Learn Cakewalk Secrets and Hardware Tips.
5 min read
It seems that in the days of the information age details are getting harder and harder to find. This makes it hard to learn cakewalk secrets. It does not matter what subject you are trying to learn. The internet is so vast and big that sometimes it is just too hard to find the information you are looking for. In addition to this, It seems that there is more misinformation on any given topic than there is actual fact and hunting for the details you are looking for is like the old cliché searching for a needle in a haystack.
Such was the case when I purchased a new digital mixer. I could find all the basic information easily enough on YouTube. But when I needed the advanced details, I could not find any YouTube channels that seem to have them. This left me with no other option than to dive into the owner’s manuals. But the advanced information I was looking for could not be found there either. So, then it was off to trial by error. Let’s see if I can figure this thing out with the limited information I had. This was a big learning curve.
The mixer I purchased was a Behringer X32 Producer. It was a scaled-down version of the Behringer X32. I discovered through my research that Behringer had a few different models of the X32 and they all worked pretty much the same way. The main differences seemed to be with the number of hardware inputs and outputs available on the unit. This also affected the price. These new digital mixers came with apps that allowed you to control them with iPads, Tablets, Phones, and Computers. But no one on YouTube seems to have the detailed information I needed.
What Did I Need To Learn
I was trying to get the PC app to work. In addition to this, I was trying to get my DAW to work with the mixer which was also an audio interface. I was also trying to figure out issues between firmware updates and app versions. In addition to this, I was trying to learn how to use the mixer to control my DAW. Cakewalk is my DAW of choice. My recording experience was based on a number of DAW applications and I used Sonar for years. I had years of experience with Sonar Platinum. I also purchased the extra synths and ProChannel plugins. Now a newer free version was available without all the extras. It still has a lot of great features.
I figured out that the right firmware version has to go with the right app version and that is why I was having trouble. I also figured out that the app uses the X32 either net port while the audio interface portion uses the USB port on the card. It appears that the mixer uses something called a Mackie control unit (I guess because the technology comes from Mackie) This allows me to control Cakewalk software by using the mixer. None of this information was found in the owner’s manual. It all had to be figured out by trial and error. This produced great frustration as YouTube seemed to be lacking in this department.
Once I figured out how to do this I decided I was going to make a few YouTube videos. The first one gave a walkthrough of the mixer. The second one showed how to mount it in a rack. I got very little views on these videos because this was basic information that every Behringer YouTube channel had.
Everything Changed For My Channel
But then I produced the video that had the information that no-one knew. It seemed everyone had the same questions but no-one knew how to solve the problem. The video showed people how to do a firmware update, It also revealed how to downloaded the drivers for the mixer. (PC version) It also showed how to download the Behringer app and set it up. In addition to this, the video also showed how to download Cakewalk for free and how to hook up the mixer to the computer. After this, I did a walkthrough of the app and showed how to control the mixer using the app on the PC.
I Could not find this information anywhere but here it was in one video. At the time I had 10 subscribers on YouTube and I had the channel since about 2012. When I uploaded this video, it took off immediately. It had 5,000 views in a few days. After about a month I had over 20,000 views and 150 subscribers. This encouraged me to make more videos about this topic. I had a lot more information to share. These videos began climbing in the number of views and my subscribers started growing. It was not long before that video had received 40,000 views and I passed 500 in my subscriber count.
Behringer Walkthrough
Other videos were getting thousands of views as well. It seemed as though people really needed this information. As vast as YouTube is, I could not figure out why this information was not there. I arranged all this information in a playlist. Things like how to record a track on your computer using the Behringer x32 digital mixer and Cakewalk. Here is the playlist
It was not long before people started to join in my success. The information I discovered began to make its way into other YouTube channels. I don’t really care if people take this information and make their own videos. I just want the information to be out there.
Cakewalk Secrets
After this, I began to do a series on the Basics of cakewalk and how to use that software with the Behringer X32. Before any of this, I was lucky to get 20 views on any video I made. Now the channel has really taken on a life of its own. I am not trying to make money from YouTube. As I said, I just want the information to be out there. I made another Playlist that walks people through all the basics of using Cakewalk and how to use it with the Behringer mixer. It has a lot of hard-to-find information as well. Here is the series.
So, if these videos help you and there is something I have not covered, let me know and I will do a video that will hopefully answer your questions. In the meantime, I don’t really know what topics to base future videos on. I am going to continue to do music gear and software related videos. I will also do a few Cakewalk advanced user videos. My ultimate goal is to get this how-to information out there to help people get the most out of their hardware and software. Download Cakewalk today for free.
To install simply go to https://www.bandlab.com/ and create an account.
https://www.bandlab.com/download/assistant/windows
You may want to add some free plugins to use with Cakewalk.
Thank you for your great videos. I just noodle on my Helix LT & Cakewalk & Band In A Box at home. Do you think the Barringer x32. How would the Barringer give me an advantage in making tracks?
“Setting Up Cakewalk” ? Marcus its fantastic you doing this for the community, thank you so much !
However, its about setting up and you start up with ensuring X32 can be seen by the PC and unfortunately you make the assumption everyone will be at that status … what if my PC does not see the X32 – where does that leave me !!?
Marcus, to teach beginners like me you really need to go step-by-step because clearly there are steps to recognize the X32 on the PC hardware in the first place – if those basic are not in place then the rest of your tutorial is useless to me and others like me.
You need to instruct on reasons why basic setups are maybe not correct for complete beginners (provide links to other steps).
Sorry 🙁
Marcus – Driver Incompatible with Cakewalk !
8:50 mins on your video you change driver to ‘Realtek ASIO’, once I selected this I got the error message:
“Realtek ASIO
This driver is known to be incompatible with Cakewalk. Continuing to use this driver may lead to instability.
For best results we recommend switching to ASIO or WASAPI Windows driver.
Would you like to switch to WASAPI mode now ?”
I have put several videos out explaining these things but let me try to walk you through them.
Step 1: you need to know what kind of audio interface card is in the back of your x32 mixer. Is it the standard USB audio interface card or is it the X live card? If you have purchased your mixer new and never changed out the card then chances are it is the Standard USB audio interface. If you have SD input slots on the back of your mixer then it is the X live card
Step 2. If you are using a standard X 32 mixer then there are 2 USB ports on the back of the mixer. Make sure the USB cable is plugged into the right port. Don’t plug the USB into the port that says remote control. Plug it into the port that says Audio interface.
Step 3 Download and install the drivers for your mixer. The important thing to know is that these things work in sets. So download the drivers that match the firmware in the mixer. (see video on upgrading firmware) While you are at it take the time to download the Behringer app for the mixer. If the app will see and control the mixer then any issues you may have will be with Cakewalk instead of the mixer or the computer. using the app will tell you where the problem is.
Step 4 Once the drivers are installed plug the mixer into the computer and turn it on. wait for a minute then Right-click on the start button and go to device manager. Click the audio icon, you should see the mixer. If you see the mixer you are ready to proceed. If you do not then you are having some sort of hardware conflict. Maybe you have the wrong driver or maybe you need to update your firmware. If you see the Behringer mixer in the device manager then you are ready to proceed.
Step 5 Start the Behringer app, go to settings and sink your mixer with your computer. At this point, if everything works then you are ready to proceed with Cakewalk. In order for the Behringer app to work, you must connect an ethernet cable from your computer to your mixer. If you do not do this the app won’t work. out of the two ethernet ports on the back of the mixer DO NOT USE the one that says UltraNet.
Step 6 If everything checks out then you can proceed to set up the mixer to use with Cakewalk. Start the Cakewalk App. once it boots press P on your keyboard, which will take you to preferences. On the left side of the preference window click on Playback and record. Select ASIO as your driver option. This will best match the drivers you downloaded for your mixer. Once this is done hit the apply button.
Step 7 next click on devices on the left-hand side of the preference window. Select and checkmark everything that says, Behringer. hit apply one more time.
Now your mixer should be set up to work with Cakewalk
well for one the Midas preamps in the Behringer are better than the ones on the Helix. Two, the Behringer will let you record 32 separate tracks at one time. You may not need to record that many tracks. Your choice of the audio interface should be based on your personal needs. Maybe the Helix works for everything you want to do.
Marcus at approx 8.48 mins you recommend the Driver Mode setting in Audio Playback & Recording to be ASIO.
However Cakewalk pops up a notice to state that ‘Cakewalk is not compatible with ASIO” and suggests an auto setting of WASAPI Shared – which I have selected.
Any thoughts on why this is and will it disrupt me following your tutorial further on ?
Marcus, I have 100% diligently followed steps 1-7 and Cakewalk is not accepting ASIO as the driver option. I have the standard Behringer S32 and Standard USB audio interface. All softwares are up to date.
Is it maybe a recent rejection due to Cakewalk software updates … Or am I truly screwed then ?
(sorry for being a pain-in-the butt)
The Driver mode for the Behringer mixer is ASIO. In fact, ASIO is in the title of the driver. This is the prefered mode when multitracking for many reasons. I just downloaded and installed the most current version of Cakewalk. Everything in the most current version are bug fixes. No new features. I would try downloading the most current version of Cakewalk and refreshing your activation. I ran a test on my setup and I could not duplicate your issue. Make sure you have the proper drivers for your mixer. If you have an X32 download X32 drivers. If you have an X32 producer download X 32 producer drivers. They may look similar but there are subtle differences. That might be your issue. If the problem persists you may need to contact Cakewalk. See if the bug fixes in the new version of Cakewalk address your issue.
I really hope you get it working. In driver mode, you should be able to select ASIO. If not then something could be wrong with the driver version you have. Do you have the X32 compact driver or the X 32 producer driver? How old is your firmware? It should work for you. Another option would be to download another DAW app called reaper. See if you can load ASIO drivers in there. If you can not then you know the issue is with the driver or the firmware. Your driver version should be version 5.12
https://www.reaper.fm/
I am using Behringer x32 and Cakewalk. I can see all input and outputs from x32. I can see that I am getting signal from x32. I am needing to connect the processed audio master output to our ATEM mini pro in order to provide enhanced audio for live streams. That connection is 3.5 mm. I’m just not sure on where to physically plug that line in. Nor what conversion I may need. I don’t see aux sends as an option. So do I need to go XLR outs from the x32 maybe 1 and 2 so I have stereo and get that to 1/4 and then a 3.5 splitter? I was going to run just out of the PC 3.5 headphone but with ASIO and the d32 device chosen that doesn’t even show up as an option.
If you are using the ATEM mini pro hardware, one option would be to use the monitor out left and right into the ATEM device. On the ATEM mini, use mic input one for left and mic input two for right. In the monitor section under source select LR Bus or LR+MC. This is what I do when I stream, and it works well.