How do I record my MIDI sounds into a Wave, MP3, RealAudio, or Windows Media file?

MIDI data cannot be included in an MP3, Wave, RealAudio, or Windows Media file. Only audio data can be exported as one of these file types. Therefore, in order to prepare your Cakewalk project to be exported as one of these file types, you’ll need to re-record your MIDI tracks as audio. Here’s how to do it (note: versions 8.0x and earlier do not offer the ability to export to MP3 or Windows Media files).

These are the steps for re-recording any MIDI tracks that are using your sound card’s internal synthesizer sounds – such as FM, wave table or SoundFonts:

1. Open the file you’re working with. Arm one open track with a Source of Stereo, or two open tracks for recording audio by setting the Source column to Left and Right. If you have more than one sound card installed, make sure you select the Source of the sound card that is playing your internal MIDI sounds. Also make sure that you don’t have any tracks set with a Source of MIDI in Cakewalk, or you could overwrite them by accident.
2. Next, open your sound card’s mixer device. This is normally done by choosing Start | Programs | Accessories | Multimedia | Volume Control | Options | Properties. Click on Adjust Volume For Recording, and make sure all boxes below are checked. Click OK, and locate the slider marked MIDI, Synth, Mixed Input, or What You Hear. Check the Select box at the bottom, then close the window.

NOTE: Some sound cards, such as the SoundBlaster Live, have their own proprietary mixer. If yours has one, please use it instead.

Press Record, and all of your MIDI tracks assigned to the card’s internal synthesizer will be recorded as an audio track (or tracks). After you are done recording, mute the original MIDI tracks. This will save confusion, since you’ll be listening to them as audio tracks now.

Here’s how to re-record any MIDI tracks that are played on your external sound modules or instruments:

1. Connect the audio outputs of your MIDI instruments to the line inputs of your sound card.
2. Open the file you’re working with, and arm one open track with a Source of Stereo, or two open tracks for recording audio by setting the Source column to Left and Right. If you have more than one sound card installed, make sure you select the Source of the sound card that is playing your internal MIDI sounds. Also make sure that you don’t have any tracks set with a Source of MIDI in Cakewalk, or you could overwrite them by accident.
3. Next, open your sound card’s mixer device. Choose Start | Programs | Accessories | Multimedia | Volume Control | Options | Properties. Click on Adjust Volume For Recording, and make sure all boxes below are checked. Click OK, and locate the Line In slider. Check the Select box at the bottom, then close the window. To make sure you’re recording at a good level, you’ll need to check Cakewalk’s audio meters in the Console View.

Press Record, and all of your MIDI tracks assigned to the external MIDI instrument will be recorded as an audio track (or tracks). To save confusion, you should mute the original MIDI tracks, since you’ll be listening to them as audio tracks now.

To create the file in Cakewalk 9.0, solo the new audio track(s), choose Tools | Mixdown Audio | Export to File, and select the file type you wish to create.

In Home Studio 8.0 and earlier, which does not include the Mixdown Audio feature, simply select all audio tracks in the file and choose Tools | Export Audio and choose the file type you wish to create.

Knowledge Base