Recording - March 2013 - 45
Mixcraft 6. Most importantly, Mixcraft now
supports both Punch-In/Out recording and
loop recording with unlimited multiple takes.
The Punch-In/Out feature is as easy to use
as I have ever encountered in a DAW, and
the multiple-take loop recorder works flawlessly, allowing the comping of the best segments of each of the takes right from within
Mixcraft’s audio editing environment.
Mixcraft now allows adding unlimited
lanes to any audio, MIDI, or video track
in Mixcraft. This is an incredibly useful
feature. One helpful use is in stacking
clips on an audio track. If you put each
clip into its own lane, finding and manipulating it is exponentially simplified.
Similarly, when using a multitimbral VSTi,
it is possible to use one track for the instrument and assign mulitimbral parts each to
its own lane and assign a control MIDI
channel for the lane. My mind is boggled
by the numerous ways lanes could be
applied to video tracks.
Speaking of video...
The video capability of Mixcraft 6
remains exceptional for a nominally
audio-centric product, but the upgrade
hasn’t added as much as I hoped it would.
While the addition of flexible titling and
some rather impressive video effects are
nice touches, I would rather have seen
more improvement in simple video editing
capabilities. It should not be expected that
Mixcraft become a comprehensive non-linear video editor, but some simple additions to its capability would make it a goto tool for a large number of musicians
who shoot digital video (i.e., anyone with
a smart phone who wants to produce HD
YouTube videos).
The most perplexing omission in
Mixcraft 6 is the lack of ability to produce
non-overlap video transitions. Even one
simple dissolve transition would have
been greatly appreciated. That said, I
can’t think of a DAW product that competes with Mixcraft in this area. There is
no question in my mind that Mixcraft
remains the easiest way to add complex
musical scores to a video production.
Two versions
As mentioned, all of the differences
between Mixcraft 6 and Mixcraft Pro Studio
6 involve additional content. Everything thus
far mentioned applies to both levels of the
program, as does the doubling the size of its
loop and effects library to over 6000 wellcrafted high-quality loops, and an improved
search function that lets you find what you
need very quickly.
Both releases also get the new Acoustica
Studio Drums Collection, a nicely recorded
and very dynamic set of acoustic and electric drum/percussion sounds. Also included
are two ‘60s-era combo electronic organs,
and both releases get the EZQ equalizer,
“the world’s easiest equalizer”, as well as
the Broadcast Multiband Compressor,
which provides dynamics limiting that can
make your recordings sound as loud as
your neighbor’s...
As would be expected, at twice the price,
the Pro version gets more add-ons. Mixcraft
provides an exclusive version of iZotope’s
Mastering Essentials bundle that includes a
room simulation reverb, a 4-band mastering
equalizer, and a ‘Tube Amplifier Module”
that includes a compressor, a limiter, and a
saturation effect. These are heavily borrowed from Izotope’s Ozone effects and are
outstanding processors.
Also included in Pro are a well-designed
Acoustica 31-band graphic eq and a very
smooth-sounding and CPU-light reverb, as
well as G-Sonique’s vintage parametric
equalizer and FAT+ overdrive and tape
saturation emulation plug-ins. Several additional plug-ins and virtual instruments add
to the value of the Pro release. Taken at
value, if you don’t have apps that cover all
of the included instruments and effects, the
Pro Studio release is a very good deal.
Summary
When Mixcraft 5 was released, it did
most of what I needed a DAW to do, and
its video integration exceeded my expectations. Mixcraft 6 increases Mixcraft’s
usability for me, yet still retains its intuitive
controls. This is a remarkable product at
a very reasonable price. With Version 6,
Mixcraft has really become my everyday
DAW... and, seriously, I have yet to open
the manual during a session.
Prices: Mixcraft 6, $74.95; Mixcraft Pro
Studio 6, $149.95
More from: Acoustica,
www.acoustica.com
John Rossi III (john3@recordingmag.com)
is a recording musician and educator living
and working in Naples, FL.
http://www.acoustica.com
http://www.recordingmag.com
Recording - March 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - March 2013
Recording - March 2013
Fade In
Table of Contents
Talkback
Fast Forward
Behringer X32
MXL CR30 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Plug-in Performance on Windows-based DAWs
Steinberg CMC Series USB Controllers For Cubase
Recording’s Showcase of Sounds: Rob Papen Punch
Plug-in Outlet: 2C Audio B2
Universal Audio Precision K-Stereo and Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
Big Money Drums—Part 2
Reviewed & Revisited: Acoustica Mixcraft 6
Plug-in Outlet: Massey Plugins CT5 Compressor
The Mixing Workshop: Better Mixes Through Creative Editing—Part 2 (The Band)
Readers' Tapes
Kush Audio Clariphonic Parallel Equalizer and Clariphonic DSP Plug-in
Plug-in Outlet: Eventide H3000 Factory
Reviewed & Revisited: iZotope Alloy 2
Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 15: Sweet Spot Conundrums—Part 2
Plug-in Outlet: PSP Audioware PSP BussPressor
Advertiser Index
Fade Out
Recording - March 2013 - Recording - March 2013
Recording - March 2013 - Cover2
Recording - March 2013 - 1
Recording - March 2013 - 2
Recording - March 2013 - 3
Recording - March 2013 - Fade In
Recording - March 2013 - 5
Recording - March 2013 - Table of Contents
Recording - March 2013 - 7
Recording - March 2013 - Talkback
Recording - March 2013 - 9
Recording - March 2013 - Fast Forward
Recording - March 2013 - 11
Recording - March 2013 - 12
Recording - March 2013 - 13
Recording - March 2013 - Behringer X32
Recording - March 2013 - 15
Recording - March 2013 - 16
Recording - March 2013 - 17
Recording - March 2013 - 18
Recording - March 2013 - 19
Recording - March 2013 - MXL CR30 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Recording - March 2013 - 21
Recording - March 2013 - Plug-in Performance on Windows-based DAWs
Recording - March 2013 - 23
Recording - March 2013 - 24
Recording - March 2013 - 25
Recording - March 2013 - 26
Recording - March 2013 - 27
Recording - March 2013 - Steinberg CMC Series USB Controllers For Cubase
Recording - March 2013 - 29
Recording - March 2013 - Recording’s Showcase of Sounds: Rob Papen Punch
Recording - March 2013 - 31
Recording - March 2013 - 32
Recording - March 2013 - 33
Recording - March 2013 - Plug-in Outlet: 2C Audio B2
Recording - March 2013 - 35
Recording - March 2013 - Universal Audio Precision K-Stereo and Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
Recording - March 2013 - 37
Recording - March 2013 - 38
Recording - March 2013 - 39
Recording - March 2013 - Big Money Drums—Part 2
Recording - March 2013 - 41
Recording - March 2013 - 42
Recording - March 2013 - 43
Recording - March 2013 - Reviewed & Revisited: Acoustica Mixcraft 6
Recording - March 2013 - 45
Recording - March 2013 - Plug-in Outlet: Massey Plugins CT5 Compressor
Recording - March 2013 - 47
Recording - March 2013 - The Mixing Workshop: Better Mixes Through Creative Editing—Part 2 (The Band)
Recording - March 2013 - 49
Recording - March 2013 - Readers' Tapes
Recording - March 2013 - 51
Recording - March 2013 - 52
Recording - March 2013 - 53
Recording - March 2013 - 54
Recording - March 2013 - 55
Recording - March 2013 - Kush Audio Clariphonic Parallel Equalizer and Clariphonic DSP Plug-in
Recording - March 2013 - 57
Recording - March 2013 - Plug-in Outlet: Eventide H3000 Factory
Recording - March 2013 - 59
Recording - March 2013 - Reviewed & Revisited: iZotope Alloy 2
Recording - March 2013 - 61
Recording - March 2013 - Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 15: Sweet Spot Conundrums—Part 2
Recording - March 2013 - 63
Recording - March 2013 - Plug-in Outlet: PSP Audioware PSP BussPressor
Recording - March 2013 - Advertiser Index
Recording - March 2013 - 66
Recording - March 2013 - 67
Recording - March 2013 - 68
Recording - March 2013 - 69
Recording - March 2013 - 70
Recording - March 2013 - 71
Recording - March 2013 - Fade Out
Recording - March 2013 - Cover3
Recording - March 2013 - Cover4
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