How do I create a mix in Cimio?
The easiest way to use Cimio is to follow the three buttons on the top of the main interface — Import, Playlist, and Mix. Each feature has a distinct purpose in the mixing process:
1. Import Feature – Imports your songs into Cimio’s Music Vault and reads critical information such as the BPM (Beats Per Minute) and the waveform for each track.
2. Playlist – Helps you select and organize songs that might make a good mix.
3. Mix – Launches the Mixbox where you can review each of your mixes and adjust basic transition preferences (if you want to).
Just click on each of these buttons and follow the onscreen steps and tool tips within each feature. It’s an easy and simple process — you’ll be making your first mix in a matter of minutes!
The record feature is slow in Cimio, what can I do?
Recording a mix can take some time, especially if you have an older machine. Ideally, we recommend mixing no more than 10-20 tracks at one time. You are welcome to make longer mixes, but be patient—it takes time to perform this function in any application.
My computer now has applications called "ffdshow" and "Haali Media Splitter" on my hard drive. Why did CIMIO install these programs onto my computer?
The CIMIO installation process automatically downloads these “copyleft” third party program applications onto your computer to optimize the performance of CIMIO. These applications only take up 13MB of space on your hard drive, and uninstalling these programs will negatively affect the speed of Cimio. It is recommended that you leave these programs on your hard drive and do not alter them in any way for use with CIMIO.
Making any modification to ffdshow and/or Haali Media Splitter, even if allowed by the relevant “copyleft” license included in each READ ME file, will void the sole remedy provided by Scratch under the CIMIO Software End User License Agreement for malfunctioning CIMIO Software, may cause the CIMIO Software to malfunction, and may result in the termination of your License to use the CIMIO Software under the EULA.
Some of my songs won’t import. Why aren’t they working?
Your songs are most likely not importing because they feature DRM protection. What is DRM? DRM stands for “digital rights management” software protection. Many digital stores used to put DRM on the tracks you purchased at their stores (including iTunes® through February of 2009). DRM files generally do not work with any outside software applications, and these files will never work with Cimio. The good news is that most major digital stores no longer feature DRM (including iTunes and Amazon). Digital music you purchase today is most likely compatible with Cimio.
My songs are taking a long time to import. How can I speed up the process?
Your songs might be taking a long time to import because you are running an older computer. You might also be trying to import too many tracks at one time. Ideally, you should only import 10-20 songs at once. CIMIO is fast at importing songs, but the application can get overwhelmed if you import too many songs at one time. Be sure to only import songs you plan to mix with, instead of just trying to import your entire music library. Also be sure to close other applications you are running while using Cimio.
What music files work with Cimio?
Cimio currently works with standard digital formats including MP3, WAV, WMA and AAC files. Please note that due to legal restrictions, Cimio does not work with music files with embedded digital rights protection software. Please note that most tracks purchased from online stores (including iTunes®) included DRM (digital rights management) until February 2009. Any music file you purchase today from iTunes®, Amazon®, or any other store selling the formats listed above should be compatible with Cimio.
Does Cimio always create perfect mixes?
Cimio does not work every time and you’ll have to experiment to create the right mix for you. No computer program will ever match the accuracy of a professional DJ, but Cimio is very precise and will create excellent mixes if used in the right way. Be sure to use the Hints sections in the Help menu for tips on DJ’ing and how to improve your mixes.
Where do I find hints in the Cimio application itself?
The Hints boxes within the Help menu feature excerpts from Scratch DJ Academy’s curriculum and Cimio tips that will help you get the most out of your mixes. Be sure to read the Hints sections carefully and use them as a guide for each step in the mixing process. There is a Hints section for each of the three main steps of Cimio — Import Hints, Playlist Hints, and Mixbox Hints.
You can also check out instructional videos on www.cimiosoftware.com. These videos feature tips from Scratch DJ Academy instructors.
So what is a mix?
“Mixing” refers to the process of matching the tempo and beats of songs to create seamless transitions between each track (i.e. - “beatmatching”). Unlike the “cross fade” feature in some music applications, beatmatching creates song transitions with no awkward breaks in tempo. The resulting mix is ideal for a house party, gym workout, or to show off to your friends and colleagues.
How does Cimio work?
Cimio utilizes advanced algorithms to identify the tempo (BPM) of the songs you import into the application. Cimio also identifies the downbeats and waveforms of each of your tracks so that it can automatically “beatmatch” songs that you’d like to mix. Cimio won’t create perfect mixes every time, and you need to experiment to get the best out of your mixes. Refer to the Help menu for hints on DJ’ing and how to make great sounding mixes on Cimio.
Is Cimio compatible with my iPod?
Yes! You can drag your completed mixes from Cimio’s Mix Vault directly into iTunes. Your mixes can be loaded on an iPod in a matter of minutes, and you can then use listen to your mixes at the gym or simply on-the-go.
Does Cimio work with every song combination?
Cimio’s automatic beatmatching tool is very accurate, but you need to experiment with different songs to find the perfect mix. Not every song will mix perfectly, and some will not mix at all. One of the best aspects of Cimio is trying out different song combinations to make your mixes just right. You can also refer to the “Playlist Hints” section in the application to learn what DJs look for when searching for the perfect mix.
If you really want to keep your Playlist in a certain order but some of your transitions just won’t mix, you can always use the Drop setting in the Mixbox. This setting will match the tempo of each song but won’t actually mix them. This technique is called “Dropping on the 1” and DJ’s use it all of the time in live performances.
What are BPMs and tempo?
A song’s speed or tempo is measured by its Beats Per Minute (BPM). The BPMs for each song are listed in the Music Vault and again in the Mixbox.
What is the ideal BPM range for two songs to be mixed successfully?
In order for songs to be mixed together seamlessly, songs should fall within 8 BPMs of each other. Songs outside of this range will be more difficult to mix.
Will Cimio recommend which songs to mix?
Yes! When you click on a song in the Playlist, Cimio will highlight tracks from the Music Vault that are within 8 BPMs of your selected track. Use these recommendations as a guide when you select songs for your Playlist. Be sure to also check out the Playlist Hints section of the Help menu for tips on creating the ideal playlist.
What if I think a BPM is wrong for a given song?
If you feel that the BPM is wrong for a given song, then you can right click (control click for Mac) on that song in the Music Vault and click on “information”. Once there, click the Set BPM button and it will prompt you to manually detect the beats per minute. Cimio’s BPM detector is very accurate, but there may be times where you have to take this step.
How do I listen to a song in the Music Vault or Playlist?
Just click on the song you want to listen to and then hit the play button on the bottom of the application. You can then use the scroll bar in the top right hand corner to go to a specific point in the song.
What is the Mix Point function in the Mixbox?
The Mix Point function controls the point at which Song B starts mixing into Song A. Refer to the Mixbox Hints section in the Help menu for more information on this feature.
What is the Mix Length function in the Mixbox?
The Mix Length section lets you control how long Song A and Song B actually mix together. Refer to the Mixbox Hints section in the Help menu for more information on this feature.
What is the Preview function in the Mixbox?
The Preview function allows the user to preview the transition between each of their songs. The sound of the Preview will change based on the overall settings selected in the Mixbox. Please refer to the Mixbox Hints section in the Help menu for more information on this feature.
What should I do if I lost my Cimio Registration Key?
Please go to http://www.cimiosoftware.com/support.php and include the approximate date you purchased Cimio and other required information, and we will email your Registration Key as soon as we can during our normal business hours.
=How can I get a new copy of the Cimio Software if my original purchased program isn’t working or gets corrupted?
If you purchased Cimio within the last 90 days, please go to http://www.cimiosoftware.com/support.php and include the approximate date you purchased Cimio and other required information, and we will email you instructions to download a new copy of the Cimio Software as soon as we can during our normal business hours.
