Subject:Yikes! The bugz

Posted by: WO

Date:7/12/2007 8:41:13 PM

I posted a while back, answering a query as to whether the upgrade was worth it. My situation is a rare one---I went from 4.0 to 9.0, then 9.0a. Further, my situation is quite simple. I am converting tons of analog reels to digital, with the only major processes being pop&click removal, limited EQ, and normalization. So you can see, I am working with about 5% of the product's capabilities.

After working with it for about six weeks, I must say that I am shocked at the decline in quality since release 4.0. The look of the interface is light years beyond where it was, and I love the 24-bit support. Too, the pencil tool is UNBELIEVABLY better.

HOWEVER the bugs are so apparent and annoying that I wonder what the hell happened to this product. The most god awful of these is trying to select pieces of a file to process. Sometimes it works, but most of the time it doesn't, and often I find my cursor locating to a random position in the file. And don't even expect to double-click a region with the expectation of it being selected. I'm running about %15 success with that. (oh, add snap-to-zero selection to that also)

Then comes the computer deciding to set the loop attribute on my selections. Uh, after 15 years of UI experience, haven't the developers learned that THE USER is supposed to be control of such things? Worse that this is that it's programmed to begin play at the cursor position---in other words, do not dare click your mouse in the data window while your file is playing else you'll lose your spot.

Next, the graphical envelope buttons. Why must I ALWAYS, and I mean A-L-W-A-Y-S, chick the left channel's envelope, set it to the big "X" (via a another click), then chick the RIGHT channel's envelope, set it to the big "X" (via a FORTH click), then finally, click OK? I can find no way to override this. My objective is simple. I merely want to normalize the file to maximum peak value. If I take the defaults, I get weird results.

Next, "Volume". MY GOD, I take the defaults, and I end up with a result that looks like a mushroom cloud. Again, my objective is simple here. I only want to increase or decrease the volume by a db or so. In all fairness, I must mention that there is a workaround. If I chick the left channel's envelope, then click the big "X", then chick the right channel's envelope, then click its "X", then click OK, I'll get the result i expect.

To summarize, I give Sound Forge 9.0 a solid "D". Given the small scope of what I am trying to do, I shudder to think what you pros are going through.

Subject:RE: Yikes! The bugz

Reply by: jamez_p

Date:7/13/2007 1:26:58 AM

""Then comes the computer deciding to set the loop attribute on my selections. Uh, after 15 years of UI experience, haven't the developers learned that THE USER is supposed to be control of such things? Worse that this is that it's programmed to begin play at the cursor position---in other words, do not dare click your mouse in the data window while your file is playing else you'll lose your spot.""

I SO feel your pain. This totally illogical change in SF9 cursor/loop functionality is not only annoying it nearly blew out my monitors last night. I moved the cursor during playback to the beginning of the file and SF decided I wanted to loop a 1 second selection at the cursor point, so a very loud click/pop just looped, ARHHHHHHH.

Does anyone know where the developers live, maybe they will respond to a face to face discussion?!! Seriously though Sony, any idea when the next bug fix version will be released? It's obvious from the forums that there are some frustrated customers out there, any announcement would help.

Subject:RE: Yikes! The bugz

Reply by: drbam

Date:7/13/2007 7:01:13 AM

Given the problems that every new version of any Sony app has (see any and all SCS forums for confirmation), I'm surprised that ANYONE installs these things prior to update b or c with the expectation that they are going to perform well. This has NEVER been the case and this ongoing drama with Sound Forge 9 only reinforces a decision I made long ago to buy the upgrade at the sale price and then monitor the forum for 6 to 12 month before making a decision to install it or not. Unless one enjoys paying to serve as a beta-tester, this approach can save you from a lot of frustration.

At this point however, I'm beginning to regret that I purchased SF9 because I primarily did so for the Izotope mastering plugs. But since they don't work with the existing Sony apps (I have the latest versions of Vegas, Acid, CDA, etc), I see now that I would have been better off waiting till SF 10 to do the upgrade and would have saved myself $99. Oh well . . .

Subject:RE: Yikes! The bugz

Reply by: ForumAdmin

Date:7/13/2007 7:30:46 AM

Always seeking playback to the cursor with be disable-able in the next update.

I have no issues double-clicking within a region to select it, though I expect it has to do with the seek issue. If not, please elaborate. Similarly, Options->Snap to Zero Crossings works as intended, but is now a soft snap, like the other snap options, for enhanced drag capabilities. To force a selection to immediately snap, use Edit->Selection->Snap to Zero Crossing, etc. (Z, Shift+Z).

The default edge fade curves are not equal power, so if you mix material that is in-phase, you could easily get a "mushroom" cloud.

If you do not want edge fades, or simply want to change the default curves, set the gain and fade length values in the More... section of any effect dialog, then select "Save Fade Values" from the context menu (right-click in the blank area below the "Less..." button).

I'd suggest taking a look at the help file to get familiar with some of the other new features.

J.