Sony Creative Software has released SpectraLayers Pro – an new audio editing platform that lets you explore audio data on a multidimensional spectral display and ‘unmix’ audio files into discrete component layers using a variety of smart editing tools. Process extracted layers individually in an unlimited number of ways.
Features:
- Smart editing tools – Three configurable tools: Harmonics, Frequency, and Area, predict what your desired selection should be. Dial them in to highlight only what you need, quickly, cleanly, and intuitively.
- Layer to layer copy and paste – SpectraLayers Pro takes audio copy and paste functionality into whole new dimensions. Shuttling blocks of sound between layers can be used in analysis and repair tasks as well as for radically creative arranging and rearranging of sound.
- View, modify and draw tools – SpectraLayers Pro turns sound into a three-dimensional world of eye candy that can be entered and operated on using configurable tools.
- Audio extraction – You’re never more than three steps away from a new audio layer in SpectraLayers Pro.
- VST effects – VST effects can be applied to individual layers. SpectraLayers Pro can also pass whole layers, and even bandwidth-limited selections from within layers, directly to other dedicated audio editing programs like Sound Forge Pro.
- Noise reduction – comprehensive noiseprint-based noise reduction.
- Recording audio – Record directly into as many new layers as you need. Replace audio in any selected layer with newly recorded audio.
SpectraLayers Pro is available now for Mac & Windows and Mac for US $374.95. A demo version is available.
I’ve found most of these “unmixing” things tend to sound kind of hollow as partials often cross over between sounds – but it’ll be interesting to see if this one does it better.
this is excellent stuff. was looking into it the past month. did not know they were sony owned.
i am interested in extracting sample material with this. could be the shizzle.
Too bad Gene Hackman didn’t have this for The Conversation.
good one.
The thing that really makes this standout is the layer functionality. I’ve used Izotope’s RX for years now to edit and repair audio, but with the ability to organize sections of audio in this manner really is pretty amazing. I’m sure the audio quality of some extracted audio will not be complete without some form of artifacting, but at the very least its a great way to do some pretty detailed editing.
By the way, if youre looking at this from a sampler’s perespective (to rip acapellas, etc), Roland’s R-Mix looks like a better application to do exactly that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp_tkFuzn3E
this is really interesting, sounds as if they have made some real developments in this area with this technology. I’ll be giving it a try and will report back with my results. There have been so many underwhelming attempts at similar tools in the past that I am reluctant to get over excited but it does seem that they have a more advanced grasp of the processes necessary for a more transparent or at least cleaner results.
I’d like to hear what this could do with vintage recordings from the early 20th century. It would be cool to be able to rearrange ancient tracks or to sample one instrument from an arrangement.
Wacky and Pricey
That’s my wife!
After trying Spectralayers, I feel obliged to point you all to Spear a free program that does most of what Spectralayers does, minus the layer functions. I find spear to have better sound quality plus it costs nothing. http://www.klingbeil.com/spear/ It is not as pretty but better quality in sound depending on source content. I hope this saves someone some money.
Spear – New way to edit & process audio Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJnB_VWpDUM
Spear hasn’t been modified in 3 years and as such seems unlikely to be actively supported, and Spectralayers looks easier to use. But is it $350 easier to use and better supported? I intend to do a side-by-side comparison between the Spectralayers demo and SPEAR and find out. Especially since “better quality depending on source content” sounds rather subjective.
Are you kinding ? There’s no frequency/harmonics tracker in Spear…
Are you kidding ? There’s no frequency/harmonics tracker in Spear…