Jump to main content
New Features
The following list informs you about the most important improvements in WaveLab Pro and provides links to the corresponding descriptions.
Thank you for purchasing WaveLab Pro and embracing the true art of mastering. Welcome not only to the number one choice for mastering professionals, but also to a community of users who are true masters of their craft.
Platform-Independent Documentation
The documentation applies to the operating systems Windows and macOS.
Help System
There are several ways of accessing the help system. The documentation is available online and you can download most of it in PDF format from steinberg.help.
Typographical Conventions
In our documentation, we use structural and markup elements to present information according to its purpose.
Key Commands
Many of the default key commands, also known as keyboard shortcuts, use modifier keys, some of which are specific to each operating system.
Before you start working, you need to make some settings.
Connecting the Equipment
Your system setup depends on many different factors, for example, the kind of project that you want to create, the external equipment that you want to use, or the computer hardware available to you.
Audio Cards and Background Playback
When you activate playback or recording in WaveLab Pro, other applications cannot access the audio card. Likewise, if another application uses the audio card, WaveLab Pro is unable to play back.
Latency
Latency is the delay between when audio is sent from the program and when you actually hear it. While a very low latency can be crucial in a real-time DAW application such as Steinberg Nuendo or Cubase, this is not strictly the case with WaveLab Pro.
ASIO-Guard
The ASIO-Guard allows you to pre-process all channels as well as VST plug-ins. This causes fewer dropouts and allows you to process more tracks or plug-ins.
Defining Audio Connections
To be able to play back and record audio in WaveLab Pro, you must specify how the internal input and output channels in WaveLab Pro are connected to your sound card and which device you intend to use for audio playback and recording.
CD/DVD Recorders
For general instructions on installing internal or connecting external recorders via USB or Firewire, refer to the instruction manual for your computer or your recorder.
Remote Devices
You can use remote devices to remote-control WaveLab Pro.
This chapter describes general concepts that you will use when working with WaveLab Pro. Getting accustomed with these procedures allows you to work more effectively with the program.
General Editing Rules
The common editing operations apply to any Steinberg product.
Startup Dialog
When WaveLab Pro starts, the Startup dialog opens, where you can select which file, project, or project template you want to open.
Basic Window Handling
WaveLab Pro follows the basic guidelines for the Windows/macOS interface, which means that Windows/macOS standard procedures apply.
Selecting Audio
Almost all types of editing and processing that you perform in WaveLab Pro operate on the audio selection. There are numerous ways to make an audio selection.
Sliders
At various places in WaveLab Pro, slider controls are available to change parameters. There are a number of ways to change the value of a slider.
Renaming Items in Tables
You can rename items in tables in the Markers window, the CD window, and the Clips window.
Tab Groups
With tab groups, you can view the content of different files, tool windows, or meters at the same time, without having to navigate through different windows. Each tab group has its own content and tab bar.
Peak Files
A peak file (extension .gpk) is automatically created by WaveLab Pro each time an audio file is modified or opened in WaveLab Pro for the first time. The peak file contains information about the waveform and determines how it is drawn in the wave window or the montage window.
Companion Files
Companion files (extension .vs) contain Master Section presets and view settings for audio files. If this feature is activated when you save a file, the settings are recreated the next time that you load the file.
Processing Precision
WaveLab Pro can load audio samples in many formats but processes them internally as 64-bit float samples.
EBU Loudness Standard R-128
The EBU loudness recommendation R-128 establishes well-defined methods to measure loudness, dynamics, and peak values, and also defines reference values to achieve for these measurements. Though the reference values are intended for the broadcast world, the measurement methods are helpful in any application dealing with audio and loudness control.
Resetting Default Answers
In WaveLab Pro, you can set some dialogs and warning messages to Do not show again. If you want to show these dialogs and messages again, you must reset the default answers.
The Workspace window provides an editing and playback environment for each particular file type. Each environment contains functions that are tailored to the specific purpose of each file type.
Audio Editor
The Audio Editor provides tools and functions for sample-accurate audio editing, high-quality analysis, and processing.
Audio Montage
In the Audio Montage window, you assemble audio clips into a montage. You can arrange, edit, and play back clips on an unlimited number of both stereo or mono tracks.
Batch Processor
This editor allows you to batch process any number of audio files or audio montage files using the plug-ins and presets of the Master Section, offline effects, and other plug-ins that are unique to batch processing.
RSS Feed Editor
In the RSS Feed Editor, you assemble, define, and publish your RSS feed to the Internet.
DVD-Audio
In the DVD-Audio window, you author DVD-Audio and write it to DVD.
Script Editor
In the Script Editor, you write and execute scripts.
Control Window
A Control Window can contain multiple tool windows and meter windows. This is useful if you have multiple monitors. You can place the Control Window on your secondary display and use it to manage the tool windows and meter windows that you use most.
File Tab
The File tab is the control center of WaveLab Pro. Here, you can save, open, render, import, and export files. It also gives you detailed information about your files and allows you to set up the WaveLab Pro preferences.
Info Tab
The Info tab provides information about the active file and allows you to edit the audio properties of audio files and audio montages.
Tool Windows
Throughout WaveLab Pro there are various tool windows available that allow you to view, analyze, and edit the active file.
Slide-Out Windows
Slide-out windows are hidden in the frame of the Workspace window. When you hover the mouse pointer over the window name, the window slides out. It is hidden again, when you click anywhere else.
Docking and Undocking Tool Windows and Meter Windows
Tool windows and meter windows can be used as docked windows, as floating windows, or as a slide-out window. You can freely drag around the windows and dock them at various locations.
Command Bar
The command bar of file windows allows you to create, open, and save files, and undo/redo changes. You can also use the text field to quickly find and access open files, and to trigger keywords.
Status Bar
The status bar at the bottom of the screen of the Audio Editor and the Audio Montage window shows information about the active window using the units specified in the rulers.
Context Menus
Throughout WaveLab Pro, various context menus are available. These menus group the commands and/or options that are specific to the active window.
Time Ruler and Level Ruler
In the Audio Editor, you can display a time and a level ruler in the wave window. In the Audio Montage window, you can display a time ruler in the montage window.
Managing Tabs
A tab is a container for a file in WaveLab Pro. There are file group tabs and file tabs. You can open several tabs, but only one can be active at a time. The Tabs context menu of the file group tabs and file tabs offer tab related options.
Activating Full Screen Mode
You can use WaveLab Pro in full screen mode.
Log Window
This window allows you to view log messages that have been issued by WaveLab Pro.
In WaveLab Pro, you can handle files in various ways. For example, save file settings that you regularly use as templates, rename files using naming schemes, or create a favorite files lists.
Opening Files
You can open one or several files at the same time.
Closing Files
You can close files by closing the file tabs. You can close a single file, multiple files or all files but the selected file.
Saving Files
You can save files under the same name and location or specify a new name, location, and file format when saving.
Deleting Files
You can delete the active file from within WaveLab Pro.
File Renaming
You can rename a file and update all references automatically. For example, if you rename an audio file named India to Sitar, all open files that reference the file India are updated to reference the file as Sitar.
File Browser
The File Browser window allows you to browse files from within WaveLab Pro. The Auto Play Mode is useful for speeding up the process of auditioning sound files.
Switching Between Files
You can have multiple files open and switch between them.
Naming Schemes
When rendering audio files or audio montages, you can create multiple files that are named according to a naming scheme.
Project Files
A project file (extension *.wpr) is the central document in WaveLab Pro. A project file contains references to media data.
File Groups
File groups are part of WaveLab Pro projects. Each project can contain multiple file groups.
Recently Used Files
All files that you have recently used in WaveLab Pro are saved in a list. This helps you to gain fast access to recent projects.
Temporary Files
WaveLab Pro creates temporary files to store intermediary results of the audio file processing and for the undo/redo functions. You can specify where WaveLab Pro saves its temporary files and the processing precision of temporary files.
Favorite Files
You can add files that you are using regularly to the favorite files list.
Undoing and Redoing
You can undo and redo as many operations as you like, even after saving the file. The only limitation is the available hard disk space.
Value Editing
At various places in the program, numerical values can be edited by using a combination of text fields and knobs.
Drag Operations
WaveLab Pro makes much use of drag-and-drop techniques to perform various operations, some of which can only be performed this way. These are referred to as drag operations in this documentation.
Zooming in the Workspace Window
You can zoom in the Workspace window according to the standard zoom techniques.
Presets
You can create presets to save commonly used settings. WaveLab Pro provides a selection of factory presets that can be used by most dialogs.
Templates
You can save file settings that you regularly use as templates. Templates are useful when creating new audio files, audio montages, RSS feeds, projects, or batch processors.
Work Folders vs. Document Folders
WaveLab Pro distinguishes between two types of folders: work folders and document folders.
Copying Audio Information to the Clipboard
You can copy information about the name and location of the selected audio file, including any selection information and cursor position. This information can be pasted into an external text application.
Setting the Focus on the Current File
If you are editing inside a floating window or a tool window and you want to switch the focus back to a wave/montage window, you can use the Set Focus on Current File option.
This chapter describes the methods for controlling playback and transport functions.
Transport Bar
With this command bar you can control playback of an audio file or audio montage, navigate between various positions in an audio file or audio montage, and open the Recording dialog.
Starting Playback From the Time Ruler
You can use the time ruler to jump to a position and start playback from there.
Playing Back Focused Audio Channels
During playback, you can switch between playing back the left/right, mid/side, channel clusters of multichannel audio files, or both audio channels.
Playing Back Multichannel Files
You can play back multichannel files according to your audio device setup. If your setup does not allow playing back all audio channels, you can play back the multichannel file in stereo.
Playback Scrubbing
Playback scrubbing helps you find a specific position in an audio file by restarting playback repeatedly when you click and drag on the time ruler during playback or when using the Play tool.
Timecode Window
This window can display the recorded time, the time offset in relation to various positions, and dynamic colors according to the context. During playback, the song position is displayed. If nothing is played back, the edit cursor position is displayed.
Jog/Shuttle Function
This function allows you to play back audio forwards or backwards, at any speed. This is useful for finding exact spots in the audio file and audio montage.
Scroll During Playback
You can determine how the view should be scrolled in Play mode.
Playback in the Audio Montage Window
Playback in the Audio Montage window works the same way as in the Audio Editor. However, there are some things to note.
Speaker Configuration
You can configure up to 4 speaker setups to switch between different audio speaker configurations without latency. This allows you to compare the sound on different speaker setups.
Audio file editing refers to opening, editing, and saving audio files.
Wave Window
The wave window in the Audio Editor displays audio files graphically. Here, you view, play back, and edit individual audio files.
Audio Editor Tabs
The tabs in the Audio Editor give you access to the tools and options you need to edit audio files.
File Handling in the Audio Editor
This section describes the principal editing operations within the Audio Editor.
Mixing Down – Audio Files Rendering
You can render regions of audio files or whole audio files to a single audio file format or to multiple audio file formats at the same time.
Changing the Audio Properties
You can change the sample rate and bit depth of audio files.
Metadata
Metadata consists of attributes that describe the audio contents, for example, the title of the track, the author, or the recording date of the track. Depending on the file format of the selected audio file, this data varies.
Snapshots
You can save a number of snapshots of your audio file, to capture the current scroll position, zoom factor, cursor position, and audio selection.
Silence Generator Dialog
This dialog allows you to insert silence or ambience sound in an audio file.
Replacing Audio with Tone
You can replace a part in an audio file with tone to cover a swear word, for example.
Waveform Restoration with the Pen Tool
The Pen tool allows you to redraw the waveform in the wave window. This can be used to quickly repair waveform errors. The Pen tool can be used if the zoom resolution is set to 1:8 (one pixel on the screen equals 8 samples) or higher.
WaveLab Pro provides you with a comprehensive set of tools for analyzing your audio and for detecting any errors.
Analyze Tab (Audio Editor)
The Analyze tab provides you with tools for analyzing your audio and for detecting any errors.
Global Analysis
In WaveLab Pro, you can perform advanced analysis on your audio to identify areas with specific properties. This helps you find problem areas such as glitches or clipped samples. You can also check general information, such as the pitch of a sound.
Audio File Comparator
You can compare audio files to find differences.
3D Frequency Analysis
Using the 3D Frequency Analysis, you can view an audio file in the frequency domain.
You can search for unwanted clicks and digital artifacts in an audio file. The detection and correction methods allow you to detect, mark and name, jump to, play back, and remove individual audio errors.
Correction Tab in the Audio Editor
Correcting Errors in Audio Files
You can correct errors in audio files in the Audio Editor.
Detecting Errors in Audio Files
WaveLab Pro allows you to automatically detect errors in audio files. You can then apply different error correction methods.
Offline processes are useful for a variety of editing purposes and creative effects, for example, if the computer is too slow for real-time processing or if the editing requires more than one pass.
Process Tab
The Process tab provides access to the offline processing tools.
Applying Processing
Processing can be applied to a selection or to a whole file. For some operations processing the entire file is necessary.
Gain Dialog
In this dialog, you can apply a gain to change the level of an audio file.
Level Normalizer Dialog
In this dialog, you can change the peak level of an audio file.
Loudness Normalizer
You can use the Loudness Normalizer to achieve a specific loudness.
Pan Normalizer Dialog
This dialog allows you to ensure that both channels of a stereo file have the same level or loudness, and helps you to get the best possible stereo balance.
Envelope Dialog
In this dialog, you can create a level envelope which can be applied to a selected range or a whole audio file. This is useful if you want to even-out loud and quiet parts or create a sophisticated fade in or fade out, for example.
Fades in Audio Files
A fade in is a gradual increase in level and a fade out is a gradual decrease in level.
Crossfades
A crossfade is a gradual fade between two sounds, where one is faded in and the other faded out. You can automatically create a crossfade when pasting an audio section into another.
Phase Inverting
Inverting the phase turns the signal upside down. The most common use for this function is to fix a stereo recording if one of the channels has been recorded out of phase with the other.
Reversing Audio
You can reverse an audio file or a part of an audio file as if playing a tape backwards.
DC Offset
DC offset means that there is a too large DC (direct current) component in the signal. This most often occurs due to mismatches between various types of recording equipment.
Time Stretching
Time stretching is an operation that allows you to change the length of a recording without affecting its pitch.
Pitch Shift
Pitch shift allows you to detect and to change the pitch of a sound, with or without affecting its length. This is useful for fixing an off-key vocal note in a live recording, or for tuning the pitch of a kick drum sample to fit a particular song, for example.
Pitch Bend
Pitch bend allows you to change the pitch of a sound over time.
Resample
You can change the sample rate of a recording. This is useful if the file that you want to use in an audio system was recorded at a sample rate that this system does not support.
Effect Morphing
Effect morphing allows you to smoothly morph from one effect to another, or from an unprocessed audio segment to a processed audio segment.
The audio montage is a multichannel and multitrack non-destructive editing environment that allows you to arrange, edit, play back, and record audio clips.
Montage Window
The montage window is where you assemble your audio montage. This is where you view, play back, and edit audio montages.
Audio Montage Tabs
The tabs in the Audio Montage window give you access to the tools and options you need for editing audio montages. For example, you can edit the envelope curves and fades in clips, make zoom settings, analyze the audio, and render the audio montage.
Signal Path in the Audio Montage
The audio signal passes through the various sections of WaveLab Pro in a certain way.
Creating Audio Montages
You can create new, empty audio montages with custom audio montage properties.
Audio Montage Duplicates
You can duplicate audio montages in various ways. This allows you to quickly create new audio montages using the same properties and audio files as previously created audio montages.
Audio Montage Properties
In the Audio Montage Properties, you can define the channel configuration (mono, stereo, surround, Ambisonics, multi mono, DVD-Audio), the audio channel layout, and the sample rate of the audio montage.
Import Options for Audio Montages
You can import different files into your audio montage, for example, audio files, audio montages, video files, and DDP images.
Broken Audio File References
An audio montage consists of references to one or multiple audio files. These references can be broken if you move audio files to another location on your hard disk, for example. WaveLab Pro detects broken references and allows you to specify new file locations or replace the missing audio file with another audio file.
Assembling the Audio Montage
You assemble your audio montage by adding tracks, clips, and lanes.
Multichannel Operations in the Audio Montage
You can open multichannel audio files in audio montages. Each track of the multichannel audio file is organized in channel clusters. A channel cluster is a logical group of channels. It is always one channel or a channel pair.
Clip Editing
All clips are displayed in the Clips window. In this window, you can edit and rearrange clips and drag them into the audio montage.
Audio Montages within Audio Montages
You can insert external audio montages in an audio montage or gather several clips of an audio montage to an internal sub-montage. This makes it easy to build large audio montages while hiding edit complexities inside other audio montages.
Managing Source Files of Clips
The Files window helps you to manage files that are used in the current audio montage.
Envelopes for Clips
For clips in the audio montage, you can create envelopes for volume and fades, for panning, and for effects that are routed to a clip.
Track Ducking
Ducking allows you to control the level of an audio track with another audio track.
Fades and Crossfades in Audio Montages
A fade in is a gradual increase in level and a fade out is a gradual decrease in level. A crossfade is a gradual fade between two sounds, where one is faded in and the other faded out.
Clip Time Stretching
You can adjust the length of a clip by using time stretching.
Clip Pitch Shifting
You can adjust the pitch of a clip by using pitch shifting.
Effects for Tracks, Track Groups, Clips, and the Montage Output
You can add VST effect plug-ins to individual clips, tracks, track groups, or the output of an audio montage. Clip effects affect individual clips only, track effects affect all clips on a track, track group effects affect all tracks of the track group, and the montage output affects the whole audio montage.
Reference Track
The reference track allows you to compare your mix to a reference audio file or input signal without latency.
CD Markers
A track in the audio montage is defined by CD track start and end markers or CD track splice markers.
CD Window
In this window, you can create an audio CD or DVD-Audio.
Mixing Down – The Render Function
The Render function allows you to mix down the whole audio montage or sections of it to a single audio file or to several files in case of a multichannel audio montage. It also allows you to render to an audio CD, to a CD image and cue sheet, or to a new audio montage.
Snapshots
You can save a number of snapshots of your audio montage, to capture the current scroll position, zoom factor, cursor position, audio selection, and clip selection status.
Loudness Meta Normalizer
This tool is a key mastering component to ensure that all songs get the same loudness and to prevent clipping. It allows you to adjust the loudness of each clip in the audio montage so that they all have the same loudness. It is also possible to adjust the loudness of the audio montage mixdown as well as the loudness at the Master Section output.
Navigator Window
This window displays an overview of the entire active audio montage and allows you to quickly navigate in it.
Notes Window
This window allows you to enter notes about the current audio montage session.
Audio Montage Backups
The audio montage backup mechanism allows you to maintain previous versions of saved audio montages and to automatically save audio montages.
Importing Audio CDs
You can import audio CD files. The imported audio CD opens as an audio montage.
XML Export and Import of Audio Montages
You can export and import audio montages as XML.
AES-31 Files Export and Import
The AES-31 standard is an open file interchange format for overcoming format incompatibility issues between different audio hardware and software. It can be used for transferring projects from one workstation to another, retaining time positions of events, fades, etc.
You can record audio in the Audio Editor and in the Audio Montage window.
Recording in the Audio Editor
Before you start recording, set up the Recording dialog.
Recording in the Audio Montage Window
You can record audio as clips in the audio montage.
Input Monitoring
Input monitoring means listening to the input signal after it travels through the effects while preparing to record or while recording. This allows you to listen to the effects that your WaveLab Pro setup has on your input signal.
Dropping Markers During Recording
When you are recording, you can click the marker buttons to add markers to the recorded file.
Live Input Rendering
You can monitor and render audio input through the Master Section. Optionally, you can add plug-ins to the live input rendering. You can also render multiple live input streams with different plug-ins and output formats in parallel.
The Master Section is the final block in the signal path before the audio is sent to the audio hardware, to an audio file, or to the audio meters. This is where you adjust the master levels, add effects, resample, and apply dithering.
Master Section Window
In this window, you can apply effect plug-ins, adjust the master level, apply dithering, and render the audio file or audio montage.
Bypassing the Master Section
By default, the Master Section is active. You can bypass it for each file individually or globally. If the Master Section is bypassed, only the Playback Processing pane of the Master Section is active during playback.
Rendering in the Master Section
By rendering the effects using the Render function in the Master Section, they become a permanent part of a file. So instead of performing all processing in real time during playback, you can save the audio output to a file on disk.
Smart Bypass
Smart bypass allows you to compare the original signal to the processed signal with a level correction applied to it. This function is particularly useful when you are making final level adjustments to a recording, for example, during mastering.
Master Section Presets
You can save all settings that are made in the Master Section as a preset and load the presets later.
Monitoring Background Tasks
When rendering, you can monitor the process, and pause or cancel tasks.
Dropouts
A dropout most likely occurs when your computer does not have the processing power to handle all used effect processors.
Ambisonics Mixes
WaveLab Pro can read and write multi mono audio files in the formats .wav, .amb, and .ambix. You can play back Ambisonics audio files in stereo or surround via the VST AmbiDecoder plug-in in the Master Section.
MixConvert V6
MixConvert V6 is a plug-in that converts one multi-channel audio source into another multi-channel destination. It is most frequently used to downmix a multi-channel surround mix into a format with fewer channels, for example, a 5.1 surround mix into a stereo mix.
Plug-in Output Channel Layout Dialog
You can specify the output channel layout for plug-ins when you insert the plug-ins to the Effects pane of the Master Section.
Markers allow you to save and name specific positions in a file. Markers are useful for editing and playback.
Marker Types
You can use different marker types to locate certain positions quickly.
Markers Window
In this window, you can create, edit, and use markers while working on an audio file or audio montage.
Creating Markers
You can create markers in the wave window and in the montage window, in stop mode or during playback. You can generate a sequence of markers or mark a selection range, for example. You can create specific markers if you already know what you want to mark, or create generic markers.
Deleting Markers
Markers can be deleted in the wave window or the montage window, in the Markers window, and in the Delete Markers dialog.
Moving Markers
You can adjust marker positions in the wave window and in the montage window.
Moving Multiple Markers
You can move multiple markers simultaneously whilst maintaining the relative distances between the markers.
Navigating to Markers
You can jump to the previous or next marker using the corresponding marker buttons.
Hiding Markers of a Specific Type
For a better overview, you can hide marker types.
Converting the Type of a Single Marker
You can convert markers of a specific type to another type.
Renaming Markers
You can change the names of markers.
Selecting Markers
There are several ways to select markers.
Selecting the Audio Between Markers
You can select the audio between two adjacent markers or between any two markers. This allows you to select a section that has been marked.
Binding Markers to Clips in the Audio Montage
In the Audio Montage window, you can bind markers to clips. By doing this, the marker remains in the same position, relative to the clip start/end, even if the clip is moved or resized in the audio montage.
Markers Import and Export
Markers can be exported into different output formats and imported via XML files.
How Marker Information is Saved
WaveLab Pro uses MRK files as a way to save marker information that is independent of the file format. However, to make marker information exchangeable between applications, WaveLab Pro also saves some information in the Wave headers.
WaveLab Pro contains a variety of audio meters that you can use for monitoring and analyzing audio. Meters can be used to monitor audio during playback, rendering, and recording. Furthermore, you can use them to analyze audio sections when playback is stopped.
Meter Windows
WaveLab Pro contains a variety of audio meters that you can use for monitoring and analyzing audio. Meters can be used to monitor audio during playback, rendering, and recording. Furthermore, you can use them to analyze audio sections when playback is stopped.
Real-Time vs. Non-Real-Time Metering
Metering can be used to measure audio in real time, that is, while the audio is being played back, or in non-real-time, that is, in stop mode.
Metering Monitor Modes
You can choose which audio source to monitor and select a mode for displaying information in the meters.
Meter Settings
You can set up most meters in the corresponding settings dialogs. For example, you can adjust the behavior, scale, and color of the meters.
Multichannel Metering
WaveLab Pro features 8 audio channels that can be routed to inputs and outputs on a multi i/o audio card. The audio montage supports various surround channel configurations using up to 8 channels.
Resetting the Meters
You can reset the display of some meters, for example, the Level Meter.
Using Presets in the Meter Windows
You can save the settings that you have made for a meter window as a preset. By assigning presets to preset buttons, you can quickly switch between different level scales and display modes, for example.
Level Meter
The Level Meter displays the peak and average loudness/decibel levels of your audio file, and the balance between the left and right channels in a stereo file.
Loudness Meter
The Loudness Meter is an audio meter for monitoring loudness, according to the EBU R-128 standard.
Phasescope
The Phasescope indicates the phase and amplitude relationship between two stereo channels.
Spectroscope
The Spectroscope shows a graphical representation of the frequency spectrum, analyzed into 60 separate frequency bands, represented as vertical bars.
Spectrometer
The Spectrometer uses FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) techniques to display a frequency graph, providing a precise and detailed real-time frequency analysis.
Live Spectrogram
The Live Spectrogram shows the last seconds of the audio stream. This allows you to detect disturbances in the spectrogram, and monitor the noise level and frequencies, for example.
Bit Meter
The Bit Meter shows how many bits are used.
Oscilloscope
The Oscilloscope offers a highly magnified view of the waveform around the playback cursor position.
Wavescope
The Wavescope meter displays a real-time waveform drawing of the audio signal being monitored. It can be useful when recording or rendering a file if File Rendering metering monitoring mode is active.
In WaveLab Pro, you can author a DVD-Audio from a collection of audio montages and write it to DVD-Audio.
Structure of a DVD-Audio Project
You structure your DVD-Audio projects in groups.
DVD-Audio Formats
A DVD-Audio project can contain audio in a variety of resolutions.
DVD-Audio Format Considerations
There are two main considerations when planning a DVD-Audio project: the total size of the album and the highest allowable data rate for a group.
DVD-Audio Window
In this window, you can author DVD-Audio and write it to DVD.
Creating a DVD-Audio
Opening Audio Montages inside DVD-Audio Projects for Editing
There are several ways to open an audio montage of a DVD-Audio project for editing in the Audio Montage window.
Checking the DVD-Audio Conformity
Before rendering the DVD-Audio project, you can use the Check Conformity function to make sure that the settings conform to the DVD-Audio standard. This is also done automatically before writing to disk.
To start the CD/DVD writing process, you must have completed all CD/DVD writing preparations. Refer to the description about DVD-Audio, and CD window for a description of the preparations before following the instructions here.
Write Audio CD or DDP Dialog
In this dialog, you can write your audio CD project and audio montage to audio CD or DDP image.
Erase Optical Media Dialog
In this dialog, you can quickly or fully erase an optical disc before writing.
Write Audio Montages
You can write audio montages to an audio CD or a DDP image.
Write DVD-Audio Function
Before writing an audio montage to DVD-Audio, the contents of the DVD-Audio project must be rendered to an AUDIO_TS folder. This folder is automatically added to a Data CD/DVD project, from which you can start the actual writing operation.
Writing an Audio CD from a DDP Image
You can write a CD from a DDP image that you have previously created with WaveLab Pro or another application.
Data CD/DVD Projects
A data CD/DVD project can be used to compile and write a data-only CD, DVD, Blu-ray, or to write to ISO image. You can enter a name for your disc and change the disc file structure before writing your data to a CD, DVD, Blu-ray, or ISO image.
Audio CD Formats
Knowing background information on the CD format helps you better understand how to create your own CDs.
Spectral editing allows you to edit and process individual frequency ranges instead of the full frequency spectrum.
Spectrogram
The Spectrogram in the wave window shows the frequency spectrum in relation to time.
Wavelet Display
The Wavelet display shows a higher time resolution in high frequencies and a higher frequency resolution in lower frequencies.
Spectrogram Options Dialog
The Spectrogram Options dialog allows you to define how the frequency spectrum is displayed in the Spectrogram and in the Wavelet display.
Spectrum Tab
The Spectrum tab allows you to use high-quality linear-phase filters to process a spectrum range selection for audio restoration and processing.
Spectrum Processing
Spectrum processing can be used to process short regions of up to 60 seconds offline. This type of processing can be used to reduce, remove, or replace unwanted sound artifacts in the audio material with great precision.
Audio Inpainting
The Audio Inpainting algorithm allows you to remove or attenuate sounds in the spectrum. Audio inpainting restores a spectrum selection based on the content of the surrounding region.
Spectrum Watermark
You can transcode text and pictures in the spectrum and thereby define a watermark. Other spectrogram applications are able to display the watermarks. The watermarks are compatible with lossy encodings.
Master Section Processing
Master Section mode allows you to process an individual frequency range via the Master Section.
The auto split function allows you to automatically split audio files in the Audio Editor or clips in the Audio Montage window according to specific rules.
Auto Split in Audio Files
You can use the auto split function, for example, to split a recorded audio file into single takes, to split a drum loop into its individual drum hit samples, to output individual tracks from an album master file, or to silence the regions between audio information in an instrumental take.
Auto Split in Audio Montages
You can use the auto split function to split the active clip. You can use the auto split function in many situations, for example, to split a single clip of a recording into separate takes, to split a drum loop into its individual drum hit samples, to output individual tracks from an album master file, or to silence the regions between audio information in an instrumental take.
Looping a sound allows you to repeat a section of the sample indefinitely in order to create a sustain of unlimited length. Instrumental sounds in samplers rely on looping organ sounds, for example.
Creating Loops
You can loop the audio selection or use loop markers and tweak the loop during playback.
Loop Refinement
A basic loop can contain clicks or abrupt changes in timbre at the turning point. To create a seamless loop, you can refine the loop. Use the Loop Tweaker dialog to tweak an existing loop selection so that it loops perfectly or use it to create a loop from material which is not perfectly suited to create a loop.
Looping Audio Which Is Not Very Well Suited for Looping
Sounds that constantly decay in level or continuously change in timbre are difficult to loop. The Loop Tone Uniformizer dialog allows you to create loops from these kinds of sounds.
Sample Attributes
Sample attributes allow you to define settings for an audio sample before loading it into a hardware or software sampler.
In WaveLab Pro, you can generate synthesized sounds and DTMF or MF tones.
Signal Generator
The Signal Generator allows you to generate complex synthesized sounds in mono or stereo.
DTMF Generator
With the DTMF Generator you can generate DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) or MF tones as used by analog telephone systems.
You can read audio tracks from regular CDs and save them as a digital copy in any audio format on your hard disk.
Import Audio CD Dialog
In this dialog, you can import one or more tracks from an audio CD.
Importing Audio CD Tracks
You can import audio from audio CDs into WaveLab Pro projects.
Searching Track Names on the Internet
You can search for information about your CDs using the gnudb database of CD information.
Submitting Track Names to the Internet
You can submit information about an audio CD to the gnudb database of CD information.
Ultra-Safe Mode
Sometimes, a small bit of a CD track is not properly retrieved which results in unpleasant clicks and pops in the audio. This depends on the quality of your CD drive. To solve this issue, you can activate the Ultra-Safe Mode in the Import Audio CD dialog options.
Converting Audio CD Tracks to an Audio Montage
You can convert audio CD tracks to an audio montage.
WaveLab Pro allows you to add video files to your audio montage. You can play back video files in various formats from within WaveLab Pro, extract the audio from a video file, and edit your audio alongside the video.
Video Track
The video track in the audio montage allows you to add video files to your audio montage.
Video Clip Editing
A video clip is created automatically when you import a video file to an audio montage.
Video Window
If you import a video to your audio montage and start playback, the video plays back in the Video window. You can resize the Video window and undock it to place it on another screen, for example.
Video File Compatibility
When working with video files in WaveLab Pro, you must make sure that the video file type is supported.
Video Frame Rates
WaveLab Pro supports different video and film frame rates. The video frame rate must match the audio montage frame rate.
You can use WaveLab Pro as an external editor for Cubase Pro, Cubase Artist, and Nuendo, and vice versa.
WaveLab Pro as External Editor for Cubase/Nuendo
You can open Cubase/Nuendo events in WaveLab Pro. This allows you to use the editing capabilities of WaveLab Pro and apply them to Cubase/Nuendo events.
Cubase/Nuendo as External Editor for WaveLab Pro
When you are working on an audio file or clip in WaveLab Pro, you can open the project of the audio file in Cubase/Nuendo. This allows you to correct issues that you have identified during mixing and correct these issues in the audio file in Cubase/Nuendo.
Batch processing in WaveLab Pro allows you to process any number of audio files or audio montage files with Master Section plug-ins and presets, offline effects, and other plug-ins that are unique to batch processing.
Batch Processor Window
This window allows you to process any number of audio files or audio montages with Master Section plug-ins and presets, offline effects, and other plug-ins.
Offline Processors
There are several different types of plug-ins that can be applied to a batch process.
Working with the Batch Processor
You can batch process audio files or audio montage files with Master Section plug-ins and presets, offline effects, and other plug-ins that are unique to batch processing.
Watch Folders
Watch Folders can be used to automate batch processing tasks. By copying files into a Watch Folder, a predefined batch processor is automatically applied to these files.
XML Files in Batch Processing
WaveLab Pro can read information from XML files, such as audio file location and metadata. WaveLab Pro can also write information to XML or HTML files, such as custom data, metadata, and audio analysis.
You can convert multiple audio files simultaneously to another format. If no processing is needed, this can be done using the Batch Conversion dialog.
Batch Conversion Dialog
This dialog allows you to convert the file format of a group of audio files.
Batch Converting Files
You can convert multiple audio files to another format in a single batch operation.
With the batch renaming functions, you can batch rename multiple files, markers, and clips. You can convert, remove, format, import, and insert text. This allows you to batch rename file names according to user specified rules.
Batch Renaming Dialog
The pages of the Batch Renaming dialog for files, clips, and markers share most features, with some differences.
Batch Renaming Files
You can batch rename multiple files according to specified settings.
Batch Renaming Markers
You can batch rename multiple markers in audio files or audio montages according to specified settings.
Batch Renaming Clips
You can batch rename multiple clips according to specified settings.
Renaming Operation Categories and Types
On the second page of the Batch Renaming dialog, you set up the renaming operation that you want to perform for clips, files, or markers.
List of Renaming Operations
In this section on the Operation page of the Batch Renaming dialog, you can create, delete, and arrange renaming operations.
Preview Section
In this section on the Operation page of the Batch Renaming dialog, you can preview the result of the selected renaming operation.
Range Parameters
The range parameters on the Operation page of the Batch Renaming dialog allow you to specify where in the name the operation is performed.
Previewing and Performing All Renaming Operations
On the last page of the Batch Renaming dialog, you can see how all the selected file, clip, or marker names are changed before you start the batch renaming. Note that if the name contains a random item, this item name will most likely be different in the preview.
Regular Expressions
A regular expression is a formula composed of characters that have special meanings (called operators). Other characters are plain letters and numbers that are searched for. The search engine browses the target text one character at a time and stops as soon as it finds a sequence of characters that matches the regular expression.
A Podcast is an episodic series that consists of audio files. Users can stream or download Podcasts to their device and listen to it. WaveLab Pro with its audio editing tools and effects allows you to create Podcast episodes and upload these episodes to various host services.
Podcast Host Services
Podcast host services allow you to host and distribute Podcasts. WaveLab Pro allows you to directly upload your Podcast to various host services.
File Encoding before Uploading to Host Services
If the audio file or audio montage that you want to upload to a host service is a non-encoded audio file, you can encode the audio file. Some host services only accept encoded audio files. Encoded audio file formats are MP3, MP4, M4A, or MP2, for example.
Uploading a Podcast Episode
You can upload the audio that you have created in the Audio Editor or in the Audio Montage window as a Podcast episode.
Publish Tab
The Publish tab allows you to select the host service to which you want to upload your Podcast episode. You can select different host services and select the encoder for the audio file that you want to upload.
Podcasting is a method of distributing multimedia files over the Internet, for example, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. Podcasts are distributed via the RSS standard (Rich Site Summary).
RSS Feed Editor
The RSS Feed Editor is divided into several tabs. The Feed and Episodes sections show the information for the feed or an episode, depending on the item that is selected in the list below. This is where you can add files, Internet links, or textual information to the RSS feed and its episodes. The Main section shows an item list of the basic feed and all episodes that are included in the RSS feed.
Global RSS Feed Options
Some additional options are valid for all RSS Feed tabs.
Creating an RSS Feed
There are several ways to create a new RSS feed or episode.
Setting Up an FTP for RSS Feed Publishing
To be able to upload a RSS feeds to your FTP server, you must enter the FTP server details first.
Publishing RSS Feeds
You can upload an RSS feed from within WaveLab Pro to your FTP server.
Checking If Publishing the RSS Feed Was Successful
After creating and publishing an RSS feed, you can check if the upload was successful.
Customizing means making settings so that the program behaves and looks the way that you want it to.
Workspace Layout
Workspace layouts are used for creating various work displays for different situations.
Customizing the Wave Window and the Montage Window
You can set up the wave/montage window by adjusting colors of waveforms, background, cursor lines, etc., and changing the look of the ruler and other window details.
Customizing Shortcuts
In WaveLab Pro, you can control many functions via shortcuts to speed up your workflow. You can edit existing shortcuts and create new shortcuts.
Customizing Command Bars
You can hide or show individual command bar buttons. This way you can customize command bars by removing unwanted commands.
Plug-in Organization
WaveLab Pro comes with various plug-ins, and additional plug-ins can be added. To retain an overview over the plug-ins that are relevant to your project, you can organize your plug-ins in groups.
Variables and Text Snippets
You can define and use custom variables and text snippets, or use auto variables in various places in WaveLab Pro, for example, in the Metadata dialog.
Scripting
WaveLab Pro contains a powerful scripting language to help advanced users create their own scripts to automate tasks. Using basic scripts can be useful for automating repetitive editing tasks such as trimming and cropping a file at specific times, for example.
Touch Bar (macOS only)
The Touch Bar at the top of your keyboard gives you shortcuts to the WaveLab Pro functions. The Touch Bar changes automatically based on where you are in WaveLab Pro and offers a subset of the available options. You can customize the Touch Bar according to your needs.
You can configure WaveLab Pro according to your needs.
Global Preferences
Global Preferences are preferences that apply throughout WaveLab Pro. Before you start working with WaveLab Pro, it is recommended to edit these preferences according to your needs.
Audio Files Preferences
This dialog allows you to define settings for editing in the Audio Editor. However, these settings also affect other parts of WaveLab Pro. You can choose defaults for editing and playback, adjust the visual appearance of the waveform displays, and determine how WaveLab Pro works with audio and peak files.
Audio Montages Preferences
This dialog allows you to set up general parameters for all audio montages or for the active audio montage only.
Synchronizing WaveLab Pro Settings on Several Computers
You can make some reference settings available to other WaveLab Pro installations. These settings can then be used by other WaveLab Pro workstations to keep the settings synchronized on several computers.
Multi-User Settings
If you use multiple WaveLab Pro stations in your studio or in your school, for administration, etc., you can set up one WaveLab Pro station to be the master station. The shared preferences and presets of this station can then be used by other slave stations.
External Editors
You can integrate external editors, for example, SpectraLayers, Melodyne 4, or Izotope RX, into your WaveLab Pro workflow. This allows you to modify audio files and clips in one or more external editors directly from within your current WaveLab Pro session.
Alternative External File Browser
By default, WaveLab Pro uses the file browser of your operating system when you browse for audio files, for example. However, you can specify an alternative external file browser in the Preferences.
External Tools
You can configure external tools to work with WaveLab Pro. You can pass command line arguments on to the external tools so that they can process the current file/folder on which you are working, or the settings folder of WaveLab Pro.