Wavelab Mastering workflow.....

[Dude Masters]

Not looking for settings, just curious as to how folks that use wavelab, I have version 5 and 6 and wondered how WL users set theirs up for mastering........

Open a montage and insert files into that? As for fx do you assign them in the montage or to the master effects list to the right?

Or

Just open a track with wavelab and use the master effects list to the right?

I have not done much ITB mastering with wavelab and wanted to tinker with it.........

Sequoia user here.....

Thanks!

[dynomike]

I'll usually use the master effects to the right, render to a new file at 16/44.1 and save the effects for each track by their track number and title in an effects bank (or whatever its called) under the artist or album title. Then load up the next file in the sequence (or whatever makes the most sense musically, if you already know the material) and tweak from there, and save as another preset in the effects bank.

[Bob Yordan]

Hiya

I never got the 'OTB scenarios' working with Wavelab 6. I wanted to be able to use OTB & ITB effects in any random order in the master effects rack (to the right).

So I use other software when mastering with OTB & ITB mixed.

WL6 is nice when doing ITB mastering though. I have never used the montage, only the 2 track mastering.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Use montage for the final CD order and to put in the track markers and to burn the master CD.

Use the WAVE window for mastering.

Wavelab is our DAW of choice for mastering.

We have used it since version 1.6.

We use it with and external rack of equipment by playing back in WL and routing the output to the outboard rack through our Zsystems AES router and then back in to WL to record it. Works great and you can use plug-ins and external effects together with no problems (except that the plug-ins need to be used first in line and then the external rack). Latest versions of WL has a way to put an external rack into the effects rack like it was a plugin but our RME sound card does not have enough AES inputs and outputs to work with WL in this configuration.

You might want to post your question here Cubase.net ::: View Forum - WaveLab Lots of helpful people and PG, the author of WL, will also answer questions.

GREAT PROGRAM GREAT USERS FORUM

[Dude Masters]

Thanks! I knew I was close, just wanted to have another option in the old toaster box to burn to final cd. I do a bit of ITB not alot but wanted that as an option too vs OTB.

I appreciate it, thanks again.....

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by Dude Masters

Not looking for settings, just curious as to how folks that use wavelab, I have version 5 and 6 and wondered how WL users set theirs up for mastering........

Open a montage and insert files into that? As for fx do you assign them in the montage or to the master effects list to the right?

Or

Just open a track with wavelab and use the master effects list to the right?

I have not done much ITB mastering with wavelab and wanted to tinker with it.........

Sequoia user here.....

Thanks!

I use two instances of WL.
1st to play original mixes through sound card #1 & routed to analog chain. I then capture to the second sound card/instance of WL. On capture I'll use the audio input of the master section & the playback output in the record dialog. This way i can load plugins on the master section as the last in the "analog chain" & monitor the final result.

After processing all the tunes throughout the analog chain I'll open the montage(the best feature of WL)
Line up the songs. do non destructive edits,fades,etc if needed. add track markers. If I need to further tweak a song, I'll right click on the clip & add an effect. At this point I'll only add dither to the master fader render a new montage/cue sheet/wave file. to burn the master from.
Ed

[Dude Masters]

Thanks Ed! and all, definitely changing to this for final assembly........

[Franco]

Sorry for the brief hijack, but with Wavelab, can you automate levels using the montage setup, and does it support MIDI controllers, like the Mackie MCU?

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by Franco

Sorry for the brief hijack, but with Wavelab, can you automate levels using the montage setup, and does it support MIDI controllers, like the Mackie MCU?

You can draw levels and yes you can use some midi controllers IF you want to take the time to program WL for the actions that you need.

We have been after PG to integrate USB or Firewire controllers into WL but so far no luck!

[lm66]

Typically, my WL chain looks like that : 2 PCs, PC1 with WL6 reading original file in editor mode > UAD-1 plugins on master section if needed > D/A (HEDD) > analog chain with EQ/Comp/Limiter or anything I need > A/D (again HEDD) > Creamware soundcard Dither if needed > PC2 with WL5 recording (16/44.1) in editor mode.

Then, after checking them individually, I import files in WL audio montage for building the premaster CD and the reference CD.

Of course 2 PCs are'nt really necessary to work the same manner, but I like to work this way...

[Thor]

Love your Avatar, Dude.

(great flick, too!)

Thor

Originally Posted by Dude Masters

Thanks Ed! and all, definitely changing to this for final assembly........

[aivoryuk]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

Use montage for the final CD order and to put in the track markers and to burn the master CD.

Use the WAVE window for mastering.

Thats the way I use Wavelab as well, been using wavelab since ver 2.0

[diamondjim]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

You can draw levels and yes you can use some midi controllers IF you want to take the time to program WL for the actions that you need.

We have been after PG to integrate USB or Firewire controllers into WL but so far no luck!

Interestingly the Alphatrack sort of works with WL6, at least I can start and stop play without using the mouse. Have not explored all of the functionality yet.

And I ended up using WL in a similar manner, exporting a 2-track out of SONAR at 24 bit, tweaking the wav in WL, rendering with dither to 16 bit, and saving these mastered tracks for use in the montage for arranging the song and applying the CD track markers. Works great for this.

[Andy Krehm]

Originally Posted by ed littman

I use two instances of WL.
1st to play original mixes through sound card #1 & routed to analog chain. I then capture to the second sound card/instance of WL. On capture I'll use the audio input of the master section & the playback output in the record dialog. ...Ed

Can the 2nd instance be a different sample rate?

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by Andy Krehm

Can the 2nd instance be a different sample rate?

Yes, no problem...
Ed

[craneshock]

two different sound cards simultaneously on the same PC possible?

[Greg Reierson]

My set up:

1) assemble files sequentially on one panel in a montage
2) apply corrective DSP if needed (de-essing, EQ)
3) open sound file in Wave window for de-clicking or any other destructive processes if needed
4) DA out to analog chain for primary EQ and dynamics
5) AD back into WL
6) assemble processed song on a second panel beneath the source song
7) proceed through rest of songs, using previous tracks for reference
8) when finished, copy processed songs into a new master montage template
9) final level tweaks, edits, marks, fades, etc.
10) apply safety limiter and dither in master panel
11) cut masters

I used to use two machines but I really like this method better since I can keep all source and destination files in one folder on one machine.


GR

[Mike Couzzi]

1) assemble files sequentially on one panel in a montage
2) apply corrective DSP if needed (de-essing, EQ)
3) open sound file in Wave window for de-clicking or any other destructive processes if needed
4) DA out to analog chain for primary EQ and dynamics
5) AD back into WL
6) assemble processed song on a second panel beneath the source song
7) proceed through rest of songs, using previous tracks for reference
8) when finished, copy processed songs into a new master montage template
9) final level tweaks, edits, marks, fades, etc.
10) apply safety limiter and dither in master panel
11) cut masters

I used to use two machines but I really like this method better since I can keep all source and destination files in one folder on one machine.


GR

I do it the same way.
Greg do you use the ASIO external patch to output and recapture the Audio?
Mike Couzzi
www.mikecouzzimastering

[bmanic]

Originally Posted by craneshock

two different sound cards simultaneously on the same PC possible?

Yes it is. I've even had 3 of them at the same time. Doesn't work with ASIO though. You'll need to use the Directshow or MME driver.. or whatever it is called now.

Cheers!
bManic

[Greg Reierson]

Originally Posted by Mike Couzzi

I do it the same way.
Greg do you use the ASIO external patch
www.mikecouzzimastering

Yes. Works well.

[manman]

two different sound cards simultaneously on the same PC possible?

I have RME Fireface 800 ASIO and Maudio Delta 192 as asio

both work the same Time on same PC no problem.

I can Run pro tools and record to RME etc.

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by Mike Couzzi

I do it the same way.
Greg do you use the ASIO external patch to output and recapture the Audio?
Mike Couzzi
www.mikecouzzimastering

I Use three instances of WL6
1.Source- montage of original mixes routed to RME 9632 set to mme-spdif out autosync. (plays any sample rate automatically) Routs to analog chain.

2.Capture- using the audio input plug, input set to playback output (to mointor whats beeing recorded).Can load plugins at the end of my analog chain. RME AES32 set to ASIO channel 1 & 2. Clocked to my Lavry Gold ADC

3. Assemble- processed songs in a 2nd montage. RME AES32 set to ASIO channel 3 & 4 for playback. Easy to compare what I'm doing to what has been done. Clocked to the Lavry Gold ADC.

This has been a very stable set up for many years & I essentially can quickly A/B/C each instance as needed.

When I last got a new computer the latest RME drivers would gang the cards together so they would not be asynchronous....huge problem. I had to find older drivers that set up the cards independantly...

Ed

[craneshock]

thanks, thought that the drivers affecting the quality of recording and thought it was better to work with ASIO

as is done to open multiple instances of WaveLab? I've tried but only one opens, it takes the two cards or one can open multiple instances?

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by craneshock

thanks, thought that the drivers affecting the quality of recording and thought it was better to work with ASIO

as is done to open multiple instances of WaveLab? I've tried but only one opens, it takes the two cards or one can open multiple instances?

Tools>open a new WL application.
option>preferences> audio device> chose card/routing.

Ed

[craneshock]

thanks, was looking on google

I managed to open two instances, I have a card with 4 ins, 4 outs, in one instance I have the drivers NME, out 3 / 4, and in the other instance dirvers ASIO, entry 3 / 4 and output 1 / 2, you can do this?the signal leaves, but instance ASIO does not record anything or sounds

[Table Of Tone]

I use the audiocube version of WL for capture!

Nothing touches it!

[Fat larry]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

Use montage for the final CD order and to put in the track markers and to burn the master CD.

Use the WAVE window for mastering.

Wavelab is our DAW of choice for mastering.

We have used it since version 1.6.

We use it with and external rack of equipment by playing back in WL and routing the output to the outboard rack through our Zsystems AES router and then back in to WL to record it. Works great and you can use plug-ins and external effects together with no problems (except that the plug-ins need to be used first in line and then the external rack). Latest versions of WL has a way to put an external rack into the effects rack like it was a plugin but our RME sound card does not have enough AES inputs and outputs to work with WL in this configuration.

You might want to post your question here Cubase.net ::: View Forum - WaveLab Lots of helpful people and PG, the author of WL, will also answer questions.

GREAT PROGRAM GREAT USERS FORUM

The steinberg forum is a bit slow so;
Where do you do your editing, Say for example you have to replace a section that has a click with another unclicked section?
Whilst everyone uses it diferently i have found some features that are easier to do in the montage window so I find it more convienient to mostly work there, If i'm missing somthing please explain.
I do want to love Wavelab but.........

[ed littman]

Originally Posted by Fat larry

The steinberg forum is a bit slow so;
Where do you do your editing, Say for example you have to replace a section that has a click with another unclicked section?
Whilst everyone uses it diferently i have found some features that are easier to do in the montage window so I find it more convienient to mostly work there, If i'm missing somthing please explain.
I do want to love Wavelab but.........

I do all editing in the montage. non destructive, object editing/plugins, more control.
FYI, no need to edit sections for clicks, just use the Waveform restorer(process) or if many clicks such as vinyl use Audio error and detection (analysis) when using these functions you must use the wave window.

Ed

[Fat larry]

Originally Posted by ed littman

I do all editing in the montage. non destructive, object editing/plugins, more control.
Ed

Thats what I thought,I will try the waveform restorer next time around.
Thanks

[Table Of Tone]

Originally Posted by ed littman

I do all editing in the montage. non destructive, object editing/plugins, more control.
FYI, no need to edit sections for clicks, just use the Waveform restorer(process) or if many clicks such as vinyl use Audio error and detection (analysis) when using these functions you must use the wave window.

Ed

Ditto!