
Sony Creative Software Sound Forge Pro 10 is a professional digital audio editor ideal for audio and video production and multimedia projects. A rock solid 24/32/64-bit 192KHz digital audio editor with over 40 professional studio effects and processes, Sound Forge Pro 10 is a great tool for creating, recording, and editing audio. And as one of my favorite audio editing tools Sound Forge Pro 10 is also a powerhouse when it comes to extensive audio processing, mastering effects, and plug-ins.
Sound Forge Pro 10
Sound Forge Pro 10
While this review focuses on new features in version 10 be sure to check out my detailed review of Sound Forge 9 as well.
Out of the box Sound Forge Pro 10 is a smooth install (compatible with Windows XP and Vista platforms) and includes Sound Forge Pro 10, CD Architect 5.2, Noise Reduction 2.0, and iZotope Mastering Effects Bundle 2. Documentation includes a Quick start guide, Keyboard shortcut commands, and a User manual. Sound Forge documentation is also accessible via the Sony Sound Forge download website.
Audio Editing
New to Sound Forge Pro 10 are features such as event-based editing which allows for more precise editing of audio clips, edges, and fades. In addition to Sony’s time stretch tool, a new addition is the Zplane elastique Pro timestretch and pitch shift plug-in with real-time preview and support for time stretching both instrumentals and vocals. In the illustration below I used “Process->Time->elastique Timestretch” to adjust the audio length without altering the pitch. The quality of the stretched audio is very good and time and pitch can be manipulated independently.
elastique timestretch
elastique timestretch
Workspace and Window Layouts
Another handy feature is setting up workspaces and window layouts. For example, you can save multiple workspace settings which can be instantly recalled such as an editing session with related audio tracks. You can also specify window layouts that are designed for specific tasks such as audio editing, CD Red Book authoring, audio for video editing, and editing sessions using multiple display monitors. These features are great productivity aids.
Window layout
Window layout
Creating Acid Loops
Sound Forge Pro 10 also provides more precision and control when working with ACID loops. For example, I edited an audio clip and selected “Options->Selection Grid Lines” to view grid line markers that appear on the audio clip corresponding with time signature beat boundaries. I then set the grid divisions to 4 to create a 4-beat (4/4 time signature) loop. In my case I was working with drum loops so I selected “Don’t transpose”. If you’re working with bass or other tone-based loops you can select a root note for transposing the loop to a specific key.
ACID loop
ACID loop
Effects Processing
One of my favorite features in Sound Forge 9 continues to shine in version 10 as there are over 40 real time effects, many of which can be previewed with different presets in real time.
When sampling effects select the Bypass checkbox to compare the unprocessed “dry” signal with the processed “wet” signal, and when you’re satisfied with a preview effect setting you can apply it to re-generate the waveform.
Some effect types include amplitude modulation, chorus, delay/echo, distortion, dynamics, envelope, flange/wah-wah, noise gate, pitch, reverb, vibrato and wave hammer. Effects are also grouped by developer and some notables include Sony, Sonic, Roxio, and Nero.
iZotope Mastering Effects Bundle 2 (valued at $200+) includes Mastering EQ, Mastering Reverb, Mastering Limiter, Mastering Stereo Imager, Mastering Harmonic Exciter, and Multiband Compressor. Lots of audio processing power here.
Mastering EQ
Mastering EQ
Cleansing Audio
Sound Forge Pro 10 can convert and clean analog recordings (i.e. tape, vinyl) to digital audio. Noise reduction 2.0 includes noise reduction, click & crackle removal, clipped peak restoration, and audio restoration tools. All of these effects have plenty of presets. For example, there’s a preset for 78 RPM for cleaning vinyl records of clicks, crackles, and background hiss. With Clipped peak restoration you can detect clipping (distortion) at various levels, smaller clips at -3dB and larger clips at 0dB.
CD burning options include track-at-once (TAO) where you can add multiple tracks to a CD during multiple edit sessions, and then close the CD so that it’s playable in CD players. Disc-at-once (DAO) lets you add tracks and burn a CD in a single edit session (i.e. creating a master for CD replication).
Interactive Tutorials
Another great feature Sony has added in Sound Forge Pro 10 is Interactive Tutorials which focus on common features and functions such as event-based editing, fading and pitch bending audio, creating ACID loops, recording and restoring audio on vinyl, and TAO/DAO CD burning. Interactive Tutorials guide you along step by step, are very easy to understand, and can be accessed under the Help menu.
Interactive Tutorial
Interactive Tutorial
In the View menu you can preview audio media using the Sound Forge explorer and preview video media on the same display or on an external monitor.
Scripting
Scripts provide a powerful way to automate repetitive tasks. Scripts are invoked using “Tools->Scripting->Run Script” and selecting a script such as “Add Markers”. You can also create your own scripts in C#, Jscript, or VBScript using “View->Script Editor”. There you edit-compile-run. Scripts reside in the Script Menu folder under the Sound Forge installation folder. Sony has not yet posted their Script Developers Kit for version 10 but be sure to check the Developers Kit website if you would like to explore script development in more detail.
Format Support
Sound Forge Pro 10 can open and save a wide array of audio and video file formats and there are plenty of presets available.
Preferences
Sound Forge Pro 10 is loaded with 13 tabs of preference settings such as default fade in/out curves and wet/dry signal mix.
Extras
Within Sound Forge Pro 10 you can select “File->Get Media from the Web” which launches Internet Explorer, directing you to the Sony Creative Software website where you can download royalty free music, loops, samples, and sound effects.
Sony Creative Software media website
Sony Creative Software media website
To publish Audio to the web you can use the Publish button which launches Internet Explorer directing you to Sony’s ACIDplanet.com website. Here you can login and publish your audio in Windows Media format as well as post additional formats.
Web publishing on ACIDplanet.com
Web publishing on ACIDplanet.com
In addition to Interactive tutorials provided with Sound Forge Pro 10 Sony Creative Software has also produced a Sound Forge Pro 10 Seminar Series training DVD that includes task-oriented videos for applying processes and effects, event-based editing, and CD burning. These videos which also include audio clips showcase some tricks of the trade, are clear, concise, and are priced at US$89.
Always Room For Improvement
In a future version of Sound Forge Pro I’d like to see more integration with Sony Vegas Pro and Sony Cinescore.
Performance
New to version 10 is a performance optimization preference setting (Global media cache) which allocates memory for media recently accessed from disk. With incremental enhancements to version 9 Sound Forge Pro 10 is a high performance digital audio editing and mastering tool packed with powerful real time editing and mastering effects, ideal for audio/video producers.
Pricing
Sony Creative Software Sound Forge Pro 10 retails for US$499, is available on Sony’s website for US$375, and has a street price as low as US$329. Also, be sure to check out Sony’s promotions during October for Sound Forge Pro 10 upgrades.
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