The latest incarnations of the mastering and editing software applications, WaveLab Pro 9 and WaveLab Elements 9, combine top audio quality and ergonomic handling with countless advanced tools for mastering facilities, music studios, sound designers, journalists, and radio and TV broadcasters
Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH has recently announced the immediate availability of WaveLab Pro 9, a major update to the award-winning audio editing/mastering software, and WaveLab Elements 9, the entry-level version that includes all the essential tools.
Both the Pro and the Elements versions sport a new design offering new usability, and include the MasterRig mastering plugin suite, a new SoX-based Resampler and numerous workflow improvements.
WaveLab Pro 9 and WaveLab Elements 9 now offer a completely revamped single-window user interface with new ribbon tabs and a docking system geared toward multiple monitors. The redesigned Master Section offers twelve insert slots in the Pro version and five slots in the Elements version, including a high-quality Resampler based on SoX algorithms. The WaveLab Pro Master Section also offers flexible channel processing and new metering/monitoring, now with M/S support. Projects are now easier to manage thanks to File Groups, an option that lets you group audio files individually.
MasterRig is the new plugin suite in WaveLab Pro and contains six multiband modules, most of them available twice: Imager and Limiter, while the Dynamic EQ, Compressor, EQ and Saturator modules also support Mid/Side processing in each band. In WaveLab Elements, MasterRig contains five plugin modules: EQ, Compressor, Limiter, Saturator and Imager.
The improvements built into WaveLab Pro 9 and WaveLab Elements speed up setup and access: the Start-up Dialog and the File tab help users create new files and open existing WaveLab files and tools, while also allowing easy configuration. The Project Manager is available exclusively in the Pro version and offers an overview of large projects.
A new addition is the exchange feature, which links WaveLab directly with Cubase (it will also be available for Nuendo). Being able to easily access audio files from Steinberg's DAWs lets users benefit from WaveLab's numerous restoration, editing, analysis and mastering tools.
Other new features in WaveLab Pro 9 are the Multiband Expander and Multiband Envelope Shaper, envelope-based automation for clip-based send effects, surround rendering for MP3 and AAC formats, expanded multi-rendering capability and a customizable naming scheme.
"This new version of WaveLab is the most extensive update in more than 20 years of product history and sets a completely new standard in mastering and broadcasting. The new user interface sports one of the most cutting-edge designs available today and is easier to learn and use than any previous version of WaveLab. We have also invested heavily in MasterRig, the most comprehensive high-quality plugin suite ever created. Cubase users will also appreciate WaveLab's new exchange feature, a direct connection with Cubase that allows a very personal mixing and mastering workflow to be created," says Timo Wildenhain, Steinberg's Managing Director.
Availability and pricing
The full version of WaveLab Pro 9 is available through authorized Steinberg resellers and the Steinberg Online Shop. The suggested retail price is 579 euros, including German VAT.
The WaveLab Pro 9 update from WaveLab 8.5 and other updates and upgrades are available for download through the Steinberg Online Shop. The suggested retail price for the update to WaveLab Pro 9 from WaveLab 8.5 is 99.99 euros, including German VAT.
The full version of WaveLab Elements 9 is available through authorized Steinberg resellers and the Steinberg Online Shop. The suggested retail price is 99.99 euros, including German VAT.
Customers who activated WaveLab 7, 8 and 8.5 or WaveLab Elements 7 and 8 after February 2, 2016 are entitled to a free grace-period update to the latest version.
WaveLab Pro 9 key features
• World-leading audio editing and mastering solution with support for sample rates of up to 384 kHz • Revolutionary new user interface with innovative window docking system • New Master Section with 12 effect slots and expanded monitoring and processing functions • Full M/S support: audio editing, processing and monitoring all support M/S • MasterRig: high-end mastering plugin suite including 6 modules, 8 instances and full M/S support • Advanced EBU-compliant loudness metering and processing, including a loudness graph, loudness normalization and true-peak support • High-quality SoX-based Resampler, Multiband Expander and Multiband Envelope Shaper • WaveLab Project Manager and customizable naming scheme • Direct audio file exchange with Cubase and Nuendo
WaveLab Elements 9 key features
• Editing and mastering software tailored to the needs of hobby musicians, podcast producers, journalists and home studio owners • Revolutionary new user interface and innovative window docking system • New Master Section with 5 effect slots • MasterRig: mastering plugin including 5 modules: EQ, Compressor, Limiter, Saturator and Imager. • High-quality SoX-based Resampler, plugin management and administration in a single window for a simplified overview of all plugins in the project • Optimized editing workflow with in-clip handles for volume adjustment and auto-play function • CD burning engine and metadata support for multiple formats • Direct audio file exchange with Cubase and Nuendo
