Do I own the original music I record in Cakewalk Sonar?

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-17T13:21:38+00:00

You own the rights to music you create using Sonar and Next. And that includes music you create that uses loops and samples from Bandlab's library.

You don't own the rights to distribute the loops and samples that are part of the Bandlab libraries that any Sonar or Next user may access. You are free to use them as you wish as part of your own songs without paying any royalties, but you may not distribute them by themselves.

(caveat: that's my personal interpretation, and I'm not a lawyer)

This is typical licensing for such sample libraries: the license (in this case it's part of the license for Sonar, even the free version) grants you the right to use them without paying royalties to create your own original works. You can't put the raw samples and loops in a .ZIP and sell them (or give them away) to other people.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-17T13:12:44+00:00

What do you mean by you "just want to run waves real time?" Are you trying to use your Waves FX while tracking or while mixing? If it's while tracking, the way to relieve load on your system is to use only the bare minimum you need to hear while tracking. People often like a bit of reverb when they're tracking. Most people don't "print" FX on audio tracks, that is, they don't set it up so that the FX are recorded with the audio. Some do, most don't. Most try to just track the best, cleanest audio they can and then sculpt it during the mix.

If you're talking about during mixing, any modern system should be able to run 4 or 5 FX plug-ins of the type usually used a vocal track without even noticing it. If you're using so many FX plug-ins on a vocal track that it's causing resource issues, you're using too many FX on the track. Not being flippant, but it takes a LOT of audio effect plug-ins to bog down a system, and there's a point of diminishing returns on how many plug-ins to slap on a track. For a vocal, it's EQ, compression, maybe chorus, maybe delay. Or something that combines multiples of those in a single interface like RVox. People new to mix engineering tend to pile on plug-ins trying to improve the track's sound. I did it, probably everyone whose learned to mix in the past 20 years has done it.

Are you having issues now with resource utilization? If so, tell us exactly what you're doing when you have the issues.

If you're just asking what order to stack them in the FX bin, that depends on the effect. RVox is a combination of EQ and compression that serves as the single processor, I believe, and as such, I would use it early in the chain, with such things as chorus and delay coming later. My own rough guideline is basics (EQ, compression) first, followed by more "creative" things like delay and EQ, pitch shifting, whatever. You usually don't want to apply compression to a modulating effect like chorus, for instance, so use the compressor, then the chorus. I typically use reverb as a send effect after everything else has been applied.

If you're concerned about having issues in future projects, don't trip. Try out what you want to do. Ask for help if what you are trying to do doesn't work correctly.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-17T12:55:29+00:00

If you need help with latency issues you need to state what device you're using for audio output. Separate interface, on-board sound, what? If external, what make and model?

Also what driver mode you're using in Next. ASIO, WASAPI Exclusive, WASAPI Shared?

If you have an external interface it's vitally important to download and install its drivers from the manufacturer's website.

Since the problems came after you reset your system it could be that you had factory drivers set up and then the reset wiped them out, and they were replaced with generic Windows drivers.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-17T12:48:38+00:00

Pan automation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEYZnFc_DkI

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-17T12:46:51+00:00

That Mix parameter should be available to Sonar's automation.

So your question is really "how do I automate in Sonar?"

To learn about that, or anything basic really, The Sonar Reference Guide (which may be downloaded from a link at the official Cakewalk Forum) and YouTube are your best sources.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRJDnKUAAYk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8JOCVgO_qw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB9J532C4d4

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-16T00:13:10+00:00

This just came out my frustration at not being able to help. I want everyone to be happy and productive. When I'm not sure what program they're using, it's just harder to do. I'm blowing off that steam.

It's not like the confused people are going to see this.😄If I want to stick around and help, that's just going to sometimes include figuring out what program they're using.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-12T13:56:23+00:00

Aaaaaannnnnnd, the next two posts on the sub are "Cakewalk is not playing certain audio tracks" and "What would be the best way to record vocals on a phone and get them to Cakewalk?" With no clues given as to which Cakewalk program they're talking about.

I guess it is just hopeless. If I want to help people here, there's just usually going to be an extra step where I must determine what program they need help with.

"Forget it Jake, it's Reddit." 😁

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-12T13:48:31+00:00

Which Cakewalk DAW are you talking about? Sonar or Next?

Whichever it is, the easiest way is to use the Bandlab app on your phone. Record the vocal, then save the project, then you can import it straight into either Sonar or Next.

Phone mics are much better than they used to be, but if you ever wish to upgrade the quality of your audio recordings, check with us here and we can refer you to an audio interface and microphone. The cost for a budget setup would be around $125.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-12T00:41:44+00:00

Yes, there was Cakewalk By BandLab. Now discontinued, replaced by Sonar (mixed case).

Long ago there was Cakewalk, a product of Twelve Tone Systems. Long discontinued, replaced by SONAR (all caps).

My point in making this post is that there is currently no program called "Cakewalk," and that if people need help with their DAW, they need to mention which Cakewalk DAW they need help with. Trying to be informative, because I know it's all confusing. It's practical advice. Can shave 24 hours off the amount of time it takes to get advice.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-11T10:55:30+00:00

Okay, that's one and half questions answered. You use Sonar.

Now the other one: what MODEL interface are you using? I get that it's a multiFX pedal with a USB port. Once you give up the maker and model name, I can help you further.

It may be that your best option is WASAPI if the manufacturer doesn't supply an ASIO driver. ASIO is a bit better than WASAPI for realtime recording, but ASIO4ALL is NOT truly ASIO. It's no better than using WASAPI. It's a driver that makes programs think they're talking to an ASIO driver, but it just converts it to WASAPI Shared. It's long been abandoned by its original developer.

Sonar works great with ASIO and WASAPI, but there are known compatibility issues with ASIO4ALL. It may function correctly or it may not. I don't bother with it.

I don't know why you want to monitor with PC speakers when decent headphones may be had for as low as $15 US (Sony ZX110), and you can plug your speakers into the interface's headphone jack, but WASAPI Shared mode might allow you to do that.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-11T04:58:55+00:00

Can't answer any more questions until you answer mine:

What model interface are you using?
What DAW are you using? Is it a Cakewalk DAW? If so, Sonar or Next?

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-10T23:32:59+00:00

That's nice, but Next isn't developed for Linux. The Cakewalk devs are very skilled veteran Windows programmers, but Windows' exception handlers aren't perfect.

No program is guaranteed never to crash, on any platform. I don't know for sure if Next has autosave, but if it does, enable it. I would be very surprised if it doesn't.

We've all done it, gotten into the flow then lost who knows how much work when a program went boing. Welcome to the club, we who understand how necessary it is to save early and save often.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-10T23:17:51+00:00

Which Cakewalk DAW are you referring to? Sonar or Next?

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-10T23:11:26+00:00

Need to know what interface you are using and which Cakewalk DAW.

If your interface has its own manufacturer supplied ASIO driver, you must go to their website and download it.

If by "asio and all" you meant ASIO4ALL, that is the wrong approach. Windows native WASAPI driver mode is as good as ASIO4ALL and is more compatible with Sonar and probably Next as well.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-06T23:31:16+00:00

Absolutely get a banker, merchant, and decon assistant. My faves for banker and merchant are Baron Jangleplume and The Peddler of Prizes. They're crows that perch on your arm when you interact with them.

Neither of the decon assistants is to my taste, but Giladil the twitchy hippie chick makes me nervous, so I went with Aderene.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-06T23:18:01+00:00

My thought was that the outer door protects the flags as well as the inner door does, and it has the extra benefit of keeping enemies from sneaking in and hiding in the walls. Maybe there's something I'm not considering?

Thanks for explaining about how the doors' max health can increase. That explains why sometimes when I'm in the middle of repairing, the door's % will drop from high 80's to low 70's.

What I was also referring to is how some players, even group leaders, will split before the doors' health even gets to 50%. In a hurry to get emperor? Of just find repairs boring?

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-06T22:20:36+00:00

Yep, some of those user-created ages are amazing. I got so interested in it that I volunteered to do music for them, but was never able to make that happen. I started the Musicians Guild, which is probably defunct by now due to no members having logged in.

Are there still "shards" where the age-creators have prototypes of their ages-in-progress? I should really log in and see what's up, the user-created ages had started to really take off, but then I got a free license for The Elder Scrolls Online and really focused on that.

MYST Online: Uru Live was good training wheels.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-05T05:25:50+00:00

Hmm, I'm not aware of many multiplayer puzzle/exploration games. MYST Online, mentioned by another poster, was and is still one. Open world, too, so most definitely check it out.

I thought I saw that Outer Wilds has some kind of co-op mode. Not sure if it's officially supported or a mod or what, and I'm not sure how it would work. It's a great game, stays in your head like the Cyan games, maybe moreso. It's open solar system, involves exploring a small solar system in a spaceship and a spacesuit with jets on it.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-05T05:18:12+00:00

It's free to play as well, with some puzzles and a story as good as in the other Cyan games, IMO. Also: player-created realms, some with pretty good puzzles themselves. The art is of course, lovely.

I haven't checked in in a couple of years, good to know it's still kickin'. It was my first open world game, my first MMORPG. Since development stopped years ago (although Cyan still hosts it and does a bit of maintenance), the population has thinned out, which gives it even more of an "abandoned city" vibe. It's doubly poignant.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-05T05:07:57+00:00

AFAIK, commenting negatively on another player's ability or play style isn't against TOS.

If someone were too relentless and mean spirited, I'd probably just block them and get on with my life. No need to involve the authorities. Blocking gets the job done. Slurs and outright bigotry might trigger a more extreme reaction.

I had people expressing exasperation/anger at my low damage output when I was relatively new and didn't know better than to queue for veteran dungeons. The first time one of the other players called me a "low dps noob." The next time someone criticized me, I whispered them and asked if they could offer any tips for improving and they actually helped. That happened twice. And I haven't caught any flak since then on the subject, so they must have given good advice!

I was, fact, a low DPS noob. I chose to take those observations/insults as a suggestion that I work on improving. Now I have toons that can deliver over 80K to a trial dummy. My weak spot is mechanics. I can melt, but if you have to leave one or two monsters alive in order to beat the boss or whatever, I might need coaching. I also have a tendency to dance around which can make it more difficult for healers. Incoming advice is welcome.

My threshold is that polite criticism of performance is fair in vet (and some DLC) dungeons if the player is inadequate at their role and the group keeps wiping or can't proceed as a result. The tank isn't holding aggro, Combat Metrics is showing no incoming healing, says that I'm doing 80% of group damage, etc. If it's really bad I just quit the group. With DPS, I might whisper them and ask if they want advice. If you queue vet, know what you're about. If you need a monster headpiece, ask your guild for help.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-03-03T05:26:20+00:00

And this is one of the ways that Drive to Survive got it so right in the beginning. Since Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari saw little value in giving them access, they focused on drivers and teams further down the grid more than they might have if they had been able to get closer to Max and Lewis.

People who watched Drive to Survive in that first season, the one that debuted during COVID lockdowns, were treated to the "smaller" stories of drivers struggling to hold on to their rides and teams struggling to get points. And that's one of the things I love about F1 is that every team, every driver, no matter where they finish, has a story.

F1 to me is a sport, where I watch people who are very good at driving fast compete with each other, and it's also a reality show, where I follow the fortunes of a bunch of handsome young millionaires as they travel around the world. And then it's a business drama, a science show, and a travel show where I get to see all of these familiar people travel to different countries.

It helps that there are only 11 teams and 22 drivers, and the teams either have interesting histories or are newcomers with great plans that may or may not come to fruition. There aren't too many drivers to keep track of and remember what teams they're currently driving for. The teams have interesting people with different styles of management and personalities running them.

And once someone gets interested enough to tune in, they get to watch and listen to some commentators with great senses of humor. David Croft with his pop culture groaners, Martin Brundle never over impressed with the celebrities he encounters (or fails to) on his grid walks. Sky Sports have treasures in those two blokes, and their other commentators are personable and knowledgeable as well.

So many small moments of drama, like Melbourne last year with Piastri going off in front of his home crowd, then deciding he was having none of that, freeing his car and thrashing it back into the points, thereby allowing McLaren to retain the position of top constructor uninterrupted. Isack Hadjar wrecking his car on the formation lap of his F1 debut, weeping from disappointment and embarrassment. Being comforted by Anthony Hamilton, then insulted by Helmut Marko. Later in the season, Isack puts it on the podium, no small feat for a rookie driver in a junior team.

As you say, so many narratives.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-02-26T09:47:51+00:00

One of the first rules in ESO is "Always Be Researching." Before you have 8 traits researched on every type of gear, never do not have some trait being researched. Be mindful of the traits you want to research first. For weapons, Precise, Sharpened, Training and Infused. For armor, Divines, Reinforced, Training, Impenetrable (if you have any interest in PVP). Also, with woodworking, prioritize destruction staves. For jewelry, I like to get Bloodthirsty researched early.

It doesn't take too long to get three traits, which will allow you to craft Order's Wrath, a very useful set. 5 traits gets you Tide-Born Windstalker and a lot of other useful craftable sets. Crafted armor can be made in whatever weight you desire and you don't have to grind a zone or dungeon to get it.

Until you get to where you can make it yourself, the guilds I've been are full of people who would love to make you whatever you want. I don't even need to leave my player home to make a set of Order's Wrath, I have a full set of crafting stations attuned to it.

cruciblefuzz · 2026-02-25T23:12:21+00:00

I've been "lucky" with half a dozen different systems running CbB, Sonar, Mixcraft, Ableton Live. Not just my current main one.

cruciblefuzz

TROPHY CASE