Okay, let's have your thoughts on some of this stuff - here's the list of features in 1.5:
"Integrated CD burning
Create quick reference masters of your compositions by burning gapless audio CDs directly from Adobe Audition."
Yeah, yeah. Don't mind.
"ReWire support
Stream full-resolution audio data in real time between Adobe Audition and other audio software such as Propellerhead Reason and Ableton Live."
Okay, what does 'stream...in real time' mean? Does it mean you can have both applications open at the same time and working on the same file? Cuz that's one of the biggest headaches for me working with Fruity Loops and Cool Edit - I have to close one down before the other one plays.
"VST plug-in support
Expand your options with integrated support for third-party VST effects, which can also be used in Adobe Premiere® Pro software."
Yes!
"Frequency space editing
Visually isolate and select sounds in frequency and time using a marquee selection tool in the spectral editing view, and then clean up, modify, or apply effects to the selected sound."
WTF is this about? How is this different from what we have now - highlight and apply the effect? If it's in spectral view, this suggests it's a kind of sloppy frequency selector, right?
"Pitch correction
Correct off-pitch performances and create pitch-based effects using the new pitch correction effects. Use the automatic mode for quick results or the manual mode for precise control."
This is nice, but it'll depend on its quality, right? Will it be as good as Autotune?
"Enhanced support for video
Edit video soundtracks more easily with the ability to view video frames in the Timeline and import a wide range of file formats, including AVI, native DV, MPEG, and WMV."
I figured this would come. But if you're not interested in video, it's something you're paying for (and which Adobe is taking time to develop instead of audio improvements). It signals a shift in their target audience.
"Clip time stretching
Visually drag the edge of any audio clip in a multitrack mix to fit a specific length of time with or without affecting the clip's pitch; this is ideal for making sound effects and dialog fit a given video clip."
Again, video is their imagined application.
"Automatic click/pop elimination
Quickly and easily restore digital recordings of vinyl source material, wireless mikes, DV cameras, and other production audio."
Again, they're targeting people who weren't raised on Cool Edit and its excellent click/pop handling.
"New sample sessions
Get up to speed quickly by using any of the 20 sample sessions included with Adobe Audition, or modify the sample sessions to create your own music."
Get up to speed quickly? WTF? Modify the sample sessions to create your own music? Gimme a break. This is aimed at people who don't know how to record or edit music, right?
"Vocal/instrumental extraction
Reduce the vocal or instrumental portions of a track and create a cappella and karaoke-ready tracks while preserving the stereo image with the new Center Channel Extractor tool."
Oh fuck off.
"New royalty-free loops
Create your own music using more than 500 new production music loops — for a total of more than 5,000 — in a variety of styles including '70s disco, rumba, and loops for weddings and events."
Loops for weddings and events? They're aiming this at Joe Schmoe with a video cam in his mitts and a complete lack of technique, right?
"Save custom keyboard shortcuts
Create customized keyboard shortcut sets to suit your working style."
What? Like we can't do that already?
"Flexible envelope scaling
Rescale points on pan, volume, and effect envelopes to make changes to a clip in a multitrack mix. Scale all points while maintaining relative or absolute relationships between points"
Hm? Is this something we can't do already?
Okay, my impression is that they're trying to widen their user base: they're adding really useful things like pitch correction and VST for people like us to keep us on board, and taking what's already there and marketing it as if it's new for the sake of people who want it for home video work. There's *very little* that's actually video stuff in 1.5. But all that 'loop and session' bullshit just insults the product. Wankers.