Free and open-source Live DJ software Mixxx, which is developed by a community of DJ’s, has today released a new and improved version.
The release is the culmination of over a years worth of development and is described by the Mixxx team as being their ‘most exciting release to date’.
New features
Mixxx 1.8.0 includes many new and improved features including: –
- Looping
- Hot cues
- A brand new database-powered library (including Rhythmbox library and playlists access)
- Auto DJ mode
- New skins
- New PortMidi-based MIDI device backend which supports using multiple devices at once
- New and updated MIDI mappings
- A massive rewrite of the internal mixing engine
- More intelligent disk access to optimize audio latency
- New icons for library and preferences
- Over 50 bug fixes
In use
Not being a DJ – or anything approaching a DJ – my “experiences” with Mixxx are likely void of relevance to most professional users.
From a Joe-user standpoint Mixxx is a visually interesting application. Its skins were designed to remain usable in dark venues and the wide array of neon-coloured graphs, lines and sliders does nothing but pique your interest and force experimentation.
In spite of its position as a ‘professional’ application Mixxx is surprisingly fun for a novice to use; with Rhythmbox library access, a neat ‘auto DJ’ mode and the competitive desire to try and get things ‘sound right’ you’ll likely discover that the rainy morning you intended to spend mixing ended up becoming an whole day!
If all of that practising leads you to come up with some pretty neat sounding you can use Options > Record Mix to save it and share with others.
Download
Ubuntu 10.10 users can already install the latest Mixxx release directly from the Ubuntu Software Centre by clicking here.
A PPA containing Mixxx 1.8.0 for Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid) users is also available: –
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mixxxdevelopers/ppa
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install mixxx libportaudio2
Thanks to P. Bonds