Cakewalk by BandLab Tutorial (Part 5) – Mixing and ProChannel

Summary

This video provides an in-depth overview of the audio effects and mixing tools available in Cakewalk by BandLab. It guides users through essential elements such as the console, input gain, ProChannel, and equalizer, explaining how to adjust parameters like compression, reverb, and saturation. The tutorial covers tools for enhancing track dynamics, grouping tracks with buses, and using advanced effects like BREVERB 2, Rematrix, and tape saturation. The video also introduces Style Dial FX for specific audio adjustments. A helpful resource for anyone looking to improve their audio mixing skills in Cakewalk.

Takeaways

• 🔊 **Opening the Console**: The console is the mixer for all tracks and includes pan and volume controls.
• 🎚️ **Input Gain**: It's used for making small adjustments to the track before the fader.
• 🔧 **ProChannel**: Offers a channel strip with high-end plugins for detailed mixing.
• 🎛️ **Equalizer**: Allows for EQ adjustments with different colored dots representing frequency bands.
• 🔄 **Send Settings**: Used for auxiliary sends like reverb, with options for pre and post fader settings.
• 🔀 **Grouping Tracks**: Tracks can be grouped by changing their output to a bus for collective editing.
• 🎚️ **Pan and Fader**: Used to set the stereo position and volume level of a track respectively.
• 🛠️ **Compressor**: Features input gain, attack, release, ratio, and output controls.
• 🎶 **Equalizer Modes**: Different modes (hybrid, pure, e-type, g-type) for various EQ needs.
• 📺 **Console Emulator**: Improves sound quality by emulating analog console characteristics.
• 🔊 **BREVERB 2**: Creates various reverb types with controls for size, length, and tonal properties.
• 📼 **Tape Saturation**: Adds warmth and tape hiss to recordings, with controls for noise, recording level, and tape speed.
• 🎛️ **Style Dial FX**: Provides single-knob tools for adjusting stereo space, drum dynamics, vocal harshness, and more.

Q & A

What is the first step in the mixing process in Cakewalk by BandLab?

The first step is to open up the console, which is minimized at the bottom of the project screen. If it's accidentally closed, you can reopen it by going to the 'Views' menu and selecting 'Console'.

What is the function of the input gain control in Cakewalk’s console?

The input gain control allows for small adjustments to the track's volume before it reaches the fader.

How can you use the EQ in Cakewalk, and what does the power button do?

You can use the EQ by dragging the colored dots up or down to adjust frequencies on the track. The power button turns the EQ on or off, and the pre/post button determines whether the EQ is applied before or after the effects rack.

What is the purpose of a send, and how is it different from routing a track to a bus?

A send allows you to route a track to an auxiliary channel for effects like reverb while still sending the track to the master. In contrast, routing to a bus groups tracks together for collective processing, like grouping all drum tracks for easier management.

What does the ProChannel's compressor offer in terms of controls?

The compressor offers input gain, attack, release, output controls, and adjustable ratios (4, 8, 12, 20, or infinite). There's also a dry/wet knob to blend the compressed signal.

What are the different EQ modes available in the ProChannel, and what are they best used for?

The EQ modes include Hybrid (for controlling drum resonance), Pure (a smooth EQ for mastering), E-type (mimicking vintage hardware EQ), and G-type (modern EQ). Each mode has different tonal characteristics.

What does the tube saturation module do, and how does Mode I differ from Mode II?

The tube saturation module emulates the warmth of tube gear. Mode I provides full tube emulation, while Mode II emulates tube saturation without processing the high frequencies, resulting in a warmer sound with less distortion in the high end.

How does the console emulator improve the sound in Cakewalk, and what is the purpose of the tolerance button?

The console emulator simulates the sound of an analog console, adding warmth and a polished feel to your mix. The tolerance button simulates slight variations between channels, mimicking real-world analog consoles where electrical components differ slightly.

What is the difference between BREVERB 2 and Rematrix in Cakewalk?

BREVERB 2 offers different reverb types like hall, plate, and room with adjustable settings for size, length, and tonal properties. Rematrix is a convolution reverb, simulating the sound of actual spaces using impulse response files.

How does the tape saturation tool affect the sound, and what does changing the tape speed do?

The tape saturation tool simulates the sound of analog tape, adding warmth and compression. Adjusting the tape speed changes the tone: slow tape speed creates a warmer tone with fewer high frequencies, while fast tape speed results in a more standard, brighter sound.

Outlines

00:00

🎛️ Overview of Cakewalk's Mixing Tools and ProChannel

In this video, the focus is on mixing audio in Cakewalk by BandLab, particularly the available audio effects and options. Before diving into the details, it’s suggested that viewers watch previous videos in the series. The video introduces basic mixing tools and the ProChannel, with the first step being to open the console. This console, serving as the mixer, contains input gain, ProChannel access, equalizers, sends, and other mixing features like the pan knob and fader. Additionally, it covers grouping tracks via buses for editing, especially for drum tracks. The video explains how to access and adjust these controls, with particular attention to input/output controls and ProChannel's introduction.

05:02

🎚️ Diving Deeper into the ProChannel and Its Tools

The ProChannel in Cakewalk’s console is a powerful channel strip with numerous high-end plugins, starting with a compressor that features input gain, attack, release, output, and ratio settings. The EQ in ProChannel offers more control compared to the console, with multiple modes like hybrid, pure, e-type, and g-type, which are suited for different purposes such as controlling drum resonance or mastering. Each band of the EQ includes frequency, Q factor, and level controls, as well as high/low shelving and filters. There’s also a gloss switch to enhance high-end clarity. Other tools include tube saturation for analog warmth and the console emulator, which adds analog-style sound quality to recordings.

📻 Using Console Emulation and Adding More ProChannel Effects

Console emulation simulates the sound of an analog console, offering improvements in sound quality across tracks and buses. The different console types allow for various tonal qualities, with controls for trim, drive, and tolerance. It's recommended to apply this emulation to every track and bus in the project. Beyond the default ProChannel effects, users can add modules like BREVERB 2 for reverb types such as hall and plate, which come with adjustable parameters like size and tonal qualities. Another reverb option, Rematrix, uses convolution to mimic real spaces through impulse responses, giving detailed control over reverb tails, stereo width, and EQ settings.

📼 Enhancing Sound with Tape Saturation and Additional Effects

Tape saturation effects emulate the sound of recording on analog tape, which adds warmth and compression. Parameters like noise, recording level, playback level, tape speed, and bias can be adjusted to modify the effect, with slower tape speeds providing warmer tones. The Saturation knob by Softube introduces harmonic richness, with options to protect high or low frequencies, making it useful for a range of instruments and vocals. The FX Chain allows users to add VST effects at any point in the signal chain. Lastly, the Style Dial FX offers single-knob tools for quick adjustments to specific aspects of sound, such as stereo space or drum dynamics, providing an easy way to shape the mix.

👍 Wrapping Up and Next Steps

The video concludes by summarizing the tools covered, particularly the various effects within ProChannel and Cakewalk’s console. It encourages viewers to experiment with the effects and techniques discussed to enhance their mixes. The video ends with a call to action, asking viewers to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and follow on social media to stay updated on future content.

Keywords

💡Mixing

Mixing refers to the process of adjusting and combining individual tracks to create a cohesive final audio output. In the video, this is a central topic as the narrator introduces key tools and techniques for mixing in Cakewalk by BandLab, such as adjusting input gain, using the ProChannel, and applying effects.

💡ProChannel

ProChannel is a channel strip available in Cakewalk that includes high-end plugins for audio processing. It allows for the use of tools like compressors, equalizers, and tube saturation. The video goes in-depth on how to open and use the ProChannel, describing it as a core feature for mixing audio tracks.

💡Console

The console in Cakewalk acts as a virtual mixer for managing all tracks in a project. It allows users to adjust pan, volume, input, and output for each track. The video explains how to access the console, describing it as essential for controlling the tracks during the mixing process.

💡Equalizer

An equalizer (EQ) is a tool used to adjust the balance between frequency components within an audio signal. In the video, the equalizer is introduced as part of the ProChannel, and the narrator explains how to modify different frequency bands by using colored dots in the interface.

💡Send

A send allows part of a track's audio to be routed to another location, like a bus or effect. In the video, sends are discussed in relation to reverb effects, where the user can choose between pre- or post-fader settings for volume and panning control. The narrator also distinguishes between sending a track to a bus or the master output.

💡Compressor

A compressor is an audio effect that reduces the dynamic range of a sound by lowering the volume of loud sounds or amplifying quiet sounds. In the video, the compressor in the ProChannel is explained in detail, with controls such as input gain, attack, release, ratio, and dry/wet knobs.

💡Bus

A bus is a channel that groups multiple tracks together, allowing users to apply effects or adjust levels to all grouped tracks simultaneously. The video demonstrates how to create a stereo bus to group and edit tracks, which is particularly useful for organizing complex projects like drums or vocal groups.

💡Tube Saturation

Tube saturation emulates the warmth and distortion characteristics of analog tube equipment. In the video, the ProChannel's tube saturation module is introduced, offering options for adjusting input gain, drive, and output to achieve a richer sound. The different modes (with or without processing the high end) are also discussed.

💡Reverb

Reverb is an effect that simulates the sound reflections of a space, creating a sense of depth and space in audio. The video covers two types of reverb in Cakewalk: BREVERB 2, which allows users to select various reverb types like hall and plate, and Rematrix, which is a convolution reverb that uses impulse responses to replicate real-world spaces.

💡Console Emulator

The console emulator mimics the characteristics of analog mixing consoles, adding warmth and character to digital audio recordings. The video explains how to use this tool in Cakewalk's ProChannel, with controls for input gain, saturation, and the ability to simulate channel variations due to real-world electrical differences.

Highlights

Introduction to audio effects and mixing options in Cakewalk by BandLab.

Recommendation to watch previous videos in the series for better understanding.

Opening the console in Cakewalk as the first step in the mixing process.

Overview of the input gain control for small adjustments before the fader.

Explanation of the ProChannel feature and its detailed capabilities.

How to use the equalizer with power buttons for pre/post effects and adjusting EQ via colored dots.

Understanding the use of track sends for effects like reverb and auxiliary tracks.

Grouping tracks by sending them to a bus instead of master output.

Overview of the pan and fader controls for stereo position and volume adjustment.

Detailed explanation of the ProChannel’s compressor with various controls like input gain, attack, and ratio.

Discussion of different EQ types in ProChannel: Hybrid, Pure, E-type, and G-type.

Tube saturation module explained, with controls for drive, input, and output.

Console emulator for analog console sound, including drive and tolerance options.

Reverb effects in ProChannel: BREVERB 2 and Rematrix for creating various reverb types.

Use of tape saturation tools to simulate analog tape recordings.

Transcripts

Hey guys, in this video we’re going to cover the audio effects and options available for

mixing in Cakewalk by BandLab.

If you haven’t checked out the previous videos in this series for how to use Cakewalk,

I recommend doing that before continuing.

In this video we’re going to talk about some of the basic tools for mixing, as well

as the ProChannel.

The first step in the mixing process is to open up the console.

It’s currently available in our project, but it’s minimized at the bottom, so just

click to open it.

If you accidentally close it, go to views at the top menu and select console.

This is basically our mixer for all our tracks.

It displays most of the information we had before when we were recording, but also includes

the pan and volume controls for that track The first control is for the input gain.

Use this to make small adjustments to the track, before the fader.

Below that, we can open the ProChannel.

We’ll cover this more in a few minutes.

Next is an equalizer.

There’s a power button to turn it on and off, and a pre/post button for whether it’s

before or after the effects rack.

If you mouse over the equalizer, you’ll see a few different colored dots.

Pull these up and down to change the EQ on your track.

After that we can set up a send.

When a track is going to a send, it gives us additional options for pre and post fader,

volume, and panning.

I usually leave these alone.

Keep in mind that by using the send this way, the entire track will still get sent to master

as well, so this is more of an auxiliary send that’s good for effects like reverb.

If you just want to group all your tracks, change the output of that track to the bus

instead of Master.

This is nice to group your tracks together and edit them, like for your drums.

Press the plus button and select New Stereo Bus.

Now we have a few buttons, but all of these are the same the track view and we covered

them in a previous video.

Below that is the pan knob to set the stereo position of the track.

Then there’s a fader to set the volume level.

Finally, we have our input and output controls.

The input should have already been set, and you shouldn’t use it in this view anyways.

As I just said, you may want to change the output here to send to a bus.

The next part of othe console that we need to look at is the Pro Channel.

This is basically a channel strip available from the console with a lot of high end plugins

available.

The first part at the top is the compressor.

When used on a channel, it features an input gain, attack, release, and output.

The ratio can be set to 4, 8, 12, 20 or infinite.

Finally, there’s a dry/wet knob, but I usually keep it turned to 100% wet.

If we have it applied to a bus instead, we get more options like threshold and high pass

filter.

You can use either one on different types of tracks, you just have to delete one first

since it won’t allow you to have two different compressors on one track.

Then we have our equalizer.

This is the same equalizer from the console, but it’s expanded to have more controls.

The first selection is between hybrid, pure, e-type, and g-type.

Hybrid has an unsymmetrical curve, meaning it doesn’t respond the same way when it’s

cutting or boosting frequencies.

This mode is recommended for the controlling drum resonance and problem frequencies.

Next is pure, which is just a very smooth EQ.

This can be used on anything, especially for mastering.

E-type is designed to mimic a vintage hardware equalizer, and the G-type is made to mimic

a modern equalizer.

The first control for each band is the frequency.

Next is the Q, which basically sets the width around the frequency over which it acts.

How that is shaped depends on what mode we put it in.

Then there’s the level control to boost or cut frequencies.

The low and high bands both have a switch at the bottom to control whether they are

a regular band like the others, or a high and low shelf.

We also have high and low pass filters that can be enabled with the buttons at the bottom.

There’s a frequency cutoff for the high pass filter, and a slope knob for how gradual

or strong the filter is.

The last button for the EQ is the gloss switch, which is just used to add presence to high

end without additional harshness.

Next up is the tube saturation module.

First we have a mode switch at the bottom right.

Mode I is for tube emulation, and mode two provides tube emulation without processing

the high end, so you’ll get a warmer tube sound without any distortion to the high frequencies.

Input sets the input gain level, drive sets the amount of tube saturation, and output

sets the output gain level.

The next tool we have is the console emulator, which makes the audio sound as if it were

running through an analog console.

This will improve the sound quality of your recordings and give it a high end, polished

feel.

The three different buttons at the top are for the types of console they’re designed

to emulate.

Just switch them and see how it affects your sound.

The trim sets the input gain, and drive sets the among of saturation that is applied.

Finally, the tolerance button allows it to simulate slight differences between channels

that would be experienced on a real-world console due to differences in the electrical

components.

When using the console emulation, it should be added to every track and bus on your entire

project.

Now we’ve covered all the effects that are available from the ProChannel by default,

but there are quite a few more to look at.

To add more effects, scroll up to the top of the ProChannel, right click, and add a

module.

The next one for us to look at is BREVERB 2.

This allows us to create hall, plate, room, and inverse reverb.

There’s also a lot of presets that can be selected from the preset menu at the top.

For each of the reverb types, there’s a few knobs.

They’re not all the same for each reverb, but in general they let you control the size

of the reverb, the length, and the tonal properties.

Like all reverbs, it also has an option for dry/wet mix levels.

The other reverb tool we have is called Rematrix, which is a convolution reverb.

This basically means its simulating the sound of an actual room using an impulse file that

was created in that room.

At the top we have a few presets we can choose.

After you choose an impulse you can see the waveform and get an idea of what kind of reverb

you’re dealing with based on the reverb tail.

There’s a control for time which sets the length of the reverb, delay to control the

response time, and stereo to adjust the stereo width.

Below that we have a few EQ controls, and a dry/wet mix slider.

Next we have a tape saturation tool, which makes it sound as if the recording were done

on analog tape instead of digitally.

Our first control is noise, which adds tape hiss to our track.

Next is the Recording level.

When you have a higher input level on tape, it creates more tape saturation and compression.

The PB level is the output level after the effect.

Tape speed can be set to slow or fast.

Slow creates a warm tone without as much high frequency, and the normal sound is obtained

from a fast tape speed.

Finally, we have bias, which can be set to Over to reduce distortion.

The Saturation knob by Softube is used to increase harmonic content of your sound.

This can be used to improve your bass tone and your vocals, as well as a lot of other

tracks in your mix.

There’s only two controls to consider here.

The type controls which frequencies are most affected.

On keep high, it doesn’t affect the high frequencies.

Neutral keeps it the same across all frequencies.

Keep low prevents bass distortion, and is used on drums or vocals.

The FX Chain can also be used to add VST effects not normally included within the ProChannel,

to the ProChannel at any point in the signal chain.

It basically acts as a container for our other effects.

The last set of tools is the Style Dial FX.

These are single knobs that are added to your signal chain, and each of them has a specific

purpose.

There’s tools to adjust the stereo space, drum dynamics, vocal harshness, and much more,

but they’re all well explained here so you can see what they do.

Thanks for checking out this video on mixing audio with Cakewalk.

If this video helped you out, don’t forget to give it a like and subscribe to the channel.

You can also follow us on social media to keep up to date on all our new content as

soon as it is released.