- Platform: IBM PC Compatible
- Release Date: 2001
- Genre: Home
- Style: Development Tools
Game Description
Turn your computer into a digital audio recording tool with MP3, wave, RealAudio, and Windows Media files in Cakewalk Music Creator 2002. Create audio files by connecting any instrument or microphone to your computer, ranging from a midi-keyboard to a Fender Twin Reverb guitar amp. Preset sounds are available for use with MIDI instruments, effects can be added to vocals or percussion audio signals, and tempo adjustments offer speed control.Instruments can be hooked to the line-in or microphone inputs on a standard sound card or a MIDI interface through USB or communication ports. Keyboard shortcuts during the recording and mixing process allow you play, record, mark, copy, paste, zoom in and out, auto crossfade, loop, scrub, adjust tempo, enter notes, insert events, and filter.
Whether you're recording digital audio or MIDI, editing and undo features offer customization of tracks. Options include importing MIDI and .WAV files to mix with compositions, bouncing tracks, loop creation, and real-time audio effects. Versions of Pyro MP3, CD Maker, Virtual Sound Canvas DXi soft synth, and an ACID-format audio loop library are provided.
~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
Cakewalk is a well-known entity in the music industry and one of the first to innovate in-home recording on your PC. Unfortunately, Cakewalk Music Creator 2002 isn't innovative in the slightest, and offers an easy to use, but simple and limited program.Cakewalk records a clean, well-mixed song, but the MIDI sounds contained in the program aren't the best. For example, piano sounds are too synthesized, and you can't import sounds from your keyboard to the program. While you can exchange sounds over the Internet, and reasonably tweak existing sounds with reverb, chorus, tremolo, and other effects, the results are not of professional quality. If you're looking for a cheap alternative that's easy to use, it's a good way to experiment with your songs until you're ready for more professional programs. For interested fans, new plug-in effects usable with Cakewalk can be found at DirectX Files www.directxfiles.com.
The audio aspects of Cakewalk are difficult to master and make getting professional sounds even tougher. The program does, however, work well as a musical notebook and is a good way to record your band practices. Just press a button and record an entire two-hour rehearsal without changing tapes. One difficulty is getting the audio up to a nice level without bleeding into the red, as the music always seems too quiet and it's easy to get distortions when turning up the levels slightly.
The interface is problematic as well. Usually, the audio mixer is an essential part of any recording program, as you need to see the lights flashing to indicate proper recording levels. Here, the mixer stretches too far below the screen and you have to scroll down constantly just to adjust the faders. It's annoying, but fortunately you can see a green level indicator underneath each track on the main screen. Another slight irritation is that you have to remember to click the "Run Audio" button beneath the transport screen prior to recording any audio tracks, otherwise you get nothing. While most music programs have little tricks like this to remember, this program could have used a more logical setup.
While programs like Reason 2.0 and others make keyboard recordings easy and logical, Cakewalk Music Creator 2002 is designed in the typical fashion of cheaper recording programs. It has some effects and other features that four-track tape decks simply don't have, and you can move, copy, and paste notes in the MIDI section, as well as assign pieces of any recording as a loop. Unlimited undo lines prevent you from making a permanent mistake, and a scrolling lyric option lets you sing Karaoke.
If you're looking for a cheap alternative to simply record musical ideas, Cakewalk could work. It's a better program than Magix Music Studio 6 since it combines the audio and MIDI studios, but if you're looking to create a serious demo for your band or any sort of professional recording, look and listen elsewhere.
~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide
Review: Enjoyment
Getting used to the interface and layout takes time, but eventually it serves it purpose as a cheaper alternative to more professional quality programs.~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide
Review: Graphics
The graphics are fine but the layout isn't logical. The mixer should fit completely on the screen without a scroll function, and you should be able to use it while watching the track record.~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide
Review: Sound
The audio sound quality of recorded tracks is average and while the MIDI quality is good, many sounds are too synthesized.~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide
Review: Replay Value
The best usage is to record practice sessions insuring you don't lose any spontaneous ideas.~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide
Review: Documentation
While the booklet shows how to operate all aspects of the program, most functions require hands-on use to understand.~ Nick Woods, All Game Guide
