Jazz Up

Adobe Audition,a more advanced software,is specifically designed for sound designers,musicians and recording engineers,though its basic features can be used by amateurs. It offers more than 50 sound effects,guitar suite effects,paint brush and spot healing brush that can be used to duplicate sound effects and repair or refine parts of the sound track. One will have to shell out approximately Rs. 16,000 for its latest version.

Sony’s Sound Forge is available in two versions — Audio Studio,meant for amateurs and priced at approximately Rs. 3,000,and Pro 10 for professionals,costing around Rs. 17,000. Satyan Sharma,a music student,finds these three software ‘sufficient’ for a beginner like him. “I love using these software for editing,mixing and mastering sound tracks,” he says. PGDAM student Daakshi Kaushik uses Sound Forge as part of her course and describes it as a “nice experience”. “I used it thrice to create background music for some assignments. My younger brother uses it for creating ringtones.”  

Tomisin Temidara,a physiotherapist who dabbles in music,and Jaspal Saib,member of the city-based band De Innovatives swear by Steinberg’s Nuendo. “Meant for professionals,the software is complex and costly and requires skilful handling,” says Temidara. “First,we create the rhythm and do the sequencing using the software FruityLoops (now FL Studio). Since we do not have a full-time drummer currently,we use FruityLoops or Reason 4 for drum sequencing. The operation of the software requires a little expertise,but it is really great as we can play a sample at any speed or use it any number of times,” says Saib. After the dubbing in of the vocal track in the first phase,the band uses Nuendo and Cubase to arrange all the instrumental and vocal tracks. “Finally,in the last stage,we use Sony Sound Forge to mix and master the tracks,and apply filters,effects and boost the track”,he adds. As for the future,he would like to acquire the drum software Drumkit from Hell for his band.