Looking to upgrade....

[Andy_E]

I'm currently using Audacity - both V1.2.6 and the latest beta - but I'm looking to get something a little more feature-rich, particularly in terms of what formats can be handled.

I was wondering what you guys use as your main audio editor?

[Steve Grisetti]

Audacity is about the best free audio editor out there. (GoldWave is a similarly featured shareware app.)

But, if you don't mind spending $50, Sony's SoundForge Audio Studio is very feature rich.
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/pro ... sp?pid=454

It's a consumer version of their professional SoundForge 9, which sells for about $300.
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/pro ... sp?pid=431

[Chuck Engels]

I only use Audacity for audio recording and editing and most of the time to create MP3s, I do have Adobe Soundbooth for creating music.
I do use Media Player or iTunes to convert, rip, and burn CDs. There are some great audio tools out there if you want to spend some money, Adobe Audition is an excellent choice.

[Andy_E]

Steve/Chuck,

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't aware that there was a cheaper version of SoundForge. I used to have a copy of the full program back when it was still Sonic (can't find it at all at the mo' and I've looked everywhere) but $50 sounds very reasonable.

What are the differences between Adobe Audition and Soundbooth - I know Audition used to be Cool Edit Pro. Are they different products entirely or is there some overlap? Chuck, I notice you said you use Soundbooth to create (rather than edit?) music.

[Chuck Engels]

Soundbooth can edit also but I purchased it to create music, not edit.
Someday when I have the time to learn more it may become my editing tool also.

http://www.adobe.com/products/soundbooth/features/

Audition is a full blown professional audio editing tool with some great effects and filters, a little expensive though.
Soundbooth is geared more toward the consumer base, not as many features and it does a lot of things automatically.

[Clayton]

Chuck, didn't Soundbooth replace Audition in CS3?

[Wheat King]

Chuck, didn't Soundbooth replace Audition in CS3?

Yes soundbooth relaced Soundbooth in the CS3 suite but only because it was designed to work with video editors. Audition is still avaialbe as a standalone program and is geared to audiophiles.

Jamal