Rogue Amoeba outs Fission 2 audio editor with new UI
updated 11:37 pm EDT, Mon September 17, 2012
Lossless audio editor now has FLAC, batch options
Rogue Amoeba have updated their lossless (but basic) audio editor Fission to version 2.0, now with a refreshed user interface, expanded saving options (including new lossy and lossless formats), support for multiple windows, unified modes, an added batch converter tool and other new abilities. The new version adds support for file uploads to SoundCloud, cross-format conversions in all supported formats, chapterized AAC files for podcasters, and the addition of FLAC and WAV to the previously-supported MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless and AIFF formats.
The $32 two-channel audio editor retains its main selling points of fast, easy basic audio editing, including trimming files and adding fade-ins or fade-outs. Its main feature was that it could do this in the four most common Mac audio file formats (AIFF, MP3, AAC and Apple Lossless) so that users did not lose quality during the editing and re-saving process. The new version extends the same abilities to cover FLAC and WAV formats as well.
Fission's new interface is similar to, but refined from, the old one -- with one of the biggest changes being the unified "modes" that were previously separate. Users can now get info on a file, selection portions and split audio without changing modes, leaving a single window with all tools available. Multiple windows are now supported so that users can more easily copy and paste selections from one file into another. Files can be exported and converted into any of the six formats instead of being saved back only into the format they were originally, and they can now be uploaded to SoundCloud if desired.
A new Batch Converter can be loaded up with sound files of various formats and output new versions in the chosen export format, and new support for chapterized AAC files is useful for those who want to create enhanced podcasts or create and edit enhanced AAC files such as audiobooks. The company offers Fission 2 now as a program on the Mac App Store as well as also selling it directly from the company's own website, important for those upgrading from the previous version.
The program costs $32, but users who have previously purchased Fission can upgrade to v2 for $15. Buyers who purchased after April 1 of this year can get the upgrade free of charge. A fully-functional trial is available, but audio files created with it will be degraded through random fades.
