Acoustica Mixcraft 4

Acoustica Mixcraft 4 is a PC-based software recording studio. Unlimited tracks, virtual instruments, loops, effects and more. I've been playing bass for 45 years.

Three years ago, seeking to record simple demos on my PC at home, I purchased Steinberg’s Cubase 4, mainly because the software had a great reputation and I was able to get it at an educational discount. Still, the software set me back $400, and the learning curve was rather steep. I had recorded on four track analog machines for years and was familiar with tracking and overdubbing and knew computer interfaces well enough to make editing less than a chore. Still, I found Cubase frustrating and, after a few months, I pretty much gave up. <br><br>A friend had ProTools, but I couldn’t see sinking that kind of money into software I didn’t plan to use professionally. He also had GarageBand, but I had a PC. What to do? An Internet search led me to Acoustica Inc. and Mixcraft, 4.0. Acoustica offered a free trial, and even better, they bundled its virtual drum software, <b>Beatcraft</b>, for less than $100.

<a href="https://www.acoustica.com">https://www.acoustica.com</a>

I had been using Acoustica’s <b>CD Labelmaker</b> for some time and knew their software was reliable. I downloaded the trial program of Mixcraft and had a song laid down, with drums, keyboards and bass, within three hours. I bought the package the same day. I found it intuitive, easy to use, and flexible. The program is very easy to figure out and the amount of virtual instruments provided gives you great flexibility if you have even simple MIDI keyboard.

I have no negative comments. It's a great deal and fun to use. Obviously, a large, widescreen monitor is best to get the maximum size for the interface.

It's software, so there are no 'physical' aspects to comment on. Download and installation was flawless. It has never crashed or hung up on my current machine, which has 6GB of memory and a 2.4 GHz processor.

Mixcraft 4 is a n very affordable, easy to use recording software package from Acoustica, Inc. I was recording and mixing within hours of downloading the free trial and purchased the same day. I expect similar results from <b>Mixcraft 5, </b>just released (March 2010) with an upgrade price of $19.95 for previous users and a first-time user price of $74.95

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

install without pb
easy config
no inconsistency encountered - my config is very light
not use manual - software downloaded and paid online

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

laptop lenovo thinkpad T61P W500 and before, + m-audio profire and sometimes a table yamaha 01V

operation: nothing to say

OVERALL OPINION

good to start with easy, cheap etfficace
used for 2 years to start, before discovering a little ProTools and Reaper; my first DAW soft type; to record and mix channels 6-8
before I had to edit the wave (much) in Sound Forge, obviously audacity, or SiliconGraphics station. Mainly for the video.

features: perhaps Voxengo plugins that are good to start with.

Price / quality: very good, cheap and effective

With experience, I would attack directly with REAPER, even approach "simple and cheap" but better, great community, great future. There are too many of its apps and I think that should reduce ca.