SpectraLayers Pro vs WaveLab
SpectraLayers Pro
steinberg.net
WaveLab
steinberg.netSide by side
| Figure | SpectraLayers Pro | WaveLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Audio Editing Software | 8.3 (#29) | 9.1 (#4) |
| Spec score · Audio editors | 8.0 (#12) | 8.9 (#2) |
| Spec score · Game Audio Editors | 7.6 (#17) | 8.3 (#9) |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Headquarters | Hamburg, Germany | Hamburg, Germany |
| Integrations | The Pro 12 manual lists external-editor support for Ableton Live, Apple Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, Cockos Reaper, DaVinci Resolve, FL Studio, MAGIX ACID Pro and Vegas Pro, KONTAKT, REAKTOR, HALion, and Tracktion Waveform. | 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. |
| What it does | SpectraLayers represents sounds as visual objects for spectral audio editing, repair, restoration, and sound design. | WaveLab is Steinberg software for audio editing, restoration, analysis, mastering and publishing, with separate Audio Editor, Audio Montage, batch-processing and Dolby Atmos workspaces. |
Plans
SpectraLayers Pro
- SpectraLayers Pro 13 UpgradePrice not published
- SpectraLayers Pro 13$359.99, paid once
WaveLab
- WaveLab LEFree
- WaveLab Elements 13$99.99, paid once
- WaveLab Pro 13$499.99, paid once
In their own words
SpectraLayers Pro
SpectraLayers Pro is a spectral audio editor that presents sound as visual objects for editing, repair, restoration, and sound design. Pro 13 adds Unmix Sound Effects to separate short sounds from continuous backgrounds such as wind, crowds, traffic, and nature. Ambience Heal fills gaps using ambience from the source layer, while Reconstruct resynthesizes selected spectral data. Voice DeClick removes mouth noises, and Voice DeCrosstalk isolates unwanted voices from a target voice. The software supports batch processing and can run standalone or as an external editor. Listed integrations include Ableton Live, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Reaper, DaVinci Resolve, FL Studio, ACID Pro, Vegas Pro, KONTAKT, REAKTOR, HALion, and Tracktion Waveform; edited audio can be returned to the calling app. Pro 13 supports specified recent macOS releases on Intel and Apple silicon, and Windows 10 or 11 64-bit from version 21H2; Windows 11 on Arm requires 24H2 or later. A free trial is available, but no free plan or price is listed.
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.