How to Record MIDI in Cakewalk

A MIDI controller is necessary for recording MIDI data in Cakewalk Sonar.

MIDI-controlled software synthesizers have replaced hardware synthesizers to dominate the world of MIDI instrumentation. As a result, all major digital audio workstation (DAW) applications, including Cakewalk Sonar, have implemented comprehensive tools for using software synthesizers to record MIDI data. As with most DAWs, recording MIDI data in Cakewalk Sonar requires an external MIDI controller. These usually take the form of a traditional piano keyboard, but also can be a MIDI drum set, MIDI guitar or even a MIDI wind instrument.

Things You'll Need

• MIDI controller

Instructions

1. Open Cakewalk Sonar. Once it loads, open the "File" menu and choose "New." A dialog will appear.

2. Choose "Blank (no tracks or busses)" and click "OK." Sonar will create and open a new, blank project.

3. Open the "Insert" menu and choose "Soft-Synths." A sub-menu will appear, listing the software synthesizers available on your computer.

4. Click on the name of the software synthesizer you want to load. If you do not have any third-party software synthesizers installed, use one of Cakewalk Sonar's built-in synthesizers such as DropZone. An "Insert Soft Synth Options" dialog screen will appear.

5. Choose "Simple Instrument Track" in the options dialog. Also choose "Synth Property Page," "Recall Assignable Controls" and "Ask This Every Time." A new track using the software synthesizer you specified will be created.

6. Double-click on the instrument icon in the new track header. The icon is on the far left of the track header and looks like a piano keyboard. The software synthesizer's interface will appear.

7. Click the "R" button in the track header. This will record-arm the track, making it ready to record.

8. Click the "Record" button in Cakewalk Sonar's transport bar at the bottom of the screen. After the one-bar count-in, any MIDI data sent by any MIDI controllers you are using will be played by the software synthesizer and recorded onto its track in Cakewalk Sonar.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have an external MIDI controller, there is a free application called VMPK (Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard) available to turn your standard computer keyboard into an ad-hoc MIDI keyboard. VMPK is available for both Windows and OS X and includes most continuous controller (CC) functions as well as a keyboard.

References

• Cakewalk: Sonar X1 Support
• "Sonar User's Guide"; Cakewalk, Inc.; 2009

Resources

• Cakewalk Sonar X1
• Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard
• MIDI Manufacturers Association: An Introduction to MIDI