A Beginner's guide to Cakewalk (by Bandlab) for Composers

🎵 If you enjoyed this video, make sure to also check out my free training - 'My 3 Secrets to Composing Rich Cinematic Music':

In this video I go over the basics you'll need to begin composing music in Cakewalk by Bandlab. This feature packed Windows only DAW is available for free, making it an ideal DAW for beginner composers looking to get started into the world of composing.

► Get your FREE Beginner's Guide To Composing Music in 5 Easy Steps here:

Cakewalk can be downloaded here:

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:33 - Initial Setup
01:58 - Adding a virtual instrument
03:18 - Recording Midi
05:14 - Editing Midi Part 1 (Resizing notes and drawing in controller data)
07:53 - Recording Midi (again!)
09:15 - Editing Midi Part 2 (Editing Velocities and Quantization)
12:05 - Entering notes manually using the mouse
13:50 - Basic Mixing
14:37 - Exporting Audio
16:04 - Playthrough of complete piece

Here are the links to the Free Sample Libraries I use in the short piece:

BBC Discover by Spitfire Audio (Harp)

Helix Strings from Sine Factory by Orchestral Tools

The Free Orchestra by Project Sam (con sordino Strings)

LABS by Spitfire Audio (Soft Piano and Choir)

[anisandwalker]

I just happen to have started learning Cakewalk recently! Would love to see more Cakewalk videos, especially since I want to make the best use of it's features because I don't have a MIDI keyboard.

[gyerczol]

That's incredible! Thank you for this amazing video. I would love to see videos about making compositions in the style of film music.

[adontchu]

what an excellent tutorial! Thank you so much for making it

[moonpickle]

Bro plz do a video on a music theory especially for filmscoring

[TheMelancholicCeltMusic]

Thanks for the tutorial! This program is what I have been using for several years, but you still went into a few things I didn't realize you could do, such as the modulation and expression on the instrument track.

[mypicasuss]

Like to watch more of such videos, hopefully a complete series of music making with Cakewalk or Bandlab. I just started to learnt making music using Bandlab. May I request a tutorial on "How to make ambient dark music"?

[hypermoth]

Thanks for the video Simon! Your videos have been indispensable in helping me learn the basics of composition, and I have yet to find another source that explains them in such a concise, straightforward, and beginner-friendly manner. I found your channel back in December, and your videos inspired me to actually make something original with the music software I'd had on my computer for the past few years. Thank you so much for helping me and many others get into composition!

I've been using LMMS, but I'll definitely give Cakewalk a try. The sample libraries you linked also definitely seem like an upgrade to what I've been using

[reynercastillo]

Thanks for another wonderful video!
Make a video about James Newton Howard's style, harmonization, orchestration, as you have already done about Hans Zimmer and Thomas Newman! It would be amazing!

[spokansas]

Hey Simon! Really enjoying the class. Been through it once quickly, which was very helpful, but will be going through it and referencing much more. Great to have the materials ans midi for study later. I started with Cakewalk and it is a great all around free DAW. Using Studio One now, but still use Cakewalk when I need a smaller footprint.

Great to see you back on the YT.

[Random.pianist]

Thanks for the tutorial, can you please explain what is the importance and use of audio interface ? I just connect my midi piano to cakewalk and record along with vst plugins.

[richardbarcaricchio]

Hi Simon - great video, thank you! If you ever see your way to doing another Cakewalk video, it'd be great to know how how to install and use something like BB Tubes from Waves (and other applications) to finish orchestral tracks you have made.

[social_sothanaigal]

Hi Simon, please A clear step-by-step guide on how to create a song

[pamftbl]

how do you install the instruments are they free?

[carminepastore]

Hi Simon, excellent video! Do you plan on creating more videos in the near future? Thanks again.

[kraney]

Sweet! Any chances you would do Beginner tutorials for Cubase?

[eduardkrasovsky]

Great job, Simon.Why do you save the project before recording Midi data?

[yggdrasil]

Could you recommend a software that works on mac and has the same sounds as cakewalk, because im tired of garageband

[erica.]

Is there a way to visualize it in sheet music form?

[MrKeithterrett]

If you don't play keyboard, is there any other way of inputting?

[PrMarioAlegria]

Can Cakewalk bandlab detect chords from wav/mp3 files like Studio One 6 or Cubase 12 (chord track)?