BIAS Peak

Infobox_Software | name = Peak
logo =


caption = Peak Pro 5 running on Mac OS X
developer = BIAS
latest_release_version = Peak 5.21
operating_system = Mac OS X
genre = Digital audio editor
website = [http://www.bias-inc.com/ http://www.bias-inc.com]

Peak is a full-featured professional stereo sample editor for the Macintosh computing platform. Peak is BIAS’ flagship product, and over the years, has been available in a number of different editions with varying levels of features.

Peak’s approach to editing is different than most Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) applications, as it edits directly at the file level. Rather than creating a “session” or “project” and then importing the audio files to be edited, Peak opens files directly. Once a file has been edited as desired, it is simply saved, rather than having to be “bounced” or exported from a session/project. This fundamental difference is what gives Peak the ability to edit digital audio so quickly. Its focused editing environment makes it a complementary tool to many DAWs, video editing, and multimedia applications that offer limited editing features.

Many audio applications allow Peak to be assigned as an external sample editor. In this capacity, audio files in need of editing are sent to Peak from within another application. They are edited as desired in Peak, and then saved and closed – and they return in an edited state to the original application. Some applications that allow such an interaction are Apple Final Cut Pro, MOTU Digital Performer, Ableton Live, Native Instruments Kontakt, Roxio Jam, and others.

Peak also offers a number of features not typically available in a DAW/multitrack application. These include Red Book CD mastering/burning, automated batch file processing, recovery of damaged audio files, hardware sampler support, and extensive built-in digital signal processing (DSP) tools.

Current editions

• Peak Pro – Full featured professional stereo sample editor (formerly known as “Peak”)

• Peak Pro XT – Extended technology edition – same core editing features as Peak Pro, with the addition of the Master Perfection Suite, SoundSoap, and SoundSoap Pro signal processing plug-ins

• Peak LE – Entry-level stereo sample editor. Crippled version with "PRO" labels on inaccessible features in menus, making menus very impractical to use. Defective by design.

• Peak Express – Feature limited stereo sample editor, commonly bundled with other manufacturer’s products

Key features in current edition

• Direct-to-disk recording and playback at all sample rates supported by the sound hardware on your Macintosh, or supported through Core Audio-compatible digital audio hardware

• User-configured waveform display

• Support for commonly used audio document formats, including AIFF, Sound Designer II,
WAVE, QuickTime, Raw, System 7 Sound, Sonic AIFF, Paris, Jam Image, AU, MP3, and MP4 (AAC) formats

• Non-destructive file-based editing with unlimited undo and redo (document independent)

• Professional editing abilities, including user-definable fade curves, silence, and complete support for cut/copy/paste

• By using an application that supports Apple Events, such as FileMaker Pro, you can catalog your Peak sound files and audition them from within the application

• Support for 8-, 16-, 24-, and 32-bit audio files

• Support for VST & Audio Units effects and instrument plug-ins

• Creates Red Book compliant (with CD-Text, ISRC codes, and PQ subcodes) audio CDs

• Sophisticated Loop Creation Tools: Loop Surfer, Loop Tuner, and Guess Tempo

• Hardware Sampler Support

• Advanced Playlist editing and mastering options

• Automated batch file processing

• Customizable Toolbar and Keyboard Shortcuts

• QuickTime Movie sync

Past editions

• Peak/Peak VST – Full featured professional stereo sample editor (predecessor to today’s “Peak Pro”)

• Peak TDM – Full featured professional stereo sample editor, with support for Digidesign’s hardware-based TDM effects plug-ins

• Peak LE-VST – A special edition of Peak LE, with support for a single VST format effect plug-in (today’s Peak LE offers VST support as a standard feature)

• Peak DV – A special limited edition of Peak, with a feature set dedicated for digital video editors

Product timeline

1/96 – Peak 1.0 debuts at NAMM show in Anaheim, CA.
11/96 – Peak LE introduced – entry level stereo editor
12/98 – Peak 2.0 introduced – adds DAE, TDM, AudioSuite, QuickTime movie, Premiere plug-in support, and CD burning
8/99 – BIAS Brings Peak to BeOS
1/00 – Peak 2.1 adds ASIO driver support – expands compatibility with third-party audio hardware
9/00 – Peak 2.5 introduced – adds VST plug-in support
11/01 – Peak DV 3.0 introduced – first pro audio application for Mac OS X
1/02 – Peak and Peak LE 3.0 introduced – run on Mac OS 8.6, Mac OS 9, X
8/03 – Peak 4.0 introduced – adds direct CD burning, Audio Unit support, sample-based ImpulseVerb, and Sqweez compressor plug-in
8/05 – BIAS introduces Peak Pro 5 – adds industry-leading sample rate conversion and graphical waveform view to playlist, DDP export capability
9/05 – BIAS introduces Peak Pro XT & Peak LE 5 – XT power bundle includes Peak Pro 5, SoundSoap 2, SoundSoap Pro, and Master Perfection Suite plug-ins
6/06 – Peak 5.2 introduced – Universal version runs natively on PPC and Intel-based Macintosh computers

External links

* [http://www.bias-inc.com/downloads/documentation/documentation/peak/english/Peak%20Pro%205.2%20User's%20Guide.pdf Peak User's Guide]
* [http://www.bias-inc.com/products/peakPro5/ Peak web page]
* [http://www.bias-inc.com/forums/ Peak User Forum]