Review: Magix Audio Cleaning Labs 12 XXL music software

We all have recordings that are less than pristine but still worth hanging on to, be it a show from the radio, an old vinyl LP or a recording of a concert.

Magix Audio Cleaning Labs 12 XXL is a software studio for restoring audio recordings and is bundled with a preamp for recording directly from sources such as vinyl turntables and cassette players.

The software follows the standard Magix format of a step-by-step approach with dedicated buttons for quickly adjusting the main settings.

There are several videos included within the Tasks menu that explain some of the more complicated filters such as the spectral cleaning. This is nothing to do with ghosts, but rather an effective way of removing noise from a recording without deleting the audio behind it.

Adding audio to a project can be as simple as loading an audio file or ripping a CD. The options for recording are very flexible with presets for vinyl, tape and internet. Recording can also be set for a certain time and duration.

A USB-powered preamp is also supplied. This is particularly useful because it is much easier to bring just a turntable to a computer rather than a whole stereo system; the preamp is needed because the output from turntables is too low to work with an ordinary soundcard. The preamp has RCA sockets for turntables and a 3.5mm jack socket for attaching other audio sources, such as a cassette player. Even though these devices can be plugged directly into soundcards, the USB socket is less likely to require scrabbling around the back.

During testing, we found the Audio ID identification tool didnít work with a variety of tracks from big names such as Led Zeppelin, Gene and KT Tunstall. There is, however, a useful link to the Freedb.org website for searching for albums by title or artist. Once the album has been found the specific link can be entered into Audio Cleanup Lab for it to apply the information to the different tracks.

The cleaning section is where the software shines against alternatives such as the open-source Audacity. There are plenty of presets for different recordings, such as those made from cassette tape or LP, as well as several automatic modes. They may not be perfect, but make a very useful starting point.

The effects are all visible and split into two sections: cleaning and mastering. Each section has a one-click option for adjusting the settings automatically. Volume is set in the middle and there is a button to bypass all the effects. This is useful for making sure that nothing significant is lost from the recording; it can be easy to get carried away and take too much away. Some of the more detailed effect settings windows will also play what is being removed.

Restoring audio files is not just about taking away, there are also several ways of actively improving the tracks by widening the stereo separation and boosting the higher frequencies that are often the victims of the cleaning process. Audio export options are unlikely to disappoint either, not least because Magix is entirely neutral when it comes to file formats. WMA and AAC are both on offer, as well as OGG for those with compatible players.

The Export section also deals with creating CD labels and inlays, a features that's sometimes forgotten but needed by those wanting to keep their music collection looking good.

At £50, Audio Cleaning Lab 12 XXL is quite expensive, but the editing tools are powerful and work well without being overcomplicated.

See also:

Review: Magix Mufin Musicfinder audio tool

A playlist generator that doesnít need tags or even track names  07 Dec 2007

Review: Roxio Easy Media Creator Suite 10 utility suite

If Nero’s no-nonsense suite doesn’t take your fancy, Roxio has an alternative  23 Oct 2007

Review: Nero 8 utility suite

It’s time for the battle of the burning suites again and Nero’s first in the ring  12 Oct 2007

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