MTV Music Generator 3: This Is the Remix

First things first: MTV Music Generator 3: This is the Remix is not a game. There are no rules, no points, no puzzles, no goals. Rather, Remix is essentially a piece of music-production software for use with the Xbox. Using a simple sequencer, drum machine, and sampler, it gives users the ability to make custom remixes of included tracks, as well as create their own from scratch.

The most impressive thing about Remix is its clean, intuitive interface. Where previous versions of the program shared a clunky, intimidating set of tools, this iteration has been rebuilt from scratch by British outfit MixMax with the novice user in mind. The sequencer is logically organized and the designs are infinitely slicker, reminiscent of the graphics one might see on MTV or M2.

And yet, with this visual simplification comes some degree of compromise. While the number of included drum, synth, bass, and vocal samples is impressive, one can only place these samples ��on the bar�� rather than anywhere on the sequencer. MixMax has done a commendable job, but the publisher��s dictum to broaden the user base has limited the depth and usefulness of the software.

For those with only a cursory interest in music production, Remix provides one of the most accessible entryways in existence. The simple ability to take apart one of the included tracks (provided by Outkast and Carl Cox, among others) provides an intriguing glimpse into the cut-and-paste world of a superproducer. Ultimately, it��s about the talent and not the tools, so there��s absolutely no reason why great music can��t be created with this software. Anyone who owns a PC and is even remotely serious about the craft, however, would be better off hunting down something with a bit more flexibility.

The Sampler

Theoretically, one of the coolest elements in MTV Music Generator 3: This is the Remix is its sampler, which allows users to sample up to six seconds of music from any MP3 on their Xbox hard drive. Sadly, the inability to visually pinpoint the starting point of the sample, combined with the generally unintuitive nature of the sampler/sound editor itself, makes the process more cumbersome than it should be.

Publisher: Codemasters

Developer: Mixmax

Players: 1

Live: No

MSRP: $29.99

ESRB: E

7 Out of 10

Copyright © 2005 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Xbox Nation.