I honestly feel scammed. Sound Forge Audio Studio 14 is awful!

Craig-Reeves wrote on 9/5/2020, 1:10 AM

The version of Sound Forge I have been using since 2010 up until now was Sound Forge 9 and I have to say, it was much better and far more powerful than this version of Sound Forge (Audio Studio 14). It seems all Magix has done over the years was increase the price and remove half the features.

No longer is there an option to play back audio with the effects chain in real-time (the old SoundForge had a button to the right of the PLAY button that allowed you to do this, but it has since been removed). Now the only way you hear anything with third-party VST effects is to go up to the "FX Favorites" and apply an FX chain. I'm aware you can "Preview" the chain before printing it, but this is far less flexible as you have to play it back from the same position every time and you can't switch between different audio files frequently when doing that, which makes mastering difficult. It is clear the people who design this pitiful software are out of touch. Why they would remove the feature I don't know.

And then they arbitrarily removed the feature to open or save MP3 files. This software is basically an overpriced, and inferior version of Audacity, which is free. Absolutely waste of money...

It's either that or all these features they took away they probably have but now you have to pay extra for.

Comments

emmrecs wrote on 9/5/2020, 4:38 AM

@Craig-Reeves

Welcome to the Magix user to user forums.

You seem to be comparing SoundForge 9 with SoundForge Audio Studio 14. Is this really a fair comparison? SFAS is, quite deliberately, a "cut-down" version of SF Pro.

I can't comment directly on those things you believe Magix took away but I suspect many/most of them were never present in the "Audio Studio" versions.

Jeff
Forum Moderator

Former user wrote on 9/5/2020, 8:20 AM

I got AS14 for $40, which I regard as an absolute steal. I think it's pretty ridiculous to compare AS14 to Audacity, which can't run any of my VST plugs, and, on top of that, doesn't have ARA 2 support. I've been using AS14 in tandem with Spectralayers for about a week now in ARA 2 mode. What a revelation. I could do the same thing with Reaper, but not with Audacity.

Add to this that I can't rip or burn CD's with Audacity, and I can't record in Audacity in ASIO mode. Audacity has its uses, but they are extremely limited, IMO. But, hey, it's FREE.

rraud wrote on 9/5/2020, 10:07 AM

Sorry to read of your disappointment. You can request a refund and continue to use Sound Forge 9.0 and/or Audacity. btw, I still use SF-10 on occasion even though I have the current Pro version.

As was previously stated, AS is a scaled down version at a significantly lower cost than SF Pro. See Magix Sound Forge version comparison table.
Audio Studio) supports opening and encoding MP3s, something is amiss with your setup. See the below link for posts with possible solutions.
https://www.magix.info/us/forum/sound-forge-audio-studio-will-not-open-my-mp3-file--1253057/.

Andreas-Unruh wrote on 12/3/2020, 10:43 PM

I'm using SoundForge 14 PRO and the feature Craig mentioned is removed in Pro as well. So I agree 100% to what he said. What a nonsense to remove such an important feature!

rraud wrote on 12/5/2020, 11:57 AM

the feature Craig mentioned is removed in Pro as well.

Exactly which '(removed) feature are you referring to in SF Pro @Andreas-Unruh?

Some of workflow was changed (starting w/ Pro 11) but nothing has been removed, except for the 'remote record ' window option. The plug-in chainer's UI is different (modal), but nothing was removed from it. A few folks have MP3 issues, but the codec was not 'removed' either.

xman_charl wrote on 12/7/2020, 11:18 AM

notice when save file...get this screen in sound forge 130....

huge gaps of silence

Andreas-Unruh wrote on 12/9/2020, 1:31 PM

I didnt mean the MP3 option - I meant the removed effects chain button at the bottom of the waveform window and the ability to easily add some effects and then preview and finally render within the same window. Or did I miss something?

rraud wrote on 12/9/2020, 5:20 PM

Since SF Pro 11, the Fx chainer has been modal. If you like the legacy UI and plug-in automation is not needed, you must first select "Apply Plug-in Chain" in the 'Fx Favorites' menu. Unfortunately, plugin automation envelopes are not available in this mode.

In the timeline chainer mode, it is often better to edit and work on audio in the SF project mode ('Save as' .. SF Pro project ..*.frg). 'Render as' when satisfied with the editing and processing. This non-destructive editing mode does not change the original file(s). If you do not use the project file mode, 'Save as' renders a new processed file.

Dave-Thomas wrote on 12/29/2020, 11:57 AM

I fell for the upgrade scam as well, coming from Sound Forge Audio Studio 10. One might think that in the 6 years since original purchase, an upgrade might be worthwhile. Why you would upgrade to remove features I'm not sure. SFAS10 still works fine, and is still available on Amazon etc. for anyone that finds this post.

You can request a refund and continue to use Sound Forge 9.0 and/or Audacity

And for anyone that tries this. Instead of clicking round and round and round and round and round and round following the links on the website, you have to reply to your email confirmation. Because reputable and trustworthy companies always obscure their return process like that, yes sir