ACID Pro
Encyclopedia
Sony ACID Pro is a professional digital audio workstation
(DAW) software program. It was originally called "ACID pH1" and published by Sonic Foundry
, but is now developed and sold by Sony Creative Software
.
ACID Pro uses Acid Loops
(meaning they contain tempo and key information for proper pitch transposition) painted out across the screen to create music tracks. Acidized loop sample CDs are available from Sony, as well as third party companies.
As with most sophisticated software packages, ACID is not a single software product but defines a family of products spanning a significant range of features. In a related-marketing effort, Sony has continued to support ACIDplanet, a content web site originally launched by Sonic Foundry which is aimed at current ACID users, prospective ACID users and the general public. It describes itself as "the Internet's premier site for music, video and unique artists".
-based music sequencer
, Acid Pro was the first-ever automatic audio loop-based music software of its kind, where someone could simply drag-and-drop an Acid loop file (for example a drum or bass loop) onto a track in Acid, and that loop would automatically adjust itself to the tempo and key of the song, with virtually no sonic degradation.
Due to this breakthrough, ACID became very popular with composers, producers, and DJs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, interested in quickly creating beats, music textures, or even complete compositions and orchestrations, that would work with virtually any tempo or key signature, and these loops would adjust automatically. To be able to do this, Sony's Acid Pro uses specially prepared or "Acidized" music wave
files which can be prepared using an audio editing tool such as Sony Soundforge. (for more information on audio editing, see sound effect techniques).
Since then, this looping technique has been adopted by the majority of other digital audio workstations on the market, which can also use these acidized loop files, though there are various compatibility problems between the Apple Mac Operating System, which uses AIFF files, and the Microsoft Windows Operating System which uses WAV files. To solve this problem, most publishers are now releasing special versions of "Acidized loops" that are customized for Acid Pro, and also for Apple Macs. Acid Pro runs on PCs with all versions of Microsoft Windows since Windows 2000
. It currently includes over 20 DirectX
audio effects, employs the new Media Manager technology, the Beatmapper tool, and the Chopper tool, as well the ability to mix in 5.1 channel surround.
With Acid Pro 6 (released in Q3-2006), Sony introduced a full digital audio workstation which also includes MIDI and multitrack audio recording with full support for ASIO, VST
, and VSTI audio, plugins, and music synthesizer standards.
Sonic Foundry sold the Vegas, ACID, Sound Forge, CD Architect, Siren, VideoFactory, ScreenBlast, and Batch Converter product lines to Sony Pictures Digital in July 2003.
Acid Pro 7 now includes a mixing console with vertical faders and some more options.
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
(DAW) software program. It was originally called "ACID pH1" and published by Sonic Foundry
Sonic Foundry
Sonic Foundry is the former developer of various media software suites, which were purchased by Sony in late 2003 for $18 million in cash and the assumption of certain liabilities and obligations...
, but is now developed and sold by Sony Creative Software
Sony Creative Software
Sony Creative Software is a subsidiary of Sony, focused primarily on their line of media production software...
.
ACID Pro uses Acid Loops
Acid Loops
Acid Loops is a technology used with the music making software originally from Sonic Foundry called Acid. Created in 1998, it refers to the repetition, and transposition of sound clips, to form a song. The Acid Pro program is now owned and distributed by Sony, and is on version 7...
(meaning they contain tempo and key information for proper pitch transposition) painted out across the screen to create music tracks. Acidized loop sample CDs are available from Sony, as well as third party companies.
As with most sophisticated software packages, ACID is not a single software product but defines a family of products spanning a significant range of features. In a related-marketing effort, Sony has continued to support ACIDplanet, a content web site originally launched by Sonic Foundry which is aimed at current ACID users, prospective ACID users and the general public. It describes itself as "the Internet's premier site for music, video and unique artists".
History
When it was first launched in 1998 as a loopMusic loop
In electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
-based music sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
, Acid Pro was the first-ever automatic audio loop-based music software of its kind, where someone could simply drag-and-drop an Acid loop file (for example a drum or bass loop) onto a track in Acid, and that loop would automatically adjust itself to the tempo and key of the song, with virtually no sonic degradation.
Due to this breakthrough, ACID became very popular with composers, producers, and DJs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, interested in quickly creating beats, music textures, or even complete compositions and orchestrations, that would work with virtually any tempo or key signature, and these loops would adjust automatically. To be able to do this, Sony's Acid Pro uses specially prepared or "Acidized" music wave
Wave
In physics, a wave is a disturbance that travels through space and time, accompanied by the transfer of energy.Waves travel and the wave motion transfers energy from one point to another, often with no permanent displacement of the particles of the medium—that is, with little or no associated mass...
files which can be prepared using an audio editing tool such as Sony Soundforge. (for more information on audio editing, see sound effect techniques).
Since then, this looping technique has been adopted by the majority of other digital audio workstations on the market, which can also use these acidized loop files, though there are various compatibility problems between the Apple Mac Operating System, which uses AIFF files, and the Microsoft Windows Operating System which uses WAV files. To solve this problem, most publishers are now releasing special versions of "Acidized loops" that are customized for Acid Pro, and also for Apple Macs. Acid Pro runs on PCs with all versions of Microsoft Windows since Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
. It currently includes over 20 DirectX
DirectX
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
audio effects, employs the new Media Manager technology, the Beatmapper tool, and the Chopper tool, as well the ability to mix in 5.1 channel surround.
With Acid Pro 6 (released in Q3-2006), Sony introduced a full digital audio workstation which also includes MIDI and multitrack audio recording with full support for ASIO, VST
Virtual Studio Technology
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
, and VSTI audio, plugins, and music synthesizer standards.
Sonic Foundry sold the Vegas, ACID, Sound Forge, CD Architect, Siren, VideoFactory, ScreenBlast, and Batch Converter product lines to Sony Pictures Digital in July 2003.
Acid Pro 7 now includes a mixing console with vertical faders and some more options.
Other versions
- Sony ACID Xpress is a free version of ACID Pro with a 10 track limit.
- Sony ACID Music Studio is a simplified, lower-cost version of Sony ACID Pro.
See also
- List of digital audio workstation software
- Digital PerformerDigital PerformerDigital Performer is a full-featured Digital Audio Workstation/Sequencer software package published by Mark of the Unicorn of Cambridge, Massachusetts for the Apple Macintosh platform.-Ancestry:...
- FL StudioFL StudioFL Studio is a digital audio workstation developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. FL Studio features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer...
- Logic ProLogic ProLogic Pro is a hybrid 32 / 64 bit digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac OS X platform. Originally created by German software developer Emagic, Logic Pro became an Apple product when Apple bought Emagic in 2002...
- LMMSLMMSLinux MultiMedia Studio or LMMS, is a free software digital audio workstation. Music can be produced by synthesizing sounds, arranging samples, and playing on a MIDI keyboard by combining the features of trackers, sequencers and synthesizers. It supports LADSPA and VST plugins.LMMS is available for...
- Steinberg NuendoNuendoNuendo is a music software product developed by Steinberg for music recording, arranging, editing and post-production as part of a Digital Audio Workstation. The package is aimed at audio and video post-production market segments, but it also contains optional modules that can be used for...
- Pro ToolsPro ToolsPro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
- REAPERREAPERREAPER is a digital audio workstation created by Cockos. It is distributed with an uncrippled evaluation license with a nag screen explaining the license cost. It is currently available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X...
- Reason
- Steinberg CubaseSteinberg CubaseCubase is a music software product developed by Steinberg for music recording, arranging and editing as part of a Digital Audio Workstation. It is one of the oldest DAWs to still enjoy widespread use...
- Comparison of multitrack recording softwareComparison of multitrack recording softwareThe following tables compare general and technical information among a number of digital audio editors. Please see the individual products articles for further information.-General:Basic general information about the software: creator/company, license/price etc....