1. Select the data you want to process. If no data is selected, processing will be applied to the entire file.

When you’re working with multichannel files, only the selected region in the selected channel is processed. Most functions can be applied to individual or all channels. However, since all channels in a multichannel file must be equal in length, functions that affect the length of the data cannot be performed on individual channels. These functions include Insert Silence, Resample, Time Stretch, Gapper/Snipper, Pitch Bend, and Pitch Shift (without preserving duration).

If you want to apply one of these processes in a single channel, convert the file into separate mono files (you can select a channel and drag it to the Sound Forge workspace to create a new file quickly), apply the process, and merge the files into a new multichannel file.

2. Open a folder in the Plug-In Manager to find the plug-in or chain that you want to use.

Effects chains—including packages created in Sony Vegas or ACID—are displayed in the DirectX Chains folder in the Plug-In Manager.

3. Drag a plug-in or chain from the Plug-In Manager to a data window. The Audio Plug-In Chainer is displayed.

4. Use the Audio Plug-In Chainer to preview your effects and adjust settings as needed. You can select the Bypass button to hear the original, unprocessed audio.

5. When you’re satisfied with the chain, click the Process Selection button in the Plug-In Chainer to apply the effect.

The Plug-In Manager includes a FX Favorites folder that you can use to organize your audio plug-ins. Plug-ins from this folder will be available from the FX Favorites menu in the Sound Forge menu bar.

1. Open a folder in the Plug-In Manager.

2. Select the plug-ins you want to add.

3. Click the Create New Folder button if you want to create a subfolder under the FX Favorites folder. Subfolders will be displayed as submenus in the FX Favorites menu. For example, if you wanted to group all of your reverbs, you could copy them to a folder named Reverb under the FX Favorites folder. You could then choose a reverb by choosing Reverb from the FX Favorites menu and then choosing a plug-in from submenu.

4. Drag the selected plug-ins to the FX Favorites folder. The plug ins are copied to the DX Favorites folder and to the FX Favorites menu.

From the FX Favorites menu, choose Recreate by Plug-In Names to remove the current favorites structure and create new folders based on the first word in the plug-ins’ names. For example, if you have Waves Renaissance Bass, Waves Renaissance DeEsser, and Waves Renaissance Vox installed, a Waves folder will be created in your FX Favorites. You can rename plug-ins to change the way the Plug-In Manager creates folders.

You can use the Plug-In Manager to replace a plug-in’s default name with a name that’s more user-friendly or meaningful.

1. Right-click a plug-in and choose Rename from the shortcut menu. The plug-in name becomes editable.

2. Type a new name in the box and press Enter. The new name is used in the Plug-In Manager and FX Favorites menu.

If you want to prevent a plug-in from appearing in Sound Forge without uninstalling the plug-in, you can use the Plug-In Manager to hide it. For example, you might hide a codec that is incorrectly identified as a plug-in.

1. Right-click a plug-in and choose Hide from the shortcut menu. You will be prompted to confirm that you want to permanently hide the plug-in.

2. Click Yes.

To restore hidden plug-ins, you can force Sound Forge to rescan your system for plug-ins by deleting the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Sony Creative Software\Sound Forge Pro\10.0\DXCache key in the Windows Registry.