For those who can remember such things, Cakewalk has a long history in sequencing and audio recording, having developed the well-known DAW Sonar. After becoming Cakewalk's majority shareholder in 2008, the Roland Corporation sold it to Gibson in 2013. However, Gibson's well-publicised financial issues led to it ceasing Sonar product development in November 2017. This was a significant blow to the industry because this program – along with Cubase, Logic and Pro Tools – was a major player in audio recording.
Then, to the surprise and delight of many, Bandlab acquired Cakewalk and announced that Sonar would be relaunched as ‘Cakewalk by BandLab’ and available to download free of charge. This is a remarkably generous move because Sonar Platinum, the old name for this software, had previously cost several hundred pounds, either up front or as an expensive subscription.
BandLab is an exciting free music collaboration platform that is available via a web browser or as an app on iOS and Android devices. It enables users to create music alone or in collaboration with others, and to record music with everything backed up to online cloud storage. For it to include Cakewalk as one of its resources is a very smart move and a great benefit to users: they now have a DAW platform on which to collaborate.
As an aside, BandLab is also developing BandLab for Education, with a safe and simple software environment allowing students and teachers to create, review and work together on musical assignments across any device.
The software package
While the free download comprises what was the complete Sonar Platinum Edition, the only downside of the new version is that third-party applications which were previously part of the package (such as Addictive Drums 2) are no longer included – but this is hardly surprising as the software is now completely free of charge. However, any independently purchased instruments and effects or bundled software that previously worked with Sonar will operate perfectly well with the new Cakewalk by BandLab. Early access to the free software is currently Windows-only, but a Mac edition is likely to follow.
Downloading the software is very straightforward. Click on the ‘Get early access’ button, set up an account, and download and install the software onto your computer. On starting for the first time, the software scanned my computer for existing VST instruments and effects, so I just needed to choose my MIDI devices and audio preferences and I was ready to record.
Cakewalk by BandLab is a fully featured professional-level DAW program with unlimited tracks. The interface is very flexible, and most sections of the layout can be docked, floated and rearranged easily.
There are some included instruments, such as the SI-Drum Kit which features a wide range of different kits, from aggressive to funky – with built-in grooves for a variety of styles. The program also includes bass guitar, strings and the SI-Electric Piano with some 40 different pianos, including a Rhodes and Clavinet. Once again, the pianos come with sequences which you can load into a pattern grid and use in your song. I quickly dragged a pattern into a MIDI track and the MIDI notes for that pattern were automatically shown ready for editing.
Cakewalk by BandLab includes a number of high-quality instruments
Naturally, the program is also compatible with all VST instruments and effects. There is a very generous selection of built-in effects including a wide range of Sonitus effects plug-ins. One example of note is the excellent ProChannel concept, an extended channel strip that incorporates a high-quality compressor, four-band EQ, tube saturation, console emulation, tape emulation and convolution reverb processing. This is a great built-in chain of effects available immediately for your music editing and mixing. The other audio effects are all high quality, and the program also has a wide range of MIDI effects and sophisticated MIDI capabilities.
In conclusion
BandLab supplies this fine DAW program free of charge, which is bound to be welcome news for any stretched music education budget. In addition, the BandLab Assistant will keep the program updated automatically and, through the Assistant, it is possible to download more than 2,000 free MIDI and audio loops to use in your work. Just click on the ‘Sounds’ button and browse through the Loop Pack categories.
The free availability of Cakewalk by BandLab brings a professional-level DAW to everyone. This is great news for impecunious musicians and students. It is also well worth keeping an eye out for BandLab for Education, which looks like to be a promising addition for schools and colleges. Highly recommended.
An extensive set of effects makes Cakewalk by BandLab useful to any musician
