Minnetonka's AudioTools, an automated audio workflow engine for editing, format conversion, encoding, plug-in processing and processing through external I/O devices, has announced support for the company's SurCode for Dolby Pro Logic II VST plug-in. AudioTools enables users to audition processing chains and save them in templates. It now includes advanced job managegment features, including Watch Folders, a Job Queue that manages sequential jobs, failure recovery, and job logs. AudioTools AWE and AWE client-server takes advantage of networked multi-user audio processing environments, including shared access to plug-ins and other resources installed on the server. Users specify input files, configure a chain of processors, set parameters for each processor and run the job. Watch folders monitor incoming files and automatically initiate processing of jobs as soon as the complete file groups are present. All files are processed and placed in the specified output location. AWE provides integrated access to vintage analog processors and external digital processors. The AWE VST host supports both stereo and surround plug-ins, including Minnetonka’s SurCode for Dolby Pro Logic II VST plug-in. Minnetonka will offer a Dolby Digital plug-in later this year. Currently available on OS X through Certified Partners and resellers, an AudioTools AWE Windows version is planned. Said Steve Clarke, director of marketing at Minnetonka Audio Software, “The AudioTools Workflow Engine, or AWE, was designed as the first step in a structured audio workflow in answer to our clients and colleagues who are frustrated with the cost in time, money and resources associated with traditional file-processing solutions. This will all allow users to perform these tasks in parallel and across office boundaries, freeing them up to continue being creative. We have given the client software the ability to run in a stand-alone mode and priced it so that it is easily accessible and affordable. The server is in beta and will be released shortly."