Sony Sound Forge 7 review

Sound Forge has played a central role in many computer-based recording studios for over a decade.

Dedicated to the editing of stereo audio files, its unparalleled power and precision have made it an invaluable asset for creating sounds for use with a sampler, for processing finished mixes (known as mastering) and for other odd jobs that prove too complex for audio sequencers such as Cubase and Logic to handle.

However, now that Cubase SX2 and its peers integrate sampling and powerful stereo-editing tools, Sound Forge is rarely called into service during recording and mixing. But version 7 packs plenty of improvements that boost its value as a mastering tool, and it also comes in handy during video editing tasks.

Sound Forge has supported DirectX plug-in effects - and included a few of its own - for many years, but now you can automate their parameters, creating gradual changes over time. This comes in useful when mastering problem tracks that perhaps need a change of EQ setting halfway through. Automation is carried out via curves and nodes that appear over the waveform. This is a good system, except when working with logarithmic values such as frequency, whereupon usable values tend to bunch up at the bottom of the display. Only some of the bundled plug-ins support automation, but third-party plug-ins can be automated too.

Sadly, there's little in the way of new plug-in effects. It's unfair to complain given the price, but if you're serious about mastering you should budget for third-party plug-ins such as Waves' Native Power Pack. We'll happily complain about the lack of support for VST plug-ins, though, as some excellent plug-ins aren't available in DirectX format.

Other new features make the interface more elegant and powerful. A pre-roll buffer to capture audio just before the record button is clicked means you needn't grapple with a tape machine's rewind button or miss a golden live take. Undo Past Save is a godsend for when you accidentally click Save rather than Save As. The new Project file format allows you to save complex workspaces to return to at a later date. You can now copy and paste between any audio files, with format conversion handled entirely transparently. A new Explorer Window keeps file management as easy as possible.

Sound Forge 7 isn't a major update, but some UK distributors are packaging it with Sony's CD Architect 5, which makes light work of creating CDs to the Red Book audio CD specification, and Noise Reduction 2, a set of four plug-ins that do a good job of cleaning up hiss and crackle from recordings. With these included, Sound Forge 7 is a fantastic suite for preparing finished mixes for public consumption, and there will always be the odd sound design job that only Sound Forge can handle.