The Cakewalk Blog

You use powerful tools to help power your creativity. Show off your technology-fueled vision with Intel’s Video Superstars Challenge. It’s about going beyond “point and shoot”. Filmmakers, here is your chance to win big!

Thanks to Intel and the Video Superstars competition’s sponsors, your dreams can become a reality. Enter the competition now for a chance to win a dream Director’s editing studio worth over $5,000. Music videos, game trailers and short films welcome!

Learn more about the competition

Stock up for spring at the Cakewalk Store!
Spring is here and we are having a huge sale at the Cakewalk Store through May 22nd. Download 15 of our hottest products for $19.99/£14.99/€19.99 or less. Here are a few of the highlights.

Rapture upgrade from Rapture LE
Rapture LE is inlcuded in many versions of SONAR like SONAR X1 Studio and SONAR X1 Producer.  If you love the modern synthesis sounds and pristine high-resolution sampling of Rapture LE, expand you library and sound manipulation capabilities by upgrading to the full version of Rapture for just $19.99.

SONAR X1 Producer Expanded
Take SONAR X1 Producer even further with exciting new production tools and delivery options. Upgrade from SONAR X1 Producer to SONAR X1 Producer Expanded for only $19.99 (you must own SONAR X1 Producer to get this upgrade).

The PC4K S-Type Expander / Gate Module
Take SONAR X1 Producer Expanded even further with this ProChannel module for just $19.99. The PC4K S-Type Expander / Gate module is not just any Expander plugin. It’s based on the legendary vintage-style channel expansion used on large format studio consoles and heard on countless albums over the past 30 years.

The PC4K S-Type Channel Compressor
Another great ProChannel module exclusively from Cakewalk for just $19.99. A must-have addition to your effects arsenal, the new PC4K S-Type Channel Compressor adds vintage-era, console-style, channel compression to every ProChannel strip in SONAR X1 Producer Expanded.

SONAR X1 Advanced Workshop Videos
Two video downloads with never before seen tutorials from DAW master Craig Anderton for $19.99 each. Download the first Advanced Workshop video or step up to The Next Level.

Music Creator 6 Download or Boxed version
Are you new to Cakewalk?  Do you need to upgrade your home recording studio to Windows 7?  Music Creator 6 is regularly a great value at $49.99 for a complete recording solution, but what you can get today for just $19.99 is an astonishing value that can’t be missed. Music Creator 6 includes song construction kits with 1000+ music loops, Cakewalk instuments, IK Amplitube guitar effects, instructional videos, and more.

Cakewalk Instrument Expansion Packs
Download fresh content for Cakewalk synths like Rapture, Dimension Pro, Session Drummer 3, and Z3TA+ 2 for as little as $4.95!

Check out all 15 products for $19.99 or less.

To celebrate Marathon Monday here in Boston and our MARATHON Sale at the Cakewalk Store, here are 10 great reasons you should be running SONAR X1 Producer today.

1. Begin with Better Training: Cakewalk has prepared free SONAR X1 training videos for every skill level on the SONAR U channel of CakeTV. Learn everything you need to know to get running quickly.

2. Take Your Qualifying Trial: Don’t believe us that SONAR X1 Producer is ahead of the pack? Try the new Skylight interface and ProChannel free for 30 days. Download the SONAR X1 Producer Free Trial.

(more…)

Faithfully modeled after one of the most sought after studio compressors in history, the PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier puts the silky, smooth sound of this highly desirable unit right into SONAR’s ProChannel.

Special offer [UPDATE]: Due to overwhelming demand, the intro price for this brand new module has been extended.  Customers can now save 50% off the regular price of the PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier through March 31st. Regularly $79, we are offering early adopters the opportunity to download it today for only $39.50!  Act fast to ensure you get it at this amazing price. (more…)

Hopefully by now you have a version of the award winning SONAR X1 running on your machine, because A&M/Octone recording artist K’NAAN wants to hear from you; musically.  With this exclusive opportunity through Cakewalk, Roland, Indaba Music and A&M/Octone, you can sign up for this contest and download the actual stems to craft your own work of art.   If that work of art is chosen by K’Naan and his label, it will result in a nice chunk of cash or a Cakewalk/Roland gear package for you. (more…)

Sonic Reality’s Neil Peart Drums SD3 for Cakewalk’s Session Drummer™ 3 features samples of the authentic Drum Workshop® Signature “Snakes and Arrows” kit of drum legend Neil Peart from the band Rush. Recorded by producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains) this powerful stereo kit offers the ultimate high fidelity rock sound with incredible realism! Coming from the acclaimed Drum Masters 2 and Studio ProFile series Sonic Reality has now integrated this legendary kit into Cakewalk’s Session Drummer 3 format so users of SONAR X1 Producer can enjoy one of the finest sampled kits in the world. (more…)

A question I am frequently asked is, “Do you guys make SONAR X1 for the Mac?” The answer to which is no, SONAR X1 is made for Windows. But do not despair, there is a solution! For Macs with Intel processors there’s an application called Bootcamp which will allow you to install the Windows operating system on your Mac.Unlike some of the other applications that allow you to run Windows inside the Mac OS, Bootcamp allows you to boot exclusively into Windows or Mac OS on startup. This is the optimal method of running Windows as all of the Mac’s resources are available. (more…)

Enter the Hollywood Undead remix contest today

SONAR X1 user Hollywood Undead is one of the few modern bands that continue to sell records and play to sold out crowds around the world.  This hard working band is considered as one of the biggest and most unique rock acts in the industry today, and now with the help of Indaba, Cakewalk and Roland, they want your help in remixing two of their original songs.  That’s right folks, you could end up with actual credits on a record that is being released on A&M/Octone through this exclusive Cakewalk opportunity; and you never know where it could go from there…  You can enter this contest and win great prizes including cash, recording gear from Cakewalk and Roland, and the opportunity to be on their new remix EP.  Hollywood Undead rely on SONAR X1 and Cakewalk to keep their music original and creative, now they are reaching out to all their fellow SONAR X1 users.  If this sounds interesting to you, please visit here on the Indaba music site to learn more on how to enter. Good luck!

The voting results are in and the fans have selected the top 5 artists in the categories of Rock, Pop, and Country. The first round of the “Superstars” songwriting competition invited artists to submit original music in the Rock, Pop, and Country genres. The submitted tracks were judged by fans of Intel’s Facebook page with five winners from each genre winning prize packages including Intel® Core™ -processor based computers, Cakewalk SONAR Producer Software, V-Studio 100 & V-Studio 20 recording solutions. Additionally, the first round winners could be in the running for the $10,000 cash Grand Prize that will be awarded at the conclusion of the contest in January 2011.

Here are the winners:

ROCK:
The Strange Kind- “The Last Time”
Brave Chandeliers- “Sinking Ship”
John Allred- “Let Somebody In”
Jules Larson- “Falling for the First Time”
Joker to the Thief- “Butterflies”

POP:
Jason Eaton- “Furious Love”
The Girlfriend Season- “Butterflies”
Lauren Barrett- “Last Time”
Matt Brouwer- “Writing To Remember”
Sara Lindsay- “Best of Me”

Country:
Chicken Grease- The Road I’m On
Michael Sonders- Your Pretty Face
Aria Summer- Sweet Summertime
Lauren Strange- Jump
MDB- Man Behind These Eyes

Get more information about the winners

Learn more about the contest

Cakewalk, Intel, and Ourstage.com have partnered up to launch the Intel Superstars Competition powered by OurStage.com. Beginning July 1, 2010 aspiring rock, pop and country artists are invited to upload their best original song in the Intel Superstars Competition of their genre. The Top 5 artists from each of the three competitions will receive prize packages including personal computers based on Intel® Core™ Processor technology with Cakewalk recording solutions including SONAR Producer.

Learn more about this competition