Adobe announced a free public beta version of its new Soundbooth software for Intel-based Mac and Windows computers this week, at Adobe's MAX 2006 user conference in Las Vegas. The new sound-editing program is aimed at Web designers and video pros who need to blend voice and sound into their work, but don't see themselves as experts in high-end audio production.

The company is positioning Soundbooth as an alternative to Adobe Audition, which is already well-known among audio professionals in broadcast journalism and production fields where complete control over sound is almost always essential.

In contrast, Soundbooth is aimed at mid-range production staff who must grapple with sound as part of their Web design projects when they entail voiceovers, background music, and custom soundtracks. Sample applications include Flash projects for Web sites, e-learning, and kiosks.

"Its features are focused on the tasks and problems we face regularly," said Matt Rodriguez, president of design firm Plexipixel, in a statement.

"Having designers who can do their own audio work will save us time everyday," he added.

More for the Average Joe

While Soundbooth lacks some of Audition's tune-and-tweak features, it still packs enough punch for the day-to-day audio work that designers, Web and video alike, are called on to perform.

For instance, Soundbooth can build and edit sounds, de-noise scratchy tracks, tweak voiceovers, sharpen and shape music, fade and stretch tracks, and add special effects.

But the interface is more task-based and less tool-based than Audition, which, according to Adobe, will remain the choice of audio production pros. Still, if Soundbooth can simplify complex audio tasks for Web designers and video artists, it could be music to their ears.

Stepping In for Big Brother

Soundbooth will replace Audition as a standard component of Adobe's Production Studio, a post-production solution that includes Adobe After Effects, Premier, and Encore DVD, among others.

Soundbooth also integrates with Flash and other components in Adobe's Creative Suite, which includes Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Dreamweaver, as well as other software for print and Web design. Certain features in Soundbooth even bear similar names to well-known tools in Photoshop and other Adobe design programs.

The public beta version of Adobe Soundbooth can be downloaded free of charge through Adobe Labs.