IF YOU HAVE ever wanted to dabble in composing music for fun, the Internet is full of useful tools that let you explore your profi¬ciency. One such software is MAGIX Music Maker 14 Silver. One noteworthy thing is that even novices can try their hand at creating music, and do it with ease, using MAGIX Music Maker- a robust soundtrack compos¬er that is true to its name.

It is quite similar to the GarageBand software that accompanies the Apple iMac, and has a repository of virtual instruments (drums, percussions, etc.), experimental beats, and a studio music panel to get you started. However the only flaw we found in Music Maker's bag of goodies is that it lacks a virtual turn¬table which would have made playing with this software better.

MAGIX Music Maker's interface is intuitive and easy to get around with; all important features are easily accessible. It includes a master We regretfully announce that there is no winner for last month's Critic contest as we didn't receive any satisfactory entries. audio effect track and sound mixer and two consoles heavily involved in tweaking sound beats. Another important window is the File Manag¬er which provides access to a large collection of sound loops, synthe¬
sizers and ready-to-use templates. You can import audio files directly from a CD. create text to speech files, and

export audio compilations in WAV, MP3, OGG and WMA.

The sheer range of control options at your disposal is amazing. You can load up the sample demo file to get a hang of the controls, and once you get used to sequencing beats and arranging them, just keep adding them and experiment accordingly till you end up creating that first symphony.

Verdict: Have a blast at music making, create original soundtracks. Rating: 8/10.