Adobe brings audio to Web and video pros

Adobe Systems has released a beta of its new audio-editing program aimed at Web designers and video editors.

Called Soundbooth, the product is designed as an alternative to the company's existing audio-editing product, called Audition. The beta test version of Soundbooth was launched Thursday at Adobe's Max developer conference in Las Vegas.

Adobe decided to create Soundbooth, which will be included in future versions of its Creative Suite, to appeal to people who are not audio specialists, said Hart Shafer, senior product manager for audio products at Adobe.

"Video and Flash (Web designer) professionals are being asked to do more and more with audio," he said. "The person cutting video is being asked to do more audio work before it goes to the audio expert."

Compared with Audition, Soundbooth has a different user interface, borrowing some of the same elements that Adobe uses in its other applications, including Photoshop.

The application is designed around specific tasks, such as changing audio levels for a fade-in. The idea is that the user can learn how to use the program mainly by using it rather than by studying a lengthy tutorial, Shafer said.

Soundbooth will cost less than Audition, which costs $349. It will be available next year and work on Intel-based Macs as well as on machines with Windows Vista and Windows XP.

[amadensor]

Try Audacity first

There was once a product called CoolEdit from a company called Syntrillium. It was great, powerful enough for professionals, but easy enough for novices. The pro version did multiple tracks, but for just regular stereo, the basic was great, Adobe bought it, and as far as I know, discontinued it. Maybe they have brought some of it to their new products. We can only hope.

That said, there is an open source tool called Audacity, which can be downloaded free, and shares a lot of similarities in the interface with CoolEdit. It is now my number one reccomendation for audio software.

[8ball629]

Thanks

I didn't even know they stopped distributing CoolEdit, I've got it installed at home and use it to make ringtones and other things occasionally.

I'm not a professional sound engineer and that goes without saying but I definitely agree that CoolEdit is/was a great audio program and although I have not tried Audacity, if it shares similar interface and features - it's probably great. AND it's open source =D.