In the previous article, we have talked about a choice of your first digital audio workstation and we have picked Mixcraft to start your journey with. If you have already installed this programme on your computer according to the guidelines given before, you are ready to use it. This article will help you to understand how to navigate Mixcraft and what exactly can be done with the help of this popular software.
Mixcraft: when installation is completed
Upon the opening up of the .exe file, you will end up with some sort of “Demo” track. This is where you can see how Mixcraft works by listening to the track and, of course, feel free to tweak stuff to see how it works and sounds in Mixcraft. This is a good sneak peak before you jump in with your personal projects.
If you now go to select from the top panel, and select a new one, you will end up on a new screen with a fresh start. This prompt box will ask you for some configuration you want to make to your project. Usually, this contains the BPM, beats per minute or the tempo, time signature, title of your project, the scale with which you want to start and paths to where you want to save your project. With these options set, you are at the fresh and empty place or canvas where your construction of imagination of sound begins.
Working with your projects
From here, most the things are pretty self explanatory and require just like any other programme, some basic exploration. Feel free to navigate through the features it provides. The GUI (Graphical User Interface ) is so neat and soothing at eye in this programme that you just cannot help but to poke around. Most eye-catching piece of the GUI of Mixcraft would be the master volume button and the display, where your time length of the track and other necessary information will be there including time signature.
On the left-hand side there is rack of instruments you can add to. It could be any virtual instrument or an audio track to live record your instruments or sing your heart out. There you will have some panning, volume level, name/rename of the track, and most noticeably the FX rack, where you can add various effect processors like delay, reverb, chorus, distortion or other wide range of built-in or third party effects. With each of these tracks, you have the option to automate your sound. Little plus + button drops down the automation section. On the bottom, you have your piano roll section, project manager, library or mixer.
Personally I have been using Mixcraft for over a decade and I like it most for its simplicity. Sound is not as rich as in some of the other workstations but with some skill and tweaks, you can make the audio sound so.