Sound Devices is improving the workflow from field production to post production with the introduction of its revised Wave Agent utility software. Compatible with both Mac and PC platforms, it provides comprehensive metadata editing tools and file playback for sound files recorded with the company‘s popular 7-Series Digital Recorders — the 702, 702T, 722 and 744T models as well as the newest recorder in the series - the 788T. The revised Wave Agent software made its debut at NAB 2008.

Available as a no-charge download from the company‘s website (www.sounddevices.com), Wave Agent helps users manage and edit Broadcast Wave file metadata (BEXT) and iXML metadata and allows for batch editing of large file libraries. Additionally, the software generates sound reports and standard .ALE (AvidLogExchange) files, ensuring the reports can be viewed regardless of the editing application being used. Wave Agent offers users the flexibility to modify sound report templates to meet the needs of each project.

The software‘s interface is user-friendly and features a drag-and-drop interface to copy and move files. Wave Agent has a large display for time code, actual time, and remaining time counters. To help correct sync issues in post, Wave Agent users can modify time code frame-rates to correct mistaken frame-rate settings.

“File and workflow management has become an important part of production sound,” says Jon Tatooles, managing director of Sound Devices. “This new release of Wave Agent gives users a great deal of power to prepare and manage the growing amount of sound files generated during production.”

In addition to the administration of metadata, the software allows for the playback and conversion of any type of .WAV file (poly, mono, bit depth, sample rate). Wave Agent converts .WAV file between monophonic and polyphonic formats. It also features an intelligent batch mono-combine function. Users also have the ability to control the gain, pan, solo and mute tracks during playback, as well as define in and out points for repeat playback of file segments.