MixPad

MixPad is a powerful mixing platform for audio production.

MixPad is a platform for mixing audio files that contain multiple tracks, and there’s no limit to the number tracks that you can add to a file. The program isn’t geared solely toward music either, and the platform is great for mixing voice tracks, sound effects, and so forth. The goal of the program is to provide you with all of the mixing options you’d find in an actual studio, and it comes pretty close. Not only does it give you a tremendous range of tools, it does so without much UI clutter.

Opening or creating a new file is simple and intuitive. You can mix tracks together with ease by adding a file to the clip manager or recording a new one through the built-in recorder. When dealing with tracks, everything is drag-and-drop, and you can drag and drop from a file explorer as well as from within the program. In addition to tools for creating music, you’ll find tools for creating soundtracks for video as well as podcasts, radio advertisements, and the like.

MixPad also integrates seamlessly with WavePad, and many who use MixPad will also use that program. You can send files and clips back and forth between the two programs easily. There are also a number of export options for working with programs that aren’t directly supported, and the program supports many different file formats and codecs, including MP3, WMA, Real Audio, and more. The program also comes with a library of effects, including echo, reverb, and distort.

The UI does seem a bit outdated by current standards, and at times, you might as well be using medical reporting software rather than a music editing environment. Another issue is that the registration mechanism is a bit clunky, and many users have reported difficulty upgrading to the paid version. Also, note that this is primarily a PC program, and it supports Windows XP, Windows 2000, and later versions. The developer does market Mac OS X support, but that seems limited to PowerPC Macs.

Pros

• Mix any number of audio, music, and voice tracks
• Create music mixes, advertisements, soundtracks, and more
• Broad selection of built-in effects to use
• Seamless WavePad integration

Cons

• Clinical and outdated UI
• Registration not as simple as it should be
• Advertises Mac OS support but PowerPC only