Screenblast ACID 4.0

by Sony

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000A0VG9
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,828 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #34 in Software > Video & Music > Software > MIDI
  • #73 in Software > Video & Music > Software > Music Creation & Sequencing
  • #89 in Software > Video & Music > Software > Sound Editing
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Step Backwards, for the Price, December 30, 2003

By 

Christopher A. Kern "Movie Geek" (Flowery Branch, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Screenblast ACID 4.0 (CD-ROM)

I owned Acid 2.0 a few years back and had loads of fun making music and re-mixing. A couple years passed, I lost the Installation CD's, and my wife graciously bought me Screenblast Acid 4.0. Well, it looks and works just like Acid 2.0, except the included loops are all cheesy, already slapped-together garbage, and there are much fewer of them.

Sure, you can get more loops via the Screenblast.com web site, but it's $39.95 per year to subscribe. And all the Acid Loop Libraries? Now that Sony owns them, they're $50 EACH!!! Almost the cost of the software itself to own just one library!

If you need more loops (and you WILL), find web sites like AcidFanatic.com, where these libraries are still reasonably priced, or just find free loops elsewhere.

VERY disappointed in this product. You'd think that two revisions and a major media outlet would improve this great product, but Sony has just turned this into a cash cow for their music loops. It's like giving you a car for free, but it runs on "Special" gas that costs $10 a gallon...

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Massive price drop, June 23, 2004

By 

Fred Coulter "Fredrik V. Coulter" (DeLand, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Screenblast ACID 4.0 (CD-ROM)

Two of the other reviews of Screenblast Acid 4.0 compare this $60 program to the Professional version at around $250. Both of them say that the Professional version is better. And this is surprising because???? Acid, even when it came from Sonic Foundry, had the same business model as game consoles. Basically, sell the software for cheap and make the real money on selling loops. There is no difference now that Sony's in the picture. As for comparisons between Pro 2.0 and Screenblast 4.0, the fact that you can now get almost the same functionality for $60 as you used to get for $250 should be something to celebrate, not condemn.

There are a few problems with the program. First, I'd love to be able to edit the MIDI file from within the program. Oh well. MIDI sequencers are pretty cheap, and most people who buy this program can't play an instrument.

Second, the effects aren't as comprehensive as you get on the $250 version. I guess that's why I saved almost $200.

And one hint to add. Acidplanet.com is a website that you can use host songs for free. They also have available for FREE DOWNLOAD an "Eight-Pack" of loops. Every week eight new loops. (Yes, I know that it's also marketing. But there's no such thing as a free lunch.) They also have a couple of loop packages available for under $40 at any given time.

Enjoy.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good with Windows XP, but not with ME, March 25, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Screenblast ACID 4.0 (CD-ROM)

Initially I bought this to run with Windows XP and Windows Me since they are both listed as being supported by Amazon. But, after speaking with Sony tech support I have found that Acid 4.0 is not fully functional with Windows ME. When you run this on a Windows ME system, you can not Render a project to a MP3 file. This is becuase there are no supported templates for MP3 for Acid 4.0 with Windows ME. Also, it locks up my system periodically when I try to do live recordings. But, with Windows XP it works fine. And, if you have a Sony VAIO system that came preinstalled with the Deluxe versions of Acid and SoundForge, be advised that the base Acid 4.0 and SoundForge 1.1 do not have the same capabilities. You will have to update Acid 4.0 and SoundForge so you can perform the same tasks as the pre installed software on your Sony VAIO. However, I do like the multi-track editor.