Mixcraft

Mixcraft is a free to download music composing tool for Windows machines developed by Acoustica Inc. It uses built-in VSTs (Virtual Instruments), and supports midi files, being able to display information, tempo, key & pitch.

Mixcraft works similar to Garageband, a VST audio composition tool found on Apple Macs, which also support midi files.

Upon download and use, Mixcraft has all features available for use, such as burning songs to a CD, or converting audio projects made on the software to audio files (such as .wav or .mp3). However, once the two week trial has ended, the user will be unable to finalize songs as an mp3, wav, or other audio format.

A message asking the user to buy the full product will also appear every time the program is booted up, or after a certain number of commands (such as playing a song more than 3 times manually).

However, at times, an option to get more time for the trial may appear when Mixcraft loads up. This free feature will unlock the ability to convert audio files (such as midi files) for three more days, before the program locks the features again & recommends purchase.

A soundfont found on SolMiRe, known as GereralUser 1.43 sounds almost identical to Mixcraft's VSTs, albeit slightly lower in quality. This can be used as an alternative to get midi files to sound like it was converted using Mixcraft.

How to Import a Midi File into Mixcraft
Midi files are easily loaded into Mixcraft in a few simple steps:

1 - Open Mixcraft & make sure that the new project loaded up is a Virtual Instrument Project (VST)

2 - Go to file and click on "Open Project"

3 - Locate your chosen midi file & open it. The midi will then load up in Mixcraft using Virtual Instruments (VSTs).

Your midi file will now be ready to listen to with Mixcraft's own VSTs, and can also be edited.

NOTE: Do NOT drag & drop a midi file into Mixcraft; this will cause Mixcraft to load the midi file using the current key & tempo of the unsaved project, causing the midi file to have an incorrect tempo and/or pitch.

How to convert a Midi File using Mixcraft
As long as Mixcraft's 3-week trial is not over, or the software has already been purchased, Mixcraft allows midi files to be converted as high quality tracks using VSTs (Virtual Instruments):

By loading a midi file into Mixcraft, it can be saved as a .mp3, .wav or other audio file by clicking on "File", then "Mixdown to". A list of audio formats will appear: .mp3, .ogg, .wma & .wav.

Select which one you want, and then chose the location of where to save the converted midi file. Upon selecting the location, the .mid file will be saved as a different audio format using Mixcraft's VSTs.

If Mixcraft's 3 week trial has ended, the ability to save a midi file as a different audio format will be disabled until Mixcraft is purchased, or if the option to get more time is available.

Editing a Midi File using Mixcraft
Once a midi file has been imported into Mixcraft, it can be edited; notes can be altered using the silders & Piano Roll options that appear when a Midi track has been selected.

The default Acoustica VSTs (Virtual Instruments) represent actual midi instruments (such as a Grand Acoustic Piano, String Ensemble 1, etc.), & can be changed easily, just like most other true midi editing tools.

If any of the midi tracks are changed into a different instrument found in the default Acoutica instrument collection, the midi's instruments will be affected; for example, a grand acoustic piano track is changed into an Oboe. If the Mixcraft Project is saved as a .mid file again, that piano track will now be an Oboe in the actual midi file.

But, if a midi track is changed into an instrument outside of the default Acoustica VSTs, then the instrument will not play if the project is saved as a .mid file again, since that instrument is NOT a VST representing a midi instrument (e.g: Synth Strings 1 getting changed into Solina Strings).

Saving the project as a .mid file
To save the midi file as a midi file, go to "File", then select "Save As Midi File"; this will allow the user to save the audio as a .mid file. However, midis cannot be saved as .rmi files; they can only be saved as .mid files.

If the 3 week trial for Mixcraft has ended, then a project cannot be saved as a midi file. The feature can be re-enabled via the feature of "begging" for three more days, or by buying the product.

What to do if Mixcraft won't allow Audio Files to be saved
After the 3-week trial has ended, Mixcraft will lock the features of being able to save a Mixcraft Project as an audio file (.wav, .mp3, .ogg, etc.).

Luckily, there are 2 alternatives to saving a Midi file using Mixcraft:

Recording Audio from Mixcraft with a recording tool
However, by using "Line In", a setting disabled by default in the Microphone settings on Windows machines, and an audio recording tool, the audio can be played on Mixcraft and recorded. The recording can then be saved using the audio recording tool.

Screen capture tools can also be used, as long as the software is able to record audio. A converting tool (such as VLC) can then be used to convert the recorded video into an audio file.

The GeneralUser 1.43 Soundfont
On the safe online midi converter, SolMiRe - MIDI to MP3 Online Converter, one of the soundfont options available is the GeneralUser 1.43 Soundfont.

It is identical to Mixcraft's VSTs, if not the same, but slightly lower in quality.

This online converter and this particular soundfont is useful for those who want to go through the hassle of installing Mixcraft, or cannot save their midi files using Mixcraft anymore.