You shouldn't expect a steep learning curve with any software made by a company that calls them selves "Cakewalk." Sonar 8 certainly isn't a labarynthine DAW, and with multiple version targeted at different users, you'd think Cakewalk had their bases covered. Still, some folks want the simplest experience possible for their own home recording and audio projects, and for them the company offers Cakewalk Music Creator 5.

Music Creator 5 benefits from the recent Sonar upgrade to version 8, particularly in its interface, which is even easier to understand and more workflow-conducive. Audio, MIDI and even Video files are all displayed in the track view, and Music Creator utilizes simple looping functions for quick music production.

Packaged as an "out-of-the-box quick-start recording solution, Music Creator 5 features the Cakewalk Sound Center, which offers quick access to many of the virtual instruments that Sonar users enjoy, including piano, string and woodwind sounds, as well as a few patches from the Rapture soft synth plugin. Music Creator 5 even comes with "Studio Instruments Drums", an advanced, yet simple to use drum kit plugin. Cakewalk's relationship with Roland also benefits MC5 users, as the Roland TTS-1 virtual sound module is included for even more sample-based and synth-based sounds.

The Music Creator 5 Main Interface

In addition to instruments, MC5 features studio-quality effects plugins, including IK Multimedia's Amplitube X-Gear guitar amp simulator, as well as compression and reverb modules. Music Creator does offer support of VST instruments, so your sonic-palette is virtually limitless.

A simple mixing matrix is provided, and you can view MIDI as piano roll style or as musical staff notation. Music Creator makes printing sheet music easy with its integrated notation editor, and burning a CD or exporting internet-ready audio files of your finished projects is as simple as point and click with Cakewalk Publisher, also included.

Supporting up to 24-bit audio projects, 160 total tracks (32 audio and 128 MIDI), video integration, and DirectX, VST, and ReWire plugins, Cakewalk Music Creator 5 seems to be a bit of a music production beast wearing a simple little program's clothing.