I downloaded this program after reading the review in keyboard magazine..

I like it a lot..Records well, uses VST's with no glitches and includes a very decent GM wavetable..

Has anyone had experiences with the MixCraft4?

I contacted the company and was assured I can use the registration code for all my computers..I am going to purchase the registration code tonight, or tomorrow..
Check it out...download at www.acoustica.com

I tried it and found it to be a very good app for multi track audio recording. Midi editing is ok but not on par with some of the other programs in it's price range ( I don't much care for the small window at the bottom of the screen ). I had some issues with a few of my vst apps with it too, but I still think for the price, if you don't need to rely too heavily on vst plug-ins and a lot of midi editing it's a very good app for the price.

My preference on the lower end of the scale would be for Cockos Reaper. It has functions on par with the mid-range Cakewalk app ( Sonar Home Studio ) at about a third of the price, plus it is a fully functional shareware. It gets raves at KVR audio and right now is probably the most popular DAW on their forum.

I'm mainly working with FL Studio these days. Multitrack Audio for me was always the weak link in FL in it's previous versions, but with the additon of the "Edison" plug in in the new version 8, I find it to be about as good for audio as any of the top enders. It's always been my favorite for midi editing, and though it's main strength has always been as a step sequencer / drum app, I find it to be excellent for linear ( traditional Cakewalk / Cubase type ) sequencing and editing as well. It also seems to handle my vst apps better than anything else I've tried.. less flaws and crashes and better CPU management.


Regards,

AJ

AJ, thanks for your comments..

I didn't have any problems with the VST's I tried..

I liked the way my EMU controller worked with Mixcraft 4...Just click on any track and the controller automatically played the vst assigned to the track and easily can change the instrument..

I also like the way it records audio, and seems to handle the midi/audio mix well..

The tempo and key change works easily [better than Adobe Audition and Acid Pro]..and saves just as easily to the location of your choice..

The included VST instruments are very good [organ , pianos, synth], as are the GM wavetables[better than M-Audio key rig]..

Over all I liked it a lot....in fact I ordered the boxed version...

There are so called "cracked" versions on the internet, but I suggest others do as I have...pay for the software, and support efforts to make all great software available to us in the future...

I give Mixcraft 4 a thumbs up...

I will report back after I have used it more..with positives or negatives...but what I have tried so far...works well...

I'll give another 'thumbs up' for Cockos REAPER. I have everything double-plugged into both Reaper (via Alesis I/O 26) and my DPS24. Although the DPS probably sounds a tad better (better clocks, converters, pre's, etc.), the speed and convenience of Reaper (and the computer) is making me slowly lean in the direction of the computer. If you take the time to learn REAPER in-depth, it's hard to beat for the price.

chas

Hope it works well for you Fran. My chief problem with it was that it wasn't able to handle the mfx to vst wrapper that I use with FL. With the mfx wrapper I can still use all the Music Lab MFX plug-ins I bought a while back ( Rythym n Chords, Slicy Drummer etc ), along with some freeware ones that were developed for use in Sonar. MFX plugs were propietary to Cakewalk, and also to Cubase in earlier versions. MFX wrapppers changed that, but some hosts still can't work with them.

I use neither CW or Cubase, though on PC I only tried Cubase in an SE version that came bundled with other software. I do still have an Atari version that works well.

I am several versions behind on Sonar and because of the way it handles ( or sometimes mishandles ) Vsti, I'm not willing to spend the bucks to keep upgrading. I purchased FL at version 4, all of the upgrdes are free, which has enticed me to grab a few of the excellent plug ins Image Line sells, such as Sytrus.

Chas,

I came close to purchasing a license for Reaper to use it in tandem with FL, but right as I considered it FL released v8 which added some excellent audio recording features and I'm basically set with it for everything except final mixdowns ( still like Cool Edit pro for that ). I also realize that FL's way of working may not be the best for some who might prefer the true linear sequencing and editing of a traditional DAW like Sonar. It also isn't particularly good for recording several tracks at once ( band setting comes to mind ). At a fraction of the cost Reaper should more than fit the bill. I think it's a fine app for the money and I am going to purchase the license anyway for times when I need to record multiple tracks in one take.

Regards,

AJ

AJ, I am using Mixcraft4 as a stand alone..I did try the pluggins that came with Mixcraft4 with in Forte [wrapper]..and all worked except the protected organ module [I already knew it would not]..

All the pluggin VST effects seem to work fine...

So far I am well pleased with Mixcraft4.

I also have many digital workstation software.[Acid Pro, Sonar, Cubase, Ableton, Adobe Audition , and many more]...but I like the simplicity of Mixcraft4...and it works great...so far..

For the little cost..and what a great value with the added goodies[the GM wavetable and pluggin effects]..it was a must have program for me..

Fran,

I agree there. Sometimes I would get a little overwhelmed with Sonar and I'd spend more time trying to program properly to complement my workflow than I did creating. I often used N track Studio for that very reason before I started collecting a lot of Vst's. N Track never did get along well with a lot of my Vst's or with multiple soundcards.

I had no problems with a few of the Vst plug ins I tried in Mixcraft. Just the mfx wrapper. It's probably the wrapper's problem, not Mixcraft's, as it also doesn't work well in Xlutop chainer. I Iiked Chainer but I replaced it a while back with Sonic Bytes Phrazor, as the latter allows midi syncing and has a pattern sequencer in the interface. I figure if nothing else, if I want step sequencing functions I can open up Phrazor or even FL inside of Reaper if I choose to use it as my host app. I like Reaper because it's very simple to record both the Audio output and midi output's of any of my softsynths back to an Audio or midi track. I had to jump through way too many hoops to do either in Sonar and SQ01, and also in the past FL versions. I didn't get that far with Mixcraft to see how that would work. Midi editng in it didn't appear to be what I'd like vs what I already have, but if it has reliable audio time stretch and slicing functions, sometimes I prefer working that way anyway vs trying to edit midi files.

At the end of the day, we each will have different ways of working, so no one App is going to be the best for everyone. I agree that both Mixcraft and Reaper are great values vs the cost, and so is FL, when compared to Cubase, Sonar, etc.

Reagrds,
AJ

[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 04-25-2008).]

Fran, I'm not trying to convert you by any means. I would just like to point out (something most everyone already knows) that one VERY important thing to consider when deciding on an APP is the degree, level, and quality, of both the USER support (app-specific forums) and the company's own tech support (including free and frequent updates). In this regard, I believe REAPER tops most of the others in this price range. Updates, improvements, and bug-fixes are constant (and free) and the user group is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. No wars going on over there, just good tips, sound advice, and near instant response to reported bugs. Also, a fantastic set of plugs if you take the time to learn how to use them. Then there is that under 4mg size and near-instant load time. It's incredible how they're able to squeeze that much power out of so little code.

I'm sure that Mixcraft is a great, inexpensive App as well; I'm not familiar with it. Plus, if it's as simple as you say, it'll probably meet a lot of people's needs, especially if they don't have a lot of experience in recording. I think we should all stay on the lookout for and report any great apps that we run across that might be of interest to others on this forum. Good find.

chas