The ''Xbox Music Mixer'' is a multimedia utility developed by
Wild Tangent and published by
Microsoft Game Studios for the
Xbox
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the ...
in 2003. The software allows the user to transfer certain types of music and pictures directly from a
PC to the
Xbox
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the ...
, create custom soundtracks, and features a karaoke mode to sing pre-loaded or custom songs using a packaged
karaoke microphone. ''Xbox Music Mixer'' was announced at
E3 in 2003 as part of a 'Digital Entertainment Lifestyle' initiative, with expectations that the software would lead the console towards functionality as an all-in-one media centre. Upon release, the software received negative reception, with reviewers observing compatibility and usability issues and limitations to the game's karaoke features. The software was subsequently influential to the features of the similar
Windows Media Center Extender for the
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generati ...
.
Features
The ''Xbox Music Mixer'' has several features that enhance the Xbox's multimedia capabilities. The primary feature of the software were media playback features, including music player that is able to play Audio CDs and .wma and .mp3 music files on the
Xbox
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the ...
hard drive. Users are able to create custom playlists as a soundtrack. Playback includes options for an audio equalizer and 2D and 3D
visualizers. Users are also able to record songs on an Audio CD to the hard drive using a record function. The ''Xbox Music Mixer'' also featured a slide show feature in which players could view .jpeg images imported from their computer. Users could import audio and image files from their computer using the ''Xbox Music Mixer PC Tool'', external software that allowed users to transfer files using an ethernet connection with the Xbox System Link Cable.
The ''Xbox Music Mixer'' is packaged with a
karaoke
Karaoke (; ; , clipped compound of Japanese ''kara'' "empty" and ''ōkesutora'' "orchestra") is a type of interactive entertainment usually offered in clubs and bars, where people sing along to recorded music using a microphone. The music i ...
mode in which players can sing along to 15 pre-packaged songs or songs on the player's hard drive or Audio CD. The feature took advantage of a karaoke microphone packaged with the software, connected to the console using the expansion slot, although players could also use an Xbox Communicator headset. The Songs included with the software, such as ''
Love Shack
"Love Shack" is a song by American new wave band the B-52's from their fifth studio album, ''Cosmic Thing'' (1989). It was released on June 20, 1989, and was produced by Don Was. The song was a comeback for the band following their decline in p ...
'' and ''
Y.M.C.A.'' featured on-screen lyrics, with the software supporting custom songs imported to the console which did not feature on-screen lyrics. Players are able to adjust the vocal feedback with various settings, including options to control the volume, reverb and chorus of microphone input. Performances can be recorded and saved to the console. More karaoke songs were purchasable from the
Xbox Live service.
[
]
Development and release
''Xbox Music Mixer'' was announced by Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...
at E3 on May 12, 2003 as the first "non-game application" for the console. The announcement was part of the release of a series updates to the Xbox
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the ...
under the 'Digital Entertainment Lifestyle' brand, aimed at expanding the functionality of the console. The software was released amid high expectations that upgrades to the Xbox
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the ...
would pivot the console into a "media center...at the centre of home entertainment". Initial rumours were that the software would support video transfer, with Evan Shannon of '' GMR'' speculating upon the "enormous" implications of the software, stating "the promise of the all-in-one set-top box...is now truly on the brink of becoming a reality." These aspirations were encouraged by Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...
executive Ed Fries
Ed Fries ( "freeze") is an American video game programmer and entrepreneur who was the vice president of game publishing at Microsoft during much of the Xbox's life-cycle.
Early life
Fries fell in love with games while playing arcade games in the ...
, who stated the software would "unlock more of the entertainment potential of (the) Xbox
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the ...
" and "expand the definition of interactive entertainment". However, following release, this messaging was downplayed by executive Robbie Bach
Robbie or Robby is a surname. It is usually encountered as a nickname or a shortened form of Robert, Rob or Robin. The name experienced a significant rise in popularity in Northern Ireland in 2003.
People Given name Robbie
*Robbie Amell (born ...
, who stated the advent of the ''Xbox Music Mixer'' would not shift the console to a home entertainment device, stating "it's not Xbox's role to be the centre of what we do in the living room". The ''Xbox Music Mixer'' was subsequently influential to the later development of the Windows Media Center Extender, which allowed Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for ser ...
computers to stream media to the Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generati ...
, with publications comparing the service to the functionality of the ''Xbox Music Mixer''.
Reception
''Xbox Music Mixer'' received "generally unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...
website Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc ...
, with an average score of 49% across 12 reviews.[ Several reviewers expressed disappointment in the software's usefulness as a media centre. Evan Shamoon of '' GMR'' stated the software was "a bit underwhelming at first glance", noting the "compatibility issues" with music file formats and ]Macintosh
The Mac (known as Macintosh until 1999) is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. Macs are known for their ease of use and minimalist designs, and are popular among students, creative professionals, and software en ...
systems, limiting the software's capability of turning the Xbox
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the ...
into a "true home entertainment device". Similarly, Tom Bramwell of ''Eurogamer
''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson.
Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EG ...
'' faulted the software's "obtuse" and "unhelpfully designed" user interface, faulting the gmae's "horrible list visuals, chunky buttons to press and a bizarre lack of widescreen support", stating "you're quickly reminded why PCs are better for organising huge numbers of disparate files than console applications."[ Similarly, Hilary Goldstein of '']IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' also critiqued the navigability of the software, stating whilst "some aspects of the interface are simple", "there's far too many areas in ''Mixer'' where nothing is labeled...that lack of easy identification is all over ''Music Mixer'' and turns it from an everyman machine into a complex device that requires a little dedication to learn."[
Reviewers also critiqued the karaoke features of the software. '']Electronic Gaming Monthly
''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (often abbreviated to ''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews.
History
The m ...
'' found the game inferior to other console karaoke software such as ''Karaoke Revolution
''Karaoke Revolution'' and its sequels are video games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, GameCube, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360, developed by Harmonix and Blitz Games and published by Konami in its Bemani line of music games. The Original Conce ...
'' for the PlayStation 2, stating "''Music Maker'' doesn't do much karaoke-wise that you can’t do just by playing a CD and singing along to it with a microphone. It's not a game — you're just singing along to your CDs with the vocal tracks ripped out." Justin Lee of '' GameSpy'' stated that the feature was "no fun", citing the low volume and delay of vocal feedback, stating "you end up sounding like you're mumbling randomly along with it." Lee also critiqued the included tracks, critiquing the inclusion of "duds" such as '' Auld Lang Syne''.[ Hilary Goldstein of '']IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' also observed technical issues, stating "even with the music turned all the way down...my voice was still barely audible from the TV."[ Similarly, Tom Bramwell of '']Eurogamer
''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson.
Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EG ...
'' stated the feature was a "poor offering" compared to karaoke machines, finding the limited number of tracks to be an "insult".[
]
References
{{Reflist
External links
Official Xbox Music Mixer page
2003 video games
Karaoke video games
Music video games
Video games developed in the United States
Xbox games
Xbox-only games