Sony Sound Forge Pro 10 Audio Editing Software Review (page 2)
Processing and Effects
Sony provides a plethora of effects with Sound Forge Pro, with over 40 professional studio effects and processes, which include some 200 predesigned presets for common uses. You can automate effects including Volume, Delay, and Chorus, and use the Plug-In Chainer to link up to 32 DirectX and VST plug-ins into a single processing chain that can be previewed in real time - and saved as a preset.
In addition to the new iZotope tools, Sound Forge Pro 10 also adds the Zplane élastique Timestretch Pro plug-in for enhanced time stretch and pitch shifting tailored to the source audio characteristics. There's also the new Resonant filter plug-in to create dramatic resonant and oscillating fades, sweeps and effects ("wah-wah on steroids").
Suite Unto Itself
Sony, with its Sonic Foundry heritage, is focusing on creating powerful individual tools for specific types of professional needs, and particularly in audio. ACID Pro, then, is for music creation - composing, recording, mixing, and arranging audio and MIDI tracks.
Sound Forge Pro is for audio editing and mastering, including sound design, audio restoration, processing and effects, and even Red Book CD creation. Sound Forge Pro version 10 is a strong upgrade, with a more customizable interface, enhanced editing tools, and more included processing and effects plug-ins for higher quality audio editing.
Tech Specs
System Requirements
Microsoft Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or later), Windows Vista (Service Pack 2 or later), or Windows 7, 1 GHz processor, 350 MB hard-disk space for program installation, 512 MB RAM, Windows-compatible sound card, DVD-ROM drive (for installation from a DVD only), Supported CD-Recordable drive (for CD burning only), Microsoft DirectX 9.0c or later, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
Supported Input file formats (*Supported multichannel format)
AA3*, AAC, AIF, ASF, AU, AVI*, CDA, DIG, DLS, DV, FRG, GIF, GIG, IVC, M2A, M2P, M2T, M4A, M4B, MMV, OGG, MOV, MP1, MP3, MP4, MPEG, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video, Sony MXF*, PCA, QT, RAW, SD, SFA, SF*, SND, TIF, VOB, VOX, W64*, WAV*, WMA*, WMV
Supported Output file formats (*Supported multichannel format)
AA3*, AC3*, AIF, ATRAC*, AU, AVI*, DIG, DLS, FRG, GIG, IVC, M1A, M1P, M2A, M2P, M2T, MMV, MOV, MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4, MPA, MPEG, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video, Sony MXF*, OGG, PCA, RAW, RM, SF2, VOX, W64*, WAV*, WMA*, WMV
Strengths
- End-to-end audio editing: recording, editing, mastering
- Broad support for audio formats, multichannel, music instrument files
- Broad set of processing tools and effects for quality audio
- Deep presets and options in tool dialogs
Weaknesses
- Could better describe purpose and target use of tools
- Pitch effects do not include autotune / pitch correction
- Spectrum Analysis window can view but not edit audio
- Limited integration with Vegas and ACID (edit source project)
Summary
Audio editing powerhouse - from raw audio to editing to mastering, including sound design, audio restoration, processing and effects, and even Red Book CD creation.
Sony Creative Software
1617 Sherman Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
www.sonycreativesoftware.com
Price: $375 download - $400 packaged
Doug Dixon covers digital media at Manifest-Tech.com.
