Ascent Media’s Creative Sound Services group adopts Soundminer Version 4 as its worldwide Sound Effects platform. Managing the sound effects library and music services for a large, worldwide organization is no simple task.  Sound libraries are valuable intellectual property and must be protected. 

Conversely, sounds must be delivered to the desktop of editors, mixers, and sound supervisors quickly and efficiently.  These two opposing forces require a hardware and software solution that creates a seamless, protected, and efficient delivery methodology. It was with this intent that AMG CSS set about testing all current asset managers and it was not long before it became obvious that Soundminer’s new v4 system outclassed and outperformed its competition. The Soundminer v4 software package has been developed to solve both the creative issues required by sound editors, and the security issues that arise when trying to protect these assets.

The Soundelux sound effects library has been recorded, collected and documented for over 20 years.  The years of well maintained metadata associated with the sounds are an essential tool for editors to find, discover, remember, and track the usage of sounds over time.  The advanced categorization system used by Soundelux was easily integrated into Soundminer.  In fact, Soundminer’s new feature rich MetaBrowser options made navigating and access even easier.  There was simply nothing as creative in comparison from competing systems.

As noted above, the distribution and desktop delivery of these library sounds requires control over who can access certain sounds at any given time. At any given time, hundreds of projects are worked on simultaneously across the globe, and there must be secure a secure protocol for controlling access.  The Soundminer v4 platform was the only system capable of meeting the rigorous standards of a company as large and as varied as Ascent Media. Because of the security features in the new version of Soundminer, Ascent Media can easily service the needs of their sister companies within the Ascent Media family, such as its Content Services group and the Creative Services group, including Riot, Encore Hollywood, and Level 3. In addition, Soundminer creatively integrated Active Directory into their v4 Server system. As any user from any of Ascent Media’s many facilities logs on to Soundminer using his or her personal AD name and password, Soundminer can check with AD for his group membership, enable only the permissions for which that user is authorized and display only the databases that are authenticated for that person. The Soundminer system has also enabled features that allow access to the sound effects databases not only from within a LAN, but also externally via the Internet.

When tested for both Transfer reliability Sonic Quality, Soundminer again came out on top, according to Bill Johnston, Chief Engineer of AMG CSS. The speed, reliability and sonic excellence of the sample rate conversion and desktop delivery is unparalleled by any other system.  Many other systems have issues when downloading a sound. The sound quality is compromised, a list of sounds does not completely download, and even system crashes. This does not happen in Soundminer. Extensive listening tests were performed comparing the sound quality of the Soundminer algorithms with that of other library management systems (LBM’s), dedicated file editors and DAWs. Soundminer exceeded other LBM’s and DAW’s and was indistinguishable from dedicated file editors. This is a critical point as Soundminer is also the quickest at the tasks.  Pitch shifting is equally as impressive. Soundminer also has a unique ability to quickly display the waveform, and immediately play sound from anywhere within the file. Most systems download starting from the beginning of the sound, and do not allow the editor to click on a later portion of a long file for immediate play until the sound has loaded. Soundminer allows this, and it makes auditioning a sound anywhere within the file instantaneous. 

Asset management must also provide easy to use and efficient project organization. The Soundminer “Spotting Panel” was so intuitive it again deserves special mention, according to Johnston. The hierarchical folder metaphor is easily understood and allows for any level of project management required. Make a new folder and select some sounds to go in it for a quick pre-select for a project or nest hundreds of folders if needed. Sub folders “inherit” from their parents with a top level representing the project name. Pre-made templates of folders may be imported to speed creation of complex projects.

Also worth mention was Soundminer’s powerful sound design engine.  VST plug-ins were supported natively. This is a very powerful tool for designing sounds prior to transfer to the DAW. Soundminer can also transfer multi-channel sounds to mono tracks, mono to stereo tracks, instantly downmix multi-channel sounds and re-mix new sounds from a collection of older sounds.  All of this is done with great ease, reliability and speed.  Nothing else compared to it.

The Final Word:

According to Bill Johnston, Ascent Media’s experience with Soundminer has been what they were looking for:  A partner to solve problems.  Soundminers responsiveness and open collaboration on ideas, and quick solutions to identified problems has been ideal.  Soundminer understood Ascent Media’s need for both expanded creativity features, as well as a security platform that was open and efficient.  Soundminer v4 is a growing product, with many more features in the works.  Ascent Media and The Hollywood Edge will continue to collaborate with Soundminer on expanding new creative methods of delivering sounds to the people who need them, when they need them.