Evaluation, Purchase, Reinstall, or Upgrade

• How do I download and install MixMeister?
• I bought MixMeister some time ago and need to reinstall, how do I do this?
• How do I get the latest updates for my software?
• I just bought MixMeister, how do I convert the demo version into the full version?
• Does MixMeister Fusion + Video run on Windows Vista?

Getting Started

• How do I get music from my CDs into MixMeister?
• Can I use music from iTunes in MixMeister?
• Can I use music from the new Napster, Rhapsody, MusicMatch Jukebox, Walmart, or Sony Connect with MixMeister?
• How do I get tracks I ripped in Windows Media Player to work in MixMeister?

General Problems

• When I burn a CD, I get error code 4650. How do I fix this?
• Why is there a 10-second gap in the plot?
• How do I transfer my playlist from one machine to another, without having to reset the file location for each song?
• Now that I have created the ultimate catalog and tweaks, how do I back them up?

Video Problems

• Where can I get some demo video files?
• Why is video playback so sluggish on my machine?
• How do I configure my machine to use a second monitor or projector?

Now that I have created the ultimate catalog and tweaks, how do I back them up?

The catalog, including all of your tweaks is stored in the file "catalog.mdb." Keep in mind that MixMeister also stores your tweaks in the MP3 or WMA file. You can find the catalog.mdb file in the following directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\MixMeister Technology\MixMeister Engine 7

username is the name of current user's login name.

We recommend that you backup this file from time to time.

Does MixMeister Fusion + Video run on Windows Vista?

Yes, MixMeister Fusion + Video has been tested for compatibility on Windows Vista (both 32-bit and 64-bit editions).  We are committed to providing support for customers using the product on this platform.

Where can I get some demo video files?

MixMeister Fusion + Video comes with 40 sample clips from a Luna Blue. Please refer to the email you received when purchasing MixMeister Fusion + Video for the download link. If you need new download links, assistance is available via our product request form.

Here are some other good sources for video clips:

• a Luna Blue
• Fotosearch Stock Footage

Here are some resources for music videos:

• Promo Only
• ScreenPlay VJ

Why is video playback so sluggish on my machine?

Please keep in mind that mixing and manipulating video places a significant load on your computer's hardware. This is especially true if you are playing multiple clips back to back, like you do when using the video montage builder.  To help you find out if your computer is up to the task of processing and displaying video files, MixMeister Fusion + Video includes a tool for measuring and rating the performance quality of your hardware.

To show the frame rate:

• On the Video menu, choose Show Video Performance.

When you select Show Video Performance, you'll see a rating and the number of dropped frames appear on your video display, like this:

If you have a High rating, that means your dropped frame rate is very low and your video performance quality should be quite good. If your rating is Medium or Low, consider the following to improve the performance:

• Try shutting down any unnecessary applications or background tasks to free up resources on your computer.
   
• Make sure that you have the most recent drivers for your video card.
   
• Move your video files to a completely different drive. A virtual drive or partition won't do the trick; you'll need a second hard drive. For laptops, try an external Firewire or USB 2.0 drive. Don't use older devices which may only support the slower USB 1.1 standard.
   
• Use a faster drive for your video files. Try an external drive that runs at 7200 RPM or better.
   
• Use a different video file format – for example, MPEG-1 places much fewer demands on your PC's hardware than MPEG-2.
   
• Choose a higher compression rate for your video files.
   
• Lower the resolution on your display monitor.  To do so, right click on the desktop and select Properties. In the Display Properties window, click on the Settings tab. Setting the resolution at 800x600 will give you high enough video quality for most uses.
   
• If possible, upgrade your hardware. Consider graphics solutions with dedicated video memory (inexpensive hardware uses shared video and system memory, which provides much lower performance). Hyperthreaded or dual processing CPUs will also give you better performance.

If you're considering a hardware purchase, please refer to Fusion's minimum system requirements for video playback, shown here:

• Windows XP or Vista
• 2.0 GHz or higher CPU (dual-core recommended)
• 1 GB system RAM
• 64MB or more of dedicated video RAM (not shared RAM)

How do I configure my machine to use a second monitor or projector?

The first thing you need to do is configure your windows display settings. Do the following:

1. Right click on the desktop and select Properties.
2. In the Display Properties window, click on the settings tab.
3. If your computer's video system supports dual output, you'll see something like the following window.
4. Click on the second display (where the big "2" is).
5. Place a check mark next to Extend my Windows desktop onto the monitor.
   Click OK.

At this point, you will notice that your windows desktop extends across the two monitors and each output is displaying something different. You can now open the MixMeister Tools Option window, click on the video tab, and see more than one monitor listed for the full screen output. Choose the output you want to use for video. When you click the video menu and set the output to Full Screen, the video will now appear on the monitor you selected.

If you’re still looking for the answer to your question, check out the MixMeister Community where other MixMeisters share their tricks and give helpful hints. Or contact a support representative using our technical support request form.