A Beginner's guide to Cakewalk (by Bandlab) for Composers

🎵 If you enjoyed this video, make sure to also check out my free training - 'My 3 Secrets to Composing Rich Cinematic Music':
www.composingacademy.com/free...
In this video I go over the basics you'll need to begin composing music in Cakewalk by Bandlab. This feature packed Windows only DAW is available for free, making it an ideal DAW for beginner composers looking to get started into the world of composing.
► Get your FREE Beginner's Guide To Composing Music in 5 Easy Steps here:
composingacademy.ck.page/5easy...
Cakewalk can be downloaded here:
www.bandlab.com/products/cake...
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:33 - Initial Setup
01:58 - Adding a virtual instrument
03:18 - Recording Midi
05:14 - Editing Midi Part 1 (Resizing notes and drawing in controller data)
07:53 - Recording Midi (again!)
09:15 - Editing Midi Part 2 (Editing Velocities and Quantization)
12:05 - Entering notes manually using the mouse
13:50 - Basic Mixing
14:37 - Exporting Audio
16:04 - Playthrough of complete piece
Here are the links to the Free Sample Libraries I use in the short piece:
BBC Discover by Spitfire Audio (Harp)
www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-sym...
Helix Strings from Sine Factory by Orchestral Tools
www.orchestraltools.com/sinef...
The Free Orchestra by Project Sam (con sordino Strings)
projectsam.com/libraries/the-...
LABS by Spitfire Audio (Soft Piano and Choir)
labs.spitfireaudio.com/soft-p...
labs.spitfireaudio.com/choir

[@anisandwalker6377]

I just happen to have started learning Cakewalk recently! Would love to see more Cakewalk videos, especially since I want to make the best use of it's features because I don't have a MIDI keyboard.

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, thank you for your message! Could I ask what would you like to see in future videos, a more in depth look at this DAW perhaps?

[@anisandwalker6377]

@@composingacademy8270 Maybe a video of how to make piano music sound realistic without a midi keyboard or an actual sustain pedal just by using a mouse? (Spitfire labs), or how to make a good sounding melody with strings or brass with limited options of articulation like long and spiccato?(discover) Cuz I only use free vsts and sure I would love to know if there are other free ones with more articulations like legato.

[@TheMelancholicCeltMusic4118]

Thanks for the tutorial! This program is what I have been using for several years, but you still went into a few things I didn't realize you could do, such as the modulation and expression on the instrument track.

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, thank you for watching! Being able to use modulation & expression & being able to see them at the same time are hugely important for my workflow.

[@hypermoth]

Thanks for the video Simon! Your videos have been indispensable in helping me learn the basics of composition, and I have yet to find another source that explains them in such a concise, straightforward, and beginner-friendly manner. I found your channel back in December, and your videos inspired me to actually make something original with the music software I'd had on my computer for the past few years. Thank you so much for helping me and many others get into composition! I've been using LMMS, but I'll definitely give Cakewalk a try. The sample libraries you linked also definitely seem like an upgrade to what I've been using

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, thank you so much for your feedback & I am so pleased you are finding them useful! It is great to hear you are now composing from my tutorials, that is what I set out to do when starting the channel, making it as accessible as possible to anyone that wanted to write music!

[@gyerczol2484]

That's incredible! Thank you for this amazing video. I would love to see videos about making compositions in the style of film music.

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, check out my channel, I have a few videos that might help you out with that.

[@spokansas]

Hey Simon! Really enjoying the class. Been through it once quickly, which was very helpful, but will be going through it and referencing much more. Great to have the materials ans midi for study later. I started with Cakewalk and it is a great all around free DAW. Using Studio One now, but still use Cakewalk when I need a smaller footprint. Great to see you back on the YT.

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, thank you for the comment! Cakewalk is a great starter DAW, I totally agree, so pleased you found it useful. And thank you, it is good to be back making content again!

[@adontchu]

what an excellent tutorial! Thank you so much for making it

[@mypicasuss]

Like to watch more of such videos, hopefully a complete series of music making with Cakewalk or Bandlab. I just started to learnt making music using Bandlab. May I request a tutorial on "How to make ambient dark music"?

[@moonpickle908]

Bro plz do a video on a music theory especially for filmscoring

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, thanks for watching and for the suggestion. I will add it to my list!

[@Random.pianist]

Thanks for the tutorial, can you please explain what is the importance and use of audio interface ? I just connect my midi piano to cakewalk and record along with vst plugins.

[@eduardkrasovsky]

Great job,Simon.Why do you save the project before recording Midi data?

[@Tv_sam123]

Thanks for the tutorial! !

[@composingacademy8270]

Thank you for watching!

[@richardbarcaricchio]

Hi Simon - great video, thank you! If you ever see your way to doing another Cakewalk video, it'd be great to know how how to install and use something like BB Tubes from Waves (and other applications) to finish orchestral tracks you have made.

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, thank you for watching! I have had others ask for more detail as well so think it is another video to make in the future. Thank you for the suggestion!

[@richardbarcaricchio]

@@composingacademy8270 Wonderful! Also please show us how we set the delay on samples in Cakewalk. It's driving me nuts trying to match tempo!! :P

[@havidarou]

Thanks for the video!

[@composingacademy8270]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@reynercastillo9542]

Thanks for another wonderful video! Make a video about James Newton Howard's style, harmonization, orchestration, as you have already done about Hans Zimmer and Thomas Newman! It would be amazing!

[@composingacademy8270]

This one is definitely on my list to do, he is one of my favourite film composers of all time. Thank you for watching!

[@carminepastore3274]

Hi Simon, excellent video! Do you plan on creating more videos in the near future? Thanks again.

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, yes I am trying to get better at loading new content more frequently. Currently have one in the works!

[@blasterxt9]

amazing buddy

[@composingacademy8270]

Thank you so much!

[@yggdrasil7033]

Could you recommend a software that works on mac and has the same sounds as cakewalk, because im tired of garageband

[@erica.3852]

Is there a way to visualize it in sheet music form?

[@pamftbl1]

how do you install the instruments are they free?

[@kraney195]

Sweet! Any chances you would do Beginner tutorials for Cubase?

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, I do have Quick tips on my channel on Cubase such as how to use the Cubase Arranger track but I will add a beginners guide to my future video list! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@user-qf5kl6cv2y]

Where'd you get that VST3 plugin from and which one is it? I'm very new to Cakewalk and don't know what it is. All of mine are VST2.

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, apologies for the delay. The plugins are from Spitfire Audio & Orchestral Tools. Cakewalk seemed to make sure of the VST3 automatically. Hope that helps!

[@user-qf5kl6cv2y]

@@composingacademy8270 Thank you!

[@sn.mos77]

TNX!!!

[@composingacademy8270]

You are welcome, hope you found it useful!

[@PrMarioAlegria]

Can Cakewalk bandlab detect chords from wav/mp3 files like Studio One 6 or Cubase 12 (chord track)?

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, I wasn't actually sure so had a quick look online, in essence it looks like no but have a read of this page. Hope it helps! discuss.cakewalk.com/index.php?/topic/21717-fr-chord-track/page/4/

[@michaelburns8073]

The best way of trying to do this in Cakewalk is to use it's audio-to-midi feature, then using a MIDI Chord analyzer on the resulting MIDI. There are a few caveats: 1) This works best with audio that is mono timbral (like a solo piano or guitar). 2) Use something like Scaler 2 instead of Cakewalk's MIDI Chord Analyzer for better results. 3) Under the hood, Cakewalk is using Melodyne Essential, so if you have a better version of Melodyne, like Melodyne Studio, Cakewalk can use that, or you can just use Melodyne to get the MIDI notes.

[@social_sothanaigal]

Hi Simon ,please A clear step-by-step guide on how to create a song

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, thank you for your suggestion. I have also had a couple of other requests for this so will try and elaborate on this in a future video!

[@MrKeithterrett]

If you don't play keyboard, is there any other way of inputting?

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi, yes you can input manually using your mouse. There is a chapter on this around 12 minutes into the video. Hope that helps!

[@ryker2389]

🙂 Promo*SM

[@rayray52ful]

my gosh college coarse to learn it lol