Best Mix CD Production Software?

Hi,

I've done a lot of good mixes with Traktor DJ Studio 2.5.3. I use it only for recording mixes and not for live DJing, like many of you DJs might do.

I wondered what the producers/DJs of commercial mixed compilations use as software? Or do they mix it on decks and record it?
I'm not sure about it, since many mix CDs seem too "perfect", but then again, some of you might argue, that any professional DJ is able to create perfect sounding mixes on decks.
Well if all or part of them use software, do you know which one it could be?

And for me personaly: What do you think is the best mix production software?
What I miss in Traktor is the ability to view the mix file and look up how things were done. I can modify the mix afterwards, but it's a mess. I'd like more control about my mixing, i.e. being able to visualize and edit the mix file.

I heard in another forum (houseofmusic.com) about Mixmeister Pro 6 and Acid Pro 5. Anyone tried them? Are they professional, like Traktor?

Thanks for your comments.

 

Nowadays a lot of commercially available DJ mixes are mixed on turntables plugged into digital recording systems using a sequencer such as Cubase SX, Logic, or ProTools. Depending on the sound the DJ or sound engineer is trying to get, hardware compression/EQ/FX are applied during "live" play, but post-recording editing occurs through the mastering phase -- EQ, normalizing, compression, sometimes cleanup (crackle & hiss removal).

Ableton Live is also becoming more frequently used, largely because of its looping capabilities, warp markers, and VST/ReWire compatibility.

 

FWIW, I mix with Traktor using its recording functions & filters, EQ, etc., and then bring the saved wav file up in SoundForge to normalize it, sometimes for fade ins/outs. I admit I've lopped out a few bars where beatmatching got whacked, but I don't do that anymore, as I think the whole point of the mix is to represent a live mix. Otherwise why record it with DJ software in the first place?

 

Some people here mix with Traktor but record into SoundForge or similar because it's more reliable & stable. I keep meaning to try that.

 

Hi, I've looked into the same issue a year ago.

I tried out Nuendo, Cubase and ACID (now owned by SONY) and stuck with ACID. They're all sequencers. None of these come cheap; I was fortunate enough to be able to test them out at a colleagues studio.

ACID I found pretty straighforward to use; what won me over was a quick Beatmapping feature and the way tempo- and pitch changes can be implemented. But that's just a fraction of features you can use, lots of looping, panning, filter envelopes, etc are there as well (as are in the other programs).

Another program I've seen mentioned but couldn't test is Mixmeister.

I've gone back to recording my mixes in Traktor. It means I have less options to tweak a mix after recording it, but I find that recording a mix-set makes me prepare my tracks better (loops, cues, ...) - all stuff that pays off when doing live sets.

hth, h00la

 

I use Traktor for my mix CDs also, and record into Soundforge. I then normalize it and re-EQ it using assorted Waves plugins, but never do any editing. That way, when my CDs are handed out, it is an exact representation of what I can do live.

Hobbes

 

Well, i haven´t made serious mixes for cd distribution, but the ones i have done for frinds and stuff, hae been created in Mixmeister, now to normalize and stuff like that, i used the tool that comes with nero burning rom, and did a good job. That if you want to create (i repeat) some tunes for friends or for showing a club what u play, if u are getting serious into this, and want to selll your own record, then use preofessional software.

 

Timestretching possible?

Hi,
do these softwares support time stretching like Traktor, i.e. changing speed (bpm) independently from key?

I'm especially interested if it is the case in Acid Pro.

 

ACID has very Excellent Time Stretching

 

Steve,

ACID time stretching is excellent.

If you only want to chop and fill, ACID Music Studio is an excellent product at a great price.

If you want effects, synths and stuff you will need to buy ACID Pro. The newest version is 5.0. Suggest you keep an eye on the forums at:

www.mediasoftware.sonypictures.com

because there are some reports of installation and usage problems associated with their decision to use MSDE (a database engine) for the new media manager. I think installation of this component is optional, but I haven't upgraded yet so I can't confirm this.

If you decide to buy, I received an excellent offer of USD244 from www.floridamusicco.com in their latest mail-out.

 

Thanks much for the excellent info djHSL and all the others!

Um, I'd like to check out an Acid (Pro) Forum, to better know the software, but couldn't work out to find one through google. Of course it's mentioned on some forums, but Google didn't give me an official Acid Forum (like this one for Traktor). I guess there must be a large Acid Community or something.
Does anybody have a link?

Thanks again.

 

The ACID forum is at the link I provided, above. The FORUM option is on the SUPPORT menu, then choose ACID FAMILY forum.

There are a couple of other ACID-focussed sites, including Acid Planet and Acid Fanatic.