Demo Center >Mixcraft

What's new in Mixcraft 5 Video (very cool stuff)...

Getting Started Plan (7 steps to success)

(the links below will take you to greater depth explanations at www.acoustica.com - the creators of Mixcraft):

So you want to get something done in a hurry, eh?  Let's follow our favorite musician Sound Warrior (SW) through the paces of using Mixcraft.

1. Sounds or Loops

SW starts Mixcraft and clicks the Loop Library Tab.  He selects the style 12-8 Blues and drags in Bass 16 Bars to the start of track 1.  He scrolls down to Drums Hat & Snare 1 to the start of track 2. More on loading sounds...

2. Create loop

To add looping, SW moves his mouse to the right side of the sound until the cursor turns into the left-right resize cursor .  SW clicks and drags to the right to loop the sound.  Each loop is represented by a triangular tick so that he can visibly measure out 10 loops.  In this manner, SW loops both the bass and drums.

3. Records a Lead Synth Pad

SW hooks up his MIDI keyboard and creates a Virtual Instrument Track.  He finds a groovy synth lead and records himself.  In a few spots, he played the wrong note and so he simply goes to the Piano Roll Editor and moves the notes to the right spots!

4. Records Himself

SW writes down some quick lyrics about how square wheels just don't get you rolling.  He clicks the Arm button on track 3 and clicks the Rewind button in case the playback indicator is not at time 0.  He then clicks the record button on the Master Bar and start belting out his Grammy winning performance.  When he is done, he clicks the Stop button!

5. Add effects

He decides to add some echo or delay to his vocals so that "yo cave lady" sounds more like "YO yo CAVE cave LADY lady".  He clicks on the FX button on track 3 and selects the effect "Delay" from the list.  In a sudden inspiration, he decides that the whole thing needs reverb so that it sounds like it's in a cave and clicks on the Project Details Tab to add a global reverb effect.  Now it sounds just right and 'cavey'.

6. Mix it down to MP3

Soundwarrior needs to mix it down to a single sound.  He chooses File then choose Mix Down To followed by clicking MP3.  He selects a file name and clicks save.  Without hesitating he launches his email browser and starts composing a new message to his current #1 fan.  "Dear Mom, you've gotta check out this new cave mix I made!!!"

7. Burn it to CD

With himself he decides to burn a spinning wheel (also known as a CD) so that he can play it at the next 'rock' concert.  He adds a few track CD markers so that he has tracks on his CD, and clicks the Burn button.