Still, Samplitude is a veteran in the space. Maybe that's slightly newer than Digital Performer, Cubase, Pro Tools, and Logic (or at least for Logic's Notator roots on the Atari ST (Opens in a new window)), all of which date to the 1980s. It began life in 1992 on the Commodore Amiga the first Windows version appeared in 1995. Setup and InstallationĬontrary to what some articles around the web say, Samplitude is not new nor even relatively so. More so than competing programs like the Editors' Choice Pro Tools and Logic Pro X, and to its credit, Samplitude resembles a digital recording and mastering studio. The long-running, PC-only Samplitude, now in its Pro X4 ($599 as tested) incarnation, soldiers on as the company's excellent mid-priced digital audio workstation (DAW). Berlin-based Magix is one of the lone holdouts.
I thought it would be a cold day in hell before Digital Performer made it to the PC and FL Studio made it to the Mac, yet both these things have happened. Most audio editing programs these days have gone cross-platform.
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In all, the latest update for ACID Music Studio offers a compelling array of new additions for an affordable price point. There's also cross-track drag-and-drop for greater efficiency Zplane elastique Pro and Efficient time-stretch methods for dramatic pitch shifts a metronome count-off feature and AAC and FLAC format support. In addition, you get enhanced remixing tools, including Beatmapper, which automatically finds the tempo of a completed song. New features in ACID 8 include a new audio- and MIDI-mixing console that offers the appearance of a traditional hardware-based mixer, which provides an integrated view of all tracks as well as time-stretching and pitch-shifting tools. You can also output to a variety of formats, including CD, PSP, iPod, iPhone, and MP3, and the program allows for easy online sharing. Plus, you can create all-digital songs with over 3,000 music loops. There are tools for recording, editing, and mixing live vocals, instruments, and MIDI input. The good news is that Sony includes a host of tutorials, including seven that are new to this version, such as "how to use the mixing console" and "how to use tempo change markers." Those unfamiliar with ACID would be wise to make use of them.Īs would be expected, ACID Music Studio includes all the standard audio production features. The interface is tidy and utilitarian overall, but it will likely overwhelm newcomers. A multitrack editing window dominates the screen at the center top, while a dual-tabbed Explorer/Plug-In manager resides below, just to the left of the mixing console. But don't be fooled by the lack of a "professional" designation in the title: ACID isn't geared for newbies but for serious music aficionados with some experience with music production software.ĪCID Music Studio 8's look and feel is similar to that of the Pro version.
Version 8 of the program builds upon the already robust music recording, mixing, and creation tools with several new features and enhancement, and yet the $64.95 licensing fee won't break the bank (you can try it for free for 30 days). If Sony ACID Pro is a little too rich and advanced for your blood, the slightly simpler and much cheaper ACID Music Studio may be right up your alley.