I got into computers building DAW's or Digital Audio Workstations back when a Pent 100 was lightning fast. I've owned three pro Audio Editors including Sound Forge which comes with CD Architech to master audio CD's. It's worth every bit of $250 and then some. The other programs are great and do a fine job but I found myself using Sound Forge for every project I mastered and retired the other two.
Sound Forge has every effect/tool you can imagine and they are awsome. You can't go wrong with these proigrams!
Jim