Cakewalk
Midi File Layout
Welcome Page 
Non-Frame Table Of Contents
If you don't use Cakewalk software, you may wish to skip this page!
Cataloging Features: The midi files were sequenced with Cakewalk software. Many of Cakewalk's cataloging features have been used and are listed below.
Layout....
- In both the Information Section and the Name Section of the Track Pane, the following is included:
- Title of Music
- Composer
- Copywriter and copyright year or at least the date indicated on the source document
- Duration in minutes and seconds
- Structure showing introduction, strains, transitions etc.
- Sequencer and year of sequencing.
- Editor and year of editing.
- Source document and page reference
- Legal jargon
- In the Information Section, changes made to the source documents are included.
- Meter/Key View - this shows the meter and key changes by measure number.
- Marker Section - Each introduction, strain, interlude, transition, vamp, etc. is shown by measure, beat, and tick count. In addition, the time is also shown. It should be noted that Cakewalk Pro begins each piece with a time of 3 seconds. If you have Cakewalk software, the Marker Section is a good place to go and listen to a particular strain. Also, when viewing in the Track Window, the names from the marker sections appear as the clip section scrolls by.
- Lyrics have been added for various songs and display when the Staff View is open.
If you save you may lose.... If you save these files with other than Cakewalk Pro, some of the features may be lost.
Short
Tutorial On Cakewalk... This is a short
guide on how to navigate Cakewalk to play files and inspect various windows
in Cakewalk.
1. If you have Cakewalk Pro, the Information Section comes up automatically. This will let you view the information identified at the beginning of this page.Pretty Much By The Book.... The sequencing is pretty straight forward. Limited use is made of the pedal feature, legato is used sparingly, and the note duration is usually 2/3 of the time base (for example, quarter notes usually receive 80 ticks). Variations from the printed scores are either a correction for a perceived error on the part of the printer or more usually - my error.2. Select okay to go to the track section if the Cakewalk didn't originally open to this section.
3. On the menu, you only need to work with three options:
- File - select this and then select Open to open a mid file. The usual Windows menu will appear. Select the file you wish to play.
- To play, click on the arrow between rew and rec. To stop play, click on the arrow again.
- To go to the other sections of Cakewalk, click on Window. This is available from all the sections. From this menu you can:
- Go to the track section
- Go to the tempo section where the tempo is shown graphically.
- Go to meter/key section where the signature and key is shown by measure.
- Go to markers section where the various strains, transitions, etc. are shown by time and measure. You can highlight a strain with a click of the mouse and click on the arrow to begin play from that point.
- In the track section, you can use the arrows at the bottom to go over to the patch column. By clicking on this you can change the musical instrument.
- Also in the track section, you can choose tracks to appear in the staff or the piano roll player by clicking on the numbers in the extreme left of the track. Next, by clicking the left mouse button you can get either a piano roll view or a staff view.
Copyright 1994-2001 by Colin D. MacDonald All rights reserved.