I have to admit that I've been using Sound Forge since version 4.5 (many years ago), but the latest version is so freaking great for working with surround sound files, I just love it.
Just so that some of you who may not know about this Version 9.0 upgrade, let me go through what you can do with it with regard to surround sound.
My process is this:
I record the 4 channel quad tape in Vegas 8.0, ending up with the 4 mono files (or 6 5.1 files).
I just right click each of these once they are recorded and select "Open in Sound Forge". Once all 4 files are in Sound Forge, I create a new empty 4 channel sound file and paste each of the mono files into the 4 channel sound file.
This is great, because I can now listen to the surround playback right off the bat. It also means that I can easily delete the Q8 track selection "clicks" from all four channels at once, which makes it very easy as opposed to doing that with 2 stereo or 4 mono files.
Now Sound Forge has some tools that will work on a 4 channel sound file, but there are many plug ins that do not deal with 4 channel files at this time. NO BIG DEAL!
For example, any plug in will work as long as you only select two of the four channels at a time. For instance, I can select the 2 front channels from within the 4 channel file, run my NR "LEARN" and get a level for NR on the front stereo pair (or each mono file), run the NR, then repeat for the rears, all from within the single quad wav file!! Very nice, because you can play back and hear the results right there.
Having the 4 channels right there also makes it easy to adjust any level issues you may have, and also speed correct the files if needed.
Once you're done futzing around, you can save the file, or break it back into 4 mono files for use in SurCode DTS or MLP.
Having the 4 channel wav file makes conversion so much easier. No more writing down timings for edits, no more listening only to stereo pairs, it just makes it streamlined.
I'm sure that other programs can do this too, but I just thought I'd share this aspect of Sound Forge in case any of you have older versions and are pondering an upgrade.
Go forth and convert!!!
Just so that some of you who may not know about this Version 9.0 upgrade, let me go through what you can do with it with regard to surround sound.
My process is this:
I record the 4 channel quad tape in Vegas 8.0, ending up with the 4 mono files (or 6 5.1 files).
I just right click each of these once they are recorded and select "Open in Sound Forge". Once all 4 files are in Sound Forge, I create a new empty 4 channel sound file and paste each of the mono files into the 4 channel sound file.
This is great, because I can now listen to the surround playback right off the bat. It also means that I can easily delete the Q8 track selection "clicks" from all four channels at once, which makes it very easy as opposed to doing that with 2 stereo or 4 mono files.
Now Sound Forge has some tools that will work on a 4 channel sound file, but there are many plug ins that do not deal with 4 channel files at this time. NO BIG DEAL!
For example, any plug in will work as long as you only select two of the four channels at a time. For instance, I can select the 2 front channels from within the 4 channel file, run my NR "LEARN" and get a level for NR on the front stereo pair (or each mono file), run the NR, then repeat for the rears, all from within the single quad wav file!! Very nice, because you can play back and hear the results right there.
Having the 4 channels right there also makes it easy to adjust any level issues you may have, and also speed correct the files if needed.
Once you're done futzing around, you can save the file, or break it back into 4 mono files for use in SurCode DTS or MLP.
Having the 4 channel wav file makes conversion so much easier. No more writing down timings for edits, no more listening only to stereo pairs, it just makes it streamlined.
I'm sure that other programs can do this too, but I just thought I'd share this aspect of Sound Forge in case any of you have older versions and are pondering an upgrade.
Go forth and convert!!!