Sony Creative Software Delivers New Sound Forge 9 Professional Digital Audio Production Suite

Sony Creative Software, a leading provider of professional video and audio-editing software applications, today announced an upgrade to their Sound Forge® professional digital audio editing application to version 9. The industry-leading Sound Forge software has been a tool of choice among media professionals for more than a decade and is now the cornerstone application in their new digital audio production suite, which provides users with all of the essential tools for recording, editing, enhancing, processing, and encoding digital audio along with the capabilities to create and burn Red Book standard audio CDs.

Sound Forge 9 software contains a wide range of new features including multichannel audio support, which allows users to edit, process, and record multichannel audio files. Also new are workflow enhancements such as drag-and-drop editing between channels, and new wet/dry mix and crossfade options for effects. Additionally, Sound Forge 9 software provides new tools for audio analysis including phase scopes, mono compatibility meters, and multichannel-capable spectrum analysis. Other new features include channel and hardware meters, multichannel Windows Media format support, and Dolby® Digital AC-3 export. In addition to supporting Windows XP, Sound Forge 9 and CD Architect 5 software are now compatible with the new Microsoft® Windows® Vista™ operating system.

The new Sound Forge 9 audio production suite also includes nearly $700 of additional software; CD Architect™, Noise Reduction, and the Mastering Effects Bundle powered by iZotope™.

  * CD Architect 5
    CD Architect software is a professional mastering and layout tool for
    burning Red Book audio CDs. With CD Architect software, PQ editing is
    fast and intuitive. This application is everything users need for
    precise control over details such as pause times, fades, index markers,
    and time and track manipulation. Users can master audio by applying over
    20 real-time DirectX® effects to events, and perform seamless disc-at-
    once CD burning

  * Noise Reduction 2
    Users can give new life to audio from LPs, cassettes, CDs, MP3s, and
    more with Noise Reduction 2 software. This collection of audio plug-ins
    includes Noise Reduction, Audio Restoration, Click and Crackle Removal,
    and Clipped Peak Restoration. Users can apply these plug-ins to fix
    common audio problems such as tape hiss, camera hum, clicks, and pops.
    Additionally, users can easily recondition old tracks and vinyl, problem
    recordings, and even damaged audio.

  * Mastering Effects Bundle powered by iZotope
    Sound Forge 9 software includes the new Mastering Effects Bundle,
    powered by iZotope, makers of world-class audio mastering tools. This
    powerful bundle includes four professional audio plug-ins:  Mastering
    Reverb, Multiband-Band Compressor, the IRC Limiter loudness maximizer,
    and the Analog EQ parametric equalizer.

"Sound Forge has long been relied upon by the top production talent in the music industry," said Mark Ethier, CEO of iZotope, Inc. "By combining our expertise and success in mastering technology with Sony's award-winning audio processing platform, we feel this release provides the ultimate in precision and quality for audio professionals in modern media production."

Access to Sony Music Studios Engineers

Sound Forge 9 users can also now take advantage of a new partnership with Sony Music Studios Internet Mastering Services (SIM). This new feature allows Sound Forge 9 users to have their songs professionally mastered by the same engineers who work on the biggest projects in the music industry. Sound Forge 9 users can link to SIM directly from inside the application and easily upload songs for mastering. For a limited time, Sound Forge 9 users will receive one song mastered at no charge if they master one or more songs. To learn more, visit www.SonyMusicSIM.com.

"As an industry leading software application, Sound Forge 9 is the ideal component to our service and it creates a unique opportunity for users of every caliber to have their songs professionally reviewed and mastered," said Brian McKenna, Sony BMG vice president of audio operations and marketing. "This partnership provides Sound Forge 9 users with the unique experience of having their songs enhanced by the best professional audio engineers in the music industry and we are pleased to team with Sony Creative Software to make this happen."

The new Sound Forge 9 audio production suite will be announced and available at NAB 2007, taking place April 16-19 in Las Vegas, NV.

Pricing and Availability

Sound Forge 9 software is now available worldwide through software stores and online retailers for US $399.95 (List Price). More information on the Sound Forge family of products and the entire line of Sony Creative Software applications can be found at www.sonycreativesoftware.com.

About Sony Creative Software

Sony Creative Software inspires artistic expression with its award-winning line of products for digital video, music, DVD, and audio production. As a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the company also develops applications that enhance the experience for users of Sony hardware devices. Sony Creative Software customers span the globe and include seasoned professionals in the film, television, video game, and recording industries; students and educators; as well as hobbyists and enthusiasts.

SOURCE: Sony Creative Software

CONTACT: Marlene Esqueda, marlene_esqueda@bhimpact.com, or Shannon
McPhee, Shannon_mcphee@bhimpact.com, both of Bender/Helper Impact,
+1-310-694-3118, for Sony Creative Software

Web site: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/