In the world of live performance and MIDI control, Cantabile stands out as a powerful software used by musicians for its flexibility and real-time responsiveness. But one question users often ask is: how do I delete a song in Cantabile? Whether you’re cleaning up your setlists or permanently removing unused files, doing it properly avoids broken references and performance issues.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from setlist cleanup to permanent file deletion, with pro tips for keeping your Cantabile environment organized.
Understanding How Songs Work in Cantabile
Before you dive into deletion, you need to understand what a “song” is in Cantabile. A song in this software isn’t just a piece of audio—it’s a collection of configurations that includes:
-
MIDI routes
-
Plugin racks
-
Bindings
-
Media player instances
-
States for performance presets
When you save a song, Cantabile creates a .cbsong file on your system. If you delete that file without removing its usage in other parts of the program, you could end up with missing file errors or broken setlists.
That’s why it’s important to first figure out whether you want to:
-
Remove a song from a setlist (but keep the file), or
-
Permanently delete the song file from your system
Both options are valid, depending on your workflow.
Removing a Song from a Setlist
Let’s start with the simpler option: removing a song from a setlist. This does not delete the song file—it only removes its reference from the playlist you use during performances.
How to Remove from Setlist Properly
-
Launch Cantabile and open your active setlist.
-
Locate the song you wish to remove in the list.
-
Right-click the song name or select it and click the “Remove” option.
-
The song disappears from that setlist but remains in your Songs folder.
This is ideal when you’re refining a show or simplifying your live rig for a particular event. The file is untouched, so you can always re-add it later if needed.
Deleting a Song File Permanently
If you’re absolutely sure you no longer need the song, it’s time to delete it from your hard drive. This is a manual process, and Cantabile does not include a direct “Delete Song” button for this reason—because file deletion is a serious step.
Locate Your Cantabile Songs Folder
Cantabile stores song files in a folder you define in its File Locations settings. To find it:
-
Open Cantabile and go to Tools → Options → File Locations.
-
Look under Songs Folder to find the file path.
Navigate to that folder using File Explorer (Windows).
Once you’re in the correct location, you’ll see all your .cbsong files listed. These represent each saved song in Cantabile.
Best Practices Before Deletion
Before deleting any file:
-
Backup the song to a USB, cloud drive, or archive folder.
-
Confirm that the song isn’t being used in any other setlist.
-
If you created custom racks or bindings for that song, verify if those are reused elsewhere.
This minimizes the chance of deleting something important or losing work.
Cleaning Up Linked Items: Racks, Plugins, and Bindings
Deleting a .cbsong file may not remove every component linked to that song. For a thorough cleanup, you may need to manually delete related racks, plugins, or media players that were specific to the song.
Identifying Orphaned Racks and Files
You can scan your Cantabile environment for unused elements by navigating to:
-
Racks Tab: Look for racks named after deleted songs or ones not linked to any song.
-
Bindings Panel: Check for bindings that may reference deleted songs or plugins.
-
Media Player: If you had loaded audio files within a song, these may linger and need to be manually removed.
For example, if you deleted a song named “Piano Ballad,” but it had a custom rack named PianoBalladRack.cbrack, that rack still remains unless you manually delete it too.
Maintaining a Clean and Efficient Cantabile Setup
Maintaining an optimized workspace isn’t just about deletion—it’s also about organization. Follow these tips to keep your Cantabile environment tidy and efficient:
Tips to Stay Organized
-
Create separate folders for each album, tour, or project within your Cantabile Songs directory.
-
Use clear naming conventions like
2025_JazzShow_OpeningSong.cbsongto find files faster. -
Delete redundant copies after consolidating your setups.
-
After updating plugins or settings, re-save songs with updated references to avoid loading errors.
-
Use version control with file naming (e.g.,
MySong_v1.cbsong,MySong_v2.cbsong) instead of overwriting. -
Periodically review your Songs and Racks folders and clean up anything older than a certain date.
This ensures you’re always working with a clean slate, and it makes backup management far easier.
Summary Table: Song Deletion Paths
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Remove from Setlist | Removes the song from performance playlist but keeps the file. |
| Delete File from Songs Folder | Permanently deletes the .cbsong file from your computer. |
| Remove Related Racks | Manually delete unused plugin racks linked to the song. |
| Clean Bindings & Plugins | Prevents loading errors or system clutter. |
Final Words
Knowing how to delete a song in Cantabile is essential for any user who regularly updates or reorganizes their music setup. Whether you’re prepping for a new tour, cleaning up an old session, or eliminating outdated songs, doing it right keeps your software smooth and your performances stress-free.
Always start by removing songs from your setlists, then move to file-level deletion only when you’re sure the song isn’t needed. And remember: a little organization today saves hours of confusion later.
If you ever face issues like “song file not found” or broken racks, chances are a deletion wasn’t done completely or correctly. Revisit this guide anytime you need to refresh your workflow.
