Soundtrack Pro is a multitrack audio editor intended to be used as part of a video workflow, though it’s equally adept at standalone audio projects. It was once sold separately, but for the last few years, it’s been available exclusively as part of the Final Cut Studio and Logic Studio bundles. The latest incarnation, version 3, offers a wide range of fine-tuned interface tweaks and a few new tricks that will make anyone who produces pro audio take notice.
The most significant new feature is audio-level matching, which allows you to raise the overall volume levels of one track and match them to another, a boon for podcasters and anyone who works with multisource audio. The big caveat with this new feature is that it only works with isolated voices on separate tracks. Anyone recording an interview with a single recording device, or via Skype, won’t be able to use the feature.
Audio-level matching equalizes the sound of two different tracks.
Field recording enthusiasts are often stymied by ambient noise in anything but the most isolated environments. Soundtrack Pro 2 had some noise-removal filtering and version 3 significantly improves upon it. The software allows you to select multiple harmonics of the base frequency--audio-geek speak for “it catches all the hum.” Previously, users often turned to third-party noise reduction plug-ins to handle these problems, but the new built-in stuff does a great job. And if you still need specialized third-party add-ons, advanced users will be pleased to see that their plug-ins show up in the same pane as Apple’s built-in tools--a great practical touch.
Time-stretching is a key aspect of creative audio editing, and you’ll be thrilled to find some new time-remapping mojo in Soundtrack Pro 3. There are three different remapping options, making us think it’s based on the tools in the new Logic 9 software, which we totally dig, because it produces some very nice, transparent results. Another feature ostensibly lifted from Logic is the ability to edit audio directly in the Multitake editor, a seemingly minor improvement that will make folks using this feature very, very happy.
Auto voice-level matching. Enhanced noise and audio repair tools
Can't match separate voice levels in one track. Only available as part of bundle.
