Mixcraft

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Mixcraft is a multitrack recording application for Windows. The software functions as a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), MIDI sequencer, virtual instrument host, and as a music loop remix program.

Acoustica Mixcraft
Developed by Acoustica Inc.
Latest release 4.1 Build 91
OS Microsoft Windows
Genre Digital audio workstation
License Proprietary
Website http://www.acoustica.com/mixcraft

The current version of Mixcraft is 4.1. Version 4.1 adds many new features over the previous version 3.0, most notably support for MIDI sequencing and VSTi virtual instruments. Mixcraft 4.1 includes a large extended General MIDI instrument library, a polyphonic synthesizer instrument that recreates the sound of classic 1980s keyboard instruments, an instrument that models the famous Minimoog analog synthesizer, a modeled Hammond B3 simulator, and two professional sampled grand piano instruments. Mixcraft 4.1 also features a guitar amplifier simulator effect, a spectrum analyzer plugin, 880 new sound effect sounds, as well as support for Windows Vista WaveRT low latency drivers.

Contents

[edit] Major features

Major features of Mixcraft include:

  • MIDI Recording and Sequencing. This feature allows you to record MIDI data played on one or more MIDI controller keyboard. Users can also enter and edit notes manually using a piano roll interface.
  • VSTi Virtual Instrument support. This feature allows software-based musical instruments to be played, sequenced, and recorded inside of Mixcraft. Virtual instruments generate all instrument sounds entirely within software.
  • Multitrack Recording. This feature allows users to create recordings from multiple sound card inputs simultaneously.
  • Sony ACID Pro and Apple Computer GarageBand loop support. This feature allows audio loops from popular libraries to be imported and used within Mixcraft. Mixcraft will time stretch and pitch shift the loops to match the current project tempo and key. Throughout the project, the tempo and key can be changed.
  • Automatic Remixing. This feature will attempt to detect the tempo and key of a prerecorded song, and change the tempo to match the project tempo. In this way, songs of varying tempos can be mixed and matched, and layered with new drum beat loops, to created a custom remix.
  • Time stretching and Pitch shifting. Mixcraft uses an advanced algorithm to provide high quality time stretching and pitch shifting while minimizing CPU usage.
  • VST and DirectX effects. Unlimited effects (e.g. reverb, delay, EQ) can be added to each track, and unlimited global effects can be added to the project. Mixcraft includes Plug-In Delay Compensation technology, and will work properly with time stretching DirectX effects. Thhese plugins can be downloaded from KVR Audio.
  • Support for multiple mixdown formats, including MP3, WAV, WMA, and Ogg Vorbis file formats. Mixcraft will import audio in any of these formats, and will also import AIFF files as well.
  • A large library of virtual instruments, loops, sound effects, and audio effects is included with Mixcraft. Sounds and loops within the library are downloaded directly within the application, minimizing the size of the initial installer.

[edit] Price

The price of Mixcraft 4.1 is currently US$74.95, with an electronic download price of US$64.95. A free 7-day unlimited trial is available on the Acoustica web site. Unlike most trials, most features are still active when the trial expires, with the exception of burning CDs and outputting music mixes to a single audio file.

[edit] Awards

  • Mixcraft 4 was given Keyboard Magazine's top honor, their Key Buy award, by Craig Anderton in the May 2008 issue.
  • Mixcraft 4 was given Computer Music Magazine's Computer Music Value Award, along with a product review score of 8 out of 10, in the May 2008 issue.

[edit] History

Version 3.0 contained many improvements over the previous version 2.51, including a new graphic user interface (GUI), multitrack recording, and support for music loops from Sony ACID Pro and Apple Computer GarageBand.

[edit] External links