Waves Z-Noise noise reduction plug-in: features and spec-based rating

Waves’ noise reduction and audio repair plug-in Z-Noise is a noise reduction plug-in for music. It captures a profile (the character) of the noise and reduces the hiss and hum of a mic preamp, computer noise and similar. It also has an Adaptive mode that follows noise that changes.

Noise reduction and audio repair software is a tool for reducing, after the fact, noise that got into a recording, such as air conditioner noise, room ring and hum.

In this article we compare Z-Noise with 13 noise reduction and audio repair 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 13 noise reduction and audio repair programs, Z-Noise 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 2.2.

Things to keep in mind

• Noise control for vocal recordings (2 points): the kinds of noise it deals with are limited.
• Sound separation (1 points): it has no feature for separating mixed sound.

Who it suits: people who want to reduce the noise of an instrument or a recording, such as guitar or microphone hiss, while keeping the punch of the sound.

Main features of Z-Noise

Reduce noise musically with a noise profile

Z-Noise is a noise reduction plug-in for music material. It captures the character (profile) of the noise and reduces the hiss and hum of a mic preamp, computer noise picked up by an instrument, and similar. The manufacturer explains that it has a mechanism to keep the punch of the sound (the transients).

Adaptive mode follows changing noise

Even when there is no section with only noise to capture, the Adaptive mode, which follows noise as it changes, can reduce it. A 5-band EQ shapes the noise profile, and you can listen to the sound being removed to check it.

Where it is useful

• Reducing guitar or microphone hiss while keeping the punch of the sound
• Tidying up noise on a mix or a master

Rating by criterion

Noise control for vocal recordings: 2 / 5

We look at how it deals with noise that often gets into home recordings.

It can reduce hiss (mic preamp noise), hum and noise such as computer noise.

If “noise control for vocal recordings” matters most to you, RX 12 Advanced and RX 12 Standard (5 points) are a better fit.

Sound separation: 1 / 5

We look at features that separate the voice from the backing, or separate by part.

It has no feature such as part separation.

If “sound separation” matters most to you, RX 12 Advanced and SpectraLayers Pro 13 (5 points) are a better fit.

Speed: 3 / 5

We look at features that make repair work faster.

You can capture a noise profile, and the Adaptive mode follows changing noise. A 5-band EQ also shapes the profile.

Streaming and real time: 3 / 5

We look at whether it can reduce the noise in a voice in real time while streaming or recording.

It can be used as a plug-in.

How we score (Noise reduction and audio repair software)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Noise control for vocal recordings	How it deals with noise that often gets into home recordings	Deals with background noise, hum, clicks and room ring, and even lip noise, breaths, sibilance and plosives	Deals with most of those	Deals with the basics: background noise, hum, clicks and room ring	Only some	—
Sound separation	Features that separate voice from backing, or by part	Voice extraction, part separation, removal of bleed and separation of scenes are all included	Three of those	One or two of those	—	No separation features
Speed	Features that make repair work faster	Automatic suggestions, spectral editing and batch processing, plus features that match ambience and EQ	Automatic suggestions, spectral editing and batch processing	A feature that automatically suggests repair settings	—	—
Streaming and real time	Whether it reduces noise in a voice in real time while streaming or recording	Works in real time, and use for streaming is stated officially	Voice noise reduction is available as a real-time plug-in with no delay (zero latency)	Can be used as a plug-in (amount of delay not stated)	Mainly editing after recording (only the preview of processing is real time)	Cannot be used in real time

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: reducing the noise in a vocal you recorded at home. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Noise control for vocal recordings" 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. "Streaming and real time" is a criterion that answers the common search for "noise reduction that works for streaming". 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.

Z-Noise system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows 10 or later / Mac (macOS 12 to 15)
Plug-in formats	Windows: VST, AAX / Mac: VST, AU, AAX
OBS (streaming)	Works with conditions (via Waves’ StudioRack)

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

Compared with other noise reduction and audio repair programs

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

Read next

• Restoration Suite 2: features and rating (rank C)
• WNS: features and rating (rank C)
• Clear: features and rating (rank B)
• Clarity Vx: features and rating (rank B)