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A while back we gave you a [quick overview][3] of the new [Toast 8 Titanium][2] from Roxio. Earlier this week Roxio got us a review copy Toast 8 and I've spent the past few days putting it through the paces. I'm happy to report that the new version adds significant new features that make it worth the $100 price tag.
The first thing you'll notice about the new version of Toast is the completely redesigned interface. Whiz-bang graphical effects abound, background images subtly rotate and when hiding and changing windows Toast 8 fades in and out and resizes the main window into other widows. While mostly useless eye candy, this seems to follow a trend in Mac apps lately as Adobe's PhotoShop CS 3 beta also features some similar effects. [Screenshots after the jump.]
The overall layout of the Toast 8 is significantly different from previous versions. The drawers and tabs are gone, replaced by an interface that looks something like that of iTunes' iPod browser view. The various burning tasks have moved from the old tabs across the top to a sidebar and the iLife media browser now floats in its own palette.
But the changes aren't just skin deep. Once you get past the physical appearances, Toast 8 has some impressive new features as well. Roxio has essential rolled all the features of Jam and Popcorn into Toast making it more of a one-stop burning destination (Popcorn 2.0 is still available as a stand alone product for legacy hardware).
My favorite new feature in Toast 8 is the ability create audio mix CDs with smooth, DJ-style cross-fades and transitions. When you drag your iTunes playlist into Toast 8 there's an edit button for each track that allows you to control the transition and/or fade between tracks. You can choose a preset fade-in/fade-out style or create a custom cross-fade via an editing window that lets you preview your fades before committing to them.
There's also a new set of audio tools including the ability to edit and trim tracks, adjust output levels, apply sound enhancing filters, and set unique pauses between tracks. There's a wide range of filters which offer everything from enhanced reverb to 32 band EQ.
Also on the audio front there are some new tools to help you convert tunes from LPs and tape including noise reduction filters. Unfortunately my record player is kaput so I haven't tested these features.
Toast 8 adds support for printing directly on discs using LightScribe-enabled burners and media if you happen to have one.
On the data side of Toast 8 the ability to span files across multiple discs returns with support for both Mac and PCs. For Mac-only discs there's a new option to auto catalog the contents after burning. If you're burning mixed OS CDs you can still use the stand-alone program DiscCatalogMaker RE (included with the purchase of Toast 8) to create archive listings, but you'll have to do it by hand. Once archived, you can search the contents of your backup CDs and DVDs even when they're not mounted.
The big news in Toast 8's improved video capabilities is addition of Blu-Ray support which makes Toast the first program for the Mac to support the new video format. I don't have a Blu-Ray capable burner so I wasn't able to test it, but the possibility of 50 gigabyte backups makes the purchase of a Blu-Ray burner very tempting.
Another big feature of Toast 8 Titanium is addition of TiVoToGo features. When you install Toast for the first time it will ask you if you want to install TiVoToGo features. You then have the option to enter your TiVo's Media Access key and Toast should automatically acquire the device and allow you to begin importing your DVR content.
Once you bring your TiVo recordings over to the Mac you can then burn them to disc for playback or convert them for use on the video iPod. Because I don't have a TiVo device to test it with I can't say for sure how well it works. My Monkeybites cohort Michael Calore saw a demo at Mac world and said it looked very easy, but the folks over at iLounge [reported a few hiccups][1] and weren't entirely happy with the compression and file size -- YMMV.
Overall Toast 8 Titanium is a solid upgrade and well worth the investment. If you have a TiVo or Blu-Ray burner I highly recommend it. Even if you don't, the new audio editing features and automatic disc cataloging are still enough to make Toast 8 a must-have upgrade.
Toast 8 Titanium is $100, Roxio has a $20 mail in rebate and Toast 7 owners can upgrade for $60. There are also upgrade specials available for the owners of other Roxio software like Popcorn and Jam.
[1]: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipod/review/roxio-toast-8-titanium-with-tivotogo/ "Roxio Toast 8 Titanium with TiVoToGo"
[2]: http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/toast/titanium/overview.html "Toast 8 Overview"
[3]: http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/01/macworld_best_i.html "Monkeybites on Toast 8 announcement"
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