Cakewalk Power!

I am new to computer music making and even the best programs, such as CAKEWALK, can be staggering during the learning process. And sure enough, after purchasing CAKEWALK HOMESTUDIO 2002 (covered to a degree in CAKEWALK POWER), I was staggered and dizzy and very intimidated by the program. Scott's book "CAKEWALK POWER" made that first dip into the complexity of the software both manageable and almost... "fun?" "Fun" was something I did not expect to have until I had spent months both learning and experimenting with CAKEWALK, but by taking the process slowly, and carefully following the CAKEWALK POWER instructions, I found myself actually MAKING MUSIC! YES, I kid you not... This book is as well written as one could expect in translating the madness of technical language into something that actual human beings can understand. I really loved that Scott has written the book in such as way as to anticipate and account for problems before they might occur, then defining and explaining a course of action such that one can succeed in performing a specific operation correctly the FIRST TRY. So often these technical books define a process in such a dry and sterile and letter perfect manner that the average human brain will almost definitely make a mistake. The book then makes up for the expected inadequacy of the reader by including a comprehensive TROUBLESHOOT section. And sometimes none at all! CAKEWALK POWER overcomes this problem by making the essential text understandable and "do able" the first time. There by allowing the reader to make fewer mistakes that later need be compensated for. I cannot underestimate the benefits of using this book in tandem with CAKEWALK and the included (with the program) CAKEWALK tech manual. It will bridge that "holy ..." gap and make the software both accessible and usable. If you have... or seek to purchase a CAKEWALK product, this book is required reading. A 5 Star no brainER...

"Cakewalk Power!" is a book on Cakewalk that is not only perfectly written but will take you from beginner to advanced, intermediate to advanced or advanced to even more advanced. I carry it around with me everywhere and find myself reading it whenever I have a free moment during my daily routine. I've learned a lot and owe a lot to Scott Garrigus for guiding me through Cakewalk better than I ever thought possible. You won't regret having this book and won't need any others on Cakewalk... really!

It might sound crazy, but this book made me buy the software it referes to! Really! Thanks to this book I decided to buy the latest Cakewalk software, because it really explains the software in a human understandable way !I am a beginner with Cakewalk, so I can't really tell if this is a good book for more advanced users, but for me, it's the new bible around.And better yet, the author, Scott Garrigus, has a website where he answers ALL the questions we as readers have not only regarding his book, but also regarding MIDI and recording in general.I also love the fact that the author refers in the book to modern computers (like Pentium III) and other "fresh" technology in the market.

I've been glued to this book since I got it. I thought the text that came with Pro Audio 9 was good, and I thought the problems I was having were due only to my own ignorance of stuff that most recording grunts regard as common sense. In particular - and this is a good example - I was bamboozled by how to mix down a project that contains audio and MIDI data so I could record it to a CD. The original Cakewalk book doesn't discuss this at all. This book went into great detail and left no stone unturned.In addition, the book is well written, and -unlike many 'for dummies' books aimed at musicians - doesn't talk down to me, or try to couch all the information in the too-cool-for-school verbage all too common in this genre. I appreciated the detail, even on subjects like digital audio that I already know well. In short, this book does a better job of doing what the original Pro Audio 9 book from the manufacturer should have done in the first place. Thanks, Scott, and keep up the good work!

This may be the only book you need for home recording in the digital age. I have been a Calkwalk user for over a year and after looking at Calkwalk Power I realized that I have only used a fraction of its potential. Calkwalk Power is an excellent reference source for not only using the software but for general midi and digital audio performance as well.The Calkwalk user's group has helped me tremendously during this past year but Scott has comprehensively answered all of my questions regarding recording, mixing and using plug-ins. The beginning and intermediate Calkwalk user will find answers to most all of the questions they have from; getting started with recording to advanced production techniques. The book is concise, easy to understand and a lot of fun to read.