Few things are more frustrating than a workflow that doesn't flow. Most of us have dealt with systems that either disrupt our projects, or fail to meet our needs completely. Since most of our daily tasks live on a PC or Mac, software purchasing choices will make or break our daily workflow capabilities.

Adobe Audition 5.5 will enhance your audio production creativity, increase workflow efficiency and fit into your budget. Audition is built on a legacy software design that has been a workhorse in radio audio production for more than a decade. With new cross-platform availability and a fresh look, Audition 5.5 brings efficiency for broadcast audio production to current users with Windows, and a host of new users with Macs.

Yes, with its 5.5 release, Audition is now available for Mac users. In addition to the Adobe Creative Suite 5.5, Audition offers competitive audio design software that will greatly enhance the creative experience while not destroying the budget.

All right there

This version of Audition has been engineered from the ground up. It is considered a "mature version" of Audition 3.0. While the DSP is the same, it's essentially new software. For radio professionals, the dockable effects pane in edit view is world changing. In edit mode, effects can be auditioned in real-time, as opposed to applying the process, or opening audio files in the multi-track editor. For example, if normalizing, hard limiting and touching up with a bit of EQ are standard user processes, that specific rack can be quickly opened and readily auditioned while editing. Audition 5.5 uses a multiple-core software design that lightens the load on a computer. As far as I/O connectivity goes, Audition will integrate with devices as simple as motherboard-mounted soundcards to extensive Firewire interfaces.

A feature-rich line of effects courtesy of iZotope Radius make processes such as multi-band compression and tube-modeled processors very sweet. On the occasion when quick-fix processing is needed, added features like the speech volume leveler makes sound crafting easier. An endless supply of reverb, echo and delay effects can also be applied for even more creativity.

While not necessarily new to Audition 5.5, the mastering processor is a paramount difference between Audition and other audio editing packages. With retro, tape and tube exciter emulation, spatial widener, loudness maximizer, reverb and three-band EQ, the mastering processor provides an ultimate tool in creating powerful final mastering. Each effect setting also has many useful presets that can be augmented to create custom user presets.

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