Creating a music CD with Cakewalk

If you've got some Cakewalk songs that you'd like to put on a CD to listen to in your CD player, follow the steps below that apply to your particular scenario.

For Cakewalk files containing audio only:

Note: The Mixdown Audio feature is not available in Cakewalk Home Studio 8.0 and earlier, so you will proceed directly to step two below.

1. In Cakewalk choose Tools | Mixdown Audio | Bounce to Tracks. Choose the format you wish to use; normally you'll select Mix to Single Track Stereo or Mix to Separate Left and Right Tracks. Depending upon your choice, this will create either a single stereo track or a stereo pair of audio tracks containing all audio data, volume and pan changes, and effects.
2. Solo the newly created audio track(s) and choose Tools | Mixdown Audio | Export to File. In Home Studio 8.0 and earlier, you will solo all audio tracks in the file, then choose Tools | Export Audio.
3. Export as a Wave file, take that .WAV to your CD creation software, and you're ready to burn your CD.

For Cakewalk files containing MIDI only:

1. If you've got MIDI tracks in the file, you'll need to re-record your MIDI tracks as audio. We have good instructions for this process here.
2. Once done, you'll now have two new audio tracks in the file. Export the stereo pair as a Wave file using Tools | Mixdown Audio | Export to File, and use that Wave file to burn your CD.

For Cakewalk files containing MIDI and audio:

1. Go here for steps on re-recording your MIDI tracks as audio.
2. Once done, you'll now have two new audio tracks in addition to those already in the file. You'll now want to mix *all* audio tracks in the file down to a stereo track or pair of tracks, using the Mixdown Audio command.
3. Export the final track(s) as a Wave file using Tools | Mixdown Audio | Export to File, and use that Wave file to burn your CD.

Helpful hints

Remember that the Mixdown will affect all unmuted audio tracks. If you do not wish to have a track included in the Mixdown, you will need to Mute it (conversely, you can Solo those tracks you do want included).

If the tracks created by the Mixdown Audio command are clipping (crackling and popping caused by a signal level being too high), try setting the audio tracks' Vel+ number to -10 or -15 or so, then running the Mixdown.

If Mixdown doesn't seem to do anything, and you've got a multiple ouput sound card, make sure all audio tracks are set to the same port in the Port column of the Track View.

Follow these steps to re-record your MIDI tracks as audio.

These are the steps for re-recording any MIDI tracks that are using your sound card's internal synthesizer sounds – such as FM, wave table or SoundFonts:

1. Open the file you're working with. Arm one open track with a Source of Stereo, or two open tracks for recording audio by setting the Source column to Left and Right. If you have more than one sound card installed, make sure you select the Source of the sound card that is playing your internal MIDI sounds. Also make sure that you don't have any tracks set with a Source of MIDI in Cakewalk, or you could overwrite them by accident.
2. Next, open your sound card's mixer device. This is normally done by choosing Start | Programs | Accessories | Multimedia | Volume Control | Options | Properties. Click on Adjust Volume For Recording, and make sure all boxes below are checked. Click OK, and locate the slider marked MIDI, Synth, Mixed Input, or What You Hear. Check the Select box at the bottom, then close the window.

NOTE: Some sound cards, such as the SoundBlaster Live, have their own proprietary mixer. If yours has one, please use it instead.

Press Record, and all of your MIDI tracks assigned to the card's internal synthesizer will be recorded as an audio track (or tracks). After you are done recording, mute the original MIDI tracks. This will save confusion, since you'll be listening to them as audio tracks now.

Here's how to re-record any MIDI tracks that are played on your external sound modules or instruments:

1. Connect the audio outputs of your MIDI instruments to the line inputs of your sound card.
2. Open the file you're working with, and arm one open track with a Source of Stereo, or two open tracks for recording audio by setting the Source column to Left and Right. If you have more than one sound card installed, make sure you select the Source of the sound card that is playing your internal MIDI sounds. Also make sure that you don't have any tracks set with a Source of MIDI in Cakewalk, or you could overwrite them by accident.
3. Next, open your sound card's mixer device. Choose Start | Programs | Accessories | Multimedia | Volume Control | Options | Properties. Click on Adjust Volume For Recording, and make sure all boxes below are checked. Click OK, and locate the Line In slider. Check the Select box at the bottom, then close the window. To make sure you're recording at a good level, you'll need to check Cakewalk's audio meters in the Console View.

Press Record, and all of your MIDI tracks assigned to the external MIDI instrument will be recorded as an audio track (or tracks). To save confusion, you should mute the original MIDI tracks, since you'll be listening to them as audio tracks now.

To create the file in Cakewalk 9.0, solo the new audio track(s), choose Tools | Mixdown Audio | Export to File, and select the file type you wish to create.

In Home Studio 8.0 and earlier, which does not include the Mixdown Audio feature, simply select all audio tracks in the file and choose Tools | Export Audio and choose the file type you wish to create.

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