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RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

kenact — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:53:19 GMT

Karl,

Have you tried running your DOS version of Cakewalk in a DOS window on a Windows pc? I don't know what resolution it uses, but you can probably get it to run on a Windows 2000 pc. WinXP is a bit more restrictive about DOS screen resolution.

Regards,

Ken

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

GeneralGaslaw — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:00:29 GMT

Hi,

I am still using cakelive for DOS, as it is never fails.

I am however sick of carrying around 2 off Toshiba 3200 SX computers which run DOS only and were christened luggables when they came out.

It annoys me immensly that later versions of cakewalk did not accommodate the requirements of users who wanted to sequence live.

I am aware that version 7 of cakewalk had a playlist, but has the quirk of starting any sequence from the time of the track that it was saved. e.g. if saved at bar 20, this is where the sequence would start.

I picked up on your thread re V3.0. Does this do the same ?.

Regards Karl Preston UK

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

Dave-Andrews — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:12:42 GMT

I'm definitely with you on Cakewalk Pro 3.0!!! :D :D
On my home system I have Sonar but for the Portable PC CW 3.0 is a must.
Originally using Quad Studio (an old Turtle Beach digital 4-track studio) to record and mix harmonies, I saved the mix to Wav.
Harmonies recorded at 44,000Mhz sound great but take up a ton of room, I've decided to trade off with the quality of a 22.050Mhz sample rate which is substantially smaller in size and processing requirement.
I cut the Wav file harmony snippets down to just the harmony - saved at 22,050Mhz mono and embed them into my cakewalk file - using event view. A little pushing back and forth timewise and they are sync'ed up! All on a Portable PC-III P4 system with an SCC-1 sound canvas card (MIDI) and a Turlte Beach Monterey (Audio). These days I record the waves in Sonar and once I have it mixed and cut, I copy the wav clips to the Portable and paste them into the midi cakewalk file for use on the gig.
I might consider Sonar 2 for the live gig if I could figure out how to control the PlayList. It opens a new instance of Sonar for each song it plays.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Dave :)

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

Timo — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:14:44 GMT

This is my first post here. Just had to chime in.

I recently found a new secret weapon. I too have used Cakewalk for years (Cakewalk Express) for my composing because it's so simple. But I too have issues using it live such as glitches and the famous 100% CPU load.

I recently found something call Sweet Midi Player (look it up). This thing is great for performance (sounds like a sales pitch). It looks like a soundboard with faders, allows playlists, allows my Midi commands to my modules (my Creative player does not), and most importantly doesn't load the CPU.

Let me know if anyone else aggrees.

Timo

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

Michael Banks — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:20:28 GMT

How can i get a version of the cakewalk midi only with the squares and dots I love that version but my disk are bad. Will you sell me a copy...Please email. me back at get_A_loan@hotmail.com Please say yes

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

JMidi — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:05:10 GMT

Tran,

I found that my problem is that when I go to play a midi sequence in CW Pro 3.0 the CPU usage goes to 100%. Then if anything else wants to use the CPU the midi sequence gets backed up and you get this "delay" in the playback. I am using my old copy of the software and did not install from original disks as I can not find them. I am wondering if some file was not installed correctly and this is what is making the CPU go to 100%. I am trying to find an original disk/CD of the software on EBay but no luck. Any ideas on how to get a copy? Thanks, John

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

JMidi — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:02:51 GMT

... thanks, too much bender is correct, works great now! Thanks! John

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

Tran — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 06:52:09 GMT

Tran here. it's probably too much bender information in one spot in the sequence. thin that crap out to 16 events per 16th note. that's way plenty to still make a smooth bend.

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

Tran — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 06:47:56 GMT

hi. tran of tran tracks here. i produce many of the MIDI files available here on hoofjaw. i am still telling my clients to use cake 3.0 on a P2 laptop, a USB interface and a Roland SC-88 sound module. maybe it's old school but it works, is affordable, and sounds great. plus, there is our old friend Playlist in 3.0 that sadly disappeared into the audio void of Sonar. pity.

so, you are doing the best thing already. in fact, i am offering complete systems to hoofjaw members for $995. if you know someone who wants to get right down to work this is a good way to get started. the system includes a P2 laptop (toshiba, compaq, dell, thinkpad), a 2-port USB MIDI interface and a Roland SC-88 sound module (or equivalent) and of course cake 3.0 loaded and ready to go. i am even setting up 3.0 with test songs in a playlist and a hotkey combo for the lyric view. by the way, i know how to make lyrics scroll in 3.0.

tran

TRAN TRACKS

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

JMidi — Thu, 31 May 2007 04:48:57 GMT

I was afraid that was the case. Indeed Cakewalk Pro 3 works fine the only problem I seem to have is that when playing sequences from my laptop sometimes there is a little bunching up of the sound for a micro second. I am using an IBM 1.8GHz with plenty of RAM. I think it may be related to background programs running that keep interupting. I am trying to shutdown anything that I don't need (print monitor, AIM, real-time virus). Any other thoughts would be helpful. Thanks!

RE: Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

StanLee — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:43:16 GMT

I'm afraid Sonar will disappoint you. It's loaded with "features" you have no use for and all the beautiful simplicity is gone. I still use Cakewalk Pro 3.0 for all MIDI sequencing and playback. I tried many of the "upgrade" versions, both Pro Audio and Sonar, it's a waste of money as far as MIDI goes. Sonar has its use once the MIDI sequencing is done, and you want to convert MIDI to audio or if you want to record audio. I find it a major pain for MIDI.
I asked Cakewalk why they never released a MIDI-only upgrade to Cakewalk Pro, and they told me that there's no demand for MIDI any more, everyone wants audio so it would not make any profit. I think we should petition for a Cakewalk Pro 4.00 (non-audio) update.
If a lot of people ask for it Cakewalk may change their audio-soaked mind and release a new and improved MIDI-only version. It would make sense and profit since no one sells MIDI sequencing software without audio any more, there's no competition on that one. The good old Cakewalk Pro 3.0 doesn't need much improvement, I like it as it is. Make it compatible with the new Windows versions, work out a few bugs and it's good to go.

Best Midi Software for Live Performance?

JMidi — Mon, 28 May 2007 08:41:33 GMT

What is the best midi software for live performance. I have a three piece band where we use midi for bass, drums, lights and background intruments (live keyboards, guitar, vocals, horns). I have been using Cakewalk Professional 3.0 for years because it has the "Play List" feature that allows me to start a set and play non-stop songs for our 45 minute set. It also let's me add songs on the fly and instananeously jump to another song (pre-load) while we are performing. We don't trigger samples or do other more in-depth stuff so I want to keep it simple. I would be willing to move up to Sonar if the program retains some simplicity and has kept the Play List feature. Any suggestions would be helpful! Thank you!