indicating the shape of the envelope.
• Drag up or down to change the slope of the envelope.  The waveform changes to show you the effect of the envelope.
• Release the mouse button to apply the fade or swell.

To create a fade-in place the pencil at the middle of the file and draw a diagonal line away from the center line.	To create a fade-out, place the pencil at the outer side of the file and draw towards the center line.

Increasing or Decreasing Volume and Normalizing Audio

Cakewalk allows you to increase or decrease the volume of a clip in 3 dB units by using the 3dB Louder and 3dB Quieter command from the Edit menu.  Normalizing an audio file can be done by the Normalize command.  For a complete description of what these do, consult the Cakewalk Home Studio Manual (Chapter 7) or On-Line documentation.

To Increase or Decrease volume:

• Select the audio to be affected.  (Clicking on the clip will select the entire clip)
• Go to Edit => Audio => 3dB Louder/3dB Softer as you need.

To Normalize Audio:

• Select the audio to be affected.
• Go to Edit => Audio => Normalize

You can also do this from the Audio View window.  Select the diagonal line tool in the audio window.  Click the track number in the Audio view window. (There is a little line to the left of the audio file next to the number.  Use that.)  Then drag the mouse down towards the bottom of the screen to change the volume.  (move it up and down in that lower area to change from loud or soft.)  Release the mouse button to apply the changes.  Note:  all three of these techniques are destructively editing the file.  You can choose undo, but it will over time degrade the file.

Using the Equalizer

Cakewalk has a 10-band graphic equalizer at your disposal.  To use it, select the file and go to Edit => Audio => Graphic EQ.  (You can also right click on the audio file and choose it from the pop up menu.)  Configure the settings to your liking and press "OK".

By now you have figured out that most of the tools are in the Audio submenu under the Edit menu.  Experiment with the ones not covered here and note the results.  If you need help, don't hesitate to use Cakewalk's on-line manual!

Using the Audio FX in Cakewalk

Take a look at the Cakewalk FX menu underneath the Plug-Ins submenu in the Edit menu.  You have 2 choices:  Reverb/Chorus and Pitch Shifter.  They work much like the audio editing tools above.  You select the audio file to process and then choose the FX you want.  Below are some guides on how to use these tools.
 
 

Before playing with the settings of either FX processor, try using the presets available.  Open the Preset window by clicking the down arrow and select one of the three for reverb. Once you see and hear the differences between the settings you'll be more informed as to customizing your own settings.  After you make a setting you like you can use the disk icon to save your preferences. Experiment with the slider bars to under the Decay Time and Blend to see what they do.  Again, for more information on these FX modules, see the Cakewalk On-Line Help or manual.

 

As is the case with the reverb tab, if you click on the Chorus tab you are taken to the Chorusing FX module. Choose one of the three presets to see what the sliders do.  Then experiment on your own and note your findings. You can save any custom setting with the disk tool icon. Use the Audition button to preview what your changes will sound like before processing.

Using the Pitch Shift option under the Cakewalk FX menu allows you to change the pitch of an audio clip.  You can use this tool to help "tune" one audio file to another.
 

Like the previous two FX modules, the Pitch Shifter options also has several presets. Experiment with these as well so that you may see how far to shift the pitch if you need a smaller or larger interval than the presets allow for.

Return to Project Menu

To end this project, return to either your own sequenced file or one of the files provided on the EMT-CD. Choose three of the advanced editing options described and apply them to the file. If you are using the full-featured version of this software, save the results of each experiment and save the files in a location that is appropriate for your location. On the Project Worksheet, record the tiles of your files and explain in some detail what you did in the experiment. If you are using the demo version of the software, record the experiments on the tape recorder attached to your MIDI system and fill in the Project Worksheet by writing about your experiments.

If you are using the full-featured version of this software, practice saving a few song sets. Regardless of which version of the software you have, provide a description on your Project Worksheet of how you might use the song playlist options of sequencing software in a real-life performance situation.

Project 13B Part II is completed. Congratulations!

Version 1.0
©1996 David B. Williams and Peter R. Webster
Schirmer Books