Version Reviewed: 1.6.10
Website: http://www.rpgsoundmixer.com/
Price: Around $20

RPG SoundMixer is the absolute best sound effect solution for gamemasters on the market today. It has a few warts to be sure, but I live with them because I am unable to find a product that can replace it. Believe me. I have been looking.

Pros

- Advanced scripting features
- Location-based effects
- Great sample sounds can be downloaded from website

Cons

- Limited OS support
- Lack of updates
- No independent control of media and music tracks

The best feature of the program is its scripting capabilities. There is no software out today that can match it. Once you grok the interface, RPG SoundMixer allows you to layer sound in very complex ways. The program is based around binding keys to trigger sound sequences. For example, your party enters a tavern. You tap a couple keys on your laptop and you get a looping low murmuring background noise, sprinkled with random outbursts of laughter, clinking of beer steins and other revelry.

Once you have a grasp of the basic scripting capabilities, the next most useful feature are scenes. You can divide any scene into 8 pieces. Once you start a scene, you can hit the enter key to move forward one section in the scene or the backspace key to move back one section. It does take some work before the game to get your sound effects squared away, but it is worth it.

Let me give you a quick example of a scene in RPG SoundMixer. The first section of your scene consists of the sound of torches burning and little else. Your party is foraying into a dank dungeon. You read your ominous flavor text. Slap that enter key. The sound of booming footsteps fills the chamber. You describe the hideous aberrant troll abomination that has just come into view. Everybody rolls for initiative. Tap the enter key again. RPG SoundMixer moves to the next section where you have a battle scene. The sounds of magic missiles flying, swords clanging and trolls bellowing emanate from your speakers at random.

RPG SoundMixer has a great deal of effects you can apply to your sounds. You can apply stereo effects to any single sound, even with variables. For example, you want to simulate the sound of someone being thrown by the troll. You can apply the sound filter “Left to Right” and the sound will begin in the left speaker and travel to the right speaker as it plays. There are even variable options so you can grab a random sound from a pool of hundreds and have it play randomly from left to right or right to left and it can move quickly or slowly. It’s all left up to the gamemaster’s desires.

My next favorite feature is the location-based effects. Location-based effects are applied to all sounds that are currently playing. They are controlled by the number pad. The effects are called Mountains, Forest, Cave, Underwater, Large hall, Metal room, City, Hangar and Arena. I get the most mileage out of the Cave and Large Hall effects. The Cave effect adds a hollow, echoing quality to all the sounds that are playing in your scene. It really feels like you are in an underground cavern when you hear that water drop plopping into the stream up to your ankles and it echoes across the room.

Another great thing about RPG SoundMixer is there is a demo that lets you check out all these features for yourself. If you end up buying the product, you can do download some great sound libraries for free on the RPG SoundMixer website.

Now for the bad features. It’s Windows only and you must be running Windows XP to use this product. No Vista, no Windows 7. I suspect this is because of the Windows sound API that the programmer uses. Also, the developer advertises free lifetime update, but of course its because they are free to him as well. He rarely if ever updates the product.

Another slightly annoying “feature” of the product is you cannot independently control the effects track and your music track. This is easily worked around. Do not play music in RPG SoundMixer. I load up my sound track playlists in WinAmp or Windows Media Player.

When I originally purchased the product over a year ago, it was going for nearly $40. Now, it us just around $20 USD. I cannot think of a reason not to buy the product at this price. It’s worth every penny.

RPG SoundMixer
OS Support
The only operating system supported in Windows XP.
Programability
RPG SoundMixer features unparalleled configurability. This is defintely the products strongest point.
Usability
The initial learning curve is a little steep. Once you understand how to configure the product, you will be amazed at what you can do.
Overall
This is the best sound product out right now. It's not that expensive. Pick it up.