Why Upgrade?
Magix Music Maker Professional 1.0

Listing at $599, Music Maker Professional 1.0 is Music Maker Deluxe's new big brother -- a 64-track multimedia project arranger and editor that comes with a vast library of license-free audio, video, and graphics files (on 14 CD-ROMs). The interface, effects, and MIDI and video editing tools are practically identical to those of Music Maker Deluxe, but Professional goes further by adding streaming audio/video support, additional mouse-editing modes, and Magix's Audio Studio program, a digital multitrack and waveform recording/editing packages that offers 48kHz recording and the ability to sync to external timecode.

MM Professional is a good solution for those looking to integrate streaming audio and video files into a music production. WAV, AIFF, MP3, and MPEG audio formats can be imported and exported, as can Apple QuickTime, Microsoft Netshow (ASF), and Real Audio/Video video formats. An MP3 encoding utility is also included. Though not a high-end authoring platform, MM Professional does open the multimedia door to musicians new to the world of Internet audio and video.

As with MM Deluxe, the absence of a basic MIDI editing environment is a big weakness. On top of that, MM Professional lacks MM Deluxe's complement of cool plug-in instruments and its Web collaboration interface. Still, Audio Studio's 48kHz multitrack recording capabilities and precise waveform editing tools may appeal to the audio-intensive producer.

Bottom line: Despite the wealth of license-free source material found on the included CD-ROMs discs, Music Maker Professional suffers in the value department against Music Maker Deluxe. Though it boasts more power tools than MM Deluxe, Music Maker Professional's lofty $599 price tag reduces the bang-for-the-buck factor, and places it in direct competition with programs that do far more for the price.

Magix Music Maker Professional 1.0
System Requirements

• Processor: Intel Pentium 166MHz or better
• System Software: Windows 95/98/NT
• Minimum RAM: 32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended)
• Minimum hard disk space: 50 MB (100 MB recommended)
• Other: 16-bit color monitor (24-bit recommended), 16-bit soundcard and a CD-ROM drive.