Music is another form of expression and language. It can bring you to places, evoke emotions, and even articulate the things you cannot easily express. But creating music can be difficult, especially now that we are in the digital age where almost everything we do is tied up to time and convenience. Like many other music editing programs and applications online, Sound Forge Audio Studio professes to aid creators as they make and edit music.
Yet, you might ask: what is Sound Forge Audio Studio? What can it offer aside from those already provided by similar software? This review aims to provide you with an in-depth discussion of the things that Sound Forge Audio Studio offers.
What Is Sound Forge Audio Studio?
Sound Forge Audio Studio is audio editing software that you can easily install and use on both PC and Mac. The program interface may stand out with an old-school Windows look. It doesn’t look sophisticated by today’s tech standards, but it provides what it promises. Although it doesn’t work as a multitracker, you can still simultaneously open several files, record them via several opened tabs, and do either stereo or mono recordings.
With Sound Forge Audio Studio, you receive the regular core audio recording features, which are also offered by pricier programs, but without the capability of multitracking and the presence of advanced tools. Nevertheless, it provides you with fade handles with easier transitions and the ability to do one-touch recordings, as well. It has a new Event tool that further makes it consistently convenient to create new audio files.
One of the best things about Sound Forge Audio Studio is its adjustable user interface. So, you don’t have to worry about hard-to-locate features. You can fix your interface to match the routine you have, permitting you to mold the program into one that fully suits your needs. As it happens, you can even change its background hue. You can use Light, White, or Dark, providing you with the option to change interfaces based on the time of day. This capability is crucially beneficial, especially for users who prefer to work in the dark or a dimly lit space.
If you’re enjoying this, also read our reviews of Audacity and Ocenaudio.
How to Get Sound Forge Audio Studio
If you still don’t have Sound Forge Audio Studio’s latest—and the best—version, you should be getting it already. This beloved music maker and editor has been improved further to provide users with better features.
Latest Version of Sound Forge Audio Studio
To get Sound Forge Audio Studio’s latest version, do the following steps:
- Go to the Magix website.
- Then look for Sound Forge Audio Studio 14.
- Next, click on Purchase now.
- Then, enter your preferred payment method.
- Once paid, you can now download the software.
- You can also purchase it from Amazon.
Free Trial
Unfortunately, Sound Forge Audio Studio is not free software. However, you are provided with the option to use its trial version. Feel free to download the latest version and experience the different music editing and creation tools it offers.
After your trial period expires, however, you will be prompted to purchase the program online. Purchasing the Sound Forge Audio Studio will enable you to re-access it since its manual will include the Activation Code, a unique serial number provided by the company.
Premium Services and Payment Plans
Note that Sound Forge Audio Studio offers various versions that you can have. On the site’s Download Menu, you get to find different versions of the program. You can specifically look for the version you desire.
Sound Forge Audio Studio
This is the full version of Audio Studio. This is the way to go if you don’t like monthly fees.
Aside from the Free Trial, you can directly do a New Purchase or Upgrade. A purchase is priced at US$59.99, while an Upgrade is priced at US$34.99.
Sound Forge Audio Studio 365
If you feel that the full version is too expensive for you or want to use Sound Forge Audio Studio for a limited time, you can opt to subscribe to the software and pay its monthly/annual fee.
For a three-month plan, you will be required to pay US$4.99 per month. For a 12-month or annual plan, you will have to pay US$2.99 each month.
Payment Methods
After you decide on which plan you want, click on the Buy Now button. You can opt to pay for your Sound Forge Audio Studio via the following methods:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- American Express
- PayPal
Sound Forge Audio Studio Features
Sound Forge Audio Studio has a multitude of features. The software is well-loved and preferred by most because of the different capabilities that it generously provides its users.
Recording Capability
The software allows you to record various audio files. By utilizing the program’s redesigned dialog, you can elect to use Timestamp, MTC, or Threshold. Sound Forge Audio Studio allows you to record 32 high-quality songs at the same time.
- Professional Editing Workflow
- Direct Stream Digital
- High-Resolution Audio Editing
- Threshold Recording
- Timestamp Recording
- Input Bus Effects
- One-Touch Recording
- MIDI Timecode
- Waveform Display
Audio Editing
You get a comprehensive spectral editing capability. You can even use various plugins, as well.
Editing Tools
- Edit Tool
- Event Tool
- Magnify Tool
- Envelope Tool
- Pencil Tool
Workflow Features
- Instant Action
- Customizable User Interface
- Multichannel Editing
- Windows Context Menu
- Intuitive Icons
- Expert Multitasking
- Redesigned Docking
- ACID Loop Creation
- Channel Converter
Other Audio Editing Features
- Time Stretching & Pitch Shifting
- DSP Effects
- Mastering Effects
- Delay and Reverb Effects
- Cleaning Effects
Sound Design
For advanced editing capacity, you get a range of editing tools, including lock event markers, convert regions to events, envelope regions to events, region markers, and automatic rippling of successive events while doing edits.
Post-Production Editing
You can do excellent post-production designs by using effects. You can even make DAO (disk-at-once) CD mastering using Red Book specifications. Multichannel files can even be exported into AC-3 format using Sound Forge Audio Studio’s Dolby Digital AC-3 plugin.
Pros and Cons of Sound Forge Audio Studio
Nonetheless, this review can never be complete if we do not pinpoint Sound Forge Audio Studio’s weaknesses and strengths. Before you decide to purchase the software, it is essential to look into the product’s different pros and cons.
What We Like About Sound Forge Audio Studio
Markers
By using the product, you can easily eradicate and edit the different spoken audio, including instinctive enunciations like those unnecessary ums and ahs. You can remove lengthy pauses, as well. Use the markers to go through the entire file and mark these parts in real-time. Cycle back to these markers to quickly do your edits.
Hotkeys
Sound Forge Audio Studio provides its users with hotkeys, those shortcut keys that offer you even more convenience as you do not have to go through lengthy commands or excessively spend time finding the program’s proper functions menu.
Fixing Pops and Clicks
Sound Forge Audio Studio’s Graphical Fade function permits you to create volume pockets or envelopes in short audio passages. Thus, you can successfully do those edits without affecting the overall quality of the entire track.
Systematizing VST Plugins
Sound Forge Audio Studio offers its users the convenience of locating dedicated keys quickly. Hence, you can put several frequently used plugins in a specific Favorites folder to quickly find them when needed.
Where Sound Forge Forge Audio Studio Falls Short
Batch Processing
Sound Forge’s incapability of allowing users to hear or pinpoint the effects chain is a downside.
Loading Time
Sound Forge Audio Studio takes too long to load big files, especially when it loads the waveform. Similarly, the software takes too long to save huge files, as well.
No Capability of Listening to VST FX During Real-Time
You can merely listen to the waveform from the beginning. You are required to open the VST effect and do a Preview, which then brings you to the start of the track. So you are not provided with the option to listen to specific parts only.
No Capability of Chain VST FX
You can do chains one by one, although you can initiate these chaining only in destructive mode. This can be annoying as you cannot merely apply the chain in all the parts and have the option to Undo the entire change after. So, you have to check out the chain effect for one part and undo the effect before initiating the same action for the next part. Doing otherwise will alter the last part forever.
Management of FX Preset
You are allowed to save your presets. However, this option does not provide you with the capacity to keep your “last used” settings as you go through one session to the next. Several VST plugins even don’t permit you to save specific settings from one application to the following, which is a pretty frustrating and time-consuming thing.
Sound Forge Audio Studio vs Competitors
Of course, it is essential to have a brief discussion of the different sound editor programs available as well. Before you opt to purchase the Sound Forge Audio Studio, it is best to look into similar programs that are also available online. To help you, here are several of the top programs that users also adore.
Audacity
Like Sound Forge Audio Studio, Audacity is a well-known software that’s been available for ages. It is a free program that is available both for Mac and PC users. It is easy to use mainly because it is open-source software. This means that it has enormous community support, allowing you to contact and discuss Audacity’s various features with the program’s actual users. Likewise, Audacity’s community provides you with multiple tutorials and documents that help you learn how to operate its functions. It is also easy to set up Audacity on your device.
Nevertheless, Audacity is destructive—you need to save a separate copy of your original file before you attempt to edit your track. This is necessary because Audacity does not give you the option to revert to your original file once you make your alterations. If you are a beginner, however, Audacity is an excellent software to explore. More experienced sound editors may feel frustrated by Audacity’s limitations, though.
Ocenaudio
Similar to Audacity, Ocenaudio is another free software that you can easily download to your Mac, Windows, or Linux. A favorite among beginners, Ocenaudio is easier to use. With Ocenaudio, you get the necessary sound editing tools, including a spectrogram. Like with Sound Forge Audio Studio, you can also directly record audio tracks using the program. It has a beautiful user interface. It is easily learned, as well. You can even use your preferred VSF plugins.
Ocenaudio, however, is a good option when you merely want to edit, create, or mix lighter track files. The program tends to freeze and crash when doing heavier files. It is merely recommended for home musicians and beginners who need basic editing tools. More experienced ones will easily find the program lacking in so many ways.
Chrome’s Hya-Wave
Another lightweight application is Hya-Wave. This sound editor is an online application that can be searched and located via Google. This sound editor and maker is appropriate especially for editors and musicians who frequently travel. Because it isn’t downloadable software, you get to use it without having to spend additional computer space easily.
To use Hya-Wave, you only have to cut and paste your files or track parts into the application and edit your new file online. The application is even convenient because it provides you with a link for each new track you make. Hence, you can copy the given link when sharing it on your social media handles. It also lets you access your files via the cloud on multiple devices—a convenient way for you to save effort, time, and space.
WavePad
Similar to Sound Forge Audio Studio and all the other sound editors mentioned, WavePad is another excellent program to check out. Dubbed as the top choice for beginners, the sound editor can be easily downloaded, installed, and used. WavePad offers various sound editing tools, including noise removal, reverb, pitch and speed alteration, audio scrubbing, and compression. You can use several file formats like MP3, AAC, GSM, OGG, VOX, FLAC, WMA, MP4, and WAV.
Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition is another sound editor that you should check out. Considered as the best sound editing program by most, the software is included in Adobe’s Creative Cloud and offers users multiple sound editing tools.
You can use the program’s tutorials, which were expertly written by its creators. These tutorials are easy to understand as they provide users, especially beginners, with relevant information on how to use its different functions. Notably, the program offers users a restoration tool that enables you to restore your original file fully. Adobe Audition is fully customizable as well, as it permits users to make it completely functional for them.
Nonetheless, the software is not available for free. If you want to try using Adobe Audition, you need to pay for it. Like Sound Forge Audio Studio, Adobe Audition requires you to subscribe to its services.
