ACID, Sound Forge Add More File Formats

Sonic Foundry (AMEX: SFO), a developer and marketer of media authoring software for the Windows® platform, announced today the beta updates for the Sound Forge and ACID product families. Both updates add support for Microsoft's new Windows Media Technologies 4.0. In addition, the new version of Sound Forge, version 4.5c, now adds .MP3 file import capability, while maintaining full support for RealNetworks G2.

Windows Media Technologies 4.0 is a new streaming media solution from Microsoft that features a more advanced approach to digital content delivery. This technology provides users with the ability to encode multiple bit rate .ASF streams in a single encoding and is further enhanced by the incorporation of Microsoft's recently announced audio codec, code-named MS Audio, which provides superior audio compression for streaming content delivery.

Quickly growing in popularity, .MP3 is a standard file format that stores audio files on a computer in a manner that produces a relatively small file size and offers high quality compressed audio. Version 4.5c specifically provides support for .MP3 files by allowing Sound Forge users to open files with the .MP3 extension and then export them to any of the existing file formats supported by the Sound Forge family.

"With the updated releases of Sound Forge and ACID and added support for Windows Media Technologies 4.0, our product line continues to evolve as a valuable tool set for creating Internet streaming content," said Roy Elkins, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Sonic Foundry. "Whether it's re-purposing .MP3 content or encoding for RealNetworks G2, users have a tremendous combination of products and capabilities, one that is ideal for use by anyone involved in the creation of streaming media content."

Sound Forge is Sonic Foundry's award-winning audio media editing environment that contains a wide range of processes, tools, and effects for manipulating audio. Built from the ground up as a Windows platform product, it features DirectX Audio Plug-In compatibility and support for streaming Internet audio and video. The 4.5 version of the software features a built-in batch converter for automated processing of multiple files and an advanced loop editing tool set with support for Sonic Foundry's ACID.

Sonic Foundry's ACID product family is a powerful, yet easy-to-use music creation tool that brings unprecedented creative flexibility to loop arranging and editing. With a simple click and drag, users can combine and mix loops, make real-time changes to pitch and tempo, and control the volume, pan, and effect envelopes for each track to create the perfect mix. ACID also allows users to easily add their own instruments or vocals to their music creations by simply recording through their PC sound system. ACID's complete professional tool set includes support for multiple real-time effects with DirectX audio plug-ins and also provides loop editing with Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge audio editor.