Wav file will not open in Cakewalk

Werner_NOR wrote on 7/12/2021, 6:40 AM

I am trying Cakewalk (free) as an audio editor for the time being and have been trying to set it up as an external editor both in Vegas Pro 18 and Movie Studio 16 Platinum. When I try to open a copy of an audio file in an external editor (Cakewalk), I get the same results for both programs. Cakewalk's response is "Could not open file. The file may be damaged or incompatible with this version of Cakewalk."

This seems strange as I have never encountered this in any other audio package.

When I take the mp4file from the media pane and drags it into Cakewalk it imports it just fine, and shows both the video and the audio.

Any suggestions?

Comments

Dexcon wrote on 7/12/2021, 7:05 AM

When I try to open a copy of an audio file in an external editor (Cakewalk)

What happens when R clicking on the audio event on the timeline and then selecting 'Open in ...' rather than 'Open Copy in ...'?

Also, is the audio event on the timeline the entire audio event that you are trying to open in Cakewalk, or is it an edited shortened selection? If the latter, perhaps Cakewalk only wants the entire audio event, not an edited version. Does the same problem arise with Audacity (free)?

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Installed: Vegas Pro 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22, HitFilm Pro 2021.3, DaVinci Resolve Studio 20, BCC 2025, Mocha Pro 2025.0, NBFX TotalFX 7, Neat NR, DVD Architect 6.0, MAGIX Travel Maps, Sound Forge Pro 16, SpectraLayers Pro 11, iZotope RX11 Advanced and many other iZ plugins, Vegasaur 4.0

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rraud wrote on 7/12/2021, 9:36 AM

What format is the event's file. Cakewalk may not have the particular codec.
Take a look at the audio file's attributes with MediaInfo.

Does the same problem arise with Audacity (free)?

How about with Sound Forge?

Werner_NOR wrote on 7/13/2021, 1:03 AM

I have tried both open a copy and open in external audio editor. The result is the same. It doesnt recognize the copy and gives an error message. When I make a copy from the timeline the original shouldnt matter as vegas creates a wavfile.

Anyway, I will not continue on this path. Too many problems. I will go back to Oceanaudio which mostly fits my need forn an external editor, mostly for noise reduction.

Thanks anyway

Musicvid wrote on 7/13/2021, 9:27 AM

@Werner_NOR

@rraud gave you a clear path to identifying and solving your problem, by providing the necessary file properties. You should use that path, unless you are just here to speculate.

If you are reporting that Cakewalk does not work as an external audio editor from Vegas, that is not surprising. Neither does Sound Forge 7.

[EDIT /] Cakewalk does not use the "Open" command for audio, thus the error message you see. It uses File->Import->Audio instead. There is no way around this, unfortunately.

To open a WAV file you created with Vegas in Cakewalk, use File->Import->Audio.

rraud wrote on 7/13/2021, 10:13 AM

When I make a copy from the timeline the original shouldnt matter as vegas creates a wavefile.

Yes, but that is only with the 'Open copy in audio editor' command. Copying the event from the VP timeline (Ctrl+C) and attempting to paste it into Sound Forge and most other audio 'editors' will not work.

OTOH, 'Open in audio editor' opens the audio file directly in Sound Forge or other designated 'audio editor' .. providing the editing app has the needed codec if it's a 'lossy' file type.

 

Werner_NOR wrote on 7/13/2021, 11:57 AM

I only use 'open copy in audio editor'. Vegas then creates a copy and places it in the media pane. I can drag this copy (wav) direct onto the timeline in Cakewalk and play back there etc without any problem. But the program will not open directly from Vegas. For me audio is important because I like a clean sound without much background noise, therefore noise reduction is important.

I have some add ons in Vegas that I use, for instance some equalizers from Izotope etc, that I can use in Vegas directly. But I havent found a way to reduce noise easily. I used to do that in Audacity, but have changed to Ocean Audio to do the same thing.

I like to try need programs to see if I like them and if they fit my videos. If they are free even better.

Maybe I will end up with Sound Forge in the end, but not at the moment.

Musicvid wrote on 7/13/2021, 1:30 PM

You may have missed my edit:

[EDIT /] Cakewalk does not use the "Open" command for audio, thus the error message you see. It uses File->Import->Audio instead. There is no way around this, unfortunately. [/]

rraud wrote on 7/13/2021, 2:24 PM

Along with Sound Forge and my go-to plug-ins, the integrated DAW in Vegas Pro is substantial. I rarely need to use anything else, except when side-chaining is needed.

Cakewalk is (or was) more of a multi-track DAW than a dedicated 'editor'.

Werner_NOR wrote on 7/15/2021, 5:05 AM

Well, I got a very good offer on SoundForge 15 - around usd 66 converted from my local currency. This included Izotope Elements 9 (which I already had) and some CoreFX addins. So at that price I didnt see the point in not buying it - so I did. But I guess it will take some time to learn to fully utilize it.