Comparakeet » Best DJ Mixer Apps » Mixxx Review

Ranking

Not Ranked in Best DJ Mixer Apps

Rating

8/10

Price

FreeSee Better Options

What's the Verdict?

There Are Better OptionsSee Alternatives

Mixxx Review 2018

Requiring no cost at all, and with possibly numerous updates in the future that will add more and more features and improvements to the program, Mixxx is probably one of the best open-source mixing software available to date. The release of the second version added a variety of functions and fixes to make its usage more user-friendly and customizable. Moreover, it has some of the much needed tools for mixing tracks, such as time stretching, effect chain grouping, and beat syncing, plus a pre-bundled timecode vinyl control software that allows DJs to have more tactile control of the software through a turntable or a CDJ.

Learn more about Mixxx and its growing and improved features in this review.

See Our Other Top Picks

Jonathan KernsMay 22, 2019

Pros

Free for Anyone: Mixxx is an open source software that requires no cost to download and use. All you need to do is head over to their website, click the download link that applies to your operating system and version preference, and you are good to go!
Time Stretching Effects: Changing the speed of the tracks without having any effect on the pitch should not have any problem with Mixxx, thanks to its time stretch emulation. Now, you can fit tracks together even if they do not have the same original beat, or you can change the pitch of another to fit the needed key.
Accurate BPM Detection: Mixxx has an upgraded BPM detection library that can determine the beat even in the most difficult rhythms. Moreover, the waveform view is presented so you can easily view and make marks on each beat to guide you in your mixing, plus an option for instant tempo syncing of up to four songs.
Easy Broadcasting: For your tracks to reach a broader audience, you would need to have it available in a variety of options. This is where Mixxx has the upper hand against its competitors. You can take advantage of Shoutcast and Icecast servers for your tracks, with an option for live broadcasting; you can also opt for the other alternatives such mp3 streaming and Linux via JACK and edcast/ IDJC.

Cons

Limited Pre-bundled Effects: Unfortunately, if you want to go crazy and experiment with a variety of effects to inject a different style in your mixes, you may want to look for another option, as Mixxx only has a handful of effects to offer. You do have the option to chain a group of effects with the new effects processor, that allows up to four FX units.
No Mobile Support: Another downside of Mixxx is that they have yet to release an app for a mobile version of their program. Most DJ mixing software in the market has already offered a downloadable mobile version which has a wide range of features, from remote control of the main program to a standalone mixer with a variety of tools and editors.

Mixxx Pricing and Features

Mixxx is an open source, free-to-use DJ mixing software, making it the perfect choice for starting DJ aspirants or those who simply cannot afford to buy a mixing program with their limited resources. It is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Ubuntu, and Linux systems.

With simple drag and drop gestures, you can start editing a track with Mixxx. You have four decks on your screen, each one fitted with a scratchable, scrollable waveform with markings on beat and cue points. Notably, the interface has improved from the first version of the software. Now, you can resize the skins as you want, you can show and hide element as needed, or change the skins and configure the layout, as the package also includes 3 designer skins to choose from. While that may not be a lot, it certainly is a step in the right direction in giving users more personalization options.

Syncing multiple tracks prove to be a breeze with Mixxx’s master sync feature as the beats of tracks stay locked even if you change their speed. If you happen to find a specific portion that you would like to loop, you can do with the beat looping button, allowing you to loop a 4, 8, or 16 beat segment. You can also trigger short loops and reverse playback effects to keep the rhythm going.

One thing you will notice is that the effects within the program are quite limited, offering only flanger, Moog 4-pole ladder filter, Echo, Reverb, and BitCrusher. This, however, may still be a work in progress, especially since the previous version only allowed for one effect to be applied to any deck. You can now set up a chain group of effects in up to 4 FX units. You can also enjoy tweaking multiple parameters at once with a single knob, with assignable affected effects.

Recording and broadcasting your mixes is an easy task to do as well, and you can store your tracks in lossless WAV format or compressed OGG Vorbis form. You can share your creations via Shoutcast or Icecast, or through MP3 streaming, although by default, this option is disabled due to licensing restrictions. Enabling this option requires you to download a LAME binary and copying some files to the Mixxx folder. If this sounds complicated, don’t worry; you can read a full step-by-step procedure of the process over at their website, complete with the link for the needed download.

Mixxx Customer Support

Mixxx has a dedicated community support center where you can find FAQs, user manuals, forums, developer mailing list, IRC channel, which can be used to ask for assistance, and to chat with developers and fellow Djs, and a bug tracker, in case you encounter any within the program. You can also reach their support team by sending an email, although you need to be subscribed in the website to do so. For the latest news and updates, you can connect with them via Facebook and Twitter.

Control with Your Vinyl

Aside from Mixxx’s solid DJ mixing features, which will be discussed in a short while, the package contains a little extra that is worthy of being highlighted, and will surely be appreciated by vinyl jockeys. Mixxx comes with a free timecode vinyl control which lets you operate the program from your turntable or CDJ, and a mixer. As of this writing, a handful of timecodes are supported as well, such as Serato CV02, Traktor Scratch MK1, and MixVibes DVS V2, with absolute positioning, needle cueing, and end of record detection. It is the only software to offer this feature across different operating systems, namely Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, so you can bet that you will be using a well-developed program. Their website also contains a full section dedicated to the configuration and troubleshooting of this setup, guiding you throughout the whole setup process.

What's the Verdict on Mixxx?

There Are Better Options

Mixxx Review 2020 – Conclusion

Although there is still a lot of room for improvement, being an open source software gives Mixxx the advantage to explore a whole boatload of possibilities with each update, especially with developers working hand-in-hand to make it a better DJ mixing software. You have almost the same features in your hands as most paid programs like beat syncing, section loop, chained effects, and recording and broadcasting. Of course, the best thing about this one is that it is free to use by anyone, so if you have little to no budget when hunting for a DJ mixing software, but have the passion for creating great music, then Mixxx is a very good choice.

No Comments... Yet!

Cancel reply