SADiE vs WaveLab
SADiE
sadie.com
WaveLab
steinberg.netSide by side
| Figure | SADiE | WaveLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Game Audio Editors | 7.4 (#22) | 8.3 (#9) |
| Spec score · Audio editors for voice | 7.3 (#10) | 8.4 (#5) |
| Spec score · Audio editors | 7.4 (#24) | 8.9 (#2) |
| Spec score · Audio Editing Software | 7.4 (#103) | 9.1 (#4) |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Headquarters | Ely, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom | Hamburg, Germany |
| Purpose | SADiE is digital multitrack audio recording, editing, mixing, and mastering software. | WaveLab is an audio mastering and editing suite with audio editing, audio montage, batch processing, and spectral editing tools. |
| Support | Support is available through manuals and online help, a technical-support query form, phone and email contacts, and SADiE dealers. | Steinberg’s imprint says technical support is available only to registered users. |
Plans
WaveLab
- WaveLab LEFree
- WaveLab Elements 13$99.99, paid once
- WaveLab Pro 13$499.99, paid once
In their own words
SADiE
SADiE is Windows software for multitrack audio recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. Listed workflows include radio drama and documentary production, film and television post-production, location recording, broadcast trucks, studio and field recording, and mastering. SADiE 6 packages provide playlist, trim, region, three-to-four-point, and speech editors, with VST and DirectX plug-in support. The system works with Broadcast WAV, WAV, and Macintosh AIFF files, plus PC- or Mac-formatted discs and standard networks. It supports Prism Sound interfaces and Windows soundcards using ASIO or WDM drivers. Integration with SCISYS dira! supports centrally managed radio programmes, schedules, multi-user and multi-site work, and playout. File interchange includes AES31 and SADiE 5.6, with OMF and AAF as options. Mirror recording to dual hard disks and automatic edit-file backups address recovery. The free edition costs nothing and is separate from fully licensed systems, with fewer legacy features and hardware options.
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.