I’ve reviewed SOUND FORGE a number of times over the years, most recently in 2017. Since its initial development, it has migrated from Sonic Foundry to Sony Creative Software and most recently Magix, a German software developer. Magix’s other products are PC-centric, but SOUND FORGE comes in both Mac and Windows versions.
The updated 3.0 version of SOUND FORGE Pro for the Mac was released in 2017. Although no 4.0 version has been released in the interim, 3.0 was developed as a 64-bit app. Current downloads are, of course, an updated build. Across the product line, there are several versions and bundles, including “lite” SOUND FORGE versions. However, Mac users can only choose between SOUND FORGE Pro Mac 3 or Audio Master Suite Mac. Both include SOUND FORGE Pro Mac, iZotope RX Elements, and iZotope Ozone Elements. The Audio Master Suite Mac adds the Steinberg SpectraLayers Pro 4 analysis/repair application. It’s not listed, but the download also includes the Convrt application, which is an MP3 batch conversion utility.
SOUND FORGE Pro is designed as a dedicated audio mastering application, that does precision audio editing. You can record, edit, and process multichannel audio files (up to 32 tracks) in maximum bit rates of 24-bit, 32-bit, and 64-bit float at up to 192kHz. In addition to the iZotope Elements packages, SOUND FORGE Pro comes with a variety of its own AU plug-ins. Any other AU and VST plug-ins already installed on your system will also show up and work within the application.
Even though SOUND FORGE Pro is essentially a single file editor (as compared with a multi-track DAW, like Pro Tools), you can work with multiple individual files. Multiple files are displayed within the interface as horizontal tabs or in a vertical stack. You can process multiple files at the same time and can copy and paste between them. You can also copy and paste between individual channels within a single multichannel file.
As an audio editor, it’s fast, tactile, and non-destructive, making it ideal for music editing, podcasts, radio interviews, and more. For audio producers, it complies with Red Book Standard CD authoring. The attraction for video editors is its mastering tools, especially loudness control for broadcast compliance. Both Magix’s Wave Hammer and iZotope Ozone Elements’ mastering tools are great for solving loudness issues. That’s aided by accurate LUFS metering. Other cool tools include AutoTrim, which automatically removes gaps of silence at the beginnings and ends of files or from regions within a file.
There is also élastique Timestretch, a processing tool to slow down or speed up audio, while maintaining the correct pitch. Timestretch can be applied to an entire file or simply a section within a file. Effects tools and plug-ins are divided into groups that require processing or those that can be played in real-time. For example, Timestretch is applied as a processing step, whereas a reverb filter would play in real time. Processing is typically fast on any modern desktop or laptop computer, thanks to the application’s 64-bit engine.
Basic editing is as simple as marking a section and hitting the delete key. You can also split a file into events and then trim, delete, move, or copy & paste event blocks. If you slide an event to overlap another, a crossfade is automatically created. You can adjust the fade-in/fade-out slopes of these crossfades.
Even if you already have Logic Pro X, Audition, or Pro Tools installed, SOUND FORGE Pro Mac may still be worth the investment for its simplicity and mastering focus.
©2020 Oliver Peters
digitalfilms 
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