Sony Acid Pro 4.0f Reviewed [Archive]

Tim Adams

10-26-2004, 04:30 PM

<img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/acidpro4-box-med.jpg" /> Product Category: Software Manufacturer: <a href="http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/default.asp">Sony Pictures Digital Media Software</a> Where to Buy: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=jasondunn-20&path=tg%2Fdetail%2F-%2FB00007LLIX%2Fqid%3D1096489135%2Fsr%3D8-1%2Fref%3Dpd_csp_1%3Fv%3Dglance%26s%3Dsoftware%26n%3D507846">Amazon</a> [Affiliate] Price: $399.96 USD System Requirements: Microsoft® Windows® 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP, 300 MHz processor, 60 MB hard-disk space for program installation, 64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended), Windows-compatible sound card, CD-ROM drive, Supported CD-Recordable drive (for CD burning only), Microsoft DirectX® 8 or later (included on CD-ROM), Internet Explorer 4.0 or later (version 5.0 included on CD-ROM) Pros:<li>Easy to use; <li>Flexible loop-based music creation; <li>MIDI and Rewire functionality; <li>Free monthly samples.Cons:<li>No user-defineable shortcut/macro keys; <li>Only one project per program session; <li>Price.Summary: Have the itch to produce and create music? Want to quickly create a soundtrack for your latest project? How about augmenting your current jam sessions with a little something extra? Feeling a little envious of those Mac users with their Garage Band? Sony's Acid Pro can help you with these tasks and more. Read on for the full review!<!> <PAGEBREAK> What's a Loop? <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/working_shot1.jpg" /> Figure 1: A completed Acid project (in this case a <a href="http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=416580&T=935">ringtone</a>). According to <a href="http://www.intuitivemusic.com/tguideloop.html">Techo Guide</a>, a Loop is "a fragment of sound that plays repeteadly." Continuing on, we find that "The use of loops has been used in the history of music by numerous cultures, especially in the form of chants to create repetitive prayers or mantras". Care for examples? Here's a small sampling:<li>Erik Satie; <li>Brian Eno; <li>Bjork; <li>John Lennon; <li>Pink Floyd; <li>Me :wink:; <li>and Pierre Schaeffer - just to name a few.(You can find additional information on the aforementioned artists and their contributions at the <a href="http://www.intuitivemusic.com/"> Techo Guide Website</a>). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/track_properties.jpg" /> Figure 2: Example loop and properties. Modern day loops, such as those that are used with Acid Pro, are a result of progressive evolution from magnetic tape (chop, mix, and serve) to digitally enhanced content that not only includes the original sound, but in some cases additional information relating to the key, beats per minute (bpm) and style. Sometimes these sounds have been taken from the original tape, other times, they are completely digital creations. This means that the libraries available today cover the entire gambit of style and genre, allowing aspiring musicians and established producers alike the ability to generate music on the fly with or without live musicians. Content Content is king. And Sony has provided a kingly amount of content. First off, the free stuff. Every Friday, <a href="http://www.acidplanet.com">ACIDplanet</a> has what they call an 8Pack. Eight loops and a sample song zipped up and ready for you to extract and use. Then, on a monthly basis, Sony provides a mass amount of samples via "Get Media" (found under the File menu). All you have to do is register your software to be able to access them. On the pay side, Sony has both complete loop libraries, and individual loops for purchase <a href="http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/loop_libraries/default.asp?keycode=7777-4701">here</a>. The Interface Acid Pro is made up of four distinct tool areas, the top tool and menubar (Figure 3), the track list / project view (Figure 4), and a dynamic tool area (Figure 5). Each of these has a special purpose and design. Those working with multiple monitors will be happy to hear that you can break out the dynamic tools from their default area and place them in a variety of locations and/or screens. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/top_toolbar.jpg" /> Figure 3: The top tool and menubar. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/side_toolbar.jpg" /> Figure 4: The track list / project view (in the center of the default view). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/bottom_toolbar.jpg" /> Figure 5: The dynamic tool area (near the bottom of the default view). Using these tool areas, one selects and previews loops (and single-shot sound files), imports them into the project, and then "draws" them into the song as they see fit, adding more layers of loops as necessary (much like watercolor painting) until the project is complete. Simple enough for beginners, but not as limiting as it might seem. MIDI <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/piano_roll.jpg" /> Figure 6: Piano Roll Editor. New to version 4 is the ability to import, create, and control MIDI and MIDI-related tracks. A nice addition, but a little difficult to configure and/or use (but what with MIDI is ever simple). Thankfully, there is a piano roll and list editor to help one fix mistakes or add content. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/soft_synth.jpg" /> Figure 7: Soft Synth Properties. If you don't have an external MIDI device, you can still take advantage of these features through the inclusion of Soft Synths (which can also include VST instruments). The one thing I really don't care for in Acid Pro 4.0's MIDI implementation is that you are forced to create a new MIDI file every time you insert a new MIDI track. And if these tracks are deleted, the .mid files stay behind, thus setting you up for a very messy workspace. <PAGEBREAK> Chop It Up! Another feature worth mentioning (and one of a slightly more advanced nature) is the ability to chop and manipulate the loops/sound clips as you create. This helps to keep one person's song from sounding like everyone elses (as most commercial loops are available to anyone). This can either be done through the Chopper tool (Figure 8) or manually drawing in the chopped bits. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/chopper.jpg" /> Figure 8: The Chopper Tool. Here's a quick example of a <a href="http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=416580&T=1913">ringtone</a> I recently created: The original loop. <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/sample1.wma">sample1.wma</a> (Size: 27.7 KB) Same loop and length, but chopped. <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/sample1_chopped.wma">sample1_chopped.wma</a> (Size: 27.7 KB) And here's the loop in the context of the song (only 3 seconds of the project - see Figure 9 for a visual). <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/sample1_context.wma">sample1_context.wma</a> (Size: 104.9 KB) <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/sample1_context.jpg" /> Figure 9: Screenshot of contextual sample 1. One can also change the key, modify the tempo, or even add effects (universal or staged) of not only the tracks, but also the entire project. Render and Publish So you've got a killer hit single - but how do you make it available to the rest of the world? Acid Pro 4 gives you the flexibility to render your projects in a variety of formats (from .wma to .ogg) and bitrates (Figure 10). <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/render.jpg" /> Figure 10: The render window. Alternatively, you can sign up at <a href="http://www.acidplanet.com">ACIDplanet</a> (for free) and then use the Publish (Figure 11) feature to share your new creations with a wide community of other artists. <a href="http://www.acidplanet">ACIDplanet</a> also provides rankings, ratings, and listens (for individual songs) - similar to the original MP3.com. You can see an example (of my available tracks) <a href="http://www.acidplanet.com/dickie">here</a>. <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/762/publish.jpg" /> Figure 11: The Publish Wizard. Conclusions All in all, I personally have found Acid Pro 4 to be invaluable. From the creation of ringtones and game soundtracks, to the production of background music for presentations, I use Acid Pro 4 on an almost daily basis. While it isn't necessarily the only tool I use for music creation, the simplicity in design does keep bringing me back. The asking price is my only issue. Personally, I got in on a spectactular deal (a $99 download promo that I haven't seen the likes of since) on version 3, and the upgrade to 4 is only $150. Good for me - but if I was just gettting started, dropping $399 on software that (at this point) is still primarily loop based is a hard amount to swallow. Of course, if you are a student, the academic version is priced right at $150 (very nice). Want to get a feel for Acid before laying down the dough? You can find ACIDxpress (Sony's limited, but free version of Acid) <a href="http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/download/Step2.asp?DID=491">here</a>.