- FIRST IMPRESSION -
Thousands of sounds and loops in 10 different pools, moreover, in the majority in 5 or 6 variations, so that we arrive at an even greater margin, with which you can play: All this makes a pretty overwhelming impression on me. Overwhelming it gets when you play for the first time with the synths around and with a few Tastenklickern brings an electric guitar to play. Especially for me as stupid acceptable musicians such thing as an eye-opener. Wow, even I can click together things that sound like what!
Of course apart from this initial euphoria shows immediately the IT-ler in the background and frowns: Why a software like "the best" feels from the beginning, this kind of stuff for installation offer as a "free MAGIX Ask Toolbar "?! Something we know from small software sweatshops from the back yard, which must also earn money with adware. When a renowned manufacturer such as MAGIX leaves something with me a bitter aftertaste. Ditto for that matter Tool "Simplicheck" - "System Improvement Tools" and "System Optimization Software" make me skeptical in principle ... but really I'm skeptical when a music software offers me, so to install a nonsense with. This is a shame and this marketing strategy should perhaps be reconsidered.
My tip for potential buyers (applies as for any other software installation): Select ALWAYS "custom install" and basically tick all the things that you do not know or do not understand. Most drives Otto-Normal-users with this method well and lacks even a feature that one has "missed" by this method, so you can re-install it normally.
- FEATURES -
"Normal":
- More than 3,000 sounds and loops
- 6 different Soundpools
- Use up to 99 tracks
- Vocal Tune
- Power Guitar
- Electric Piano
- DN-e1 Synthesizer
- Drum Engine
- Vita 2 sample player
- Beatbox 2
- Loop Designer
- Guitar amp Vandal SE
- VST support
"Premium":
- More than 6,000 sounds and loops
- 10 different Soundpools
- Unlimited use traces
- Vocal Tune
- Power Guitar
- Electric Piano
- DN-e1 Synthesizer
- Drum Engine
- Vita 2 sample player
- BeatBox 2
- Loop Designer
- Guitar amp Vandal SE
- VST support
- Pop Brass
- Vintage Organ
- Jazz Drums
- Mastering Suite 4, including auto mastering.
- Analog compressor
- Revolta 2 Synthesizer
- 5.1 surround mixing
- Live performer
- Music Editor 3
- INSTALLATION -
The installation should - as I said - run as "user-defined" and you should do yourself a favor, just to let the nonsense a la "simplicheck" and "Ask Toolbar" lie sometimes to the left. I'm not even sure if you need the "Firebird SQL Server" so much, but I now also not noticed that some had something significantly changed on my computer by the server (although I at the term "server" always very noisy going - even if such a thing only locally, for example is used for a sound data base).
The sheer range of functions overwhelmed at first after the installation, but can be the "GUI", ie the user interface (menus, tracks, etc.). Drag and the like quickly bring in a form in which you find yourself halfway cope Apart from the Music Maker is however already constructed intuitive enough to have to produce even from the state the first bit of music.
Who during installation (like me) has the problem that the installation by changing errors (usually about a einzulegende DVD or unfound medium) breaks, it may try with another DVD drive again. For me, it suddenly went to an external drive that I had are still around. Who has not something, which can still download the installer from the website of Magix download. That takes (when downloading and during the subsequent installation), but at least you get what you wanted.
The bug is apparently not confined to the Music Maker (me coming anyway from other MAGIX programs known before), but seems to appear from time to time. Copy protection? Press technology? No Idea. As I said, there are ways to get the problem under control.
- Usability and ergonomics -
The functional scope of the Music Maker, in particular in the field of production of own sounds and loops is almost call "extreme." I am after several weeks test use still sure that there are features that I have not yet seen. But the fact is: The Music Maker starts at a very low baseline, so that even beginners a drag on "Start" is possible. Whoever gets deeper into the matter, poking here and there to the limits of the software. But these are more points at which beyond the pure music-generation edge areas such as "How do I get to actually touch paper?" come into view. I am, for example, nowhere encountered a feature that I really could work as in output (or anyone else) with notes as input - it is often worked with key inputs and the manual distortion of curves equalizers etc. in the input, so that here at least (more than notes) the feeling of a "direct feedback" comes up. However, I was missing a little the intuitiveness of some tools that work with touch / stroke gestures - but then that's probably already too playful for these more oriented to semi-professionals and even professionals area of the Music Maker. Slightly more accessibility for the absolute beginner users might still be warn on synth tools; On the other hand comes with the existing loops also very, very far.
I hear and read about it, the Music Maker "the best" is always. The is in many respects certainly agree flatly. I do not feel compelled to join these hymns there, where it is said that one very quickly and relatively easily can get very good results with the Music Maker. In certain niche areas and in marginal uses (much more expensive) special software will surely outdo the Music Maker - as a package but comes to the Music Maker at the moment hardly anything over, at least if you want to remain financially within certain limits. In addition, the software is not only a certain quality in terms reached at the operating ergonomics, which can be found in the competition barely (keyword special software), but that you "hear" and almost immediately what you have just "done". The Music Maker therefore falls broadly under "What you hear is what you get". A great concept for people who want to try themselves and their Kreatitivät times.
- AFTER A WEEK -
After, more precisely even after three weeks, I sit still every other night before the Music Maker and clicker my songs together. What do you get around is worth listening to my ears, is not "good enough" and from a professional application certainly still miles away for the critical ears of my wife - but it's enough to inspire me to stay on the learning curve to it and the issue not to let go. This rarely happens to me at software that is also used to in the professional sector.
- WAS WORTH IT FOR ME? -
There are indeed initially roughly two things you need to ask yourself: "Premium or non-premium?" and "Steam or Non-Steam?".
Let me start with Steam: Steam makes sense, if you (like me) want to whistle on installation media and your software in the current version to be loaded as far as possible from the power down - wherever you want. Steam also preserves your license code for you and the "Where has the damn Code" is omitted. But it can happen - as it has already happened - that Steam and / or Magix place an installer on Steam, which is bugged. Advantage here: The Community at Steam responds quickly to such things, and feedback to the manufacturer is much clearer as we know it in other distribution channels. In addition, updates (if set on Steam) always automatically imported. So it is - apart from the fact that from time to time on Steam actions are driven by lower prices - more a matter of your own taste. Apart from this, the Steam version inherently not the occasionally appearing in the DVD version of "medium could not be read" bug.
Important regarding the Steam version:. Since build on Steam, the "normal" and the premium version apparently cascading successive times, it can be the bug that initially only about 1.5 GB can be installed and after starting the installer then again 5-6 GB to be tightened. This is then the additional files that are installed separately for the premium version.
But rather premium or non-premium? Well, I would prefer the premium version, because here the selection of loops significantly higher (6000 instead of 3000) and no restrictions exist when mixing (unlimited tracks). But it makes sense in principle anyway, pausing to pull on fundamental interest but utter ignorance the demo / trial version to get an idea of what the program is doing so or just leaves. Anyone wanting to use real all gadgets which comes to the premium version hardly around; whom the rich base features from the demo who can live well with the "normal" version. Since the versions is priced now not extremely differ sooo I were here rather the Maximizer and would go in the premium direction.
Important:
No matter which version you buy so: Commercial use is in no version in there. These same in a separate section. "Premium" in this context does not mean that any licenses are included here - it is simply a drilled "normal version". Who else concludes, which is wrong.
It should be suggested that possibly Magix should think about making a "Professional" edition in which the licenses are included equal. This makes the marketing of professionals may be easier, which is consistently dealing with single-user licenses for both the Magix software, as well as the to lizensierenden Loops.
- Licensing -
A very good presentation of the facts can be found here:
[...]
In summary, that one may produce for non-commercial use with the Music Maker ONLY. If we consider a commercial use, so you have to necessarily purchase a license for the use of loops contained in Music Maker. The Magix team, however, has reported several times in the Steam forums as I know, to make it clear that under non-commercial use also understands that to upload music on Youtube. According Magix there is no problem if there Youtube adds as advertising without any influence of the adjuster. The problem arises only when one even so much as a penny earned (eg by behind a video you put the music with advertising links or placed under the video commercial advertising links).
If you want to use Magix Music Maker commercially, so it can by means of a one-off payment at Catooh buy licenses that are still relatively cheap. Rumors of "$ 200 a Sound" are completely drawn-fetched.
Here the direct links to the licenses (for each version):
Music Maker 2014 ($ 24.99):
[...]
Music Maker 2014 Premium ($ 39.99):
[...]
Of course, the licenses can also save completely, if you work only with the virtual instruments and own sounds / loops. Who can, who can certainly save the above fees - on the other hand we are moving with such professionals in a segment in which these few euros can be invested safely do so because they make the carbon no longer fat and you then secure on the " page "is.
- Alternatives -
What would be a review without a consideration of alternatives? Well, a real alternative to the overall package of Magic Music Maker does not exist. Do not believe me? Well, I complete an important addition: "... in this price range". The Music Maker comes with features that are very reminiscent of what one (7.5 Full Steinberg 502012840 Cubase Elements 7 or Steinberg Cubase) knows Cubase, but in a price range that is well below what one of these professional and semi-professional software paid (Cubase 7.5 Full> 500). At the same time the range of functions is so great that you will come across as ordinary citizens rarely to the limits. So you get a basically no alternative affordable way to get into the subject. Whether one then later dissolves the Music Maker and / or supplemented as necessary to him other software that was once undecided. For a first (and detailed) insight is sufficient. You will have long to do so, to try all the features.
- Conclusion -
Solid Software, in the many years of experience is - the fact that Magix produced for the retail segment is to be noted, but not dominant. It is already a software, which can achieve very great depth. Magix has thereby continuously improved over the years, rather than, for example, to come out again through simplification of the previously already very high qualitative level (this tendency there was in recent times repeatedly with other manufacturers). The software is not too heavy, as that here frustration would come up immediately for someone who has used one of the predecessors, immediately accessible and even for beginners. Overall, I see here - even in the face of the huge range of functions and the resulting value (which is even better for the premium version) - definitely a rating of 5 stars as justified on. I land in view of the fact that totally unnecessary when installing software is to be installed with, which has no relation to music production, but rather at a 4.5, however, remain in the overall ranking with 5 stars.
[The software reviewed on me was kindly provided by MAGIX for testing purposes in the premium version.]
[This review is often updated by me. Just a corresponding comment. Thanks.]
