UltraMixer is a DJ Software for so called digital or virtual DJs, who are not using Vinyls or Audio-CDs but using digital music formats like MP3. UltraMixer is designed especially for the need of mobile DJs[promotional language], who work as an entertainer for events like weddings, it is also used in dancing schools and restaurants.[1] According to their website, it was the very first platform independent DJ Software for Windows, Mac OS and Linux.[2][promotional or fringe source?] The software is being developed and distributed since 2003 by the company UltraMixer Digital Audio Solutions GbR, based on Dresden.
Compact Disc Digital Audio, also known as Audio CD, is the standard format for audio compact discs. The standard is defined in the Red Book, one of a series of "Rainbow Books" that contain the technical specifications for all CD formats.
MP3 is a coding format for digital audio. Originally defined as the third audio format of the MPEG-1 standard, it was retained and further extended—defining additional bit-rates and support for more audio channels—as the third audio format of the subsequent MPEG-2 standard. A third version, known as MPEG 2.5—extended to better support lower bit rates—is commonly implemented, but is not a recognized standard.
Dresden is the capital city and, after Leipzig, the second-largest city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the border with the Czech Republic.
The software works as a dual player with two independent controllable decks. The music tracks can be adjusted in real time Mixer, crossfader and optional beat matching which ensures seamless blending during track transition. The software can also apply effects to a track. Time stretching allows two tracks with different speeds to be normalized to each other while preserving the tone pitch. A 3 or 31-band equalizer is available to allow the output signal to be tuned to best fit a particular room.
A DJ mixer is a type of audio mixing console used by Disc jockeys (DJs) to control and manipulate multiple audio signals. Some DJs use the mixer to make seamless transitions from one song to another when they are playing records at a dance club. Hip hop DJs and turntablists use the DJ mixer to play record players like a musical instrument and create new sounds. DJs in the disco, house music, electronic dance music and other dance-oriented genres use the mixer to make smooth transitions between different sound recordings as they are playing. The sources are typically record turntables, compact cassettes, CDJs, or DJ software on a laptop. DJ mixers allow the DJ to use headphones to preview the next song before playing it to the audience. Most low- to mid-priced DJ mixers can only accommodate two turntables or CD players, but some mixers can accommodate up to four turntables or CD players. DJs and turntablists in hip hop music and nu metal use DJ mixers to create beats, loops and "scratching" sound effects.
Beatmatching or pitch cue is a disc jockey technique of pitch shifting or timestretching an upcoming track to match its tempo to that of the currently playing track, and to adjust them such that the beats are synchronised — e.g. the kicks and snares in two house records hit at the same time when both records are played simultaneously. Beatmatching is a component of beatmixing which employs beatmatching combined with equalization, attention to phrasing and track selection in an attempt to make a single mix that flows together and has a good structure.
An effects unit or effectspedal is an electronic or digital device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source. Common effects include distortion/overdrive, often used with electric guitar in electric blues and rock music; dynamic effects such as volume pedals and compressors, which affect loudness; filters such as wah-wah pedals and graphic equalizers, which modify frequency ranges; modulation effects, such as chorus, flangers and phasers; pitch effects such as pitch shifters; and time effects, such as reverb and delay, which create echoing sounds.
The user interface has a file manager called file archive as its central working area. It can efficiently be used to search and organize tracks and play lists. Besides audio formats like MP3, AAC, FLAC or M4A, video files and Audio-CDs can also be played. Furthermore, the software can be used to record a live set. Supported languages are English, German, Dutch and Japanese (as of May 2014).
The user interface (UI), in the industrial design field of human–computer interaction, is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is to allow effective operation and control of the machine from the human end, whilst the machine simultaneously feeds back information that aids the operators' decision-making process. Examples of this broad concept of user interfaces include the interactive aspects of computer operating systems, hand tools, heavy machinery operator controls, and process controls. The design considerations applicable when creating user interfaces are related to or involve such disciplines as ergonomics and psychology.
Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is an audio coding standard for lossy digital audio compression. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves better sound quality than MP3 at the same bit rate. The confusingly named AAC+ (HE-AAC) does so only at low bit rates and less so at high ones.
Hardware support
Since version 4.1 the software is fully MIDI compliant and can be used with any available MIDI controller. [promotion?]
Editions
Version 5 is available in four different "flavors" (Home, Basic, Pro and Entertain), each with different functionality. A demo can be tested unlimited.
UltraMixer has been actively developed since 2002 by Tobias Bley and Matthias Hänel. The main goal of the development was Usability.[3] Version 1 was free of charge, and the very first commercial version, 2, was published as a first beta version in October 2005. Significant changes to version 1 has been a complete user interface revamp.
Usability is the ease of use and learnability of a human-made object such as a tool or device. In software engineering, usability is the degree to which a software can be used by specified consumers to achieve quantified objectives with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a quantified context of use.
New versions of UltraMixer are released roughly every month or two. Since early 2006, the software has implemented the Replay-Gain Algorithm. Features such as the 31-Band-Equalizer, looping, time stretching, and real time effects, such as flanger, (cutoff), high and low pass have been supported since the end of 2006. In version 2.1, the ability to record as well as support for MIDI-devices was introduced. Since then, the list of supported MIDI controllers has been steadily increasing. Version 2.2 introduced silence detection, and version 2.3, the ability to directly access an iTunes playlist.
UltraMixer 3.0 was announced near the end of 2008[4] and released in November 2010. New features included the ability for the user interface to scale gracefully at various resolutions, graphical waveforms, and the possibility to switch between two different operating modes – a single or double playlist view. Version 3 supports automated and synchronized Beatmatching, automated loops, digital Scratching, Recording as well as automatic gain control (AGC).[5]
Since the beginning of 2012, version 4 has been released as a publicly available beta version. Key new features are the ability to connect with an Internet radiostreaming server such as those found on SHOUTcast and Icecast, microphone support, as well as the ability to search through videos and cover art.
In December 2015 UltraMixer5S has been undisclosed with a major rewrite for its video engine and a lot of new features like karaoke support, beat driven visuals and full 64 bit support.
For example, the editorial staff from the "Computer Bild" magazine recommended the free version of the "visually appealing player" as "the perfect accompaniment for your next party"[promotional language].[8]
In a market overview, the journal Beat introduced 18 different DJ programs, of which UltraMixer was included.[9]
Netzwelt regards the software as "one of the best DJ Programs".[10]
The Brazilian download portalBaixaki praises the intuitive user interface and highlights the ease of use in comparison to other music players.[11]
Criticized and simultaneously praised[12] was the simplicity of the software, that for example, up till 2009 still didn't have a graphical Waveform view.[promotion?]
The software has been downloaded in 2008 over one million times from the vendors webpage.[13] Download portals like Netzwelt show more than 400.000 downloads.[10] Softpedia has more than 40.000 downloads.[14] MacUpdate.com states "UltraMixer for Mac is DJ software done right."[15]
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