Xara Music Maker - 15.0 Owners Manual
Music Maker
15
Simply make music
Manual
2 Copyright
Copyright
This documentation is protected by law. All rights, especially the right
of duplication, circulation, and translation, are reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in the form of copies,
microfilms or other processes, or transmitted into a language used
for machines, especially data processing machines, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
All copyrights reserved.
All other product names are trademarks of the corresponding
manufacturers. Errors in and changes to the contents as well as
program modifications reserved.
MAGIX Music Maker and Goya are registered trademarks of MAGIX
AG.
VST and ASIO are registered trademarks of Steinberg Media
Technologies GmbH.
This product uses MAGIX patented technology (USP 6,518,492; USP
6,888,999) and MAGIX patent pending technology.
Other named product names may be registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
Copyright © MAGIX AG, 1994-2008. All rights reserved.
www.magix.com
Preface 3
Preface
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium offers both an easy start and also
lets you experience what it's like to dive deeper into the depths of
music production. A giant, high-quality sound archive, an especially
intuitive approach to creating original music, plus many useful
functions result in an unbeatable complete package for making your
own songs.
Handling is especially easy and consistent. The included sounds and
video files can be combined with the software synthesizers in
seconds; MP3s with audio CD tracks, your own music recordings
with videos, photos or graphics, and even VST/DirectX plug-ins or
MIDI files can be perfectly integrated with one another.
These features will transform your computer into a universal
production studio for music and all other kinds of multimedia files.
The included CD-quality musical building blocks can all be easily
combined since they are all categorized according to tempo and
harmony. The video clips, photos, and graphics provide the perfect
basis for image production. And for those of you who want to start
making songs effortlessly and straight away, "Song Maker" will take
care of almost everything for you.
The print manual explains all of the basic functions of the program. In
addition, you get a PDF manual which describes each function in
detail. If you prefer to discover the many possibilities of the program
by yourself, you can also use the PDF manual simply as a reference.
An alphabetical index is included at the end. Simply click on an item
of interest to jump to that particular section in the manual.
Have fun with MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium,
The MAGIX team
www.magix.com
4 Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Copyright 2
Preface 3
Support 10
Serial number 12
More about MAGIX 13
MAGIX Online World 13
magix.info 13
MAGIX Sound Essentials 14
Introduction 15
What is MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium? 15
What’s new in MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium? 16
The features 17
Additional features of the Premium version 21
Overview of the program interface 24
Quick start 26
Play demo project 26
Song Maker 27
Preview and load audio files 28
Position audio objects 28
Add videos and synthesizers 29
Editing objects 30
Effects 31
Export arrangement 32
Create audio CD 33
Arranger 34
Normal mode/Easy mode 34
Tracks 34
Trackboxes and Instrument icons 35
Zoom 36
Move/Zoom with the mouse wheel 37
Grid 37
Playback area: Start and end markers 38
Moving the playback marker 39
Transport Bar (playback functions) 39
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Table of Contents 5
Arranger, Video Monitor, and Media Pool 42
Arranger buttons 42
Media Pool 43
Preview function 43
Positioning the Media Pool 43
File manager settings 44
Soundpool settings 48
Synthesizer 50
Template setting 50
Setting Catooh 50
Videoscreen 51
Peak meter 52
Overview 52
Infobox 52
Mouse modes 53
Move selection 53
Move to track 53
Move all 54
Automation 54
Draw 55
Split 55
Stretch 55
Preview audio 56
Scrubbing 56
Replace 56
Context help 56
Arranging Objects 57
Save and load arrangements 57
Multimedia files and objects 57
Select objects 58
Mute objects 58
Build or split object groups 58
Split objects 59
Exact object positioning 59
Duplicate objects 59
Object handles 60
"Draw in" loops 61
Takes 62
Object properties 62
Mixdown tracks 63
Audio Objects 64
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6 Table of Contents
Audio formats 64
Load and process audio files 64
Smart Preview for the incorporated samples 64
Audio recording 65
Import audio CD 68
Change the playback tempo or pitch 72
Remix agent: Tempo and beat assignment 75
Remix Maker 81
Harmony Agent 83
Text to Speech 85
MAGIX Music Editor 85
MIDI Objects 86
What is MIDI? 86
Arrange MIDI objects 86
Transpose MIDI 87
MIDI interface and external sound generator 87
Convert MIDI objects into audio files 87
Connect external equipment 88
MIDI Editor 90
Drum Editor 107
Synthesizer objects 111
Opening the synthesizers 111
Note for users of older MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium versions:112
Synth objects 112
BeatBox 2 plus 113
Drum & Bass machine 2.0 126
LiViD - Little Virtual Drummer 129
Robota 129
Atmos 139
Synthesizer plug-ins 140
Revolta 2 141
MAGIX Vita 144
VST and DirectX plug-ins 146
What are VST and DirectX plug-ins? 146
Use VST instruments 146
VST Plug-in Editor 147
Deploying VST/DirectX Effects 148
Live Performer 150
Define ranges 150
Play with Live Performer 151
Sequencer 152
Live Pads 154
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Table of Contents 7
MIDI assignment Live Performer 157
Arranging with Live Performer 158
Record audio output 158
Audio effects 159
Effects 159
Using audio effects 160
Object and master effects rack 162
Equalizer 164
Sketchable filter 165
Compressor 166
Invert phase 166
Reverb 167
Sound Warper 171
ValveAmp (AmpSimulator) 172
Elastic Audio 173
Vocoder 184
Gater 185
Backwards 187
Timestretch/Resample 187
MAGIX Mastering Suite 189
Vintage Effects Suite 194
Video and Bitmap Objects 209
Video and bitmap formats 209
Adjusting the video screen 209
Loading and editing videos and bitmaps 209
Simplify object presentation 210
Visualizer objects 210
Video scrubbing 211
Extract sound from videos 211
Video effects 211
Title editor 212
Video capturings 214
Video recording dialog 215
Video Compression 217
Choppy or uneven playback 218
General notes on AVI videos 218
Create a video project for the Internet 219
Video export via TV-out 220
Video effects 221
Drag & Drop 221
Video Controller 221
Effects curves 225
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8 Table of Contents
Automation curves 226
"Dynamic Effects Editor" dialog 226
Dynamic effects 227
Rhythmic envelope 228
Curve Generator - Options 228
Editing the effect curve in the dialog 229
Editing the effect curve in the arrangement 229
Mixer 230
Fader 230
Control groups 231
Track effects 231
VST and DirectX audio plugins 232
FX tracks 233
Live monitoring 233
Master track 234
5.1 Surround 235
Requirements 235
Import and export of surround audio files 236
The Mixer in surround mode 237
5.1 Surround Editor 238
Automation 239
Integrating other programs - Synchronizing and ReWire 240
Synchronization 240
ReWire 244
Reprocess arrangement 245
Export as email attachment 245
Export as ringtone 245
Podcasting 248
Export to YouTube 251
Create Audio CD 252
File menu 253
New arrangement 253
Load arrangement 253
Save arrangement 253
Save arrangement as... 253
Export 254
Import 262
Backup 263
Settings 264
Exit 272
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Table of Contents 9
Edit menu 273
Undo 273
Redo 273
Object 273
Range 276
Track 277
Navigation 278
Effects (FX) 280
Song Maker 280
Audio 280
Video 286
Title 287
Automation 287
Effects library 288
View menu 289
Easy mode 289
Arranger 289
Media Pool 290
Video monitor 290
Mix 291
Standard layout 292
Online menu 293
Catooh 293
MAGIX Online Album 294
magix.info 296
MAGIX News Center 297
MAGIX Podcast Service 297
More online services 298
Online login details 301
Tasks menu 302
Help menu 303
Show welcome dialog 303
Documentation 303
Help from other users 304
Update program / Upgrade functions 305
MAGIX Creation Logo 308
About MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium 308
Buttons overview and keyboard shortcuts 309
Toolbar 309
www.magix.com
10 Table of Contents
Keyboard shortcuts 309
Index 318
Support
If you experience any problems with your software, then please get in
touch with our support team:
H
Support website: http://support.magix.net
http://support.magix.net
This website will lead you to the MAGIX user service page which,
among other things, contains the following free offers:
• FAQs (frequently asked questions) and general tricks and tips. In
most cases you’ll find the solution to your problem here. If not, then
please use the email support form:
• Email support form: Via the special form you can tell our support
staff about your system. This information is used to solve your
problems quickly and competently. Simply fill it out and send it with a
mouse click!
• Support forum: You are not alone. Perhaps other users had a similar
problem and can help you solve yours. Our support staff are also
regular contributors.
• Download section: Updates, improvements, and patches are
likewise offered free of charge via download. Many problems you
may experience are well known to us and can be solved by
downloading the latest patch. Besides patches, there are also
wizards for checking and optimizing your system.
• Links: In the links list you will find the contact addresses of the most
popular hardware manufacturers.
H
Please note: To be able to use the support you have to register your
product using the serial number provided. This number can be found
on the CD case of your installation CD or on the inside of the DVD
box.
www.magix.com
You can also reach our support team by telephone:
UK: 0905 118 0888 (25p/min)
(open Monday to Friday 9:00 - 16:00 GMT)
Denmark: 77345695
(open Monday to Friday 10:00 - 17:00 CET)
Finland: 0942597819
(open Monday to Friday 11:00 - 18:00 EET)
Norway: 21543223
(open Monday to Friday 10:00 - 17:00 CET)
Sweden: 0852507027
(open Monday to Friday 10:00 - 17:00 CET)
Please have the following information at hand:
• Program version
• Configuration details (operating system, processor, memory, hard
drive, etc.)
• Sound card configuration (type, driver)
• Information regarding other audio software installed
Support 11
www.magix.com
12 Serial number
Serial number
A serial number is included with each product. This serial number is
not required for the installation of the software, but it does enable
usage of additional bonus services. Please store this number in a safe
place.
What can a serial number do?
A serial number ensures that your copy of MAGIX Music Maker 15
Premium is clearly assigned to you and only you, and it makes
improved and more targeted customer service possible. Abuse of the
software can be prevented with a serial number, since it ensures that
the optimum price/performance ratio continues to be offered by
MAGIX.
Where can the serial number be found?
The serial number can be found on the reverse side of your CD/DVD
case. If your product, for example, is packed in a DVD box, then
you'll find the serial number on the inside.
For the versions that have been especially optimized for the Internet
(download versions) you'll get your serial number for activating the
software directly after purchasing the product via email.
When will you need the serial number?
The serial number is required when you start or register MAGIX Music
Maker 15 Premium for the first time.
Note: We explicitly recommend registering your product, since only
then are you entitled to get program updates and contact MAGIX
Support. Entering the serial number is also required for activating
codecs.
www.magix.com
More about MAGIX 13
More about MAGIX
MAGIX Online World
Well-connected: Products and services online from MAGIX
Discover the possibilities offered by the MAGIX Online World. Every
MAGIX product offers a direct and easy-to-use gateway to the world
of online multimedia:
• Present your photos, videos, and music directly in
your Online Album or in worldwide Internet
communities.
• Find professional templates & content for
enhancing your personal projects.
• Design your own personalized website using professional Flash
®
design with photos, videos, music & impressive animations.
• Order brilliant photo prints to be sent directly to your doorstep. It's
quick, easy, and well priced.
Experience these and many more online services on
H
http://www.magix-online.com/
H
magix.info
Help and get help - Directly from within the program, you'll be able to
access magix.info, the new MAGIX Knowledge Database (on page
296). Here you'll find answers to all the most frequently asked
questions about MAGIX products and multimedia in general. Couldn't
find an answer to your particular question? No problem – just ask the
question yourself!
You can go to magix.info
"Online" menu or by pressing this button.
H
http://www.magix.info/ukH via the
www.magix.com
14 More about MAGIX
MAGIX Sound Essentials
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium includes thousands of sound and
video samples, but additional media can also be ordered later. The
MAGIX Sound Essentials provides you with professionally produced
loops and samples in impressive quality – the ideal enhancement for
the most varying of music styles, including:
• Ambient
• Big Beat
• Easy Listening
• Dance / Electro
• Disco / House
• Soundtrack
• Hip Hop
• Rock / Pop
• Techno / Trance
• Special effects
In the upper menu bar under "Tasks -> Discover more", you can
order the MAGIX Sound Essentials directly.
Tip: At www.magix.com you'll always find the latest Soundpool
offers.
www.magix.com
Introduction 15
Introduction
What is MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium?
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium is the new generation of multimedia
software. From your private collection of love songs to entirely
homemade video clips – everything's possible! For your songs, music
videos, video emails, karaoke shows, funny clips, and much more.
Lots of professionally produced sound and video samples come
supplied. In the arranger, samples and videos can simply be dragged
onto the track, looped, enhanced with effects, and modified for
export – done!
There are also various synthesizer plug-ins for creating your own
sounds. Audio CDs and MP3s can be integrated, remixed, or used as
sound material. Even DirectX or VST plug-ins as well as MIDI files for
remote control of the sound card or external synthesizers can be
integrated into the arrangement perfectly. All multimedia formats can
be combined with one another in any way on any track.
In case your sounds & samples requirements are still not met, the
Internet is just a click away. It can be used as a worldwide Media
Pool with an unlimited supply of sounds and pictures. MAGIX Music
Maker 15 Premium has a direct connection to the Internet for
publishing straight to your personal MAGIX Online Album or for
directly sending via email. Your own works can also be published
directly from within the program to the MAGIX Community. Or you
can always be your own radio DJ and publish your beats and grooves
as a podcast.
www.magix.com
16 Introduction
What’s new in MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium?
New loops
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium is the original for loop-based music
production on the PC; no other software can boast as much
experience. In the new version, the sound library that comes included
has been completely revised with plenty of new audio and MIDI
loops.
Easy mode
The new "Easy" mode makes creating radio-ready hits possible even
for beginners – no time is required for breaking in, and no previous
knowledge is necessary! Extended functions for advanced users
which are confusing to beginners are hidden. Easy mode can be
switched on and off via the buttons to the top left.
InfoBox
Thanks to the new InfoBox, all important functions can be easily
understood as they are applied. Just hold the mouse over a button
that you would like to learn about and read the information about it in
the preview monitor. The InfoBox can be activated in full mode to the
right below the preview monitor.
BeatBox 2
BeatBox, the new groove synthesizer, lets you make great beats with
ease. It can be accessed in the Media Pool via the "Synthesizers"
button. Easy mode must be switched of to access it.
SoundVision
SoundVision is a new way of visualizing music which shows audio
material at a glance in the form of a musical galaxy. Similar sounds
are clustered close together; different sounds are organized further
apart. SoundVision be activated in the Media Pool via the
corresponding button. Easy mode must be switched off to access it.
www.magix.com
Introduction 17
Additional features in the Premium version:
• Large archive of sounds: Over 3,500 new sounds and MIDI loops
from all genres can be accessed via the "Soundpools" button in the
Media Pool.
• BeatBox 2 plus: The ultimate groove tool with even more drum kits,
automations, and an integrated powerful effects section can be
accessed via the "Synthesizers" button in the Media Pool.
• Am-Trak SE: The analog vintage compressor for an especially warm,
pumping sound. Open this device via the "Effects" menu for selected
audio objects.
• Timecode sync: This feature makes it possible to write songs with a
friend – simply connect two PCs via MIDI and jam together!
• MIDI step recording: Provided for composers unsure of their
keyboard playing skills who want to play perfect melodies. The MIDI
editor can be opened by double clicking on a MIDI object.
• ReWire: This function allows you to embed MAGIX Music Maker 15
Premium in other music programs. This feature is set up in the
external music program.
The features
64-track arranger (Premium: 96)
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium provides 64 tracks (96 in the
Premium version) for multimedia arrangements – enough space to
create multiple polyphonic pieces, but most importantly, so that you
don't lose track of your project at any point.
Formats and interfaces
TM
Import: WAV, MP3, OGG Vorbis, WMA, QuickTime
, MIDI, CD-A,
BMP, JPG, AVI, MXV, WMV
Export: WAV, MP3 (optional), OGG Vorbis, WMA, AIFF, AVI, MAGIX
Video, QuickTime
TM
, WMV, RealMediaTM, Media Helix, BMP, JPG (all
via "File -> Export arrangement"), MIDI, CD-AMXV, MP3 Surround
(optional, only Premium version).
Interfaces: DirectX, VSTi, and ReWire (host) support (Premium
version only, one instrument per track), ASIO.
Multimedia Library
The multimedia library provides audio and video building blocks
("samples") for combining on the arranger tracks. Loads of melodies,
effect templates, and graphical animations also come supplied for
you to use in new songs & video clips.
www.magix.com
18 Introduction
Software synthesizers
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium includes the following synthesizers:
• The "Drum & Bass machine" creates crunching beats and pulsing
basslines
• "Robota" is a complete drum computer with four independent
instruments which can be played live. Several faders enable all kinds
of sound experimentation.
• MAGIX Vita. Enhance your arrangement with amazingly realistic
natural instruments from yellow tools, the sample specialists.
• LiViD, our "little virtual drummer", provides realistic acoustic drum
tracks. Just a few instructions are enough for "LiviD" to play a
complete drum track with introduction, chorus, bridge, fill-ins, etc.
• Atmos for nature sounds or atmospheres like rain, thunder, or wind.
Media database
Find your recordings, sounds, pictures, and videos quicker and faster
with the MAGIX media database. An existing MAGIX database from
the MAGIX Photo Manager or MAGIX Media Manager is integrated in
the Media Pool and can be updated directly from MAGIX Music
Maker 15 Premium. Use the simple search function to find suitable
pictures or MP3 files for your arrangement.
Audio effects
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium provides lots of different audio
effects. A few examples:
• You can correct tempo and pitch in real time using "Resampling",
"Timestretching" or "Pitchshifting".
• The "Audio effects rack" supplies "Reverb", "Echo", "Equalizer",
"Compressor", "Time processor", "Distortion", "Filter", and many
classic effects with which almost every sound can be made. MAGIX
Music Maker 15 Premium provides these sounds in amazingly high
quality. The reverb effect, for example, provides a number of realistic
reverb algorithms to add depth and space to your material. Design
your "favorite reverb" using the many presets as a base with their
various reverb rooms which were designed for specific instruments
and applications.
• The "Vocoder" produces vocal and robot sounds that have been
altered mechanically.
• The "Gater" enables rhythmic splitting of surface sounds
• The Vintage Effects Suite covers "good old" guitar effects that were
activated by foot just like Jimi Hendrix used to do; more warmth and
fullness with "Chorus", jet-like special effects with the "Flanger", or
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ping-pong effects like "Delay". The filter enables beat-matched
frequency filtering, the BitMachine is a distorted lo-fi effect for fans of
rougher sound.
High-end 32-bit floating point
All sound changes are executed using 32-bit floating point calculation
for especially differentiated and high-quality sounds. This technology
is also used in professional studios. This way, an audio picture with
especially high dynamics can be created. Digital overmodulation and
clipping become virtually impossible.
Video Controller
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium contains a video controller with
plenty of professional video effects which can be used in real time.
Videos can be integrated, distorted, and mixed on any track.
Graphics can also be edited directly.
Audio CD support
Audio CDs can be imported directly into MAGIX Music Maker 15
Premium. Just insert them into the drive and press "CD/DVD". All
tracks can then be dragged into the arranger and edited with different
features or effects. Whether for remixes or as sound material for your
own compositions – a new touch will be added to your personal CD
collection.
Introduction 19
Own recordings
Use this recording function from MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium to
record vocals, noises, or instruments and integrate them into the
arrangement.
Live Sessions
While the virtual instruments and sounds are played on the available
tracks, a new track can be recorded simultaneously in realtime.
What's more, you can also add realtime effects.
Harmony Agent
The Harmony Agent provides harmony recognition automatically and
determines the key and chord of any music title. See the guitar
tablature of your favorite song in real time for the arrangement!
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20 Introduction
Song Maker
The Song Maker lets you create new arrangements quickly and easily
and complement existing arrangements by automating the
complicated steps such as sample selection and combination. The
Song Maker takes over arranging whole sections such as intro and
refrain. Therefore, you do not have to do everything yourself – you
can omit the arranging and process your selection from the
suggestions.
MIDI integration
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium helps you arrange, load, record,
edit, and play MIDI data just as easily as audio data. You can
combine wave sound files with MIDI files for controlling the sound
chip on your sound card or VST instrument plug-ins or external
synthesizers, and then arrange everything together.
For MIDI recordings and editing you can use the extensive MIDI editor
with piano roll, drum editor, velocity/controller editor, and event list.
MIDI object recording can be started directly from the arranger by
setting the recording mode in the track box to MIDI.
Mixer
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium includes a professional real-time
mixer with effects rack and two insert effects for each channel, two
additional effect tracks, two insert effects for the master as well as
additional mastering effects. The mixer's size can be adjusted so that
more than eight tracks fit on the screen at a time. You can also group
a number of faders of a specific type (for example, volume or
panorama) and use them all together.
Create podcasts
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium allows you to publish your own
music as a podcast for a worldwide audience. The finished
arrangement is then uploaded to your MAGIX Online Album and listed
in the other podcast folders at MAGIX Podcast Service.
Ringtone export
Convert your songs or sound effects into ringtones at the touch of a
button. Works for the standard Real Ringtone formats: MP3 and
WAV.
www.magix.com
Upload to YouTube
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium offers you a direct connection to
the "YouTube" online video website. Simply enter all necessary data
for YouTube.
Introduction 21
Additional features of the Premium version
Additional audio effects
• Elastic Audio provides total control over vocals. Voice samples or
melodies you sing yourself can be "tuned" to match automatically.
Includes the harmonizer in the Elastic Audio Editor; you can add a
suitable second vocal or a whole choir to a specified melody.
• Amp simulator for simulating the well-known tube amplifier sound.
• The MAGIX Mastering Suite with important mastering effects (see
below).
Additional styles
The Premium version is delivered with additional styles in genres like
movie score, house, chillout, latin, flamenco, and r'n'b/soul.
Additional Vital Instruments
Acoustic Piano, E-Bass, Soundtrack Percussion, Clean Electric
Guitar.
Additional tracks
The Premium edition has 96 tracks (instead of 64) – even more space
for your most complex arrangements.
Object and track curve automation
Effect and volume progressions can be controlled using freely
drawable curves – for individual objects as well as for complete
tracks. In addition, you can fade in or out an echo at a specific
position in the song by drawing in a curve peak at the corresponding
position.
Video recording
In addition to audio recording, MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium
provides a recording function for video from analog video sources for
your own video clips.
www.magix.com
22 Introduction
DirectX and VST plug-ins
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium enables the direct use of DirectX
and VST plug-ins, a large variety of which is available in retail stores
or directly online. Such plug-ins (audio effects or synthesizers from
third party manufacturers) can significantly increase the functionality
of MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium.
MAGIX Mastering Suite 2.0
Impressive studio sound just like you hear on store-bought CDs!
MAGIX Mastering Suite is a special effects rack for use with the mixer
master channel. The included effects help you with so-called
"mastering"; put the final touch on your completed and mixed music
piece using parametric equalizers, MultiMax, limiter, and stereo
enhancers.
5.1 Surround-Sound
MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium provides real 5.1 Surround Sound.
5.1 Surround is the preferred home cinema sound format which is
also supported when importing, editing, and exporting your work.
The 5.1 Surround Editor enables you to move your music around the
room. The finished 5.1 arrangement can even be exported in the new
MP3 surround format (developed by the Fraunhofer Institute, the
inventors of MP3).
MAGIX Music Editor
Extensive real-time audio processing, also featuring CD burning,
sound restoration, sampling, and audio editing.
Live Performer
The Live Performer (open via the "Window" menu) helps you create
and remix your arrangement. Many sections in the arrangement can
be defined precisely according to the beat and played by pressing a
key on the computer keyboard or MIDI keyboard. With the Live Pads
(on page 154), sound loops or MIDI takes are positioned on the
arranger tracks during playback. This way, MAGIX Music Maker 15
Premium can be transformed into a musical instrument that can be
played directly and intuitively.
Revolta 2
Revolta 2 is a powerful-sounding, varied 12-voice analog synthesizer
with highly advanced functions, sound matrix, noise generator, and a
complete effects section featuring nine effect types.
www.magix.com
This synthesizer can create any electronic music you can imagine.
The sound presets were created by sound designers for Access Virus
and Rob Papens Albino, which makes Revolta 2 the number 1 choice
for beginners and professionals alike.
Introduction 23
www.magix.com
24 Overview of the program interface
Overview of the program interface
Menu bar This list provides the most important
Toolbar This contains the buttons for quick editing
Easy mode This turns the clearly laid-out beginner
Track boxes Complete tracks can be turned on or off
Arranger You can freely position any multimedia
Zoom functions Enlarges or reduces the view. The
Media Pool All files listed here can be added to the
editing commands.
and the different mouse modes.
mode on or off.
(muted) or played separately (solo). Use
the FX buttons to apply track effects.
material on all of the arranger's tracks.
horizontal scrollbar can be stretched and
compressed for zooming.
arranger via drag & drop.
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Monitor Previews for graphics or video files can be
Overview of the program interface 25
selected in the Media Pool are displayed
here. All visual material for the
arrangement is also shown here on
playback. Alternatively, a peak meter, the
arrangement overview, or the InfoBox can
be shown.
www.magix.com
26 Quick start
Quick start
This chapter explains the basic functions of MAGIX Music Maker 15
Premium with a step-by-step introduction. A systematic description
of the program functions can be found in the chapters and in the
extensive PDF manual.
Tip: Open the tutorial video and the "Quickstart" tutorial by clicking
on the "Help" menu.
Play demo project
The large area with the horizontal tracks is the arranger. Here you can
make all changes to the positions and multimedia objects.
You can find the Media Pool in the lower section of the program
interface. Here you can load multimedia files with various formats into
the arrangement by pressing the left mouse button and keeping it
held or by double clicking on the object. The Media Pool works
similarly to Windows
professionally produced sounds can be downloaded from the Catooh
and incorporated into your project
®
Explorer with some additional features, and
In the Media Pool, you will find some demo songs in the "My
projects" folder. Double click on a demo and find the individual tracks
of the song in the arranger: In MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium you
can create a complete song simply by compiling objects. Click on the
vertical scroll bar on the right-hand side of the screen and drag them
down (hold down the left mouse button) in order to be able to see
each track.
To play the demo, click the "Play" button or press the space bar on
your keyboard. A vertical red line (the playback marker) runs across
the screen and music will play from the speakers.
Note: If you do not hear anything, check that the correct sound card
is active for playback in the "Setup" window ("Y" key). Of course, the
output of the sound card has to be connected to the speakers.
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Quick start 27
Song Maker
To quickly create your first arrangement, you should let the Song
Maker run by itself and sit back and listen. Make sure a new, empty
arrangement is loaded by going to the "File" menu and selecting
"New arrangement". This opens a new arrangement with 16 empty
tracks. The Song Maker automatically creates musical arrangements
from the included music files.
Open Wizard...
• Activate the Song Maker with the
"1-click" button in the upper
section of the program interface.
• Select a music style.
• Deactivate the instruments you
do not wish to use in the
selection box.
• Enter the desired length of the
song or portion of a song in
seconds. (As a start, ten
seconds should be enough.)
• Click on "Create new
arrangement". Song Maker
automatically compiles an
arrangement. This should only
be taken as a suggestion.
• Listen to the suggestion by
pressing the "Play" button in the
"Preview Song Maker
suggestion" section. If you're not
happy with the result, you can
have another arrangement
created by clicking once more
on the "Create new
arrangement" button.
• Once you're happy with Song
Maker's suggestion, click on
"OK". The building blocks are
only now added to the arranger.
• To play the arrangement, press the space bar or click the "Play"
button. The arrangement is then played back as a loop as long as
the space bar is held or the "Play" button is pressed.
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28 Quick start
Your first musical arrangement is complete! Song Maker can also be
used to add more individual samples or whole song parts or to lay
down a bass or drum sound. This can then be expanded into a more
complex multimedia arrangement or refined using your own video
and audio files.
Preview and load audio files
In the next step, load sound files into the arranger for positioning and
editing.
Create another new, empty arrangement. To do so click "File" and
select the "New arrangement" option.
Now click on "Sounds & Videos" in the Media Pool. Various
categories are shown on the left page of the Media Pool. Click on the
one of the categories to open a sub-category. Here you can select
and preview sounds. Some instruments are categorized according to
pitch. Click on any entry here. The sound will then start playing. Each
file can be previewed this way. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard
to select the various pitches. Other instruments – like drums – are not
categorized according to pitch. These entries are denoted by a
loudspeaker symbol which displays them as a normal wave file.
To load a file into the arranger, simply press "Enter". You can also
drag the file from a table onto a track in the arranger. Once you let go
of the mouse button, the file will appear as an audio object at that
position.
Position audio objects
Each object can be moved in any way in the arranger with the
mouse, horizontally on a track as well as vertically between tracks.
Add new instruments to your first song in the arranger. For example,
take a drum sample and drag it underneath the object in a lower
track which was added beforehand.
This way, any number of files can be dragged from any folder into the
arranger and placed on top of one another, on multiple tracks, or
behind one another.
Play the arrangement in the meantime. Take note of the two markers
at the top of the bar ruler – they represent the start and end points of
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the range to be played. If you wish to change the playback range, the
start and end markers can be dragged (while holding down the
mouse button) to any position on the bar ruler.
Tip: You can also move the playback marker independently of the left
start marker by clicking on the lower section of the bar ruler.
You do not need to interrupt playback to load new samples into the
arranger. MAGIX Music Maker 15 Premium has a "Smart Preview"
function: You can simultaneously preview new samples in the Media
Pool – they always run synchronous to the song in the arranger. This
function considerably simplifies the search for suitable samples for a
song you wish to create.
Quick start 29
Add videos and synthesizers
The next step shows you how to add a video. Access the video folder
in the Media Pool and select a video file. On the video monitor to the
right, a preview of the selected video file can be shown.
Once you have found a matching video, use the mouse button to
drag it onto any track (like previously with the audio files).
To open the folder with the software synthesizers from MAGIX Music
Maker 15 Premium, you have to switch to the "File Manager" from the
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30 Quick start
Media Pool and then to the "Synthesizers" folder.
Each synthesizer can be dragged, like any other file, with the left
mouse button into the arranger tracks. The control console opens to
program the synthesizer. Object synthesizers become independent
objects after they are programmed, and then they can be moved
around just like other objects on the arranger. Track synthesizers, on
the other hand, remain attached to the track where they have been
added.
Experiment with the various synthesizers in MAGIX Music Maker 15
Premium and take advantage of each of their individual strengths.
Editing objects
To get an impression of the object-based work method of MAGIX
Music Maker 15 Premium, you should become more familiar with the
"Objects" on the tracks of the arranger.
All objects can be shortened or looped by moving the mouse to one
of the lower corners of the object until it turns into a stretch symbol.
You can now stretch or compress the object length as much as you
like. This way you can create rhythm tracks from short drum samples
simply by stretching them.
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