AtomixMP3 software features

- .MP3, .WAV -

This window allows you to find a song in your hard drive, by browsing your folders the "classic" way.

file browser

The "menu files browser" window is subdivided in three dynamic subwindows:

• on the left, the folder browser
• in the center, the music browser, which displays the available music files
• on the right, the playlist

All side subwindows can be masked by clicking the unlock button and dragging the mouse outside of it.

locked

unlocked

To show the subwindow, simply move the mouse over the "playlist" or the "folders" area at each side of the main window. The subwindow will close itself again when you drag the mouse outside of it, allowing you to use the maximum space to view your files. If you wish to keep it open, simply press the lock button.

Folders Browser

folders browser: open	folders browser: closed

The left part allows you to select a folder, and the right part shows the files in this folder. The file browser also includes distant files ( on your local network for instance )

Favorite Folder: If all your files are in sub-folders of a main directory, you can let this main directory be the root of the folder view, the favorite folder. To set a specific folder as your favorite folder, like the "My Music" folder above, select the foler you want as your favorite folder, and click on the "set favorite button" on the top right corner of the file subwindow.

set favorite folder button

Music Browser

- .MP3, .WAV -

This window displays the available audio files cointined by the folder selected in the folder browser.

To load a song on one of the available desks, select the song and drag and drop it on one of the desks. You can also press the "ENTER" button.

music browser

The available formats are:

• .wav
• .mp3

You can edit the BPM value or insert a comment on a song by selecting a song and pressing ALT-F2 or CTRL-F2.

song-icons

The red cross means that this song has already been played during the session.
A question mark means that this song has never been played in AtomixMP3, and therefore the BPM and volume are not known yet.

Playlist

- Mix till the end of the night -

The playlist manager is a dynamic subwindow common to the file browser and the search window. It allows you both to prepare the playlist you will mix during your session. That means that you will preselect the songs you will play and their order.
Moreover, AtomixMP3 can be fully automated and mix by itself your entire playlist.

playlist manager: open	closed

Exactly the same way you can load songs from the music window, you can drag and drop files from the playlist subwindow to any of the desks.

locked

unlocked

The playlist subwindow can be shown by dragging the mouse to the extreme right side of AtomixMP3 main window. If you wish to keep it open, simply press the lock button. You can resize any subwindow by dragging its edge.
If you only wish to mix from the prepared playlist, just pull thesubwindow border from its open (locked) position to the extreme left edge of the screen to mask completely the music or the search window.

Moreover, the playlist manager offers other powerful features:

*** Playlist features ***

- Automix, new only, shuffle, open, save -

automix: off

on

Automix Mode: toggles to the automix mode, AtomixMP3 will now mix the playlist autmatically. At the end of one song, AtomixMP3 will load the next song, mix the two rythms and crossfade to the next song, and reset its pitch to 0.

playlist: shuffle

Shuffle: randomizes the order of the playlist.

new songs only

New songs only: remove all previously played songs from the playlist. The songs already played during the session are marked with a red cross.

open

Open: loads a playlist into AtomixMP3. This playlist can be in standard .M3U or .PLS format.

save

Save: saves the playlist to standard .M3U or .PLS format.

- find and manage audio files -

The search tool allows you to browse your audio files in a different manner as the folder browser. You can type any keyword in the text box to retrieve the corresponding file from either one of your local drives or a previously scanned CD.

search tool

Exactly the same way you can load songs from the music window, you can drag and drop files from the search tool subwindow to any of the desks. You can also use the playlist subwindow, located in the right side of the search window.

Type in the search text box the first letters of the author name or the song name of the file you look for and AtomixMP3 will find it instantly.

To use the search tool, you must already have an audio database to search in, you must have scanned your hard drive first.

It can scan your local drive for audio files and manage several CDs, or removable devices.

Managing Local Drives

scan local drive

Scan local drive : scans one or more of your local drives, floppy or CDs for audio files, and add them to your audio database.

search audio files on local drives

Select the drive you want to scan, the files format you wish to add to your audio database (.MP3 or .WAV) and click OK to start scanning.
The perform axtended analysis scans each audio file rythm structure, the same way AtomixMP3 analyses a song whan it is played. This process is faster than playing each of your audio files, but may require some time to proceed.

Managing Removable Devices

add CD

Add CD: scans your CD drive, or any removable device, for audio files and add them to your audiodatabase. This feature keeps track of the CD even when it is removed from your CD drive and allows you to find on which CD a track was to retrieve the corresponding CD easely.

Add a CD to audio database

Select the drive, choose a name for this CD and press scan to start scanning.

remove CD

Remove CD: remove the content of a specific CD from your audio database.

Remove a CD from audio database

Select the CD you wish to remove and press delete to remove it.

The Sample window allows you to launch small audio sounds during your sessions: the samples.

sample

Launch sample: Click on the sample name to launch the sample.

Right click on the sample name to play the sample and stop it by releasing the right mouse button.

open

Open: loads a sample into AtomixMP3. This playlist can be in standard .MP3 or .WAV format.

sample gain

Gain: set the output gain of the sample.

AtomixMP3 supports effects. That means that you apply dynamic audio effects to the music played by AtomixMP3.

You can download effects on the effects page of AtomixMP3 website.

The default effects are :

• flanger
• pan

Flanger

- Airplane tubes -

flanger: launch on desk A

flanger effect

flanger: launch on desk B

Flanging was originally achieved by mixing the outputs of two LP record turntables and changing their relative speeds by alternately touching the ``flange'' of each turntable to slow it down. This produces a sound effect resembling a jet airplane ascending and descending.
The default flanger effect of AtomixMP3 changes its intensity according to the corresponding song rythm.

The Click on the A or B button to launch the flanger effect on the corresponding desk.

Pan

- So flute... -

pan: launch on desk A

pan effect

pan: launch on desk B

The pan effect output the song on the left speaker and on the right speaker alternatively, according to the corresponding song rythm.

Click on the A or B button to launch the flanger effect on the corresponding desk.

AtomixMP3 supports recording of your mix sessions. You can then use the output files to burn your own mixed audio CDs.

Recording Controls

recording: start

recording: stop

Start Recording: starts writing the audio output to the selected file. Click a second time to abord recording.
AtomixMP3 supports .WAV output format.

cut

Cut: continues recording in a second file. Use this feature to burn a multitrack mixed audio CD.

Every written file is named as follows:

1. set the file name
   for example my_file.wav
2. start recording
3. AtomixMP3 writes my_file000.wav
4. click the cut button
5. AtomixMP3 writes my_file001.wav
6. click the cut button
7. AtomixMP3 writes my_file002.wav
8. and so on...

Once the recording has started, you can monitor your recording, by using the recording status window, below the record button:

recording status window

Recording status: displays information about the recording process:

• the file name, and its path
• the total recorded time in this file
• the file size (in Mo)
• the overall recorded time (if many recorded files in the same session)

Recording Options

recording options

Auto-Start: Starts recording when the button play of any desk is pressed.

Auto-Cut: Cuts the recording when the crossfader reaches the middle of its track, allowing to automate the recording of multi-track mixed audio CDs.

Filename: sets the output file name.

The configuration part is very important, to have the results you want with it, and you have to understand what the functions are in the options panel.

1. General Options
2. Fame settings
3. Sound configuration
4. Skins
5. Visuals
6. Shortcuts

I. GENERAL OPTIONS

- Master Tempo, Pitch Range, Crossfader, Security, ToolTip, Multi-Instance -

Time Stretch: Changes music tempo without changing pitch. With analogue systems, changing track speed results in a change in pitch. Time Stretch Control takes advantage of the unique features of digital medium enabling track speed to be changed with no deterioration of the original pitch.

Pitch Range: Changes the available pitch range from -33% to +33%, or from -8% to +8%, wihch sounds better if the Time Stretch is disabled.

Crossfader: Defines different behaviours of the crossfader.

crossfader: full (default)

crossfader: smooth

crossfader: cut

• Full: the median position corresponds to the maximum of level of each song. The overall output level is higher in the middle than in the extreme positions of the crossfader. This is the default setting.
• Smooth: the median position has the same output level as the extreme position, each song is then at 50% if its level.
• Cut: simply cuts one song or the other at 100%. The central position corresponds to the full behaviour.

Security: If enabled, AtomixMP3 will prevent you from loading a song on a desk that is still playing loud. It also warns you if you wish to close AtomixMP3 if music is playing.

ToolTip: If enabled, AtomixMP3 will provide you with tips when stopping the mouse over a button, explaining its functionality.

Multi-Instance: If enabled, you will be able to run several AtomixMP3 windows at the same time, and therefore mix 4, 6 or even more songs together.

II. FAME SETTINGS

- Customize every steps of your FAME -

AtomixMP3 allows you to customize the steps of its core engine: the FAME (Fast Automated Mix Engine) algorithm. Enable or disable any option to perform the 'Magic' you really wish.
Those settings will change the behaviour of AtomixMP3 upon clicking of the 'Magic' button, or the 'Automix' button, upon loading a known song, and in automix mode.

• Auto BPM: sets the BPM of the song to the BPM of the other song, changing its pitch
• Auto Beatmatch: shifts the song so that its next beat matches the next beat of the other song
• Auto Gain: sets the song to the same gain as the other song
• Auto Pitch-Reset: in automix mode, restes slowly the pitch after each mix
• Mix Length: sets the length (in seconds) of the time AtomixMP3 remains in the median poistion of the crossfader when in automix mode, or when permorming an automated mix with the 'Automix' button.
  
  

III. SOUND CONFIGURATION

- Hardware, Software settings -

The sound configuration window presents as follows:

configuration window

On the right, choose the number and type of soundcard you have:

• One soundcard: (default setting) sets the overall ouput of AtomixMP3 to your default soundcard. Select on the right drop down menu among all soundcards installed on your system.
• 3D soundcard: sets the two audio outputs of AtomixMP3 on the front and rear output lines of your 3D soundcard. Select on the right drop down menu among all soundcards installed on your system.
• Two soundcards: sets the two audio outputs of AtomixMP3 on each of your soundcards. Select on the right drop down menu among all soundcards installed on your system.

In the center, choose the ouput:

• Single output: (default setting) sets the overall ouput of AtomixMP3 one soundcard.
• Headphones: allows the monitoring of the selected song on headphones.
  • With two soundcards or one 3D soundcard
  • With a Y-splitter and one soudcard, each mono output corresponds to the overall output and the monitoring line.
• External Mixtable : send the left and right desk to separate outputs (via two soundcards, one 3D soundcard or an Y-splitter).

On the right, select the hardware mix option, wich bypasses almost all mixer functionalities of AtomixMP3 that will no more be take care of by the software, but by your soundcard.
This option is convenient for less powerful computers, but is not compatible with equalization and recording.

IV. SKINS

- Real eye candy -

AtomixMP3 supports skins. That means that you can completely change the user interface of AtomixMP3 to match your preferences.

You can download skins on the skin page of AtomixMP3 website.

Simply choose the skin you wish in the drop down menu, and click OK.

Please note that AtomixMP3 may be slightly slowed down if the skin is very dense. So you may want to try several skins to fit both your current mood and your computer.

If you wish to create you own skin, please visit the developer section of AtomixMP3 website.

V. VISUALS

- Real eye candy -

AtomixMP3 supports visuals. That means that you display video animation reacting dynemically to the music played by AtomixMP3.

You can download visuals on the visuals page of AtomixMP3 website.

Simply choose the visual you wish in the drop down menu, and click OK.
The pop-up visual window can be maximized to display the visual on the whole screen or on a second video display.

Please note that AtomixMP3 may be slightly slowed down if the visual is very CPU demanding.

If you wish to create you own visual, please visit the developer section of AtomixMP3 website.

VI. SHORTCUTS

- The guru zone -

AtomixMP3 Shortcuts are defined more a maximal ease of use in any background.
Just click on the corresponding key(s) to perform the assigned action.

It's very handy if you know them, you can also change them to your own personal preference in the options panel.

General
switch page	CTRL-TAB
switch page (back)	CTRL-SHIFT-TAB
next window	TAB
previous window	SHIFT-TAB
switch output headphone	BACKSPACE
close atomix	ALT-F4
Main window
load song	ENTER
edit bpm	ALT-B
edit comment	ALT-C
put song in playlist	SHIFT-ENTER
record (start,stop)	R
Mix Live
magic play	SPACE
classic play	ESCAPE
pause	P
cue	C
stop	S
beat sync	SPACE
nudge beat	CTRL-left
nudge left, nudge right	left,right
pitch up, down	+,-,CTRL-+,CTRL--,SHIFT-+,SHIFT--
pitch reset	*
zero pitch	CTRL-*
crossfader	PG.UP,PG.DOWN
	CTRL-PG.UP,CTRL-PG.DOWN
	SHIFT-PG.UP,SHIFT-PG.DOWN
automix	ALT-SPACE
toggle automix	CTRL-ALT-SPACE
Cue Points
set (number)	CTRL-(number)
goto (number)	ALT-(number)
goto and play (number)	(number)
Samples
play sample (number)	F(number)
Loops
Auto-Loop on 4 beat	L
Auto-Loop on 8 beat	CTRL+L
Auto-Loop on 2 beat	SHIFT+L

This was a 'short' manual to explain the stuff that I put in my skin.
Extra info: Atomixmp3 website

PaLm (DJ RVV) (c).