Beatmix 8 sets a “mix out” point for your first song eight bars before your song ends, and adds a “mix in” point for your second song that lasts for eight bars too. MixMeister automatically sets mix points depending on the type of mix transition you choose. There are 12 types of mix transitions that you can choose from (it’s set to Beatmix 8 by default, which is a beatmatched eight bar mix in / out to the next track), and you can edit them in the bottom Timeline window if you want to get more specific. You can then choose the type of “mix” that MixMeister can automatically set for that song’s transition. Once they’ve been analysed for key/ tempo and are in MixMeister’s library, you drag them to the right window where you can arrange the songs in the order that you want. The process to making your mixtape is pretty straightforward: You pick songs from your hard drive to import onto MixMeister. MixMeister looks more like a music library app than DJ software: There are three windows here – the upper left shows music that you’ve imported into MixMeister, the upper right displays songs that you’ve currently got in your playlist, and the bottom is MixMeister’s timeline where you’ll edit your mixes. For most, though, the Express will have what you need to put out mixes. In Use MixMeister comes in the Studio and Fusion versions too, which feature a different interface and more performance and editing options. He left the company in 2009, and Numark continues to develop the software today.

MixMeister was founded by Aaron Higgins in the year 2000, and was bought by Numark in 2007.

While not a household name these days among newer DJs, the app had, and continues to have, a loyal following because it was one of the first DJ apps that allowed for this type of “mixing” that was completely in-the-box using MP3s. MixMeister has been around for over a decade. With the software installed, I fired it up and tried it out for the first time. Installing it was quick, and it uses the iLok authorisation system, which stores an access key either on your computer or on an iLok USB dongle.

I downloaded MixMeister Express from the MixMeister website, and it has both PC and OSX compatibility. Fusion has all the features of Studio topped off with some live performance functions such as headphone cue, Midi control, and manual beatmatching. The Studio edition features a more professional looking interface and extra editing features, along with the ability to host external VST plugins. MixMeister Express is the entry-level option in the MixMeister product tier, which includes MixMeister Studio and MixMeister Fusion.

Mixmeister studio comparison