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SmartSound(R) Sonicfire(R) Pro Version 5 Now Available; Becomes First Music Library to Offer Timing Control

Ability to Precisely Time Musical Events to Key Points in a Video Timeline Adds Incredible Power and Dramatic Impact to Productions

SmartSound Software, Inc. announces the release of Sonicfire Pro 5, a groundbreaking new development in library music. With new music timing controls and searching features, Sonicfire Pro 5 gives professional editors the most complete customizable music library solution. Now shipping, this new release accesses the largest selection of fully-customizable library music available.

Coinciding with the release of six new Strata Series multi-layer music discs, Sonicfire Pro 5 builds on its award-winning Mood Mapping® feature with incredible new enhancements that make it possible for any editor to quickly and precisely match the timing of a score with events in a production. Users can simply grab a beat in a piece of music and drag it to a nearby edit point or other key event in their video without changing the rhythm or overall length of the score. SmartSound believes this is the first time such a capability has been available for prerecorded music.

New control over the timing of the music section changes helps editors create dynamic music that matches the pace of their scenes. Also added to this release is the ability to adjust the tempo of any SmartSound music track while maintaining its customization control. These new innovations empower Sonicfire Pro 5 users to create tremendously impactful music scores without requiring time-consuming and complex manual editing.

"Since we announced at The NAB Show, the response to the new timing control features has been phenomenal," said Kevin Klingler, President and CEO of SmartSound Software, Inc. "From top filmmakers using the software for major feature films to giants in the NLE industry, people have been amazed at the ability to precisely control the placement of music beats while the remainder of the track automatically readjusts to finish correctly," Klingler said. "This level of control is not available from any other music library or software product, and is part of what makes Sonicfire Pro 5 the most creative and effective solution ever for creating a customized music score."

A new "Spotting" feature in Sonicfire Pro 5 increases the precision with which musical events can match events in a video. Editors can mark key points in the production where additional musical emphasis is required and Sonicfire Pro 5 will recommend the best-fitting music and provide different options and methods for achieving the best overall fit with the key points in the visual.

This ability to include key events in a video timeline as a factor in the music search is one critical element of the new Sensory Searching feature in SmartSound's reconfigured Express Track search tool. Sensory Searching uses an individual's personal musical preferences to drill down to exactly the right piece of music, dynamically changing search results in real-time as the user modifies their parameters. By using their own ears and creative musical preferences, the user always has the option to make a comparative judgment on the current search result and get a new result without having to start the search over.

Sonicfire Pro 5 is available in two editions: the Express Track Edition, which offers access to the improved music search function, and includes basic customization options such as length, arrangement, and overall instrument mix; while the Scoring Edition offers Express Track plus a powerful set of Timeline editing tools, such as Mood Mapping® and the new advanced spotting and timing controls to give editors precise control over the music score. Both editions provide access to the Sensory Searching(TM) process. The Express Track Edition will be free with any disc purchase from SmartSound's Music library, or customers can upgrade to the Scoring Edition for just $99.95. Any customer who is a registered Sonicfire Pro 4.5 owner will receive a free upgrade to the Sonicfire Pro 5 Scoring Edition.

The six Strata Series multi-layer discs that are being released in conjunction with Sonicfire Pro 5 are: Richard Band Vol. 7 - Scoring Suites, Adrenaline Rush, Christmas Treasures, Energy Zone, Downtown Mix and House Call. All six will be at a special limited-time introductory price of just $49.95 each or all six for $249 (a savings of over $350).

"Sonicfire Pro 5 is the result of over a decade of research and development, and arrives decisively at the summit of creative technology for the music library industry," said Klingler. "We are proud to make this achievement free for any current customers as our way of saying thanks for their support throughout the years."

Complete details can be found at http://www.smartsound.com/sonicfire.

About SmartSound Software, Inc.

SmartSound Software, Inc. is the world-leading developer and marketer of the SmartSound® family of music and scoring technology for visual content creators. The company has been at the forefront of technological innovations in the industry, such as the award-winning Mood Mapping® feature introduced in SmartSound Sonicfire® Pro 4. SmartSound technology is available for Windows XP/Vista and Macintosh OSX 10.4 or higher, including PowerPCs and Intel Macs. SmartSound products include: the Sonicfire Pro and Quicktracks® for Adobe Premiere® Pro and Premiere® Elements software and the Strata®, Backstage, Film Score, Producer, Edge, Audio Palette, Sound Palette, and Movie Music collections of music and sound effects. The company is headquartered in Northridge, CA, and can be reached by phone at 818-920-9122, by fax at 818-920-9152 or on the Web at www.smartsound.com.

©2008 SmartSound Software, Inc. All Rights reserved. SmartSound, Sonicfire, Strata Series, Mood Mapping, Express Track, Quicktracks and Quicktracks for Premiere Pro are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SmartSound Software, Inc. Other product and company names are either trademarks or trade names of their respective holders. Patent numbers 5,693,902, 5,877,445 and patents pending.