reprinted from a Sony Creative Software press release: MADISON, WI Sony Creative Software, a leading provider of professional video and audio editing applications, today announced powerful yet easy-to-use new versions of its consumer products line-up, providing users with software tools to develop creative videos, music, podcasts, photos and more. The new line-up includes the latest versions of the now Windows Vista-compatible Vegas Movie Studio and Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Edition video editing and DVD creation software, Sound Forge Audio Studio audio editing and production software and ACID Music Studio music creation and mixing software. With the addition of a Windows Vista-compatible version of Sony's Photo Go digital photo editing and management software, consumers are now able to create virtually any type of multimedia project with their personal computer. "Over the past few years, entertaining personal movies, podcasts and music productions created by hobbyists have demonstrated that more and more people are enjoying the process of making their ideas come to life through the production of user-generated content," said Dave Chaimson, vice president of marketing for Sony Creative Software. "Designed with ease of use in mind, these new versions of Sony Creative Software's consumer software products provide users with powerful content creation applications that have been expertly developed from Sony's line of professional audio and video software." These new software applications are content creation tools of choice for PC users seeking a simple way to learn, create and share their digital creations across a multitude of media formats and include numerous practical features, unique Show Me How interactive tutorials and unified user interfaces across all of the products. "Running on Windows Vista, this new content creation lineup of tools from Sony presents an extraordinary value proposition, allowing customers to produce high-quality audio and video on their PCs," said Liron Shaked, director of business development at Microsoft Corp. "Thanks to the software enhancements of the Windows Vista operating system, users of Vegas Movie Studio, Sound Forge Audio Studio and ACID Music Studio will be able to create projects quickly as well as get more professional production power out of the applications." The new version of Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Edition software provides the power, features and advanced tools needed to edit nearly any format of video, including HDV and Sony AVCHD. When used in conjunction with the Sony HDR-SR5, HDR-CX7 and HDR-SR7 AVCHD camcorders, the software offers users a unified end-to-end high definition workflow. The Platinum Edition software's advanced tools for video compositing, color correction and 5.1 surround sound mixing help users achieve professional-like results from the home studio. Integrated DVD authoring and multiple export options allow content to be easily shared through many formats, including online and via portable devices. Vegas Movie Studio software is an easy-to-use media editing application that allows users to turn digital video and pictures into stunning movies and slideshows, as well as create professional-looking DVDs on a home computer. Like the Platinum Edition, Vegas Movie Studio offers the entire audio and video workflow in a box, allowing users to capture, create, edit and share. Built on award-winning technology used by recording studios and musicians worldwide, Sound Forge Audio Studio software brings professional editing power to home computers. The software is an easy way to record instruments, vocals and podcasts and then edit and master audio with pro-level control over EQ, volume and effects processing. The new Vinyl Recording and Restoration tool breathes new life into a record collection, enabling users to convert records, cassettes, and other analog sources into CDs or MP3 files. The Vocal Eraser plug-in by iZotope included with Sound Forge Audio Studio enables users to remove vocals from most recordings to create karaoke tracks to sing along with or isolate vocals to bring into a user-created remix. Bringing music to life with ease, the ACID Music Studio software enables original song creation, live recording, studio-quality mixing and effects processing. Using a simple pick-paint-play workflow, users can combine loops with automatic tempo and key matching to quickly create great sounding mixes. The software is now a full-featured multitrack production application, allowing users to record or combine an unlimited number of audio tracks, MIDI tracks, and loops in a project. These new multitrack recording capabilities enable users to record multiple instruments at a time with complete control over volume, panning and effects on each instrument or vocal for the perfect mix. Additionally, the software features inline MIDI editing, including both real-time record and step record, as well as complete control over MIDI events and parameters. ACID Music Studio software includes over 3,000 ACIDized music loops and 1,000 MIDI files for song creation. Price and Availability Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Edition (MSRP U.S. $129.95), Vegas Movie Studio (MSRP U.S. $89.95), ACID Music Studio (MSRP U.S. $69.95) and Sound Forge Audio Studio software (MSRP U.S. $69.95) are now available in North America. Photo Go software (MSRP U.S. $24.95) for Vista will be available this fall in North America. Localized versions of all products for Germany, France, Spain, and the UK will be available this fall (with the exception of Photo Go). For more information about these software applications or any of Sony Creative Software's leading audio or video editing solutions, please visit www.sonycreativesoftware.com. For more information and pricing on Sony's new camcorders, visit Sony Style retail stores or visit www.sonystyle.com.