The "new free" Cakewalk.. It must be a bad joke. [RESOLVED]

[FMiguelez]

Yes, this will be a rant because I'm really pissed off.

So, after wasting almost 10 hours of my time trying to install this stupid program in a horrible laptop PC with Windoze 10, I finally see that the "free" Cakewalk will NOT let me save because it's in "demo mode".
REALLY? A "new" free app with a demo mode that won't let you save? This must be the stupidest thing I've encountered in a looooooong time!

I'm beyond angry. Not only because of the wasted time, but all the spent effort for nothing. Installing/Reinstalling a million times, problems with some C framework I had to download from Microsoft, an installer programmed by monkeys, a HORRIBLE OS like Windoze 10 (really, I had no idea Windows 10 GUI was so terrible and annoying), and a ridiculously slow computer... You know, those that need 40 seconds to react to opening folders or search for stuff.
Naturally, I felt like I had never used a computer before. I couldn't figure out the most basic things (like finding out what Windows version was installed, figuring out the windows folder structure, etc. I used Windows computers some years ago, but the UI changed so much (in a bad way) that it must be the most unintuitive thing around.

I've been looking in the internet for a solution, but if there's one, I'll need to spend many more hours reading up on the non-ending instructions on how to fix this idiotic problem. I've found some forum sites where, after 3-4 pages, there are hundreds of users stuck like me, with no solution in sight.

REALLY? A "free" POS program that runs in demo mode that won't let me save????? What the hell were they thinking????

The ONLY reason I went through all this crap was to be able to SAVE as standard MIDI files some old .wrk files I have. I need them for a new production I will make, but it seems I won't be able to that. I was looking forward to save time by not re-programming some of the MIDI stuff... but no. I can't because this idiotic program won't let me save anything. Brilliant! What a nice surprise!

No wonder they went out of business! Did I say I HATE it?

Oh, and I thought I could try installing from my ancient original CD with some old Cakewalk version, but of course, the CD is unreadable by now. None of my computers will read it.

The only reason the PC is still alive is because I borrowed it from someone. Otherwise, it would be decomposed into little pieces after smashing it in the floor by now.

[/Rant]

[stubbsonic]

Perhaps it was in the fine print.

[mesayre]

I can see how that would be frustrating, but I'm pretty sure that's not how it's supposed to be working.

I haven't installed the new free version, but used Platinum for several years. I recall that some users did have activation troubles and/or would revert to demo mode after an upgrade. I wish I could tell you how they solved it, but it never happened to me.

The old pre-Bandlab-era forum is still alive and well, and the folks there are very helpful.

http://forum.cakewalk.com/Forums

[mikehalloran]

Is this the Lite version that is often included with hardware (such as Zoom recorders)? That is normally free but there are many points during the install process where they try to get you into a paid version. It’s easy to miss that it can be used at no charge with the limited functionality of the “free” version.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Could you use another program besides Cakewalk? Just thinking out loud...

https://musescore.org/en/node/79376

https://www.cakewalk.com/products/SONAR/

[FMiguelez]

Perhaps it was in the fine print.

If it was, I never saw it.

I just don't understand what's the point of having a crippled demo period for a supposedly free app.
I'd understand if it was like Finale> It won't let you save either, but AFTER the (generous) grace period, not during it

I can see how that would be frustrating, but I'm pretty sure that's not how it's supposed to be working.
...
The old pre-Bandlab-era forum is still alive and well, and the folks there are very helpful.

http://forum.cakewalk.com/Forums

Thank you for that. I will check it out tonight. Hopefully I'll find a decent way to fix this.

Is this the Lite version that is often included with hardware (such as Zoom recorders)? That is normally free but there are many points during the install process where they try to get you into a paid version. It’s easy to miss that it can be used at no charge with the limited functionality of the “free” version.

No, it's supposed to be the full version.

After I heard about this, I Googled it, and I got a lot of suspicious sites like that in Spanish. You know, the iffy fishy kind of sites we all despise. But then I used the official method and instructions from BandLab's site (the new owners).

Could you use another program besides Cakewalk? Just thinking out loud...

https://musescore.org/en/node/79376

https://www.cakewalk.com/products/SONAR/

I just scanned the links, and they look useful. Thank you, Mike. I'll check them out tonight.
The thing is that the .wrk files are proprietary from Cakewalk (which then turned into Sonar, and now it's called Cakewalk again). So in theory, either Cakewalk or Sonar should be able to load the file, and let me save it as a Standard MIDI file, so I can open it in DP.

Since this is the DAW I used to work with before DP, I must have at least 400 hundred pieces in that format. And they have all expired their broadcasting contract, so I can re-produce and re-record them with modern VIs, and use/exploit my old music again

I'll hate myself if I read some of this "saving warning" somewhere now that I'm calmed and relaxed. But I am almost positive there isn't any such thing anywhere...
Right now I'm looking at the PC laptop next to me, but I kind of dread opening it again...

[yjoh]

These extracts from 2 posts I put on at the Northern sounds forum back in April may be helpful.

1. "You don't need to be online to use Sonar. I downloaded it and it runs on my music computer which only ever goes online to register new libraries or update something. I've put a link to Bandlabs FAQ page which should help you. The 3rd paragraph down says you don't need to be online as well.

When I downloaded Sonar, I used the Early Access button and the Bandlab Assistant did it all, no problems at all. I used my google account to sign in as I don't do Facebook etc. If you have a gmail account you should have a google login you could use. Otherwise maybe you could just sign up for a Bandlab account and use the login for that.

I hope you can get it down, it's light years ahead of my old Sonar LE version I got free years ago. I use DP but Sonar Platinum sure looks good as well".

Here's the link, good luck!

https://blog.bandlab.com/cakewalk-announcement-faq


2. "I've done some research for you and I think they are talking about their own DAW which you do have to be online to use.

The Cakewalk Sonar Platinum DAW is separate from theirs and once installed you just use it offline like always. If you read the 3rd and 4th paragraphs down in the link I posted, and click where is says get the Bandlab Assistant here, you should be okay.

It says further down that you need an account to sign into the assistant which allows you to download and authorize Cakewalk Sonar but after that you should be good to go".

You can read the full post here if you like.

http://northernsounds.com/forum/showthr ... post820165

All the best and good luck, hope it helps!

[toddbooster]

Hey, sorry to see you're having such a frustrating time, but I can assure you that in my own experience, Cakewalk by Bandlab installs in Win 10 as easily as you like and runs just fine.

The crucial thing is to make certain that you're signed into your Bandlab account through the Bandlab assistant program, and that you only run the installation from there.

Here's a couple of links from the old Cakewalk forums saying essentially the same thing:

http://forum.cakewalk.com/Cakewalk-by-B ... 44904.aspx

http://forum.cakewalk.com/How-to-get-ou ... 44810.aspx

Hope that helps.

[Guitar Gaz]

Don't think this is a DP issue. Probably better in Off Topic.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

C’mon man, it’s a windows issue.

[Guitar Gaz]

Seems like a Cakewalk issue - but hey - its no problem, just a bit strange to read about other rival software problems here. Lucky its not Reaper I suppose!

[FMiguelez]

I'm VERY pleased to say that, thanks to all the links you guys posted, they finally led me to find a solution, and I'm up and running Cakewalk being able to save as Standard MIDI file!!

The ones I needed urgently were converted and are now happy in my DP projects, and they run in my hardware synths like I remembered them.



I'm not sure what exactly it was that made it work, but it was a combination of>
- Taking a DEEP breath...
- Clean wiping anything related to the previous Cakewalk/BandLab app
- Created a new user account with Admin privileges
- Reinstalled everything
- Download from Microsoft some C Framework it keeps asking (even though I've downloaded it twice, and it always wants it from the site)
- Ran the installer from within BandLab

... and finally, after giving me dozens of worrying warnings (it couldn't find VSTs, error with some audio drivers, blah, blah), it opened up, and now I can do my MIDI conversions. I don't care about the rest. I'm just glad it opens and saves

Thank you guys! This will save me SO MUCH time!

[James Steele]

Don't think this is a DP issue. Probably better in Off Topic.

That’s a good point. Moving it to General Recording.

[yjoh]

Glad it's all working now, great news!