Features
Speeding up your workflow dramatically
WaveLab Pro 9 introduces a revolutionary new user experience that allows for an incomparably fast and convenient workflow. The new single-window interface contains a central tab area, incorporating the most often used functions and the waveform display. The tool windows above provide all metering displays, error correction functions, markers and more. The renowned master section also comes in a new layout and includes additional options. WaveLab Pro 9 also lets you adapt the layout to your individual needs by offering an easy-to-use new docking system, including settings for window transparency and window sliding behavior.
The ribbon and tab layout
The central area of WaveLab is based on a ribbon layout consisting of several individual tabs for the most often used WaveLab editing and mastering functions, such as View, Edit, Fades, Analysis, Render and more. All tabs are context sensitive and only appear dynamically. Switching between the different tabs is a breeze, as the entire ribbon bar is located close to the waveform.
Another advantage of the ribbon bar lies in its ability to provide fixed views of all functions. This way, the tools you’re working with are always visible in contrast to drop-down menus in older program layouts. The ribbon bar also includes the new File tab menu, grouping all functions together for setting up the project, as well as exporting audio material in different formats.
Organising your project
WaveLab Pro 9 also introduces a new project concept based on File Groups. This allows you to individually group a bunch of single audio files and the resulting Audio Montage (into which the single files are then composed) in one framework — the File Group. In order to keep track of even the largest mastering projects, the new Project Manager displays your entire project structure in tree form, including File Groups and the audio files and Audio Montages they contain.
New docking system
Functional layout is an important factor when working with software on a daily basis. WaveLab Pro 9 introduces a new multi-monitor friendly window docking system that allows for more flexible and easy window handling than ever before. WaveLab automatically suggests where you can dock-in a floating window by showing little arrows. Just drag a window to one of these areas to dock it at your chosen location. The WaveLab Control window has also been updated to four instances.
Redesigned Master Section
The renowned Master Section has received a major overhaul. The effect area has been expanded to twelve slots, providing highest flexibility for creating your individual plug-in mastering chain. The channel processing configuration can be determined for all plug-ins individually, including mid/side processing. This way, you can choose between your favorite plug-ins to process a stereo, mono or M/S configuration. Also the entire audio channel monitoring has been extended by M/S metering functions. The new Resampler provides direct access when changing the playback to a different sample rate.
Individualize your WaveLab experience
This takes customization within WaveLab to a new level: not only can you change the position and size of windows and workspaces according to your personal preferences, now you can also customize the colors. WaveLab Pro 9 delivers three basic display themes: Light, Dark and the all-new Black Theme (available with the update to WaveLab Pro 9.0.20). And it doesn’t stop here! Apart from selecting one of three themes, you can adjust the color of single sections individually, such as for the Audio Editor, the Audio Montage and virtually all meters.
MasterRig
Introducing MasterRig, the most powerful plug-in suite ever developed by Steinberg, WaveLab Pro 9 offers you endless possibilities to master your audio material in the most creative way possible. MasterRig consists of six top-quality effect modules, most of which are available twice, that can be loaded in a chain of up to eight slots. While each module is multiband compatible, the Equalizer, Compressor and Saturator modules also support mid/side processing per band. This gives you access to very specific parts of your audio material to adjust them with surgical accuracy.
MasterRig’s enormous flexibility lets you easily organize your effect chain per drag-and-drop and save your favorite configuration as a scene, allowing you to compare different module combinations quickly.
New in 9.1
Forefeel music’s great diversity with more than 40 VIP presets for MasterRig. Designed by renowned mastering engineers and sound professionals, these presets step up to meet the sound engineer’s demands. Masterly arranged, the presets cover a great deal of musical genres that widely spans from EDM to progressive rock and from vinyl record to choral clarity. Find out more
Compressor
The Compressor module can be set to process between one and four bands and offers different compressor types, as well as independent channel processing for each band, either in stereo or split into L/R or M/S. An internal sidechain for each band is also available.
Limiter
This flexible module not only offers dedicated M/S Mix controls to finely adjust the level of the mid and side signals to be limited but also includes a Transients and a Harmonics section that allows you to add soft overdrive to your signal. Plus, you can apply either a Maximizer or a Brickwall Limiter to increase the loudness of your track.
Dynamic EQ
The Dynamic EQ allows you to determine when and how the EQ will be applied, depending on the dynamics of the audio material. This four-band EQ can process each band independently either in stereo or split into L/R or M/S.
Equalizer
MasterRig introduces the first eight-band EQ ever developed by Steinberg. This module allows you to process each band either in stereo, L/R or M/S independently from each other. You can choose between four different EQ types per band, while bands 1 and 8 also offer cut filters with a slope of up to 48 dB.
Saturator
The four-band Saturator allows you to add analog warmth and/or vintage character. Whether a lush and subtle analog tape saturation or light distorted tube saturation, MasterRig will do the job for you. Every band can be processed in Stereo, L/R or M/S, and allows you to choose between tape and tube saturation.
Imager
MasterRig’s Imager gives you the possibility to expand or narrow down the stereo width of your audio material as well as to adjust the stereo image for each frequency-band independently. This module also supports multiband processing on up to four bands and includes a width, output and pan pot on each band.
Full mid/side (M/S) support
WaveLab Pro 9 reinvents the audio mastering workflow by providing direct access to a file’s mid and side signal both in the Audio Montage (right click on waveform) and in the Audio Editor (switch buttons L/R and M/S). This utmost flexibility allows you to realize sophisticated editing and processing for the mid and side signals, including cutting, spectrum editing, leveling, loudness analysis and much more.
Master Section: New listening insights and processing options
How about listening to the mid or side signal separately to check the inherent quality of these parts? Nothing could be simpler than that. WaveLab Pro 9 adds a function to choose between the mid and side signal, providing you with completely new insights into the mix. Best of all, you can insert any of your favorite plug-ins into the Master Section effects rack and choose whether they should only process the mid or side signal, the L/R channels or the whole stereo track.
Clip, track and output effects
Bringing the quality of your effect mastering to a never-before experienced level, WaveLab Pro 9 lets you use any of your favorite plug-ins to process the mid or side signal as a clip, track or output effect via the effects section in the WaveLab tool windows. Simply choose which part of the signal you want to process and your plug-in is applied only to this defined part.
M/S compatible MasterRig plug-in suite
MasterRig’s new eight-band EQ, the four-band Dynamic EQ as well as the four-band Compressor and Saturator are completely M/S compatible, allowing you to determine which part of the signal should be affected by the plug-ins.
Ultra-fast project setup and access
WaveLab Pro 9 introduces a new File tab that acts as the central hub for creating or opening an Audio Montage, Audio Editor, Batch Processor, Podcast, Audio CD or DVD. What’s more, the File tab contains all rendering, import and export functions, important for working with DDPs, XMLs, CD cue sheets and more. You will also find all settings to configure WaveLab to your individual needs conveniently grouped under the Preferences tab.
Startup dialog
Creating a new project or browsing for an existing one is now easier and faster than ever with WaveLab’s new Startup dialog. When starting WaveLab Pro 9 you can choose to create a new, empty project or start with a template designed by you. You can also browse quickly and comfortably for existing projects or files you want to work on.
Project Manager
Large projects often result in complex structures that need to be managed in a convenient, intuitive way. WaveLab Pro 9 helps you keep your audio files and audio montages organized by introducing Project Manager. The Project Manager provides a tree structure that lets you instantly see which files belong to which file group, how they are named and if they have been modified. You can even drag and drop files from the project manager into an Audio Montage or open a new Audio Editor.
Direct file exchange with Cubase and Nuendo*: Creating a powerful mixing and mastering chain
WaveLab Pro 9 is the first WaveLab version that provides a seamless and direct exchange of audio material with Cubase and Nuendo, allowing you to create a supreme mix and mastering chain.
*Cubase 8.5.10 and Nuendo 7.1.20 or newer required
Use WaveLab’s mighty feature set from within Cubase & Nuendo
Open WaveLab directly from within Cubase/Nuendo and use WaveLab’s powerful restoration, editing, analysis and mastering functions to polish your audio material even during the mixing process. After editing and processing the audio file in WaveLab, the file can be updated automatically in Cubase/Nuendo by just a single mouse click in WaveLab.
Go back to the mix
During the mastering process you might well need to go back into the mix, because vital changes need to be made that cannot be done in mastering, for example, to improve the balance between different instruments. With WaveLab Pro 9, it is not necessary anymore to figure out in which folder the respective Cubase/Nuendo project for the opened wave files is located. WaveLab now automatically opens the respective Cubase/Nuendo project directly from the wave file in WaveLab. This way, you can easily edit or re-mix the project and make necessary changes to make the mix more suitable for mastering.
More high-class plug-ins
WaveLab Pro 9 contains two new multiband plug-ins: Multiband Expander and Multiband Envelope Shaper. In addition to these new quality effects, a new SoX-based Resampler has been included for high-quality resampled playback and rendering.
Clip plug-in send automation
WaveLab offers an envelope-based automation for clip-based send effects. This works for clip, track, and output effects and lets you draw your own automation for any plug-in inserted.
Multi-rendering on export
WaveLab Pro 9 now supports rendering of multiple Audio File, Audio Montage and File Group arrangements in one go, expanding on export capabilities and making this aspect of your workflow that much quicker.
Extended rendering
WaveLab now supports surround rendering for MP3 and AAC formats.
Customisable naming scheme
WaveLab includes a customizable naming scheme with individually defined name attributes, such as file name, album title, counter and many others. Making good use of these attributes easily allows you to distinguish between different files when exporting large numbers of audio files.
