Product Reviews

Most audio programs that started life as stereo file editors have embraced multitrack recording, but Sound Forge has stuck to its guns. Eight versions in, its core duties of cropping, normalising, fading, reversing and generally manipulating audio files remain delightfully easy and fast to use.

This doesn't mean Sony hasn't bothered to develop the software since the company acquired it from Sonic Foundry in 2003. In fact, version 7 was released less than a year ago and included a major update in the form of effects automation.

The big story in version 8 is support for VST plug-in effects. Sound Forge has supported DirectX plug-ins for years, but many more plug-ins are for VST only. These range from superb free ones such as those at www.digitalfishphones.co to Sony's flagship plug-ins (www.sonyplugins.co.uk),

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which run on specialist DSP hardware but interface with host software through the VST standard. The only disappointment is that Sound Forge doesn't bundle more effects. The ones included are comprehensive and high quality but lack the flair of certain - admittedly more expensive - third-party plug-ins.

Version 8 also adds ASIO support. ASIO is a type of sound card driver that helps reduce the latency between sound card and software. It doesn't make Sound Forge noticeably more responsive but it's welcome nonetheless, especially as some sound cards offer extended sample rates or bit depths from their ASIO drivers.

The VST plug-ins merge seamlessly with the existing DirectX support, so there is little to differentiate Sound Forge 8 visually from its predecessor. A new scrub control is useful for finding a particular section of audio quickly or trying out effects before reaching for the Process menu. Keyboard commands can be customised to create useful short cuts, but after that the list of new features becomes minor and obscure.

That's not the end of the good news, though. UK distributors bundled version 7 with Sony CD Architect, which is the best audio CD-authoring program available. This time Sony does the bundling itself, and the latest version adds CD Text support. However, the best thing about Sound Forge 8 is that the UK price has been slashed from around £300 to £200. This, along with VST and ASIO support, means that an already excellent package is more attractive than ever.