WHAT YOU GET:
Price: $39.99
Xbox Music Mixer CD (with 12 karaoke songs, downloadable upgrades to the music manager, and all the trimmings mentioned in this article)
1 consumer grade Karaoke microphone
1 1/4 inch to Xbox controller port connector
General info:
Developer: Wild Tangent
Publisher: Microsoft
Release Date: September 2003
KARAOKE
What it is: For the American Idol wannabes of the world, Xbox Music Mixer packs a powerful singing punch. You can test out your vocal stylings on any of the 12 included songs (with lyrics onscreen) or you can use the digital vocal-stripping technology and remove the lyrics from your favorite CD, MP3, or WMA and then cut your own vocal rendition. And you can record them on your Xbox, bring to a friend's house, and horrify them with your haunting melodies.
Coolest use: You could record yourself singing over your favorite songs and then you could listen to your greatest hits while racing down the street in your snazzy Corvette in Project Gotham Racing (or any game that supports custom soundtracks).
Scariest use: Have you ever heard yourself sing? Probably isn't a pretty thing.
MANAGE YOUR MUSIC
What it is: Essentially, Music Mixer gives you a huge upgrade on all of your audio functionality. First off, it gives you access to a database of songs so that every time you pop a CD into your Xbox it'll display the artist, length of song, and song title. You can alter any CD, MP3, or WMA with effects like flange, distortion, chorus, etc. And you can continually update the database and even add new effects through Xbox Live.
Coolest use: This alone will save you hours of typing in song names when making soundtracks. Plus you can now create transitions from song to song.
Scariest use: Now you can't hide what music you ripped to your Xbox... people will now know that "m2" was just a codename for Michael Jackson's Thriller. Shame on you!
LIVE ON YOUR PC
What it is: Music Mixer allows you to connect your Xbox to your PC so you can easily transfer all of your MP3s (legal ones we assume... right?) and WMAs to your Xbox. Finally, a way to get that huge MP3 collection straight to your Xbox. Plus the product is Live-enabled and will give you access to tons of songs, visualizers, and even all-new karaoke tracks. They have yet to reveal how much of this stuff will be free to Live users and how much of it will require additional fees.
Coolest use: Finally, an easy way to play MP3s through your booming home stereo. No need to burn CDs that only work occasionally.
Scariest use: Now that your wife/girlfriend has a reason to use your Xbox, it might cut down on game time. Ah well, it's a good excuse to buy two of 'em
DANCE, DANCE EVOLUTION
What it is: Your Xbox comes with one standard 2D "visualizer" (the light show that happens when you play audio on Xbox) this product gives you another 10 to switch between and 10 3D visualizers (3D scenes that include up to eight characters who actually dance to YOUR music and can be customized by you). Even better, you can edit the visualizers, place in your own photos (see photo album), put in a series of audio and video effects, and essentially make your own music video.
Coolest use: This thing is easily powerful enough to do your own VJ-ing at raves. So you can make some bucks with your Xbox.
Scariest use: Mike Salmon and his wife singing "I Got you Babe" while a video wall presents touching photos of their daughter Ava... then we put it on the disc to torture the rest of you with its sappiness.
PICTURE THIS
What it is: An enhanced photo viewer that allows you to download photos to the hard-drive and create stunning slide shows that you can show on your big-screen TV, rather than that dinky computer monitor. It also allows you to use customized soundtracks, visual effects, captions, narratives, and voice-overs. And you can use these slideshows on a video screen within one of the 3d visualizers. Just another great use that simply isn't possible on any other system. With Xbox Music Mixer the Xbox is quickly becoming the epicenter of your entertainment center.
Coolest use: Jazzing up your business presentation with some gangsta rap and an Xbox.
Scariest use: Just don't let Gary Glitter or Pete Townsend near this thing...
I'd LOVE to see either of those two try to beat MS in a lawsuit.
