Summary |
Rating |
Explain the rating |
What is this and why is it important? |
User Interface |
Audition 2 |
Sound Forge 9 |
Audition 2 |
Sound Forge 9 |
Regions & Cues |
Markers |
5 |
5 |
Markers |
Regions |
Markers can be set on timeline to facilitate jumping, looping, changing pitch or tempo and zoom settings. |
Auto Generate |
5 |
5 |
Auto Mark |
Auto Region |
These are facilities to create markers automatically based on transient peaks. |
File Create |
5 |
5 |
Marker Batch Process |
Extract Regions |
This function refers to the capability to automatically extract markers that have been created and save them as files. |
Playlists |
0 |
5 |
No |
Playlists, Cutlists |
Playlists offer the capability to play markers in a specified order. |
Zoom & Scale |
Zoom |
5 |
5 |
Horizontal & vertical zoom |
Horizontal & vertical zoom |
Zooming allows you to change the horizontal and/or vertical size of the track/timeline work area. |
Magnifying Glass |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
The Magnifying Glass features provides the capability to zoom in on a particular selection. |
Metronome |
5 |
0 |
Yes |
No |
Metronomes can be set to provide beat clicks during recording and/or playback. |
Internal File Explorer |
5 |
5 |
Adobe Bridge |
Explorer |
|
External Sync |
5 |
5 |
SMPTE/MTC |
SMPTE/MTC |
SMPTE/MTC synchronization allows you to and receive MIDI timecode and transport information to and from external devices. |
Keyboard Shortcuts |
5 |
5 |
Predefined & customizable |
Predefined & customizable |
Keyboard shortcuts allow you to substitute keystrokes for menu commands. They are useful for improving efficiency in doing repetitive tasks. |
Look & Feel |
Color Schemes |
5 |
3 |
Definable colors & color scheme presets |
Definable colors only |
Color scheme presets allow you to save and recall collections of color definitions. |
Window Management |
5 |
5 |
Float, dock, resize |
Float, dock, resize |
This function refers to the capability to float, dock, and resize the various windows that are available. |
Workspace Management |
5 |
5 |
Multiple layouts saved |
Multiple layouts saved |
This is the capability of saving and recalling either the current workspace layout or multiple pre-defined workspace layouts. |
Meters |
Scaling |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Refers to the capability to change the scale of the audio output meter. |
Measurement |
3 |
5 |
Peak |
Peak & VU/PPM |
Peak meters are useful mainly for detecting clipping whereas VU/PPM measurements are an averaging technique which give an indication of overall loudness. |
Peak Hold |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Defines a separate display on the audio output meter which shows the peak level for a brief period of time. |
Overall Rating |
4.6 |
4.6 |
|
|
| |
|
|
Summary |
Rating |
Explain the rating |
What is this and why is it important? |
Audio Environment |
Audition 2 |
Sound Forge 9 |
Audition 2 |
Sound Forge 9 |
File Types |
5 |
5 |
19 file types |
20 file types |
Both products support a variety of audio file types for both import and export. |
CD Ripping |
4 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes, includes GraceNote MusicID |
CD ripping means creating a computer audio file from a CD audio track. GraceNote MusicID technology allows you to automatically add information from an Internet database to tracks extracted from commercial CD's. |
Project File Management |
5 |
3 |
Logical & physical folders |
Physical folder |
Sound Forge copies all audio files associated with a project into a separate physical folder. Audition can either maintain logical pointers to the physical locations of session files or copy them to a physical folder. |
File Metadata |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Metadata refers to maintaining additional data about an audio file such as author, copyright, engineer, notes, etc. As used here it is different from "Acidized" metadata which is discussed in the Loops & Rewire category. Only certain file types support storing metadata. |
Audio Driver Support |
5 |
5 |
Windows Drivers & ASIO |
Windows Drivers & ASIO |
The ASIO interface is necessary primarily for DigiDesign & Steinberg hardware. |
Overall Rating |
4.8 |
4.6 |
|
|
| |
|
|
Summary |
Rating |
Explain the rating |
What is this and why is it important? |
Editing & Processing |
Audition 2 |
Sound Forge 9 |
Audition 2 |
Sound Forge 9 |
Editing |
Standard Commands |
5 |
5 |
Cut, Copy, Paste |
Cut, Copy, Paste |
Both products provide standard cut, copy, and paste commands. |
Special Paste Commands |
5 |
5 |
Mix Paste |
Paste Special |
Special paste commands facilitate several functions such as mixing and crossfading two audio files. |
Snap |
5 |
4 |
Cues, ruler, frames, zero crossing |
Time & zero crossing |
When Snapping is enabled most editing and timeline functions (for example cut, paste, move) will automatically be aligned to the nearest snap position. Snap to zero crossing means that a cut, copy or paste will be aligned to the nearest point that the waveform crosses the zero axis. Doing this can prevent clicks and pops. |
Phase Invert |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Phase inversion can be used for a number of functions such as correcting the phase of an audio file or for subtracting the audio of one file from another. |
Insert Silence |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
The capability of inserting a defined length of silence into a file. |
Remove Silence |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
The capability of detecting and removing silence in a file. One common use is speech editing. |
Undo |
5 |
5 |
Multiple undo levels |
Multiple undo levels |
Both products provide multiple undo levels for editing changes. |
Automation |
5 |
5 |
Changes to most parameters (volume, pan, plug-in parameters, etc.) can be automated |
Changes to most parameters (volume, pan, plug-in parameters, etc.) can be automated |
Automation curves allow you to change a particular parameter at any point in the timeline. The most common use is volume automation, but most other parameters such as pan and FX Sends can also be automated. Changes to most FX parameters can also be automated, but it depends on the particular FX. |
Plug-in Support |
VST Support |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Virtual Studio Technology (VST) and DirectX (DX) are two popular plug-in standards that allow third party plug-ins to be used with different host software. |
DX Support |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Plug-in Availability |
0 |
5 |
Not available to other hosts |
Available as DX plug-ins |
Plug-in Availability refers to whether or not the FX plug-ins supplied with the product are available to other hosts. |
Processing Modes |
5 |
5 |
Real-time & batch |
Real-time & batch |
With some exceptions most audio FX and processing can be applied both in real-time and batch in both products. |
Scripting & Batch Processing |
5 |
5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Both products allow you to create and store a series of processes, edits, and effects and apply these to multiple files with a single command. |
Overall Rating |
4.6 |
4.9 |
|
|
| |
|
|
Overall Rating |
4.7 |
4.7 |
|
