> reviews / acoustica mixcraft pro studio 7 A c o u s t i c a M i x c r a f t Pro Studio 7 $165 This lesser-known DAW for Windows gets a major update that puts it on more of an even footing with the big boys Acoustica’s Mixcraft (version 6 reviewed in of Audio Warping and Audio Quantization. Both and 52 efects (25 in standard). It’s a solid 184, 9/10) is a ‘budget’ Windows DAW with work well, as do the new and improved Time- enough package, but do be aware that some of a sizeable collection of bundled instruments and Stretching and Pitch-Shifting algorithms. them can be had for free or cheap elsewhere. efects, and version 7 adds a slew of new features As for MIDI programming, the Piano Roll’s Through its six major updates, Mixcraft has that should see it taken considerably more new Step Editor enables beats and patterns to evolved from a basic starter app to a genuinely seriously. Perhaps the most signiicant upgrade be constructed on a grid, with drums or notes impressive DAW, taking on features normally is that the software is now 64-bit (with a 32-bit listed down the left-hand side, and each ‘lane’ associated with costlier alternatives – and this version still included). Mixcraft 7 comes in two assignable to any MIDI note. Patterns can be latest version represents a particularly big step versions – Mixcraft 7 and Mixcraft Pro Studio 7 – sent as clips to the Performance Panel or any forward. If you’re already a Mixcraft user, difering only in that the latter includes position on the host track. Intuitive and familiar. upgrading is a no-brainer. If you’re not, you more plugins. really ought to give the demo a try. The new Performance Panel opens just to the ’Crafty business left of the track lanes. Here, clips and loops can Mixcraft’s roster of bundled instruments and Web www.acoustica.com be dragged or pasted into a grid from Windows efects keeps on growing, with new additions Mixcraft Pro Studio 7 Upgrade from PS6, $55; Explorer or Mixcraft’s own project tracks, where headlined by two new samplers and the wicked Mixcraft 7 $90 (or $20/m for six months); they can be triggered individually or as ME80 V2 from Memory Moo – an emulation of Upgrade from Mixcraft 6, $29.95 vertically aligned ‘sets’. This is great fun for live the mighty Yamaha CS80 synth, now with jamming, and you can record your triggering 64-bit support, a new look and improved sound. performances to the project tracks. It’s There’s also Glass Viper, a nifty digital synth that Alternatively obviously inspired by Ableton Live and, like that enters DX7 and D50 territory with its crystalline, Cockos Reaper 4 program, is fast, intuitive and inspirational. atmospheric sound. Also worthy of mention is 170 » 9/10 » $60 MIDI controller support has been expanded the playback-only Journeys, powered by Applied If you’re in the market for a low- signiicantly, with newly-added support for a Acoustics Systems’ modelling technology, which cost DAW, this one’s a must-see range of non-standard units including the delivers plucked strings and winds, and Frontier Design Tranzport, Novation Launchpad excellent percussion sounds. Cakewalk Sonar Artist and anything using the Mackie Control protocol. Mixcraft’s efects have been given a boost, N/A » N/A » $99 Related to that, Mixcraft now allows viewing of too, with the addition of Studio Devil’s slick Get started with the big-name DAW multiple automation lanes at once. Virtual Bass Amp, Fusion Field convolution and its suite of instruments/efects Again (and like pretty much every other DAW reverb, SideKick6 sidechain compressor and a on the market over the last few years) taking a dozen more, bringing the Pro version’s total up lead from Live, Mixcraft 7 sees the introduction to 20 instruments (15 in the standard version), Verdict For 64-bit, at last Performance Pads are a blast Ample sampling? Step sequencer for easier beats Multiple automation lanes Acoustica are trumpeting Mixcraft 7’s two sampler’, but it’s OK for quick results. Useful, high-quality instruments & efects new samplers as a selling point, but in reality, Omni Sampler is a drum sampler with 128 Audio warping they’re not up to serious production work. pads, each holding one sample, of which 16 Alpha Sampler is built for pitched playback can be viewed at a time. Each pad has play, Against Samplers are very basic via a keyboard. An A/R envelope, low-pass mute and solo buttons, and the right-hand Some plugins are available as freeware ilter, mod wheel-controlled LFO and pitch side of the interface contains a set of obvious controls are included. You can reverse the parameters that can be applied globally or The included plugins may be a mixed bag, single loaded sample, set the root key, sync to individual samples: loop and reverse, but Mixcraft 7 is a capable DAW that gives the LFO and engage a bitcrusher efect. Lo-Fi processing, pitch, ilter and AR the pricier competition a run for its money Looping is possible, as are both monophonic envelopes, and LFO control via mod wheel. and polyphonic playback. It’s no ‘advanced It’s no Battery, but again, it’ll do in a pinch. 9/10 102 / COMPUTER MUSIC / May 2015 CMU216.rev_mixcraft7.indd 102 09/03/2015 17:40.