Subject:Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Posted by: colinu

Date:10/10/2012 9:12:55 AM

Just letting y'all know that there is a market for a new version of Sound Forge Pro.

I want to be able to "Save As" ALAC.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: rraud

Date:10/10/2012 10:45:09 AM

SF Pro10 will open, but not save ( ALAC ) Apple Lossless Audio Codec. There are other options if a small fie size / 'lossless' compressed format is the goal. FLAC or PCA for instance. I don't know if SF for Mac supports either at this point, nor do I suspect, full ALAC support is high on the list for PC users.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: colinu

Date:10/10/2012 11:57:38 AM

FLAC won't play on my ipod.

BTW I do notice slugishness when I zoom in on compressed files (like FLAC), but not on uncompressed files (like WAV).

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: 519tbarr

Date:10/11/2012 1:20:17 PM

I will gladly accept an update for Sound Forge however i am waiting on Acid Pro 8 first before an update to SF Pro PC.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:10/12/2012 4:33:18 PM

Complain to Apple.

geoff

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: colinu

Date:10/13/2012 11:29:14 AM

"
Complain to Apple.

geoff"

ALAC is now open source. In expanding into MAC offerings, it wouldn't hurt to "speak the language the natives do".

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: brothership

Date:10/23/2012 1:45:15 AM

Hopefully, the new version (if there is one) will contain some real enhancements and upgrades instead of just a bunch of third-party plug-ins...

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:10/23/2012 5:47:40 AM

"some real enhancements and upgrades"

Like ? Suggestions welcome I'm sure !

I'd like some elements of Spectral Editing included.

geoff

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: roblesinge

Date:10/23/2012 7:56:00 AM

@Geoff, I would agree that spectral capabilities would be useful, but that will never happen. Now that they have Spectral Layers as a standalone, adding spectral capability to SF would make it a direct competitor with Spectral Layers.

Rob.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: rraud

Date:10/23/2012 10:55:06 AM

Yes but, most other audio editing app.s have some sort of spectral control.
But they again.. 'most' DAWs have OMF file support.. which Vegas Pro does not.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: PixelStuff

Date:1/2/2013 8:39:36 PM

@roblesinge

It's true they probably have a stake in trying to sell Spectral Layers as a stand alone program, but as I suggested over a year ago in this thread, it would be nice if they implemented perhaps a limited, visual "paint out the noise" method like Adobe had in Soundbooth/Audition or the iZotope RX plugins.

It is still only something I use once or twice a year so not worth buying the iZotope plugin or the full Spectral Layers application. Besides that, I find an integrated tool better than having to export and import all the time to move between applications. In Adobe Audition the spectral views and tools are a click away. In fact I find myself using Audition 90% of the time because Sound Forge is feeling outdated and less integrated. Only when I'm editing something directly from the Vegas timeline do I pull up Sound Forge anymore.

I think that's a bad position to be in for Sony. On the other hand, perhaps I'm the only one who thinks that way.

I think they could still benefit from integrated spectral views in Sound Forge and a spectral noise reduction plugin while still keeping Spectral Layers as a stand alone program.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: 519tbarr

Date:1/4/2013 1:16:42 PM

The unfortunate reality is that none of SCS PC software with the exception of Vegas Pro has moved forward in 2 plus years. There have been budget studio versions that come out on an annual basis, but Sound Forge Pro and Acid Pro 7 sit at the same versions years later.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:1/5/2013 11:37:13 AM

There have been budget studio versions that come out on an annual basis, but Sound Forge Pro and Acid Pro 7 sit at the same versions years later.

That should tell you something....as in where SMS is devoting it's time and talent.

Also - these "budget" versions now do about 85% of the key functions of their bigger siblings - so they might just fit the bill for 85% of the user base in SMS's eyes.

Might even be a factor of them asking themselves "Are these big major apps even relevant or required anymore?"

I mean with respect to Forge - whether it's v10 or v9 or whatever - how much more can you cram in there? Or need to cram in there?

I have never understood the "need" to have a new version appear annually when the vendor might add about 4 things that "might" appeal to someone. (I do understand their need to flood new product to make money).

But I think that many of these mature apps like Forge have hit an upper limit in function and feature. As long as an existing version works (and can be installed against the latest OS out there) - do we really need a new version?

It's a bloody audio editor and as long as it cuts audio well (which it does) - what more do you need?

VP

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Larry Clifford

Date:1/5/2013 2:25:56 PM

I agree with 519tbarr. I commented on this on 7/6/2011 - http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?Forum=3&MessageID=769410

I would like to see this program progress if I am going to support it. I admit that I do not have any specific requests.

I do relatively simple editing with Sound Forge Pro 10. I there are not going to be significant additions, should I consider going to the video editing programs? Are they satisfactory for editing audio files, eg, mp3, wma, etc? Maybe some day I will do some video editing.

I recently purchased Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum - V 11. I know it has been replaced by V 12, but V 11 is the last one that will work on by Windows XP system. I would like to purchase Vegas Pro - V 12, but that to very expensive and will not work on Windows XP. At the same time, that is where Sony appears to be putting all of there efforts. Even additional features are being added in updates which do not cost money.

I would like to hear some comments on this.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: iain_m

Date:1/5/2013 2:29:34 PM

It's the lack of fixes for long-standing known bugs, more than the absence of new features (though basic spectral editing would be welcome), which concerns me.

If a paid version upgrade is required to fund the bug fixing, so be it. But we haven't even had that!

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: rraud

Date:1/5/2013 6:51:02 PM

To be fair to SCS, what else could be added to SF. I don't think anyone wants a new GUI.
'Full' BWF support would be nice, but I can do most of that with third-party utility, though it's a pain to have to create a BWF from scratch and import the audio into it.. Spectral Layers would be better off as a plug-in IMO or integrated into SF. In the future, (if SCS is still in business) Spectral Layers may be bungled with SF.. as was the case with Acoustic Mirror and the Noise Reduction-2 plug-in suite.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:1/7/2013 11:43:26 AM

but V 11 is the last one that will work on by Windows XP system

My only comment to this is - why are you letting an OS from 2002 hold you back in 2013?

Windows 7 is the by far - the best OS Microsoft has ever produced and you should be on it by now - plain and simple.

XP was retired long ago and so were the maintenance efforts required by most main DAW vendors to build apps/plugins that run on it.

Using XP as an excuse to move forward is not a very good argument in 2013.

VP

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: 519tbarr

Date:1/8/2013 1:38:14 PM

Agreed.
Windows 7 has been a very stable platform.
Also reality is now that Windows 8 is here
and around the corner comes Windows Code Blue
we all have to embrace the technology or be left behind.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:1/8/2013 2:20:13 PM

It's the forced obsolescence that bothers me. I dislike paying money for a new version that then breaks other old software or won't run because of that old software.

The programs i wrote for work back in 1990 under Win3.11 had darned well still better run today under Windows 7. And you know what? They do, by gum! And without anything more than copying the .exe file over to the Win7 system and double-clicking.

OK, true, i know a lot of software is hugely more complex than the stuff i've written, but still, a little more attention to version agnosticism would be greatly appreciated.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:1/8/2013 3:06:32 PM

I'm waiting for SF 13, and Win 10.

Just had first (totally baffling) experience with trying to some very basic system things on Win 8. Yuk. OK for people who only want to do very bog-standard things I guess. Eagerly awaiting a Classic Windows Start menu 'skin'.

geoff

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: rraud

Date:1/8/2013 3:30:04 PM

Kind of off-topic but, MS is touting Win-8 as a replacement (upgrade?) for businesses using XP, and there's a lot of them. However Win-8 seems to be designed more for social media.. at least that's my take on it..

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:1/8/2013 4:08:10 PM

It's the forced obsolescence that bothers me

It's only forced if you allow that to happen. No one is forcing anyone to ever upgrade anything. I am certain that if I got my 2002 software archive out of storage and outfitted a machine with a fresh copy of XP - everything would work just as it in 2002.

It's this built in notion of "Upgrade must better. Must have new features" that makes everyone crazy. I have always been an advocate of "if it ain't broke" and will usually hang onto a good app or machine until it becomes a burden to my workflow.

True - the vendor will win at some point since you can only go so far with versions before that won't be supported or won't run on a given OS.

So you either hang with what works - or make a move to get current. Nothing wrong with either path.

VP

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:1/8/2013 4:11:30 PM

MS is touting Win-8 as a replacement (upgrade?) for businesses using XP, and there's a lot of them.

We (company of 5800 worldwide) have already made plans to skip Win 8 completely. The org is just getting comfy with Windows 7 now.

Win 8 will be a complete failure at the business level since the retraining and utter lack of any workflow whatsoever - makes little to no sense for most businesses to even consider. It will cost more to deploy, retrain, and support than WIndows 7 ever would. We really just need to get work done :)

I know our company (Oil and Gas Software and services in AB) would melt down if our users were suddenly subjected to that horrid UI experience.

VP

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: _Lenny_

Date:3/16/2013 3:20:27 AM

Adobe Audition has it.
Goldwave has it.
Audacity has it.

Built-in noise reduction, not an over-priced, tricky to use plug-in.

Audition, which of course is a paid-for program, has superb noise reduction, which is aided by its spectral display.

Goldwave (very cheap/perpetual trial) has an excellent noise reduction facility which does a fine job of removing noise.

Audacity has a good noise reduction tool. For free you can't complain about its shortcomings.

But Sound Forge...?

Another tool I would find invaluable is the declipping tool. Audacity's tool is amazing. I have loaded 35 year old compact cassette recordings (made directly from a television speaker) and Audacity has cleaned them up in no time at all. It removed 50Hz harmonics, some handling noise, and restored the severe clipping, so that I can actually hear what I was trying to record.

I can't do that in Sound Forge. But I would like to as I prefer the GUI which is far more intuitive.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:3/16/2013 11:43:50 AM

ALAC is a native language? On what? Apple devices? I have some 30 or more devices that turn recorded material into hearable audio. Not one single one of them is an Apple device nor "speaks" ALAC.

Tell me, how much worse is MP3 at 256Kbps or higher than lossless? Really? Exactly what do your ears tell you? I'd really like to know.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: rraud

Date:3/16/2013 5:19:52 PM

SF Pro has the Noise Reduction 2 suite that is relativity easy to use, It does not have spectral tools though, at least not free, for now.
A properly encoded 256kbps CBR MP3 sounds decent. In my experiments, a mono (spoken word) (LAME) 3320kbps CBR MP3 is identical to the PCM master. A sum/difference test confirms this with total cancellation.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:3/16/2013 5:48:39 PM

Remember when Noise Reduction 2 was a separate $279.95 purchase? Perhaps after a few years, SpectralLayers will eventually be bundled too.

Hmmmm, not much space savings there with your 3320Kbps file. Uncompressed PCM mono 16 bit 44.1K works out to the equivalent of 689Kbps, or about 21% of the size of a 3320Kbps MP3 file. I usually tend to encode spoken word at about 40Kbps, 22.5Khz. Not perfect, but more than good enough to be understandable.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:3/16/2013 11:35:41 PM

Ask Apple to enable FLAC, too.

geoff

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: rraud

Date:3/18/2013 10:14:59 AM

This was a few years ago when I was archiving edited WAVE files for the client so I could fit a one-day seminar on a single CD-ROM.

FWIW, a 1 minute 44.1kHz mono WAVE spoken-word file (5MB), via the WinLAME rc3 encoder @ 320kbps CBR mono 44.1, resulted in a 2.3MB MP3.

I encoded their 'on-line' audio for streaming @48kbps CBR mono which sounded 'decent'.
Cheers, Rick

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:3/18/2013 1:46:41 PM

Ahhhh, ok. 320Kbps makes a lot more sense than 3320Kbps. ;)

I usually store all my "listening music" files at 160Kbps stereo 44.1KHz. I've compared a few of them to the original .wav files and the difference is negligible, with residuals somewhere less than -70dB. That's probably beneath the s/n ratio of a lot of playback equipment. In any case it's beneath audibility.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: colinu

Date:3/19/2013 2:18:26 PM

I would also like to see the better icons for functions - mute and normalize are too similar or the ability to create your own icons, and the ability to add functions under FX Favorites to a toolbar.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: brothership

Date:3/27/2013 9:13:50 AM

• More customizations of the interface, menus, icons, windows, etc. Also, the ability to export any (or all) of your customizations (including presets, favorites, etc.) into a single file would be nice.

• Better tab implentation. Currently, tabs are not customizable or movable, and if you have over a dozen files open, you'll be clicking and clicking just to get to the desired window, which negates the purpose of having tabbed windows.

• Updated effects packages. The meat of Sony's current effects date back to when Sonic Foundry was in business. I'd like to see further customization of automated preset curves (fast, slow, smooth, sharp, etc). Some features seen in other editing programs would be nice: some form of spectral editing, center channel extraction/manipulation, ability to add curves/slopes to Graphic Dynamics, etc.

• Ability to nest customized presets within one another for better organization. I have close to two hundred (and counting), so it's cumbersome to scroll through preset after preset to find the one I'm looking for.

• Better keyboard shortcut implementation. The current vesion is complex and not very intuitive.

• An explorer window that behaves more like Windows Explorer. Also, a search box within Explorer that narrows down results as you type would be nice.

• Ability to designate certain file types to particular folders when using the Save As function. That way, if I choose to save in my WMA Jukebox, I don't have to use the File Type drop down feature to scroll to WMA simply because I last saved in MP3 in another folder. More cumbersomeness!

• Icons for third-party plug-ins, like iZotope's.

• An auto-update feature from within the program

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: colinu

Date:3/27/2013 10:03:34 AM

I'll put this out there for commenting - should the next version be 64 bit (Vegas Pro is)?

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: Larry Clifford

Date:3/27/2013 6:13:07 PM

I believe the next version of Sound Forge Pro (I am not addressing Sound Forge Audio Studio) should be 64-bit. Writing a program for both 32-bit and 64-bit could hold back some development for those using a 64-bit OS.

Many comments say the those using Windows XP should migrate to Windows 7 (not Windows 8). I agree, and I am currently going to 7 Professional. After all, this is a Professional program for Professionals.

Let's make use of all of the features of Windows 7 and the hardware it supports.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: composer123

Date:3/29/2013 12:33:29 PM

I'd like a stable SF.

When I save a frg. file after naming a bunch of regions, it shuts down and deletes the frg. file!

Also the color theme doesn't stick after saving and re-opening the software.

Subject:RE: Sound Forge Pro 11 - We're Waiting

Reply by: colinu

Date:4/11/2013 11:10:19 AM

I was hoping we would hear something from NAB 2013 - apparently not. Adobe is showing some new features in the next version of Audition.

Make no mistake - I love Sound Forge - I just think it is time for an update.