Adobe CS4 Overview- Soundbooth

Adobe Soundbooth CS4 software provides an intuitive toolset designed specifically for the audio needs of motion graphics professionals working in film, video and web applications. This new version of Soundbooth adds a host of powerful new features including: Multitrack support, Speech search, Automatic volume matching, and MP3 compression preview.

Top new features in Soundbooth CS4:

• Multitrack support
• New Adobe Sound Document (.ASND) file format
• Automatic volume matching
• Speech Search
• Volume keyframing
• MP3 compression preview
• Improved integration with other Creative Suite 4 software
• Adobe Dynamic Link workflows
• Improved editing capabilities
• Looping tool enhancements
• Additional Soundbooth Scores

New Features in Detail

Multitrack Support

A soundtrack for a video typically includes a variety of elements including: dialogue tracks, voice-overs, sound effects, ambient sounds, and music. Soundbooth CS4's new "Multitrack support" feature allows you to work with all of these elements on separate audio tracks (the new feature most requested by Adobe Soundbooth CS3 users). This powerful new feature allows you to assemble complex, professional sounding soundtracks for your video and motion graphic projects.

New Adobe Sound Document

The new Adobe Sound Document (ASND) file format enables nondestructive audio editing, allowing you to always return to the original source files. The ASND document can be easily shared with Adobe Flash CS4 Professional, Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, and Adobe After Effects CS4.

Automatic volume matching

Equalizing volume levels within a specific file can be a tricky. In interviews, for example, sometimes speakers' voices are captured at different volume levels. The new "Equalize-volume" feature in Adobe Soundbooth CS4 can correct this type of problem with a single click. It can also be used match the volume of multiple clips to each other, or to a single reference volume level.

Volume keyframing

Volume keyframing lets you adjust the volume of your dialogue and sound-effects tracks or adjust the volume of your audio over time. The volume keyframing feature is especially useful when you create podcasts. Soundbooth lets you record directly into a track, duck vocals, improve the quality and sound of your voice, and add sound effects.

Speech Search

Adobe Soundbooth CS4's new "Speech Search" technology allows you to turn spoken dialogue into text-based metadata. This handy feature makes your video project searchable, unleash­ing considerable power, for post-production and Web professionals. During the editing process, you can use Speech Search to quickly find the relevant points in a particular clip, or easily locate the right clip based on keywords from the script/dialogue. The time-accurate text is embedded in the output you render from Adobe Soundbooth CS4, so your audio and video is searchable.

MP3 compression preview

The new MP3 compression preview allows you to preview the sound quality at whatever bit rate you select and see the resultant file size before saving. This feature can help you to save time by previewing sound quality before you commit to specific compression setting.

Improved integration with other Creative Suite 4 software

Soundbooth CS4's seamless integration with other Adobe software saves you valuable production time. Now you can use the "Edit In Adobe Soundbooth" command from within Adobe Flash CS4 Professional, Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, or Adobe After Effects CS4 to send assets directly to Soundbooth, where you can clean up or enhance your audio. After your edits are complete, the files automatically update in the timeline or project window of your Adobe Flash CS4 Professional, Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 or Adobe After Effects CS4 project.

Improved editing capabilities

Soundbooth provides instant cut, copy, and paste functions as well as on-clip editing tools such as trim, fade, and volume control. With a simple click, you can fix, boost, or otherwise modify audio assets to better meet the needs of your production. You can even stretch audio assets to match the length of your scene.

Looping tool enhancements

One of the looping enhancements in Adobe Soundbooth CS4 is Automatic beat detection. This feature allows you to create seamless loops: Beats are displayed as orange lines, and you can adjust the in and out points by individual beats until you get a loop you like.

Additional Soundbooth Scores and improved workflow

Soundbooth Scores allow you to create soundtracks for your projects without using specialized music software. It uses customizable, pre-existing content to make professional soundtracks in a variety of styles and tempos. Free Soundbooth Scores are available online through Resource Central, and you can also purchase additional Soundbooth Score bundles through Resource Central (Internet connection required). In Adobe Soundbooth CS4, you can use multiple scores in a multitrack environment, which also allows you to layer scores. You can also change the length of a score, the intensity, and the levels of various instru­ments to match just the mood and pacing you want. Then place the music beneath a voice-over, add sound effects to bring impact to your visuals.

Soundbooth CS4 is an easy-to-use, cross-platform audio tool that focuses on the most common needs of video and motion graphics designers. It gives users intuitive tools for creating, editing, and cleaning up their audio files, and provides direct integration from within Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, Adobe Flash CS4 Professional, or Adobe After Effects CS4. Whether used as a standalone application, or as a part of the integrated Adobe's Production Premium or Master Collection Suite, Adobe Soundbooth CS4 gives creative professionals a powerful software tool for audio production that doesn't require endless hours digging thru manuals to use.