Review: SOUND FORGE Audio Studio 12 by MAGIX

New look, new features, new plug-ins, new metering displays and much more.

MAGIX announces the release of the new SOUNDFORGE AudioStudio 12. Version 12 sets new standards in recording, audio editing and publishing of high-resolution audio material. The numerous new features make the audio studio an efficient tool for the digitization and restoration of old records, the creation of podcasts and mastering for CDs and streaming audio formats.

The new version of SOUNDFORGE AudioStudio comes with a new look, numerous new features like new editing functions, new plug-ins, new metering displays and much more.

SoundForge Audio Studio 12 now supports the 64-bit architecture and therefore makes better use of the computer’s performance than before.

As I look back over my previous compositions a thought struck me: I spend days, weeks, months, however long tweaking dials on synths etc, but I have rarely looked at the finished audio under the microscope.

This review is about “Magix’s Sound Forge 12 Audio Studio”, and to be perfectly honest, I have never used anything quite like it.

Overview

For many of us reading this, we are accustomed to the plethora of VSTs, channel strips and more instruments that we need on the screen.

But what do we do when we deal with a certain audio file, a record, a loop, whatever. I never really gave it a second thought. Opening my track in Sound Forge 12 however, a new world of possibilities has been revealed to me.

The revised recording window offers an even better control over all relevant settings for a perfect audio experience.

With the Spectral Cleaning tool, noise can be very easily selected and removed. The distant material is analyzed and replaced by artificial waves.

This allows you to see any potential audio irregularities that might be present in the audio that you would not be able to fix by just using waveform editing alone, and speaking of waveform editing, Soundforge has got you covered.

If the spectral editing is a bit over your head ( I openly admit, I do not fully grasp its full working potential), there is also the waveform pencil tool. Any visual impulses like clicks, pops, etc can be drawn out of the waveform.

I tested it on some field recordings where, due to the nature of the biting cold of an Irish winter, my hands were not too steady holding the mic.

With the draw tool, I was able to make a lot of the unwanted noise quite inaudible.

Speaking of unwanted noise, the audio restoration on  Sound Forge Audio Studio 12 deserves an honorable mention, as what it can do is nothing short of sorcery.

I started working on a new project, and this program was used to fix a recording that also surprised the noise produced by a fan. In a few minutes, everything was solved, the final result is thankful.

Now, I know the first rule to a good mix, are good recordings, but due to real life limitations, getting a professional recording was not possible.

Sound Forge’s audio restoration capabilities stripped the background hinderance similar to polishing a diamond.

There are more than 20 professional audio effects to choose from such as EQ, reverb, distortion, chorus, delay, and more.

But for the likes of radio broadcast or podcast, these effects will be invaluable to the final product. If these effects are not to your taste, Sound Forge comes with full VST support as well as iZotope Essentials.

Production aside, It is Sound Forge’s CD creating tools that make it an invaluable asset for both studios and home recordings alike.

The reworked workflow makes it much easier to copy old records or cassettes and then remove any crackling, plopping or humming noise. The new restoration tools have been specifically developed for various noise and correct your recordings in just a few clicks.

Sound Forge is a necessity when it comes to cd/track finalization. For track, It can embed all the metadata you would need for a professional sale of your music such as ISRC and ID 3 tags for mp3s.

ISRC is one many people forget about but encoded ISRC provide the means to automatically identify recordings for royalty payments, and everyone wants to see rewards for their hard work.

If you are going down the physical copy route, Sound Forge burns cd’s to “red book standard”. Before seeing this in the manual, I had no idea what this meant, and when I read what it was I laughed and sighed simultaneously.

Red book CDs “are so named because the color of the cover of the book that contains all these technical specifications for the standard audio CD is red..”

All of these standards were new to me, but I am very glad Magix have got my back in this program – I realized that when I saw the price tag of only 60 dollars.

Conclusion

Sound Forge Audio Studio 12 does everything it claims to do, it does extremely efficiently, and at the highest professional quality.

Sound Forge Audio Studio 12 program is a prerequisite to any aspiring media creator, visual or audio. The new restoration tools have been specifically developed for various noise and correct your recordings in just a few clicks.

Price and availability

MAGIX Sound Forge Audio Studio 12 runs only under Windows and is now available for $59.99 USD, upgrades from previous versions are available for $29.99 USD.

More Details: SOUND FORGE Audio Studio 12