How does it compare to Waves Restoration? -

Using SoundSoap in Mac OS X, mostly standalone version, occasionally as plug-in to Peak LE.
Using Waves Restoration in Mac OS 9 as plug-in to Digital Performer 3.

Limited experience with them, but here are some general impressions.

The controls on Waves X-Noise are much easier to understand. In SoundSoap, the knobs are described in vague terms. In both tools, the results are very, very sensitive to minor changes in the controls.

Main advantage of SoundSoap is that the memorize function automatically sets the controls very well. Much deviation from the suggested setting destroys the music or lets noise through. Therefore, I prefer SoundSoap for low-level noise, which is the most difficult to judge settings for. Example is the ambience in a hall filled with quiet people.

X-Noise works very well on really bad noise. I just finished mastering CDs for a symphonic concert that was almost 2.5 hours of music. The noise was from many very large fans that were brought in because the air conditioner failed on a scorching summer day. Fan noise made the recording unlistenable. I was able to get the noise down to an tolerable level, but the music suffered by having a hollow or erie sound, especially some organ stops and string passages, and the tenor alone among a dozen or so soloists and two choruses.

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Tuesday, June 03 2003 @ 03:44 PM PDT

For me, it's X-Noise - W.P. Wily

I did some noise reduction on some live recordings with SoundSoap, but I had some real trouble with one segment that I just couldn't get the results I needed. Tried X-Noise and the problem was solved. Then I redid my previous work with X-Noise and I could not believe the difference - the stuff I did in SoundSoap (that I thought sounded good before), sounded like someone had taken a club and beat it severely. The X-Noise samples were excellent.

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Wednesday, March 24 2004 @ 11:32 AM PST

How does it compare to Waves Restoration? - knoxth

Waves is far and away a superior product than SoundSoap.

It is also far and away vastly more expensive. In this case, you get what you pay for.

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Monday, November 22 2004 @ 10:28 PM PST