Sony Creative SpectraLayers Pro

SpectraLayers ProTM is an audio editing software system that operates directly on the waveform spectra using a large palette of graphic/ image-style editing tools familiar to anyone who has used Adobe Photoshop. Separating components of a mixed stereo audio track (such as a finished music CD mix) into any number of separate layers for independent processing, mixing and then reintegration, it is now possible to achieve results impossible with any other DAW system.

SpectraLayers Pro displays recorded stereo audio files by representing them in three dimensions: time expiry horizontally on the X-axis, frequency range vertically on the Y-axis and level, relative to other frequencies occurring at the same time is represented by brightness. Harmonic-rich and complex stereo music is easily seen as a vivid and colorful image instantly.

Super precise audio restoration using SpectraLayers Pro editing allows the removal of unwanted noises, leaving the desired audio unaffected. You can separate music and dialog (or vocal performances) into individual component layers and repurpose the dialog or use only the music. All manner of processing is possible such as performing pitch correction or remixing the levels of the separated layers is possible as if using Photoshop to adjust the opacity or color balance of various layers of a high resolution image collage.

SpectraLayers has many intelligent tools to help you extract audio into layers by selecting an area, frequency range and/or by a user-defined harmonic series. The modification tools allow you to: amplify, clone or erase parts or all of edited sections of any layer including the original source layer.

SpectraLayers Pro is for audio restoration, mastering, remixing/sound design, analysis and audio forensics tasks and is 32-bit 96kHz capable. In addition, it provides seamless file transfer to Sound Forge Pro and other audio editing programs such as Pro Tools.

For MAC and PCs, SpectraLayers Pro is $399. Download it at http://sonycreativesoftware.com.

By Barry Rudolph

miniBio: Barry Rudolph is a recording engineer/mixer with over 30 gold and platinum RIAA awards to his credit. He has recorded and/or mixed: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs and Robbie Nevil. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and also teaches recording engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. http://www.barryrudolph.com