REVIEW

STEINBERG WAVELAB ! It’s all about the workflow...

Text: Calum Orr

As a self-proclaimed (and family awarded) audio ! FEET DEEP so!ware geek, I was all propellors a spinnin’ when While I jumped into the process without much regard for murmurs of the forthcoming release of Wavelab 7 started the minimum requirements, it’s worth noting that the lowest circulating on our beloved interweb. I must confess the spec recommended for Wavelab 7 is pretty much the same NEW TO WAVELAB? excitement was mainly inspired by pure self-interest on my for a Mac as it is a PC. By that I mean, both require the For those of you new to part. Let me explain. latest OS – i.e. Windows 7 or Mac Snow Leopard – and both digital audio, Wavelab is a digital audio editing Since moving back across to the Mac platform in 2004, demand a minimum 2GB of RAM, 200MB of hard drive program with the ability following the trail of ’s Apple-centric development, space, a 2GHz (or better) processor, a CD/DVD drive and to create Redbook CD and a display that can handle a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. DVD-Audio masters ready the only so!ware forcing me to maintain a studio PC was for production. Wavelab, and that was frankly becoming a bit tedious. ASIO- or MME-compatible soundcards are recommended on the PC, while CoreAudio is a prerequisite on the Mac. (In Now in version #, Indeed, my main gripe about Wavelab 6 (when I reviewed has also incorporated a new it way back in Issue 48) was that it still hadn’t been ported this day and age you’d be hard pressed to "nd a professional Podcasting feature for the soundcard that didn’t o$er all these driver options.) easy creation, editing and to the Mac platform. So you see, with this new release of posting of Podcasts. The Wavelab – a program I’ve been putting CD masters together Regarding compatibility, there’s one minor gripe I’d like to CD building/burning part with for 10 years – I could "nally make the PC redundant get out of the way before we dive in, if I may. From the point of the program – known (with the exception of the odd game or ‘PC-only’ so!ware of view of the remaining Power PC users in the Mac camp as the Audio Montage Window –has seen a major review). Oh the joy... and extra space in my studio! still using Leopard (OS 10.5) and a whole slew of XP users revamp, particularly to the Over the past few years I’ve tried several other CD reluctant to adopt Windows 7 under the old adage of ‘if it tool selection menu system. ain’t broke...’ it’s unfortunate the new version of Wavelab has Further – and whilst it’s an mastering programs and stereo editors for the Mac, and under-the-bonnet feature bar Apple’s own WaveBurner (that comes bundled with been put out of reach. It shuts a large cross-section of users – it’s also worth mentioning ) none have come close to Wavelab for ease of right out of the market. that the new Mac-friendly Wavelab now contains a new use, "le type compatibility or speed of work#ow. So, as you SHARPER can imagine, it was with much anticipation that I inserted state-of-the-art CD burning %e "rst thing I noticed upon opening Wavelab 7 is that engine by Gear . the DVD and began the install process on my dual-core the graphics look sharper. Better yet, the Graphical User 2.4GHz MacBook Pro (of course I had to plug in the new Interface is now instantly more navigable thanks to the and slightly annoying #ashing, red plastic Syncroso! USB- all-new Switcher window. As many users of previous eLicenser dongle when the install eventually prompted me). versions of the program would be well aware, working in

AT !" Wavelab could sometimes become a messy a!air, handy feature. Having said that, I did have a few with open panes scattering to all four corners problems with it not actually engaging the colour of the screen before you could say ‘where’s my in the solo button and not turning the unlocked waveform?’. "e Switcher window o!ers a vastly plug-ins back on when the solo was disengaged. superior and cleaner means of switching between I expect Steinberg will address this obvious bug Audio File, Audio Montage, Batch Processing, in v7’s #rst update. "e Master section can now “Steinberg has made the Podcast and Control windows. It’s a real time be set to ‘Auto Transparency’ mode, whereby workspace fully saver, allowing you to switch between workspaces any hovering over waveforms in the workspace – or open a new or pre-existing #le – with ease prompts the master section to reduce its opacity configurable so you can and speed from the ‘always on top’ Switcher to approximately 75% – enough to still see the easily adjust the program window, making work$ow super fast. So much waveforms underneath while viewing metering so that a%er my #rst 30 seconds with v7 I found and plug-in status – very nice. It’s also good to to your posture and leave myself geekishly murmuring ‘oh yeah!’, shortly see the ‘K-system’ implemented in the VU Meter it that way a%er which I began to lament all those countless section but I must say I #nd it annoying that lost hours spent searching through myriad it’s not displayed as a one-click a!air from that open windows in previous incarnations of the window. Instead, you have to open the Functions program. tab, then the Settings tab, then select the desired setting and #nally hit ‘Apply’ – very tiresome. ” Also saving oodles of precious work$ow time Important features like complete monitor section is Wavelab 7’s new system for putting open bypass and monitor section preset per audio windows under tabs – much like a web browser #le are also squirrelled away at bottom right of organises open web pages. My only gripe the screen and should really be displayed in a about this implementation is the black font more prominent position, perhaps alongside the used on a dark grey background. White (or Spectrum, Waveform and Loudness tabs. cream) would have been better here I reckon. NEED TO KNOW While the new tabbed and dockable windows Lastly, you can now turn o! the GUIs of Price are a most welcome addition, they do take a individual plug-ins directly from the master #$!!. Upgrade from v$: #%&!. while to get used to. Occasionally I would #nd section, which means no more sur#ng around the windows disappearing, and it was only a%er a page turning stu! o! – another great time saver! Contact Yamaha Australia few hours working with the new layout that my %'(( ))% %)( training wheels #nally fell o! and I was away. VST!-CAPABLE www.yamahamusic.com.au "e team at Steinberg has also made Wavelab 7 Of course, Steinberg has made the workspace Pros fully con#gurable so you can easily adjust the VST3-capable, and in the process made many of Numerous workflow program to your posture and leave it that way, the Cubase 5 plug-ins available in the program. enhancements. Plug-ins like Multiband Compressor, Studio Monitoring Point options. or have several workspace con#gurations for DDP image files now read. di!erent tasks. One slightly annoying feature I Chorus and Roomworks Reverb – to name a few VST) plug-ins available. discovered in the Montage window was that the – are now generously provided as standard fair. Free Sonnox plug-ins. markers seem very close to the tabs, and you can "e real carrot for potential upgraders or new Cons purchasers, however, is the partnership Steinberg No AU plug-in support #nd yourself inadvertently moving these when or reading of FLAC files. you’re trying to select tabs. "is could be easily and Sonnox have forged that o!ers Wavelab 7 Can’t save to long file paths. remedied perhaps by the implementation of a owners high-end audio restoration plug-ins like ProTools ‘le*’ & ‘right’ files must be opened separately. small strip between them. De-Clicker, De-Buzzer and De-Noiser. I have to say I was pretty blown away by how good these Summary MASTER FASTER Although it’s not plug-ins were. On a vinyl restoration job for revolutionary, Wavelab + Version 7 of Wavelab sees a major revamp of my mum (c’mon, everyone’s been there haven’t offers PC (and now Mac) the master section. While all the favourite tools they?) De-Clicker made short work of an album users a comprehensive stereo editor that marks an like smart bypass, UV22 dithering, routing that had more crackle than the Rice Bubbles important development in to outboard and a comprehensive rendering factory. So too the De-Buzzer was pretty e!ective the history of the program. window all feature prominently, new additions at removing some irritating amp hum while the like buttons for ‘Monitoring Point’, ‘Plug-in Lock’, De-Noiser was also a great tool to have on board. ‘Plug-in Visibility’ and an ‘Auto Transparency’ I’d say, in terms of sound quality, De-Noiser option in the settings menu illustrate just how probably sits somewhere between Waves Z-noise well the Wavelab team understands the program’s (which is fantastic) and iZotope’s RX Advanced practical application. ‘Monitoring point’, for de-noise facility (which sets the benchmark). instance, allows you to route from any plug-in If you’re a Mac user and you don’t have a decent output in the master section to the monitoring. stereo editor/CD burning program – which is "is is pretty handy stu! that avoids you having pretty much all of us – Wavelab 7 will give you to turn all the plug-ins o! post the point in the what you want and then some. Meanwhile, for chain from which you want to monitor your Windows 7 users the new version is a signi#cant audio signal. Similarly, there’s now the ability to leap from v6 and I can totally recommend the bypass the master section altogether and route upgrade. directly to the soundcard output. Plug-in Lock stops that particular plug-in being bypassed when you hit solo on other plug-ins – another very

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