Performance Audition has been a rock solid performer since it's been in existence, and this release is no exception. I worked with this on on our trip to NAB and at home using my ADK laptop workstation and the Audio Technica ATH-ANC7 noise canceling headphones (reviewed next month here at MFM). I didn't even have my firewire ASIO audio interface connected -- just used the on-board sound chipset (Realtek AC97). I didn't have a single issue running multiple tracks and buses with plugins, etc. It played well with other programs open, jumping back and forth to them for reference checks, etc. It also has a Freeze Tracks feature that will rewrite the audio files for a track to include the real-time insert effects and turns off those processes in order to conserve CPU usage. Of course, you can always "unfreeze" the track if you need to tweak your settings.
Top-Tail Views.
Value
As always, Adobe continues to pack features into affordable packages! While Audition can no longer be purchased inside one of Adobe’s Production packages now that the more video-oriented Soundbooth replaces it, Audition 3 packs so much punch that it is well worth more than it costs to buy it as a standalone product. (Hopefully Adobe will consider adding Audition to its Master Collection of programs in its CS4 release so that you can get one total bundle that includes this awesome package, as well.)
Final Comments
From editing dialog to scoring your soundtrack, Audition 3 is a very capable piece of software. It's VSTi hosting opens the doors to a new realm of sounds for its users, despite its less than complete MIDI implementation, while the elegant GUI, flexible routing, and cutting edge editing capabilities within the spectral displays are worth the price of admission alone in this reviewer's opinion!
Ease
of Use
9.0
Depth
of Options
9.0
Performance
10.0
Value
10.0
Overall
Score
9.5
John Howard has been perfecting sound as an audio engineer for over 10 years. When he's not reviewing gear and software for Microfilmmaker Magazine, he's in the studio recording vocalists and bands, as well as doing post for TV shows and films, through his audio post/recording company, Oakwood Sound Design.
