MuLab App

Review Disclaimer: I have written hundreds of reviews over the past decade, and I typically follow a format for structure with headings, i.e., INTRO, PROS, CONS, CONCLUSION. However, in this case, I'd like to break free of format and simply and freely express my feelings and thoughts about this fine DAW and DAWs in general.

MuLab 8.0 by MuTools represents a significant update to this inspiring DAW that boasts the features users have been begging for and dreaming about for years, e.g., Time Stretching, etc. Yeah, one could argue or ask, "What took them so long to include these features?" Well, MuTools isn't some giant money-making software corporation. It's one-man's labor of love. It just so happens that this one man is a genius programmer/musician whose resume goes back to the early days of computers. This dude is a perfectionist, who pays careful attention to detail of each code. I never met him, but I have this vision of an eccentric scientist working around the clock in some 16th-century European lab, heavily caffeinated. Whoever. .. whatever he is, he has created a fantastic DAW that is worth considering.

Most eMusicians, producers, etc. have changed DAWs as often as underwear in search of the cleanest, freshest, best feeling workstation that delivers the best results. Over and over again we read reviews, check TOP DAW polls, and each time we struggle to complete a song we consider a new setup. Years ago, in the console/reel-to-reel days, changing setups was not a practical option. Only studios could record anything of significant quality, and there was no way they would get a new million dollar board or tape deck each time something new was released. It just wasn't feasible. But now, it's within most of our budgets to get a completely new system at the click of a mouse, which has created a new problem. .. so many options. .. which do I choose and use? Which do I stick with and finally finish some tracks?

I have tried nearly every DAW ever created and wrote reviews on many of them. There are several excellent workstations out there, and I could be happy with any one of them if I didn't have knowledge about the others on the market. Most modern DAWs do all the basic stuff with equal quality, while some have a unique feature or two. There are cases where the choices are narrower, e.g., film scoring, converting to sheet music, etc. Yet, for most of us who are creating standard music of some kind/genre, the choice is not so simple because we have too many options. Which one do I choose? I believe it comes down to one simple question, "Which DAW do I enjoy launching and using?"

This is where MuLab shines!! I'll hit you with some bullet points:

• Fun.
• Inspiring.
• Easy to use, yet powerful.
• Now includes time-stretching algorithms that may very well be the best ever created.
• Small footprint.
• Easy on resources.
• CHEAP in comparison to others.
• Excellent video tutorials, even though some complain there is limited narration.
• Strong, supportive, enthusiastic user base.

If you haven't already demoed all the DAWs out there, I urge you to binge demo. After you come to your senses and want to finish some tracks, you just might find yourself using MuLab 8.0. This has been an underdog DAW for many years, but v8 deserves to run with the pack!!! Owooooo!!!;-).

MUX: Well, it took me years to add MUX to MuLab. Why did I wait? this thing is a modular beast. The synth is FAT. The filters are juicy. The FX are stunning. Many 3rd party plugins will soon be retired. Great job, MuTools!!.

PREVIOUS REVIEW BELOW

Attention: I would like to share my initial impressions about a cool DAW that deserves much more attention.

MuLab from MuTools is a refreshing application that turns a Mac or PC into a "modular music production system." It does all the basic DAW things: records, plays, edits, masters, etc. It has an efficient, elegant interface and flexible routing, which helps to create an inspiring workflow. The word INTUITIVE comes to mind. The main screen contains most of the important stuff. It's not cluttered with tiny knobs, sliders, small print, drop down menus and so on. I read an online ad claiming this application to be "easy, flexible, and high quality." After spending several hours demoing it, I have to agree! It's EASY, yet powerful; FLEXIBLE, yet solid; HI QUALITY, yet CPU efficient. It loads fast, probably because there is no automatic VST scan upon launch. You must manually select and scan plugins, but I don't see this as a negative.

PROS

• Simple, fast download and install (download, unzip, and launch)
• Self contained and lightweight footprint
• Interface is nice to look at
• Smooth workflow
• Important stuff it easily accessible without hundreds of menus and pages
• Great browser
• High quality, flexible, and powerful modular routing system
• Strong signal-flow control
• CPU efficient
• Streamline and simple on surface
• Deep when needed
• Modular system is highly addictive (is this a pro or con?)
• Great sound engine
• Audio (WAV+AIFF) drag n' drop
• MIDI drag n' drop
• Easy MIDI control and editing
• Event record punching
• Good automation
• ReWire (no problem linking with Numerology Pro)
• Easy audio editing
• Easy MIDI value editing and sweet piano roll feature
• Plug and play with most controllers
• MUX seems like a powerful tool to build and manipulate sounds, but haven't gotten to it yet
• Send and multi-out management is excellent
• Big fan base/user support
• Responsive developer
• Frequent updates.

CONS

• Time-stretching is a common feature-request. I usually adjust sample lengths manually, but a little help would be nice. I contacted developer regarding this feature and it is on the future update "wish list" THIS HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN A big WAY. THE NEWLY ADDED TIME-STRETCHING ALGORITHMS ARE FANTASTIC!!!
• Audio punch in/punch out.

The Pros clearly overshadow the Cons. MuLab has so many fantastic specifications and features, but most importantly — it's fun to use and sounds great! At last, there is a workstation that inspires musicians to make music and doesn't get in the way of creativity. You won't get lost in endless menus and pages; however, if you need to go deeper, it's all there for you! To quote another user, "There's a hell of a lot more going on under the hood than first meets the eye." MuLab is an amazing audio tool that is being offered at a bargain price. I highly recommend MuLab to any electronic musician looking to write, record, and master his/her music, whether it is old school, new school, or used in school, like me. Tommy Zai gives MuLab two thumbs up. Thank you MuTools for creating such a super music production system.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with MuTools, but I tend to write like I'm in marketing and doing an ad. I sincerely dig what MuTools created.

Update on Update: Version 6 includes many excellent improvements and additions. My favorites are the MIDI enhancements, i.e., :

• Import and export function for sequences.
• Dropping a MIDI file directly on the browser while it's sequencing.
• Drag-drop a MIDI file onto the sequence editor that will merge the MIDI file.

I also dig the on/off switch that was added to the sequence player module.