When it comes to working strictly with MIDI, I will typically reach for Ableton Live, but if I know I’ll be working with audio inputs from microphones and instruments, I know I’ll end up in Logic Pro at some point. Each one offers some variation in user experience and some DAWs are better for particular workflows than others.

There are a lot of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) out there. Hopefully, at the very least, Cakewalk can stop you from making the same mistakes I made.

If Cakewalk had been around and available for free back in 2013 I might have also avoided pouring dozens of hours into recording a mediocre EP in my dorm room using Audacity. If the response file is valid, the program will be activated.If you are a PC user who does not yet have a DAW that fits your workflow, I would absolutely recommend giving Cakewalk a try: you have nothing to lose!

Select the Activation response.dat file and click Open.

In Cakewalk, go to Help > Offline Activation > Import Activation Response to open the Import activation response dialog box.

Copy the Activation response.dat file to removable media that you can transfer back to your offline Cakewalk computer.

If activation is granted, BandLab Assistant generates an Activation response.dat file.

Under Cakewalk by BandLab, click the drop-down arrow next to the Open button, then click Process Offline Activation Request.

Using an online computer, open BandLab Assistant and sign in with your BandLab username and password.

Copy the Activation request.crq file to removable media such as a USB flash drive that you can transfer to another computer with an active internet connection.

This file is encrypted and machine-specific and can only be used to activate Cakewalk on the machine originally used to create the Activation request.crq file. Cakewalk saves an Activation request.crq file.

Select the folder you want to save the activation request file to, then click Save.

In Cakewalk, go to Help > Offline Activation > Export Activation Request to open the Save activation request dialog box.

To use offline activation, follow these steps: If Cakewalk is installed on a computer that is not connected to the internet, you can use offline activation as long as you have access to another computer that is connected to the internet.

Cakewalk bandlab