Acoustica Mixcraft Pro 10—new release!:

Acoustica Mixcraft Pro 10 was released this past June (2023), so it's a pretty recent upgrade. I've had Mixcraft Pro since version 8 and I really like it (however, I eventually switched to macOS for music and have been using Logic exclusively since about 2006). But after going DAW-less for the last couple years, I recently got a new touchscreen-PC to host Roland Galaxias, and so I thought I'd give Mixcraft another whirl.

For those new to Acoustica, it's a PC-only DAW that's pretty full-featured. Its claim to fame is its ease-of-use and low price—just $149 for the "Pro" version. Some cool new features include a totally scalable UI, in addition to its modernized facelift. Version 10 also brings a new, customizable hot-key settings screen with a ton of new assignable functions and a new, streamlined plug-in interface—both seem really useful.

I just finished the install, upgrading to Acoustica Mixcraft Pro 10 for just $39 (unsure which version I had, but kudos to Acoustica for the very reasonable upgrade price!). Again, its completely redesigned, updated UI looks really clean and professional, and is still as easy as ever to use. Only played with it for a few minutes, but the animated waveform-graphics make using it both fun and engaging. I miss the online sample-clip browser, but the improved look is great, wheres previous versions were bit amateurish looking.

Whatever the big-name DAWs offer, I don't feel I'm missing much. I think Mixcraft has finally achieved "totally decent" status and is actually really fun to use. With this new release, it looks like I'll be diving into this PC-only DAW as my primary music recording/editing application. So long, Logic!

[Note: The one question I have is if Mixcraft Pro 10 can accept external MIDI-sync; i.e., sync from an external source like a standalone drum-machine or a Eurorack set-up. I know Apple Logic can't do this. I think Cubase can. Will try to ask in the Acoustica forum.]







Acoustica videos:

Couldn't agree more!

I updated a little while back but only recently got around to playing with it. The 30 quid upgrade price is generous for what you get.

https://acoustica.com/products/mixcraft-10-compare

You get 3 Cherry Audio plugins included -

✓ DCO-106
✓ Stardust 201 Tape Echo
✓ Galactic Reverb

I really like that DCO-106 juno type synth. Some very nice sounds and a really superb interface. The Tape Echo is very very good giving a wide range of FX. The Galactic Reverb is lush and flexible. Top notch stuff. I upgraded the included Voltage Ignite Modular to the full version a while back in a sale. I really like that too. Not too difficult to work with and with some great presets to get you started. It sounds good to me. I've got Reaktor 6 and nearly all the Toybox ensembles for it, but I still plan on going a bit more in depth with the CA offering when I get time.

Already I would say this DAW is worth the 150 bucks asking price for the Pro version. I know they do sales as well sometimes, making it better value. You can get older licenses on Knobcloud for a tenner making the upgrade path a no-brainer. Still, it's worth what is being asked at non-sale prices.

What really impressed me was the inclusion of a few AAS instruments. You get the Session Series Bundle.

✓ Lounge Lizard Session 4
✓ Strum Session 2
✓ Ultra Analog Session 2

Plus,

✓ Journeys String Studio VS 3 Sound Pack

Absolutely stellar quality plugins/sounds. I'm going to take advantage of the upgrade to the Strum GS-2 plugin for 49 bucks. I had not tried it before and it sounds out of this world good to me. I play guitar already and have a few guitar plugins, but there is a certain sweet presence to this one.

On top of all these plugins you get some nice loops thrown in to the mix. One of the reasons I like Mixcraft is for how easy it is to audition loops and insert them in to a project. It's a fun throwaway thing for me. I have my own loops, I have an insane amount of libraries, but this really is so well done you can really push the boat out experimenting. So some very nice drum loops in an acoustic vein - very well recorded - Michigan Audio Lab, I think they are called.

There's also a 32bit plugin called Nightlife that they include (made by Acoustica). I think it's pretty nifty. Some nice vowel mixing in to the main signal gives it a bit of a novel twist. That's free as well.

Oh yeah, that's another thing. Mixcraft bridges 32bit plugins. Seems to do it pretty well so far (not that I've extensively tested this). It's a nice to have feature.

Also you still have ReWire implemented. So I can mess about with Ableton Live, Reaper and FLStudio if I want. That's a really great to have feature.

The interface has been somewhat improved from version 9 and it's looking a bit slicker. You get a choice between a dark and a light theme as well. And you can scale it easily if you need a bit of extra magnification.

Melodyne 5 Essential is included as well as Audio to Midi conversion. Plus you can import Video files directly to work on as well as images. You can add text. Some people might find those features very useful and they aren't included in your average DAW, at any price. You can render out to AVI and WMV and MP4.

You can mix to new audio tracks, you can freeze and duplicate tracks. There's not much missing at all compared to other DAWs, as far as I can see so far. You can render audio to MP3 and OGG plus FLAC. You can mix down stems and you can even burn a CD!

All in all this is a very fun and feature packed DAW. I could easily make music on it from start to finish and have a blast all along the way.

What with second hand prices of older versions going for not very much cash, and with such a generous upgrade policy, there's no reason why anyone couldn't include this in their toolbox. Having said that, the full on asking price of 149 bucks is more than reasonable when you consider all that you are getting.

The AAS instruments were a nice little surprise to get in this package and I've already started using them in Live for a new track I'm doing. You can also use the Cherry Audio plugins in other hosts as well.

And the best part is, this thing starts up and shuts down so quickly - no crashes so far. This is a very mature DAW and I can only see more and more people using it as everyone picks up on how great it is.

I can only confirm everything. I don't use anything else anymore. Since version 10 it has everything you need. The UI is completely intuitive. Previously I had used Logic, Cubase and Reaper. Lastly, I checked Studio One and uninstalled it after 30 minutes. Anyone who has ever used Mixcraft will stick with it.

Just a quick note for Mixcraft users and others who are interested, ICYMI: Acoustica released Mixcraft 10.5 this week. It's a free update for Mixcraft 10 owners, and there's a sale on until April 16th.

https://acoustica.com/products/mixcraft-10-whats-new

Mixcraft is available in two versions: the entry-level Recording Studio and the Pro Studio version which has dozens of more instruments, effects, and utilities.

New in Mixcraft 10.5:
- Quick-start Project Templates
- Expanded MIDI controller support
- New Quick Access panel
- Auto-Save
- New Mixcraft Loyalty Credits program and updated Mixcraft Store
- Pro Studio Exclusive: AI Powered Stem Separation

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