An audio editing, processing and mastering application for the Windows platform originally introduced by Sonic Foundry. Sony has developed the product line with features and support that will interest the casual user and the working professional engineer alike in the recording, broadcast and video production disciplines.
File Formats Supported
Reads and writes ATRAC, AIFF, VOX, IVC, MP4, M-PEG 1 and 2, AU, SND, OGG, QuickTime7, RAW, MXF, PCA, Sony Wave 64, AVI, Sound Designer 1, MP3, WAV, WMA and WMV. Real Media export is possible, Flash files may also be imported. In addition Sound Forge Pro 10.0 also reads and writes Sound Forge Project Files and Dolby Digital AC-3 may be exported. Musical instrument files used by samplers DLS, SF2 and GIG files now supported. Importing and saving of multichannel format versions of AVI, W64, WAV, WMA and AA3 files is also supported by the Pro version of Sound Forge.
Platform and Hardware Requirements
Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2, Vista SP2 or later, Sound Forge Pro also supports Windows 7. Processor: 1 GHz minimum. Hard drive: 350MB space for program installation. RAM: 512MB. Windows-compatible sound card, DVD-ROM drive for installation and supported CD-Recordable drive for CD burning. Microsoft DirectX 9.0c or later, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and Internet Explorer 5.1 or later (all included on DVD-ROM).
Licensing and Support
Sony products are licensed for use on a single computer. Technical Support and software updates are available online at www.scvlondononline.co.uk, telephone technical support available on 020 8418 1472. Educational establishments, (schools, colleges and universities), may qualify for discounts and multi-user licences. Contact Sales for further information.
SOUND FORGE AUDIO STUDIO 10.0
This stereo audio editor is aimed primarily at consumer and semi-professional environments. It features, however, the main core elements of the flagship package at an affordable price. It has the capability of recording and playback at 192kHz at 24-bit/32-bit float, depending on hardware. It supports DirectX and VST plug-ins; eleven audio plug-ins are supplied as standard. Effect preview allows the user to assess the processing prior to committing it to the file, although unlimited undo and redo facilities are also available.
A vinyl recording tool and a restoration processing tool are included, as well as CD import and MP3 import facilities which allow the user to import media, edit and restore, then export in a variety of formats. Finished files can be burnt to CD using the track-at-once or disk-at-once capabilities within the package. The software supports 'multi-tasking' background-rendering of files. ACID, see separate entry, loop creation is possible and files can be normalised. Support for large file sizes up to and in excess of 4GB.
Real-time PPM meters keep a track on audio levels and ASIO driver support allows a variety of low-latency audio interfaces to be used with the software. Helpful tutorial files are included with Audio Studio to guide the casual user through some of the extensive features of the software.
Sound Forge Audio Studio 10.0 now includes an exclusive Audio Enhancer plug-in from iZotope, a single plug-in that combines five processes that can assist users to produce broadcast-quality standard audio files with a single mouse click. User presets include settings for both music and dialogue.
SOUND FORGE PRO 10.0
In addition to the core elements included with Audio Studio, Sound Forge Pro 10.0 includes additional features to attract the professional user. These include multi-channel record and playback up to 192kHz at 24-bit, 32-bit/64-bit float, depending on hardware, of course. Automated time-based recording and audio-threshold recording facilities are available, complete with pre-record buffer. Event based editing allows the user to select a section of an audio file and edit and manipulate this selection as if it was a separate entity. Manipulation of such includes trimming, cut/copy/paste/move functions as well as ‘slipping’ the audio back and forth within the event selection.
Over twenty DirectX plugs-ins are included, as well additional plug in’s from iZotope which include a mastering processing bundle as well as their 64 bit sample rate conversion and dither processors. Sony noise-reduction plug-in, Sony Zplane time stretch and pitch shift processor and Acoustic Mirror environment simulation tools are also included. Integrated disc-at-once CD burning within Sound Forge is further enhanced with the inclusion of Sony CD Architect, see separate entry for details. DirectX plug-in manager and plug-in automation tools are offered. A plug-in chainer facility allows multiple effects to be used in conjunction with each other and stored for instant recall.
Custom window layouts within the program can now be saved and recalled and the program now has the ability to load, edit, process, and save DLS, GigaStudio/GigaSampler, and SoundFont 2.0 musical instrument files, allowing you to add effects and processing to existing samples.
Application scripting and batch-conversion tools are offered to allow automated processing of many files. Audio scrubbing is supported, depending on hardware. VU, phase and mono-compatibility meters compliment the standard PPM's. Midi triggering of files is possible and midi sample dump is also available. Volume and pan envelopes for graphic automation can be drawn directly onto the waveform display. Clipped peaks can be automatically detected and marked. Play-list and cut-list features are provided. Undo/redo history can be displayed and Sound Forge can undo beyond saved points. Customisable keyboard mapping is also available and version 10 also now also includes interactive tutorials.