Cakewalk by BandLab Tutorial (Part 6) – Effects & Plugins

Summary

This video provides an overview of the effects and VST plugins available in Cakewalk by BandLab. It explains how to add third-party VST plugins and covers key effects such as delay, compression, equalization, modulation, and reverb. The Sonitus suite of plugins is highlighted, including Sonitus Delay, Compressor, Equalizer, and Reverb. The video also touches on dynamics tools like Boost11 and noise gate, as well as the use of multiband compression. Lastly, the video encourages viewers to explore additional effects chains for more sound customization options.

Takeaways

• 🎛️ Cakewalk by BandLab includes a wide variety of VST plugins and effects to enhance music production.
• 📝 It's important to configure Cakewalk properly to use third-party VST plugins by adding a VST scan path under Preferences.
• 🎚️ Audio effects are added to tracks through the FX rack in the Plugins section on the right side of the default layout.
• ⏱️ The Sonitus Delay effect provides stereo delay with separate controls for each channel, adjustable using musical timing.
• 📈 Boost11 is a gain plugin that acts as a limiter when volume gets too high, while Sonitus Compressor features standard compressor controls.
• 🔇 Noise Gate plugin helps eliminate unwanted noise below a certain threshold, with options for attack, release, hold, and lookahead settings.
• 📊 Multiband Compressor allows applying different levels of compression to different frequency bands, useful for detailed sound control.
• 🎛️ Sonitus Equalizer is a 6-band parametric equalizer with adjustable filter types, frequency, Q factor, and gain for each band.
• 🌊 Sonitus Modulator and Sonitus Reverb add chorus, flanger, and reverb effects to tracks, with customizable parameters for unique sounds.
• 🎶 Additional effects are available in the FX chain dropdown, organized by instrument or use, allowing more customized sound manipulation.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video?

The primary focus of the video is to cover the VST plugins and effects chains available in Cakewalk by BandLab, specifically how to add and use various audio effects.

What is the purpose of the VST Scan Path in Cakewalk?

The VST Scan Path allows you to configure Cakewalk to recognize and use third-party VST plugins by adding the folder where those plugins are stored and rescanning for new plugins.

How do you add a plugin to a track in Cakewalk?

To add a plugin to a track in Cakewalk, you simply click and drag the desired plugin from the Plugins section to the FX rack of the track.

What are some key features of the Sonitus Delay effect?

The Sonitus Delay effect is a stereo delay with separate controls for the left and right channels. It includes features like musical time-based delay, feedback, crossfeed between channels, and a mix control for dry and wet balance.

What is the Boost11 plugin used for?

The Boost11 plugin is used to add gain to a track. It acts as a limiter if the gain becomes too high, ensuring the track doesn't clip.

How does the Sonitus Compressor display gain reduction?

The Sonitus Compressor shows gain reduction using a graphical display where a small circle moves up and down based on the input level, allowing users to visually monitor gain reduction during playback.

What does the noise gate plugin do in Cakewalk?

The noise gate plugin reduces noise by applying gain reduction when the input signal falls below a set threshold. Users can control the attack, release, hold time, depth of reduction, and use lookahead to prevent cutting off the start of a sound.

How does the multiband compressor in Cakewalk work?

The multiband compressor allows users to apply different levels of compression to various frequency bands. You can adjust frequency cutoffs, thresholds, and standard compressor parameters like ratio, attack, release, and gain for each band.

What is a notable feature of the Sonitus Equalizer plugin?

The Sonitus Equalizer is a 6-band parametric EQ with features like band enable/disable, filter type selection, and an interactive graphical interface where users can drag circles to adjust the EQ curve.

What makes the Sonitus Reverb plugin different from other reverb plugins?

The Sonitus Reverb plugin doesn't come with presets but is easy to use, offering controls for room size, decay time, high dampening, and bass multiplier to adjust the reverb's depth and character.

Outlines

00:00

🎛️ Introduction to Effects and Plugins in Cakewalk

This paragraph introduces the video, focusing on the effects and plugins available in Cakewalk by BandLab. It reminds viewers to watch previous videos in the series to understand the software's features so far. The emphasis is on the VST plugins and effects chains, with a brief mention of ProChannel, which was covered earlier. The main objective of the video is to explore various effects and plugins outside of ProChannel.

05:01

🎚️ Adding Third-Party VST Plugins

This section explains how to add third-party VST plugins to Cakewalk. It details the steps needed, including navigating to the Edit menu, opening Preferences, and adjusting the VST settings. Users must add a VST Scan Path corresponding to the folder where their plugins are stored. After rescanning for new plugins, compatible plugins should be available in the software. The Plugins section is located on the right side of the default layout, and plugins can be added to tracks by dragging them onto the FX rack.

⏳ Exploring Delay Effects: Sonitus Delay

This paragraph covers the Sonitus Delay plugin, which is a stereo delay effect. It provides independent controls for the left and right channels, with an option to link both for simultaneous control. The delay time is automatically calculated based on the project tempo. The plugin includes feedback, crossfeed, and mix controls to manage the delay effect, with feedback looping the signal and crossfeed sending it between channels. The description highlights its utility in creating complex delay effects.

📈 Dynamics Plugins: Boost and Compression

This section explores dynamics plugins, starting with Boost11, which adds gain to a track, acting as a limiter if the levels get too high. It then explains the Sonitus Compressor, detailing standard compressor features like threshold, ratio, attack, release, and knee (hard or soft). The plugin also offers makeup gain and a visual representation of the gain reduction, allowing users to monitor levels in real-time. The compressor is useful for shaping the dynamics of a track.

🔇 Noise Gate Plugin and Multiband Compression

This part discusses the noise gate plugin, which reduces noise below a set threshold. Key controls include attack, release, hold, depth, and lookahead, which ensures smooth transitions. It then covers the multiband compressor, allowing users to compress different frequency ranges independently. The frequency cutoffs can be adjusted, and each band has its own threshold, ratio, knee, gain, attack, and release controls, giving precise control over frequency-based dynamics.

🎚️ Sonitus Equalizer Plugin Overview

The Sonitus Equalizer plugin is introduced here, a 6-band parametric equalizer. Each band can be enabled or disabled, and users can select from different filter types (peak/dip, high/low shelf, and pass filters). Frequency, Q (bandwidth), and gain are the key parameters for adjusting each band. A 'flat' button resets all changes, and users can click and drag circles on a graphical display to visually tweak the EQ, making this a versatile tool for adjusting track frequency.

🎛️ Modulation Effects: Chorus and Flanger

This paragraph explains the Sonitus Modulator plugin, which creates chorus and flanger effects. It comes with presets and has controls for rate, phase, depth, and delay, all working together to modify the modulation. The dry/wet mix control and output volume help balance the effect's intensity, while modulation effects may reduce the track's volume. This plugin is useful for adding depth and movement to sounds.

🏞️ Reverb Plugin: Sonitus Reverb

The Sonitus Reverb plugin is described as a simple yet powerful tool for adding spatial effects. Unlike other reverb plugins, it doesn't come with presets, but users can easily tweak the input gain, low/high cut, predelay, room size, and diffusion to shape the reverb. The bass multiplier adjusts the decay time of bass frequencies, while the decay time sets the overall reverb length. Additional controls include high dampening, dry signal level, early reflections, and reverb sound to fine-tune the effect.

🎛️ Additional FX Chains and Closing Remarks

This closing section touches on the additional effects available under the FX chain dropdown in Cakewalk. These effects are typically organized by instrument or use case and offer unique ways to alter a track's sound. Users are encouraged to experiment with these effects to achieve the desired result. The video concludes with a call to like, subscribe, and follow on social media for more Cakewalk content.

Keywords

💡VST plugins

VST plugins are virtual instruments and effects used in digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Cakewalk to enhance audio production. In the video, it's mentioned that Cakewalk supports third-party VST plugins, allowing users to expand the software's capabilities by adding external plugins. The video explains how to configure Cakewalk to recognize and use these plugins by setting a VST scan path.

💡ProChannel

ProChannel is an integrated audio processing suite within Cakewalk that allows users to manipulate audio with a range of effects and controls. The video briefly mentions that many mixing tasks can be done using ProChannel through the console view, which was covered in a previous video. ProChannel offers a streamlined approach to mixing directly within Cakewalk without needing additional plugins.

💡Sonitus Delay

Sonitus Delay is a stereo delay effect available in Cakewalk that allows users to control delay timing for left and right channels separately or together. The video explains its features, such as crossfeed, mix control, and how it synchronizes delay time with the project's tempo, providing users with flexible delay options for creating spatial audio effects.

💡Threshold (Compressor)

Threshold is a key control in compression effects that determines the level at which compression begins. In the video, it's used in the Sonitus Compressor and multiband compressor. The threshold sets the point where the audio signal gets reduced in gain, helping manage dynamics in a track to prevent peaks and balance loudness.

💡Boost11

Boost11 is a gain-boosting plugin in Cakewalk that acts as a limiter to prevent audio from clipping. The video mentions that it adds gain to a track and automatically limits the audio if it exceeds a certain level. It's a simple tool used to raise the volume without distorting or exceeding the audio limits, ensuring clean output.

💡Multiband compressor

The multiband compressor in Cakewalk allows users to apply compression differently across various frequency ranges. This is useful for tailoring the compression effect to specific parts of the audio spectrum, such as boosting low frequencies while subtly compressing highs. The video demonstrates how to adjust the frequency cutoffs and compression controls for each band.

💡Sonitus Equalizer

The Sonitus Equalizer is a 6-band parametric equalizer that lets users adjust the frequency balance of their audio. The video highlights its flexibility, allowing users to enable or disable individual bands, change filter types, and adjust gain, frequency, and Q factor. This tool is used for fine-tuning the tonal balance of tracks within Cakewalk.

💡Sonitus Reverb

Sonitus Reverb is a reverb effect in Cakewalk designed to create a spacey, atmospheric sound. The video covers its controls, such as decay time, room size, and predelay, which help shape the reverb effect to simulate various room environments. It's emphasized as a straightforward but powerful reverb tool for adding depth to tracks.

💡FX Chain

FX Chain refers to a series of audio effects applied in sequence to a track. In Cakewalk, users can organize and save these chains for specific instruments or audio purposes. The video mentions that Cakewalk includes pre-organized FX chains under the dropdown menu, allowing users to quickly apply complex effects setups to enhance their tracks.

💡Noise Gate

A noise gate is a dynamic processor that reduces noise by cutting off sound below a set threshold. In Cakewalk, the noise gate plugin is discussed in the video, explaining how it helps reduce unwanted background noise during quieter sections of audio. Controls such as attack, release, and hold time allow users to fine-tune how the noise gate reacts to audio signals.

Highlights

Introduction to the effects and plugins available in Cakewalk by BandLab.

Reminder to check out previous videos in the series to stay updated with the Cakewalk software.

Focus of the video is on VST plugins and effects chains instead of ProChannel.

Cakewalk is compatible with third-party VST plugins, which can be added by configuring VST Scan Paths.

Explanation on how to add a VST plugin to a track by dragging it into the FX rack on a track.

Sonitus Delay: A stereo delay effect with separate controls for left and right channels, linked by a central button.

Overview of Boost11 plugin, which acts as a gain booster and limiter when levels get too high.

Sonitus Compressor: Features threshold, ratio, attack, release, and knee controls, and provides visual monitoring.

Noise Gate: Allows reduction of noise by setting a threshold, attack, release, hold, depth, and lookahead settings.

Multiband Compressor: Enables compression on different frequency bands with adjustable cutoff frequencies.

Sonitus Equalizer: A 6-band parametric EQ with adjustable filters, frequency, Q, and gain settings.

Sonitus Modulator: Used for creating chorus and flanger effects with rate, phase, depth, and delay controls.

Sonitus Reverb: A straightforward reverb effect with input gain, low cut, high cut, predelay, and room size settings.

Explanation of FX chain plugins, organized by instrument or use, to apply specific sound modifications.

Conclusion: Encourage viewers to like, subscribe, and check out social media for future videos.

Transcripts

Hey guys, in this video we’re going to cover the effects and plugins available in Cakewalk

by BandLab.

Before starting, make sure you check out all our previous videos in this series so you’re

caught up on everything related to this software so far.

The main focus of this video will be on the VST plugins and effects chains available.

A lot of the mixing process in Cakewalk can be done with the ProChannel through the console

view, and that was covered in the previous video.

This video will cover all the different effects that are available to work with instead of

the ProChannel.

The first thing we want to cover is how you can add your own VST plugins to the software.

Cakewalk is compatible with third party VST plugins, but you need to configure it properly

for them to show up.

Go to the Edit menu at the top and select Preferences.

This will open a window.

Scroll down to the section on VST settings.

Add a VST Scan Path that corresponds to the folder your third party plugins are in.

Add that folder, then rescan for new plugins.

Now these plugins should be available to use, as long as they are compatible.

All the audio effects are found in the Plugins section on the right side of the default layout.

To add a plugin to a track, just click and drag it onto the FX rack on a track.

There’s not really enough time to go through every possible included effect in a lot of

detail in this video, so I’ll cover some of the important ones.

Starting under delay, we have the Sonitus Delay effect.

This is a stereo delay effect with separate controls for left and right channels.

When the link button in the center is pressed, they are both controlled at once.

Otherwise they can be used separately.

If they are different and then you link them, they are changed by the same amount but the

differences remains the same.

The time is set based on musical time, and the delay time is automatically calculated

from the project tempo.

The feedback sends the signal back through the delay again, and the crossfeed sends one

side to the other side.

The Mix is used for the dry and wet balance.

Next we move onto Dynamics.

This is where we have boost and compression effects.

The first up is Boost11.

All this does is add gain to your track.

If it gets too high, the plugin acts as a limiter.

Next is the Sonitus Compressor.

As with other compressor effects, we have our threshold, ratio, attack and release controls.

There’s also a knee to change between hard and soft knee.

That basically just determines whether the compressor ratio changes immediately at the

threshold, or gradually over the threshold.

There’s also makeup gain, and an output level meter we can monitor.

The nice thing about this plugin is it allows us to see where our level is on this graph

while the sound is playing, and when the compressor is enabled.

The little circle moves up and down as the level changes along the graph and you can

see the gain reduction when it peaks.

The next tool is the noise gate.

We have a threshold, below which the noise gate is active and causes noise reduction.

The attack sets how long the transition is when it comes on, the release sets how long

the transition is when it turns off, and the hold sets hold long after it drops below the

threshold it will start to release.

The depth sets the amount of gain reduction, and the lookahead allows the noise gate to

open up just before the sound starts so it doesn’t cut off the beginning.

The last dynamics tool is the multiband compressor.

This allows you to apply compression at different levels to different frequencies.

On the bottom left, we can slide the frequency cutoffs around for each band of the multiband

compressor.

At the top left, we can set the threshold for each band.

The standard, ratio, knee, gain, attack, and release controls for each band of the compressor

are in the bottom corner.

Under EQ, we find the Sonitus Equalizer plugin.

This is a 6 band parametric equalizer.

On the left, the yellow buttons allow us to enable or disable each band.

The drop down selects the filter, between peak and dip, high or low shelf, and high

and low pass filters.

Frequency sets what frequency that band is centered at.

The Q sets the width of the band, and the gain sets the boost or gain reduction applied.

If we want to reset it quickly, we can press the flat button in the bottom left corner.

Another quick way to adjust the EQ is to click and drag the yellow circles on the graph at

the top.

The first plugin under modulation is the Sonitus Modulator.

This is used to create chorus and flanger sounds, and there’s a few presets available

at the top to choose from.

The rate controls how fast the modulation oscillates.

The phase, depth, and delay all work together to change the amount of modulation that is

produced.

At the end, we have a dry/wet mix control and an output volume, since modulation effects

can lower a track’s volume.

Next up is the Sonitus Reverb plugin.

Unlike some of the reverb plugins you may be familiar with, this one has no presets

to start with.

Luckily, it’s a pretty straightforward reverb to use and produces a smooth spacey feel that

sounds nice without too much effort.

At the top we have our input gain to adjust the level going into the effect.

Next is the Low cut and high cut to adjust the frequencies of our track.

Reverb can get reallu messy really quickly, especially if there is a lot of low end in

your track.

Below that we have the predelay, room size, and diffusion that are used to adjust the

reverb timing and size.

The bass multiplier adjusts the decay time of the bass frequencies, below the frequency

set by the crossover.

A value below 1 means the bass will decay faster than the rest of the reverb, and a

value above one means it will take longer to decay.

The decay time sets how long it takes the reverb to decay and has an impact on the perceived

room size.

With a short decay time, it sounds like a small room.

A long decay time makes it sound like a larger room.

High dampening causes the high frequencies to stop reverberating faster than the lower

frequencies since they are absorbed first.

The last controls are for the dry signal level, early reflections, and reverb sound.

Adjust these to get the right balance of reverb for your mix.

That covers the main effects plugins you’ll end up using with Cakewalk.

There are also quite a few additional effects under the FX chain dropdown.

These are mostly organized by instrument or use.

They can all be used if you want to make a certain track sound different, and they’re

all labeled by what track they should be applied to and how they change the sound.

Each of these has their own different controls, and you’ll just need to play around with

them if you use them on a track.

Thanks for checking out this video on effects and plugins for Cakewalk by BandLab.

If you found this video helpful, give it a like and subscribe to the channel.

You can also check out our social media links in the video description so you can see all

our new videos as soon as they’re released.