MAGIX have a long history of experience in the Mp3 business and MAGIX MP3 Maker 12 reflects much of this. Don't be fooled by the title though - it also handles WAV, OGG, AAC and WMA files just as easily as MP3s although it still does not support FLAC. The program aims to be an all-round solution for music enthusiasts providing everything you need to manage your music at home, on the road, and online.

There's very little you cannot do with the MP3 Maker. You can perform everything from creating MP3s, finding duplicate files and searching for track information to ripping CDs, creating unique mixes and copying & burning both CDs & DVDs. It even allows you to record webradio broadcasts and integrates with many mobile phones for MP3 transfers. The interface is clearly divided so that you can see which function each section pertains to. At the top of the screen you've got buttons that allow you to launch each separate function.

Of course, for most users, you'll spend most of your time in playback mode and your playlist will take up the majority of the space in the main window. The controls however are located in a small strip at the bottom of the screen which can be slightly cumbersome. It would be better if these were more easily accessible higher-up the screen or to the right of the playlist.

If you throw parties sometimes, one nice little bonus of MP3 Maker is the DJ function which intelligently matches the tempo of tracks so that your cross-fading and mixing sounds surprisingly professional. You can also create your own mixes by cutting and splicing tracks how you want them. This shows just how comprehensive MP3 Maker is and there are few solutions out there that make music management so easy within one application.