If your system uses ASIO, SF8 can use the same soundcard and monitor chain as the rest of your computer music software. The second major update in SF8 is ASIO driver support, which means no more switching preferences in your soundcard drivers to WDM, or having to listen to a sound file over computer speakers. There is even an Export to CD Architect command in SF8, which automatically opens CD Architect and puts the sound files into the media browser. Still, CD Architect is a professional-grade tool and a step up from the software that comes bundled with every computer or CD burner these days see the CD Architect box for more details.

Granted, CD burning is no longer the mysterious alchemy it was right after the millennium rolled around, when one was as likely to add to the toaster collection as get a playable CD. Back in 2002, Martin Walker's review of SF v6 lamented the disappearance of CD Architect, which had been included with previous versions of SF. There is, of course, the usual laundry list of improvements, but three updates really stand out. It is high time to take another look at this PC staple. In the intervening years, Sony have bought Sonic Foundry's entire line of audio and video software, including Vegas and Acid, updated them all, and have just released version 8 of Sound Forge. Sound Forge was one of the first professional audio editors developed for the PC, and was last reviewed by Sound On Sound when version 6 appeared back in 2002. For many sound jobs, a stereo editor is that hammer, making the given task easier and faster. Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be.

It's not that you can't accomplish many of the same tasks using your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), but it is a lot more elegant to use a hammer to drive in a nail than the flat side of a wrench. Sony have opened their Sound Forge editing software up to new horizons with support for VST plug-ins and the ASIO driver protocol, and improved its usability with batch processing and a new scrubbing tool.Įveryone needs a stereo audio editor. VST and DX effects can be called up from the Plug-in Chainer tool highlighted by the cursor. Common procedures are available from the drop-down menus under Process and Effects. A single sound open in a window, ready to be edited.

Sony sound forge 8.0