Steinberg WaveLab Elements 13 mastering software: features and spec-based rating

Steinberg’s mastering software WaveLab Elements 13 is the entry version of WaveLab. With the Audio Editor and Audio Montage work screens you can edit and master songs. Version 13 added MasterRig 2 for the first time.

Mastering software finishes a completed mix to a loudness and tonal balance that suits streaming and CD.

In this article we compare WaveLab Elements 13 with 8 mastering programs and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Summary

Among the 8 mastering programs, WaveLab Elements 13 is rank C. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and C is the lowest. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 2.0.

Things to keep in mind

• AI finishing (1 points): its AI finishing is limited.
• Pre-release checks (1 points): it has few checking features before export.

Who it suits: people who want to start with mastering editing software at a reasonable price.

Main features of WaveLab Elements 13

Editing software built for mastering

WaveLab is not a plug-in for a DAW but editing software for mastering finished songs. It has two work screens: the Audio Editor, for fine work on a single song, and Audio Montage, for finishing several songs or clips side by side. VST3 plug-ins can also be used.

Plug-ins such as MasterRig 2

It includes “MasterRig 2”, a set of mastering plug-ins. Version 13 was a major update, and it is now included in Elements too.

Checking the level, and Dolby Atmos

It has measurement and analysis features for managing loudness. It also supports Dolby Atmos mastering.

Where it is useful

• Editing and exporting a finished cover-song track one song at a time
• Building the finished sound with MasterRig 2
• Lining up several clips and tidying up the gaps and transitions

Rating by criterion

AI finishing: 1 / 5

We look at whether it can make a well-balanced sound without expert knowledge.

AI finishing is limited, and there are many parts you set yourself.

If “ai finishing” matters most to you, Ozone 12 Advanced and Ozone 12 Standard (5 points) are a better fit.

Fine adjustment: 3 / 5

We look at whether you can work on the AI’s result yourself.

You can process directly with many real-time plug-ins, MasterRig 2 and added VST3 plug-ins.

Pre-release checks: 1 / 5

We look at the checking features available before streaming or exporting.

It has few checking features before export.

If “pre-release checks” matters most to you, Ozone 12 Advanced (5 points) is a better fit.

How we score (Mastering software)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
AI finishing	Whether it can make a well-balanced sound without expert knowledge	Automatic finishing, plus comparison with a reference song and vocal-balance adjustment	Automatic finishing, plus either comparison with a reference song or vocal-balance adjustment	Automatic finishing only	—	—
Fine adjustment	Whether you can work on the AI's result yourself	15 or more processing modules can all be operated directly, and can also be used as separate plug-ins	10 or more processing modules can be operated directly	Some processing can be operated directly	You can only adjust the assistant's result with a few knobs	—
Pre-release checks	Checking features before streaming or exporting	Listening to the sound compressed for streaming, dither and before/after comparison of the processing are all included	Dither and before/after comparison	Either one	—	Not mentioned on the official page

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: finishing cover songs and your own songs for streaming. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Fine adjustment" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. At the moment we compare only the three editions of iZotope Ozone 12 and one product from IK Multimedia. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

WaveLab Elements 13 system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows / Mac
Plug-in formats	Standalone app (VST3 plug-ins can be loaded)
Other	A trial is available (the official page shows “TRY FOR FREE”)
OBS (streaming)	Not confirmed

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on October 17, 2026.

Compared with other mastering programs

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

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