Customer Reviews

Music Maker 14 [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Well, I can only say I have tried a few others as well in demo form, but Magix musicmaker looked the most fun and easy so I went with it. I think most other ones on this price range were more complicated.

I got most of the basic stuff fairly easily and I am a beginner on the software stuff. the magix music studio was complicated. basically try all the free demo versions of various stuff to see what you like. this most likely is one of the best for the price.

I love Magix ease of use and have editions 7, 10, 11, and 12, (each one better than the last) so I couldn't wait until 14 came out. They say that there are "new" sounds - well, yes, if you don't have the previous editions, but if you do have the previous editions, you're stuck with the same sounds and you have to put in that edition disk in order to obtain the sounds. There are only 4 new styles - and not much to choose from - no "film", no "rock" - just sounds that aren't very original. They list "country" as a new style - but again, it's the same 2step style in edition 7 and it's hardly country at all.

I am VERY disappointed. I was expecting many more new styles and sounds to choose from - not the same ones I already have.

If you don't have any of the previous editions, I would say it's fine for you - but editions 11 and 12 are the better quality sounds including "film" which really gets your soundtrack writing juices flowing. Don't waste $40 - or $60 to get this version!

MM14 continues with the ease of use, but crashes repeatedly and is slow on the uptake. You would think that after all the other versions, this one would be the best of the best, but in fact it falls flat compared to the others. It makes me wonder what they were thinking when they put this edition out - did they think their customers wouldn't know?

On another note - the US tech support/customer service is AWFUL! I placed my order through the US ordering service and a month 1/2 later, still hadn't recieved the package. I tried for weeks to get someone on the phone (any time you call , it rings and rings and a recorded message comes on and says that all lines are busy, try again later). Sent 7 emails to have them track the package with only 2 automated responses - no personal customer service. Not sure if the European customer service is better but the US one is unreliable.

In the past I have used several versions of Magix Music Maker, including version 7, 2005, and 10. Each has been a steady progression of improvement and capability, so I was quite eager to see how much new stuff was added when I upgraded from version 10 to version 14. I was surprised not so much by the new capabilities but by how much has been removed.

The overall application is similar to Sony Acid or even Audacity - it is a loop-based music composition and production tool. The main production board allows for up to 96 tracks, which is a generous amount and should be plenty for all but the most complex and lengthy of tracks. There are a large number of production tools that allow for all manner of effects and edits, giving a near limitless supply of tweaks and edits that can be made to a track.

The new interface (as compared to version 10 which is my reference point) is sleek and user friendly, although the learning curve for an application of this type is understandably steep. Most functions are relatively straightforward, but some do require a jaunt through the user manual which is included in PDF form in the installation directory.

There is a generous supply of good-quality loops, though users of previous versions have seen some of these in the past. For a new user, though, there's a lot to choose from.

The VSTi interface is vastly improved and updated, making it not only a lot more user friendly but a lot more stable too. A new synth is included, the Vita. This supposedly take place of the guitar and grand piano synths, though I have not worked enough with it to replicate those sounds. I have monkeyed with it enough to make some interesting sounds, though, and overall I think it's a good synth.

Magix has done a nice job of better integrating their tools, which is a step forward. The only problem there is that sometimes users of previous versions may struggle to find some of the tools they want or need. Such is the case with me, though I found most of what I sought. Most - not all. This is where I noticed something unpleasant.

Music Maker 10 came with a wonderful tool called the Music Editor, which is a waveform editor with some other useful functions. I used this more than Music Maker itself. I was anxious to see how it had changed and when I looked for it I could not find it. What I did find, in the help file, was an occasional reference to it including a menu selection for locating it. The selection did not exist. After digging deeper I found that Magix stripped out the Music Editor and it is available as an upgrade to the Producer Edition - which you can ONLY get through the Magix website. Another $30 and you can have what used to be included.

Also gone are the Copper synth and the Silver synth. I used to use the Copper quite frequently and that one will be missed. I do not understand why it was removed, having been in the application for many iterations.

For a new user, Music Maker 14 packs a lot of goodies into the package and is a great starting point. For upgraders, though, it is a disappointment, with the smell of being a play for additional fees (much like activating the MP3 plug-in). This will be my last Magix purchase, based on the change in packaging and pricing, though I like the program itself. Hopefully Magix will realize that alienating long-standing customers is a poor strategy and will include the missing pieces in the regular edition again.

This is a really powerfull music workstation that might be a good starting point "to produce music", but more it can go up to professional level. There are no limits and if you accept the different philosophy that is even an option for pros that usually work with Logic or Cubase. It can definitly do MORE than Garage Band....but of course it is not Apple :-).

It has a lot functionalities, unbelievable many tools, synths, effect editors and ad-ons

- high professional sound library

- nice remixing function (with BPM finder and auto cut into pieces)

- good vocoder

- very good voice editing and modification (like Antares Auto-Tunes)

- nice analouge drum modul

- very easy to use

I think the biggest problem are the many functionalities. Some people might get lost. But if you are serious looking for a professional option to start making music without any know how, give it a try!

Like someone else wrote. I had a good thing with Sony Acid Music Studio. Yeah, the Midi is great with Music Maker, and it ENDS THERE!

This thing is riddled with bugs!

I use the Boss BR-600 and bounce everything to my Laptop to mix it down.

I have more control that way over finished product. So I thought I would give this a try. Bad Move. I transferred a wav file from my BR-600. It is a good file. I can play it with any media player. However, Music Maker (at first) said it was a corrupted file. I uninstalled Music Maker (like others did) and re-installed. Then it tells me I need permission from administrator to use this file. I GIVE UP!

Also, it takes forever to open (sometimes). And like others have indicated (sometimes) I have to ctl/alt/delete to close

Save your money! Although I like some of the features (the reason I bought it) it was a BIG waste of time and money.

I am back to good ole Sony :-)

UPDATE:

I have worked out the bugs. However, I still prefer Sony Acid. The waves are much easier to line up ect. with Sony. As well as the finished product sounds so much better on the mixdown. HOWEVER... I will say that I do run every file (prior to mixdown) through this program because it does have some great effect and features for a $60 program.

This is a product that has so much potential that will never be realized.

The platform is so unstable that you crash repeatedly within a single sitting. If I close the program it sits there and will not go away unless it hit ctrl+alt+del. If I close just the song and try a new one or open another existing project, it freezes and will not open anything new.

Mix downs go horrible awry at times. Other times it stops playing your music back to you altogether while editing.

It has awesome potential with its different beat machines but they are easily over shadowed by the massive amount of bugs that make it a nightmare to use.

There is also the lack of over all adjustments on whole tracks. I cannot change the EQ of an entire single track unless I highlight all of the individual pieces. I cannot adjust the EQ of the whole song before mixing down.

The customer support is so shabby and the forums so pathetic that you cannot fix issues with out more issues getting answers.

This needs to go back to the drawing board and the company needs to care about its product and customers.

I am going to switch to something else.

It does not even work on my computer. It will not work with Vista even though it is made for it.The Midi does not recognize any keyboard that i have tried to link up with it. It was not a good program as far as features to produce your own music. It has limited capabilities.

I am very happy with the product and it's delivery. Very next of my purchased, item was shipped.

..11 version of MAGIX works..better. This one crash too much. Few bugs needs to be fix.Instead on working on upgrade the software they should do some deep work with the software settings. That could prevent future crashes and lost of DATA."Blue Screen".

Sometimes a gadgets and software junky like myself needs to learn there are times to be happy with what you have and that the grass isn't always greener. I purchased, installed and enjoy using SONY MUSIC MAKER ACID 6.0

but did I leave well enough alone? NO!! I said, what the heck - lets try the Magix product. I must say, their marketing and packaging is great BUT the actual product DOES NOT live up to the hype. I had to install and reinstall this crappy product TWICE - Right off the bat we're off to a BAD START. Then it doesn't play the sounds back correctly. Sound skips & stutters. I email their tech support AGAIN only to find they knew about the problem and have a patch for it. GUESS WHAT - I installed the Magix correction patch and IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. And you should know their tech support & help desk is in DRESDEN, GERMANY. In typical German style, they refuse to admit to any fault, refuse any refunds, and are just nasty people to deal with. To make a long story short... I strongly advise against this product and SUGGEST YOU BUY THE SONY PRODUCT INSTEAD!! As always, THANKS for reading my reviews and be well. The WebbMan