Cakewalk Momentum: Your cloud syncable, DAW dragable, 4-track recorder
Cakewalk Momentum · Source: Cakewalk
Cakewalk Momentum · Source: Cakewalk
Cakewalk Momentum · Source: Cakewalk
Cakewalk Momentum · Source: Cakewalk
We had a little teaser video from Cakewalk about something called “Momentum” a couple of weeks back. Turns out I was bang on with my suggestions on what it would be about. Momentum is a recording app that lets you take those recordings from any device to any other device, music software or DAW.
Momentum
It’s a phone app of course. Utilising the built-in microphone and storage space that many musicians already use for quick, impromptu recordings. The tricky bit is getting that recording into something where you can pursue that idea. Momentum is an app for iOS and Android which will capture that idea and upload it to the Cloud. Then, through desktop plugins (Windows VST, AAX and Mac AU, AAX) you can drag-and-drop your recordings directly into whatever DAW you are using. There’s no special tie-in with Sonar, this will work with anything.
The app itself offers 4 track audio recording with editing, looping and effects. So you can add some reverb to your voice, crunch to your guitar and come up with a half decent demo just in Momentum. Then pull it all into your DAW. Create a mix, upload that and share it with a friend. Get them to add a vocal line and bring it back into your DAW. It’s the sort of audio connection between desktop and phone that we’ve been after for ages. And it’s built for the purpose, you’re not having to mess around in Dropbox or OneDrive, or (heaven forbid) trying to import audio via iTunes. It’s audio-only at the moment, no support for internal synths or sounds but you could Audiobus sounds in from other music making apps.
The price of the Cloud
Cloud stuff tends to involve servers and running costs and so Momentum is set up as a subscription style service. However, for free you can have 3 ideas of 5 minutes in length at MP3 quality. I guess an “idea” is a single project. And yes you can keep recording into those 3 projects for essentially infinite recordings. But there are two other levels of access. “Basic” gives you unlimited ideas, 5 minutes in length and MP3 quality for $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year. “Pro” takes the recording time to 60 minutes, with lossless audio and lets you record from your DAW back into Momentum for $9.99 or $99.99 a year.
So the question becomes how useful is the free version? Would that revolutionise your way of working or does a revolution require a tenner a month? Hmm… tricky to answer. Overall I think it’s a great idea which immediately sorts out a number things I’ve struggled with. Simply as a 4 track recorder it’s pretty cool and looks fabulous. And the ease at which you can drag that into your DAW is pretty alluring. It’s just whether the subscriptions are worth it for what you’re doing.
If you’re interested then they have set up a page to accept applicants for early access.
More information
- Momentum webpage.
Video
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One response to “Cakewalk Momentum: Your cloud syncable, DAW dragable, 4-track recorder”
Love the idea – I am forever recording into my iphone6, ended up with 50gigs of vids…. however….pls tell Cakewalk their demo vid is classic geek bubbledegook. The geek attitude is U must learn our world look at how smart we are. Thankfully NI are one company who recognise that most dont want or need to know whats under the bonnet. Push a button, indicate, turn steering wheel & we’re on our way. When it dies throw it in a reducer bin and 3D another one…..Yes? Love this Momentum gadget though. It will save me lots of money til I know what I’m doing re a home studio. ThankU cakewalk