Archive notice: This article was originally published on September 1, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Sony Creative Software, a leading provider of professional video- and audio-production applications, today announced the availability of the Sound Forge Pro 10 digital-audio production suite.
New features in Sound Forge Pro 10 include event-based editing, Disc-at-Once CD-burning functions, iZotope 64-bit SRC (sample-rate conversion), MBIT+ dither (bit-depth conversion), editing of musical-instrument files, and the élastique Pro time-stretch/pitch-shift plug-in. The new version also offers exclusive improvements such as flexible program-window arrangement, metadata editing, performance enhancements and interactive tutorials. These new features create an equally powerful and flexible environment for audio production, simplify workflow, increase efficiency and continue to deliver the impeccable audio quality expected by the music industry.
“Digital audio production is a fundamental application not only in the conventional music industry, but also for video-game developers, postproduction companies, video producers, online-media developers, sound designers and mobile-device producers. In developing the new version, we took account of the specific requirements of each of these industries and integrated numerous new features that provide a unique solution to the needs of professionals from the different segments,” says Dave Chaimson, Vice President of Global Marketing at Sony Creative Software. “Extensive feedback from our customers and suggestions from the industry guarantee that the digital-audio enhancements in Sound Forge Pro 10 allow even the most complex projects across today’s producers’ diverse fields of application to be edited intuitively.”
“I use Sound Forge Pro software for adding sound to films, television programmes and games projects, as well as producing artist CDs and film soundtracks,” says Chris Brickler, head of Xlantic America, music producer, film director and former senior technical employee, who recently produced the Emmy-nominated documentary series HowWillWeLove.com. “I can always rely on Sound Forge Pro’s powerful functions when it comes to editing my projects efficiently and achieving the consistently high-quality results I need. The new functions will certainly accelerate my productivity further, allowing me to devote more attention to the creative aspects of my audio productions.”
Highlights of the New Sound Forge Pro 10
The most notable new features in Sound Forge Pro 10 include:
- Event-Based Editing
Event-based editing is ideally suited to precise audio mastering, combining project sketches, or laying out tracks for Disc-at-Once CDs. Events can be moved, divided, shifted and trimmed quickly and easily for precise control of the audio signal in a single Sound Forge 10 data window; fades can also be created and ASR envelopes and crossfades applied.
- Integrated Disc-at-Once (DAO) CD-Burning Function
The integrated Disc-at-Once CD-burning function saves time and offers a more efficient workflow when creating music premaster CDs according to the Red Book standard for professional duplication. Its feature set includes full PQ-code editing, creation of CDs with a live character, enrichment with CD text and metadata, and high resolution for precise conversion to Red Book audio.
- Zplane élastique Pro Time-Stretch DirectX® Plug-In
The élastique plug-in for time stretching and pitch shifting achieves better-sounding results when editing audio files. While adjusting parameters, users can preview the result in real time and choose between different stretching methods tailored to the respective material, including Pro, Soloist and Efficient methods.
- iZotope 64-BIT SRC (Sample-Rate Conversion) and MBIT+ Dither (Bit-Depth Conversion)
iZotope 64-bit SRC uses a hybrid low-pass-filter design that enables impeccable results with substantially fewer aliasing effects when converting between different sample rates. iZotope MBIT+ Dither applies psychoacoustic methods to distribute noise into less audible regions, producing better audio quality and smooth transitions during bit-depth conversion of audio files.
- Editing Musical-Instrument Files (.DLS, .SF2, .GIG)
Sound Forge Pro 10 can open, edit and save musical-instrument data in DLS, GigaStudio/GigaSampler and SoundFont 2.0 formats. Users can view banks, instruments, pitch ranges and sample information; effects and processing steps can be applied directly to the samples.
- Flexible Program-Window Arrangement
The flexibly adjustable program-window arrangement ensures maximum productivity by allowing custom user interfaces for one- or two-screen configurations to be created and saved. Arrangements for specific tasks such as audio editing, CD layout and multichannel-file editing can be recalled easily.
- Mastering Effects Bundle 2 from iZotope
This powerful package of mastering effects is included with Sound Forge 10 and comprises the following six professional plug-ins for professionally mastering and enhancing audio productions: Master EQ, Master Reverb, Multiband Compressor, Master Limiter, Stereo Imager and Harmonic Exciter.
- Interactive Tutorials
Sony Creative Software’s interactive tutorials provide a virtual tour of the most important features and functions, including burning CDs in Disc-at-Once mode and recording vinyl records. This gives users a shorter learning period and leaves them more time to edit and master audio projects.
Price and Availability
Sound Forge Pro 10 is available now in English and Japanese at http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com and worldwide from selected specialist retailers and online shops. The manufacturer’s recommended retail price is 450 euros including VAT.
