Soundop vs WaveLab
Soundop
ivosight.com
WaveLab
steinberg.netSide by side
| Figure | Soundop | WaveLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.25/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 3 |
| Spec score · Audio editors | 8.4 (#6) | 8.9 (#2) |
| Spec score · Audio Editing Software | 8.3 (#32) | 9.1 (#4) |
| Spec score · Game Audio Editors | 7.9 (#15) | 8.3 (#9) |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Multitrack editing | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Ivosight offers support tickets, a user forum, and email contacts for sales, technical support, and bug reports. | Steinberg’s imprint says technical support is available only to registered users. |
| Supported platforms | Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11 | Windows, macOS |
| System requirements | The download page lists Windows 8, Windows 10, or Windows 11 and a Windows-compatible audio device, with an ASIO-compatible device recommended. | The current product page lists Windows 10 22H2 or newer, Windows 11 24H2 or newer, macOS 14–26, four or more CPU cores, 8 GB RAM, 2 GB core-install space and a 1440×900 minimum display. |
| Third-party plugins | Yes | Yes |
Plans
Soundop
- Annual Plan$2.99 a month
- Monthly Plan$14.99 a month
- One Year License$35.90 a year
- Annual Subscription$2.99 a year
- Monthly Subscription$14.99 a month
- 1-Year License$35.90, paid once
- Perpetual License + Lifetime Updates$99, paid once
WaveLab
- WaveLab LEFree
- WaveLab Elements 13$99.99, paid once
- WaveLab Pro 13$499.99, paid once
In their own words
Soundop
Soundop is a Windows audio workstation for recording, editing, mixing, and processing audio. Its Audio File Editor supports waveform and spectral editing; the Multitrack Editor mixes unlimited audio and bus tracks. Processing includes built-in effects and VST and VST3 plug-ins, with automation, routing, sends, side-chain processing, and automatic latency compensation. Recording supports ASIO, WASAPI, MME, and DirectSound drivers, up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Soundop imports common audio and video formats, exports major audio formats, and handles metadata such as ID3 tags, RIFF chunks, Vorbis comments, and ACID loops. It also includes audio CD burning with customizable track gaps and post-burn verification, plus batch processing for multiple files and concurrent tasks. The fully functional trial lasts 7 days; afterward, Demo mode has no time limit but mutes exported audio for 500 milliseconds every 15 seconds. Prices include $2.99 per month billed annually, $14.99 per month billed monthly, and $35.90 per year.
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.