Software for song mixing (clean up recordings, slow/speed up, mix one song with another)? OSX if possible

December 11, 2003 5:37 PM

I'd like to create some mixed audio CDs where I would literally slow down/speed up parts of the songs to merge them together as a DJ does. I'm mainly planning to make club/dance music mixes, although I may do some downtempo/chill mixes too.

I'd like to import some tracks in from vinyl and would do that via my mixer (i.e. I know not to do it directly from the turntable itself.)

Does anyone have any thoughts on the best software to do some simple editing (I hear there is software that can cut hiss and needle pops and whatnot) and then the mixing? I have both XP and OS X, but I'm thinking I would prefer to do this on the Mac.
posted by gen to computers & internet (10 comments total)

If you go with XP you could use goldwave for editing (it's free).
As for mixing w/tempo changes I suggest Sonic Foundry's Acid - t'aint cheap, but it works well for that kind of thing - I believe you can burn a CD right from Acid too. Looks like they're up to version 4.0 but if you can find ver 2.0 cheap it'll work just fine.
posted by soplerfo at 6:36 PM on December 11, 2003

"...slow down/speed up parts of the songs to merge them together..."

I don't know anything about such software, however it might be useful in your search to know that this is called "beat matching" and that a google for "beat matching software" turns up a great many potentially useful results.
posted by majick at 7:08 PM on December 11, 2003

Check out "ask the DJ" for OS X beat-matching
posted by adamrice at 7:19 PM on December 11, 2003

I'd suggest Acid, given that Sonic Foundry was acquired, and you might be able to get a discount given their new ownership. Sound Forge, by the same team, is also an excellent Windows sound app.
posted by anildash at 8:50 PM on December 11, 2003

Thanks to all for suggestions. I will try Goldwave and "ask the DJ" and Acid (I may be able to get it for cheap ;)
posted by gen at 11:58 PM on December 11, 2003

What you want is called "Mixmeister". I've tried everything else, ACID, CD Architect... none of them are ready for prime time.

Mixmeister is wonderful, and relatively intuitive. You can even mix in real time! Queue up three songs to get yourself started, and then fly by the seat of your pants for the rest of the set.

Trust me... you'll love it.
posted by cadastral at 12:20 AM on December 12, 2003

On OS X, check out Traktor DJ Studio from Native Instruments (demo available for d/l). I've only had a small play with it put it has good potential. It will DJ live, you can edit mixes & play around (inc. effects) to your heart's content.
posted by i_cola at 12:40 AM on December 12, 2003

For fixing annoying noises only, I know of a product called Soundsoap. It's for Macs.

Don't know how well it works, though there's a positive review of it here.
posted by attackthetaxi at 1:45 AM on December 12, 2003

Raygun is another noise-elimination software for Macs. I've been looking into getting one for the office here (we have our own audio recording booth, but oddly no audio repair software), so I don't know how well either it or Soundsoap operates. If you can give them a sample of just the noise you're looking to eliminate (needle running in silent track, hum of air conditioner, etc) they work much better.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 7:14 AM on December 12, 2003

I use Traktor for beat-matching and mixing on both OSX and XP. Again, it isn't cheap, but it does the job well.

where I would literally slow down/speed up parts of the songs to merge them together as a DJ does

Where possible, you want to avoid tempo variations if the purpose is merely to mix tracks (if you *deliberately* want a tempo change, this is different), much better to alter the tempo of a track in its entirety.
posted by nthdegx at 10:04 AM on December 12, 2003