Now that I got your attention (sorry for the silly title)

Wow, just dug this one out of my old Mixcraft-6 Home Studio files. This was my FIRST song I created using MC Home Studio. Made this little test the same day I got the program.

Nothing special, full of mistakes, but man what you can do with a program that costs less than 50 bucks is amazing. MC is a full featured DAW that comes with plenty of VST's to get you started out of the box. Not top notch, but TBH some of the Acoustica Presets are actually REALLY good.

I've since upgraded to the Standard MC6 version, but had a blast with Home Studio too.

I wanted this little song to sound more live rather than "compressed" or "off an album". I intentionally "over saturated" the effects on a few tracks. This is far from PRO LEVEL, but it was fun recording this. I'm thinking of going back and "re-balancing the mix" on this one just for some kicks.

I know a few people here have been curious about this program and there are a few of us using it.

https://soundcloud.com/d-provost/mixcraft-6-homestudio

Very nice: I especially love the sax sound, but the electric guitar was very convincing too.
Actually, following Donny's and your own advice, I have bought Mixcraft 6 Pro, but haven't yet had the opportunity to record with it. What sold me was the ability to load my own loops (besides the 6500 and more included with the program) and sync them with the audio tracks. The only other programs that can do that (like Sony Acid) cost three times as much...

Nice clean recording Squeak, great chops - but it sounded a bit heavy on the bass. Really liked the sax sound, too.

Gary

Sqeak nice job,....MIXCRAFT ROCKS!!!! I love it!

http://www.acoustica.com/mixcraft/

Thanks fellas!

Gary, I thought it was a bit bass heavy too. Interesting though is that the bass track was way down. I think the issue is "conflicting effects". When I did this song I was still learning how to use the software. At the time I had no idea how useful setting up a SEND channel is for the effects.

I think I'll go back and play with this one and set up a SEND channel for the reverb. That should do wonders for the mix. Plus ease up the load on my CPU.

Thanks for listening fellas.

The bassiness comes from the kick... a hair tubby, but on my flat monitors, not as bad as some might think (most people have their home speakers a bit 'smile-y').

Nice first effort... I might have put some tempo based delay on the synth lead, but otherwise, nice mix. When the drum track is so ambient, you need to make sure everything sits in roughly the same 'space' or you get disconnects between the different elements.

Diki that is an accurate explanation of what the
Yamaha S-950 "AUDIO STYLES" sound like..

Exactly... Yamaha over-hyped all the ambience on the audio styles, but their internal reverb can't match them.

Maybe Yamaha will start making more practical mixes once the 'look at what WE did!' buzz dies down..? I have to admit, Ketron do a FAR better job of getting the drum room sound right on their audio styles.

I still think it's a dead end, though. Unless PERFECT, these audio loops are a waste of time. Can't fix ANYTHING wrong with them.

I'm still astounded at the total silence from the Yamaha users about no looping on the multipad audio feature. Can't anyone see how useful this would be? Put your OWN drum loops in...

If the day ever comes when all factory styles on yammys is AUDIO....I will definite say Bye Bye...

You're right Diki. Earlier I went back in to have another listen (with more "fresh ears"-and really also having an overall better understanding of the DAW's features).

The drum track needed a reduction in the EQ to reduce the low end, but what really made a HUGE difference to it was that I set up a SEND track. I was right about the "conflicting effects". I set up a SEND track to handle a "global reverb" across the board. BAM.., major difference. I didn't realize I had so many different reverbs running (choc it up to just learning the software though).

After setting up a SEND track, EQ'ing the drum track, and doing some minute mixer changes, it sounds much better. I think I may actually have another go with this one and redo the piece completely now that I'm more proficient with the DAW.

** I am kinda tempted to hook up my S-700 and see how this thing sounds with Yammies Sweet Soprano Sax, and record that as an Audio Track **. So glad I'm switching over to a PC set up. I like my hardware units, but man, using a DAW with some good VST's can't be beat.

Making some major changes to my home set up. Selling my Roland Juno Di and selling my RS-70. My new Midi Controller/Control Surface will arrive soon ("MINT" M-Audio Axiom Pro 61) to replace my Juno-Di as a controller. Will be keeping the S-700 around though.

Thanks for listening folks.

That's a pretty nice composition you have there, squeak. Sounds great, especially for your first Mixcraft effort.


Thanks for the music,
Dan

Excellent stuff, Squeak! The arrangement is what I usually call, "simple but effective". It really works in this tune.

Some of your solos reminded very much of the work done by these young synth playing ladies, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaKgL8UhWRU&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL45D3E8E2D76F7B2F

Check out some of their other work.


but you are managing to get great results without the pile of vintage synths these girls have at their disposal.

Great work Squeak...you are always an inspiration to me regarding getting the most out of our gear.


Ian