I am trying to add more audio to my animations, and I am seeking a useful set of audio tools. As it stands, I am doing the audio editing in traditional audio programs, and having to bounce back and forth to the video editor to get timing cues, and then import the segments into AE. AE's audio tools and handling are, in my opinion, poor at best. This is annoying and slows my work. I am really looking for a good audio editing package that will allow me to have a video window present for timing purposes.  I have seen such programs in use, but have never gotten a name for reference.  Ideally I am also seeking the following features:

• Multiple audio layers/tracks
• Audio effects & processing
• wide range of audio format import/export
• Audio tools and filters for cleaning & sweetening audio
• video playback for synching and timing purposes
• Time displays in samples as well as frames for proper video synch.

There are other features that would be nice too, but those are my primary concern.  So far, all I can find is the rather prohibitively priced Sound Forge tools from Sony, and while they state it supports Video playback for synching, there are no screenshots to support it, and after previous deceptions from Sony i do not trust their word alone.  I am on a limitted budget (as all my funding has already gone into 3D programs, Video Editors, Hardware, and 3D content).

If anyone can recomend some good programs that might work, I would be grateful.

I must reiterate, though, resident video playback for timing is a must.