Cakewalk (sequencer)
Encyclopedia
Cakewalk was a MIDI sequencer
developed by Twelve Tone Systems, Inc. ( the company now known as Cakewalk, Inc.
) originally for DOS
, starting with version Cakewalk 1.0 in 1987, and beginning in 1991, for Windows 3.0
. Cakewalk for DOS, up until version 4.0, required an MPU-401
MIDI interface card operating in intelligent mode, while later versions relied on the dumb UART
mode only. Cakewalk was delivered in two versions, Cakewalk Pro and Cakewalk Express.
The latter was a lite version limited to 25 tracks and 1 MIDI output port. The express version was sometimes bundled with hardware such as a sound card. Cakewalk was a purely MIDI based sequencer: Although it could trigger WAV
files at certain points, more comprehensive audio support was not incorporated until the advent of Cakewalk Pro Audio when true support for digitized audio was added.
editor, support for limited music notation and a built-in scripting language
called CAL (Cakewalk Application Language). Cakewalk is a predecessor of SONAR
which has nearly all of the same features, including support for CAL, currently being the only major DAW
on the market supporting a scripting language.
Cakewalk has had piano roll
and CAL support since the Win16 Version 3.01.
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
developed by Twelve Tone Systems, Inc. ( the company now known as Cakewalk, Inc.
Cakewalk (company)
Cakewalk, Inc. is a company based in Boston, Massachusetts that develops and sells music production software. The company's best known product is their comprehensive music sequencer named SONAR, which is designed for professional use. SONAR incorporates multi-track recording and editing of both...
) originally for DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, starting with version Cakewalk 1.0 in 1987, and beginning in 1991, for Windows 3.0
Windows 3.0
Windows 3.0, a graphical environment, is the third major release of Microsoft Windows, and was released on 22 May 1990. It became the first widely successful version of Windows and a rival to Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga on the GUI front...
. Cakewalk for DOS, up until version 4.0, required an MPU-401
MPU-401
The MPU-401, where MPU stands for MIDI Processing Unit, was an important but now obsolete interface for connecting MIDI-equipped electronic music hardware to Personal Computers...
MIDI interface card operating in intelligent mode, while later versions relied on the dumb UART
Universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter
A universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter, abbreviated UART , is a type of "asynchronous receiver/transmitter", a piece of computer hardware that translates data between parallel and serial forms. UARTs are commonly used in conjunction with communication standards such as EIA RS-232, RS-422 or...
mode only. Cakewalk was delivered in two versions, Cakewalk Pro and Cakewalk Express.
The latter was a lite version limited to 25 tracks and 1 MIDI output port. The express version was sometimes bundled with hardware such as a sound card. Cakewalk was a purely MIDI based sequencer: Although it could trigger WAV
WAV
Waveform Audio File Format , is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs...
files at certain points, more comprehensive audio support was not incorporated until the advent of Cakewalk Pro Audio when true support for digitized audio was added.
Features
The most recent version of the product features a piano rollPiano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
editor, support for limited music notation and a built-in scripting language
Scripting language
A scripting language, script language, or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the...
called CAL (Cakewalk Application Language). Cakewalk is a predecessor of SONAR
Cakewalk Sonar
Cakewalk SONAR is a digital audio workstation made by Cakewalk for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting audio. The latest versions of the software are SONAR Home Studio 7, SONAR Home Studio 7 XL, SONAR X1 Producer Edition, SONAR X1 Studio Edition, SONAR X1 Essential Edition, and...
which has nearly all of the same features, including support for CAL, currently being the only major DAW
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
on the market supporting a scripting language.
Cakewalk has had piano roll
Piano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
and CAL support since the Win16 Version 3.01.