BIAS Peak LE 6 adds new UI, podcast, DSP features

BIAS this week began shipping Peak LE 6 — the 'light' edition of its audio editing, processing and mastering application for Mac with an improved interface, new DSP features, and other improvements. Last month, BIAS released version 6 of Peak Pro and Peak Pro XT, the professional edition and an Extended Technology edition that includes Peak Pro and 8 plug-ins for mastering, restoration and sound design. Peak LE now offers the ability to author and upload audio podcasts directly (without requiring an additional application). Additionally, a new DSP feature, Voiceover Ducking, automatically lowers the music during a voiceover. Other new DSP features include Change Duration Options for optimization for vocal and musical content, and Mono-to-Stereo/Stereo-to-Mono conversion.

In addition, the Peak LE Playlist has been improved in version 6 with the inclusion of an advanced PQ sheet/text export feature, which creates custom Playlist reports that include durations, index points, CD-TEXT info, and notes. The reports can be printed, saved to PDF or exported as a tab delimited file.
iTunes Integration, Plug-ins, Recording, and File Format Support

Using Peak LE 6, users can quickly export audio documents or entire playlists into iTunes. Version 6 now supports three simultaneous AU/VST plug-ins (version 5 was limited to one at a time). Also included is a Record Timer that automatically automates record stop time and a Record Notepad for entering marker cues during recording. MP2 and FLAC support have been added. Finally, read/write metadata for most major file types — including Broadcast WAVE — has been added.

BIAS also says that Peak LE 6 sports a sleek, new user interface with "magnetic" windows that snap together for screen management. Additionally, high-resolution, logarithmic-scale meters with the ability to meter signals before or after the master output slider have been added.

Included with Peak LE and select upgrades is the Peak LE Production Pack DVD, a collection of audio plug-ins, utilities, audio content and more valued at over $100. Highlights from the Peak LE Production Pack include: SFX Machine LT — 21 real-time special effects for creative sound design; Ambrosia's WireTap Pro — records system and internet audio streams directly with no loss of quality; a content limited edition of AMG's "ONE" sample loop player; 6 month membership for the online music promotional site Broadjam.com; and 1 GB of audio samples, loops, special effects and production elements from Sound Ideas, PowerFX, Hollywood Edge, Frank Serafine, and ShortWave Recording SFX, plus additional audio utilities.

Peak LE 6 is available for $130, while upgrades from previous versions of Peak LE priced at $60 and crossgrades from other editions of Peak priced at ($80).