Raxx Studio vs WaveLab
Raxx Studio
raxxstudio.com
WaveLab
steinberg.netSide by side
| Figure | Raxx Studio | WaveLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 6 | 3 |
| Spec score · Audio Editing Software | 8.4 (#25) | 9.1 (#4) |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Headquarters | Wellington, Florida, USA | Hamburg, Germany |
| Integrations | The app supports installed Audio Unit and VST3 plugins through pedalboard hosting. | WaveLab supports third-party VST3 plug-ins, external audio editors and hardware devices, and WaveLab Pro can operate as an ARA extension in compatible applications. |
| Multitrack editing | Yes | Yes |
| Support | The support page lists email help and says most messages are answered within 1 business day, Monday through Friday, US Eastern. | Steinberg’s imprint says technical support is available only to registered users. |
| Supported platforms | Web browser and macOS desktop app | Windows, macOS |
| Third-party plugins | Yes | Yes |
Plans
Raxx Studio
- FreeFree
- 5 GBPrice not published
- 25 GBPrice not published
- 100 GBPrice not published
- FreeFree
- ProPriced on request
WaveLab
- WaveLab LEFree
- WaveLab Elements 13$99.99, paid once
- WaveLab Pro 13$499.99, paid once
In their own words
Raxx Studio
Raxx Studio is a browser-based multitrack DAW for recording or importing audio, mixing, mastering, and exporting a lossless master and stems. Its reference-matching engine analyzes a reference track’s tonal balance, dynamic range, and loudness to guide mix decisions. Editing tools include comping, clip splitting, crossfades, time-stretch, and a piano-roll MIDI editor. The plug-in rack includes tape, tube, and FET compression, de-essing, pitch correction, and an SSL-style channel strip; installed Audio Unit and VST3 plugins can also be hosted through pedalboard hosting. Automated mastering offers delivery targets for Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and club playback, with true-peak limiting and integrated LUFS metering. Collaborators can join live sessions and leave timestamped clip notes. Sessions autosave continuously, and project snapshots are versioned. Recordings and autosaves are stored in the browser, and audio stays on the user’s machine unless uploaded. The service runs in a web browser and has a macOS desktop app. Its Free plan costs nothing and includes 3 mixes per month, with MP3 export carrying a watermark.
WaveLab
WaveLab is an audio mastering and editing suite for Windows and macOS. Its tools cover audio editing, audio montage, batch processing, and spectral editing, with multitrack editing, noise reduction, and video synchronization also listed. It supports VST 3 plug-ins from other manufacturers. The edition comparison lists podcasting integrations with SoundCloud, Spreaker, Podbean, Buzzsprout, and Castos, and says Pro and Elements can replace audio in video.
WaveLab Pro 13 includes Dolby Atmos mastering tools for ADM file editing, loudness control, and album assembly. It supports sample rates up to 384 kHz and more than 1,000 audio tracks; Elements 13 supports up to 96 kHz and eight tracks. Downloads are listed for Windows 10 64-bit version 22H2 or newer, Windows 11 version 24H2 or newer, and macOS 14, 15, or 26. The pricing note is From $99.99 · 60-day trial. A free WaveLab LE copy is available with qualifying hardware and a Download Access Code. The Pro trial requires signing in or creating a Steinberg ID.