Since being slapped down by SpectraLayers 12, RX has been coaching onerous, bettering its chops and honing its abilities, and is now prepared for a rematch. However has RX12 piled on sufficient beef to retake the spectral editor crown? And what’s this hoving into view? Why – it’s SpectraLayers 13.
Which is the very best spectral modifying software program?
Dealing with off on this showdown are the highest editions of every app, particularly iZotope RX12 Superior and Steinberg SpectraLayers Professional 13. It was to be SpectraLayers Professional 12, however Steinberg launched the thirteenth version simply as we have been about to publish the article… admittedly, that is higher than Steinberg releasing v13 just a few days after publication!
The match will final for 5 rounds, every pitting the 2 in opposition to one another in areas of shared performance. I enter into this with no thought of which app will come out on prime so, with out additional ado… seconds away!
Spherical 1: Spectral Enhancing
Spectrograms
RX attracts its spectrogram on the fly, adapting the extent of element as you zoom out and in. That is handy however slows down display screen redraws, particularly at greater zoom ranges. SpectraLayers creates its spectrogram when it hundreds a file, which makes for quick scrolling however calls for handbook adjustment of element settings when wanted.
Spectrograms are more durable to learn and navigate than standard waveforms, and so each apps present a traditional waveform readout too. RX overlays this immediately on prime of its spectrogram, with variable opacity, and that is barely simpler to work with than the separate panel proven above SpectraLayers’ spectrogram. Additionally, RX shows a waveform overview of all the file that SpectraLayers lacks. Nevertheless, SpectraLayers can shift its spectrogram right into a quasi-3D view that makes it a lot simpler to learn and perceive the audio’s spectrum.
Mouse instruments
Each apps present mouse instruments for choosing time and/or frequency ranges throughout the spectrogram, however SpectraLayers has just a few extra choices right here than does RX. SpectraLayers additionally contains interactive instruments that RX lacks, akin to erasers, pencils, cloners and so forth that enable direct interplay with the spectrogram.
Layers
SpectraLayers layer-based idea makes it simple to fine-tune edits and processes. RX has no direct equal, though its examine/undo/redo system permits for comparable experimentation and fine-tuning, albeit in a much less streamlined means.
Final result
By advantage of its layer-based modifying and better number of mouse instruments, I name this spherical for SpectraLayers, however RX proves itself to be no slouch.
Spherical 2: Fixing widespread glitches
Clicks and crackle
RX’s De-click and SpectraLayers’ DeClick modules are designed to seek out and take away random clicks and crackles that may be brought on by poor cables, interference, incorrect setup of your audio interface, and so forth.
Processing a complete recording with both module (versus solely processing alternatives) tends to create a barely processed sound all over the place, not simply the place clicks are eliminated. Utilizing lighter settings reduces artefacts, however runs the chance of lacking – or not absolutely eradicating – some clicks. The extra intensive controls supplied by RX means click on detection may be honed with out growing the processing artefacts, and its outcomes are usually extra clear than SpectraLayers’.
Digital clipping
If the clipping in a recording is minor – a tiny crackle right here and there – then each apps can tidy this up cleanly sufficient, however RX does it marginally higher. If a recording has been closely over-cooked, there’s little both app can do however dial down the nastiness, however SpectraLayers’ DeClip does a barely much less nasty job than RX’s De-clip.
Mic pops
There’s little or no to separate RX’s De-plosive from SpectraLayers’ DePlosive. Each have a really comparable suite of parameters for honing the method to swimsuit the state of affairs, and each ship very comparable – and never at all times good – outcomes. I discover handbook pop removing by way of spectrogram frequency alternatives to be simpler in SpectraLayers.
Sibilance
SpectraLayers’ DeEss and, when working in its Basic mode, RX’s De-ess work very similar to a traditional de-esser – primarily a high-frequency compressor or dynamic EQ. I discover these to be much less efficient than an ordinary de-essing plugin.
Nevertheless, when working in its Spectral mode, RX’s module drastically outclasses its personal Basic mode, SpectraLayers’ DeEss, and certainly most different de-essers.
Final result
RX is the simple victor on this spherical, the one blow landed by SpectraLayers being that its DeClip module works barely higher than RX’s equal when offered with a very trashed recording.
Spherical 3: Noise and bleed discount
Broadband noise and hiss
RX’s Spectral De-noise and SpectraLayers’ DeNoise make use of the long-established strategy of taking a noise imprint after which filtering that imprint from the supply sign.
Each apps present an in depth set of parameters for tuning the noise discount response, though the parameters on provide differ between the 2. Outcomes are just-about equal from each, though RX’s strategy makes the candy spot, the place noise discount balances in opposition to artefact addition, that little bit simpler to seek out than in SpectraLayers.
RX’s Voice De-noise is much like Spectral De-noise however is optimised for vocals and dialogue, and so handles these higher. In distinction, SpectraLayers’ Voice DeNoise makes use of ML-based processing to separate the voice sign from the encompassing noise, giving even higher outcomes than RX with simply a few clicks.
Mic spill and bleed
SpectraLayers’ DeBleed module analyses audio held in a number of layers, and filters the consequence from the layer being processed. It is a significantly efficient workflow for de-bleeding drum mics.
When working in its Basic mode, RX’s De-bleed works in the same means, though can solely base its evaluation on audio held in a single different open tab, which I discover inferior to SpectraLayers’ strategy. Nevertheless, De-bleed obtained a brand new ML-based mode in RX 12, permitting it to recognise vocals, guitars, pianos and even particular person devices inside a drum package, after which isolate your chosen supply on the contact of a button.
Neither app can carry out magic right here, and each work higher for lowering fairly than eradicating mic bleed. RX’s new ML-based mode is by far the best to make use of and customarily delivers the very best outcomes, whereas its Basic mode is on par with SpectraLayers, and didn’t carry out significantly effectively in my checks.
Final result
The 2 apps are closely-matched right here, with little to decide on between them. RX lands a strong blow with its ML-based De-bleed mode, however SpectraLayers’ counters strongly with its layer-based de-bleeding workflow.
Spherical 4: Unmixing and splitting
Stem splitting
RX’s Music Rebalance and Scene Rebalance can be utilized to rebalance components of a mixture or to separate them totally. The previous module recognises voice, bass, drums and the remaining “different” stems; the latter, aimed toward TV and movie manufacturing, recognises voice, music and impact stems. When separated, every stem is displayed as a lane inside a single editor tab, however additional modifying of a stem usually requires it’s opened in its personal tab.
The SpectraLayers equivalents are Unmix Tune and Unmix Soundtrack. Each recognise the identical stem varieties as RX’s modules, however Unmix Tune additionally recognises guitar, piano and sax & brass stems. Separated stems are positioned into layers, making it simple to rebalance, edit and course of every in isolation or as an entire.
High quality of recognition and separation is comparable in each apps, though SpectraLayers’ piano and sax & brass recognition isn’t pretty much as good as for different stems… however at the least it tries!
Different stem separators
RX additionally makes use of ML-based recognition methods to energy its Dialogue Isolate module, which rebalances/separates dialogue recordings into voice, reverb and noise elements.
SpectraLayers hits again with an intense flurry of separation modules: Unmix Drums, Unmix Refrain, Unmix Crowd Noise, Unmix Instrument, Unmix Sound Results, Unmix Two Voices and Unmix A number of Voices. It even has an Unmix Transcription module that transcribes dialogue tracks in most generally spoken languages with a formidable diploma of accuracy.
Final result
RX’s rebalance modules have improved massively in its newest launch, and its lane-based show is a welcome enchancment too. Nevertheless, SpectraLayers’ layer-based strategy is superior; the vary of separation instruments and stem-/sound-types that it recognises is wider, and its extraction high quality is on par with RX. Regardless of RX’s robust exhibiting, then, SpectraLayers has this spherical sewn up.
Spherical 5: Processor mixtures
Module chaining
Each apps embody a particular module wherein chains of different modules may be created. Every merchandise within the chain has its personal module settings, and may be focused at its personal frequency and/or layer choice too. By advantage of its layered strategy, SpectraLayers is marginally extra versatile right here, however there’s actually nothing a lot in it.
SpectraLayers 13 has gained a batch processing capability that brings it consistent with RX’s batch processing talents. This implies each apps can help you queue a number of recordsdata, every with its personal module chain and module settings, after which get on with one thing helpful whereas your pc churns by the processing.
RX additionally contains a few modules which can be primarily front-ends for mixtures of different modules. Essentially the most outstanding of those is Restore Assistant, which wraps varied corrective modules right into a single module with a streamlined interface. The constituent modules and controls differ relying on whether or not it’s working in Voice or Music mode, and it’s a really fast and straightforward option to clear up widespread points. Equally, Guitar De-noise can take away amp noise, string squeak and decide noise in a single module, however what we’re truly getting is, respectively, spectral noise discount, de-essing and de-clicking.
Final result
There’s not a lot to decide on between the 2 apps’ module chaining… umm… module, however the ease and comfort of Restore Assistant and Guitar De-noise see RX come out marginally on prime.
Issues the apps don’t have in widespread
Regardless of the intensive areas of crossover between RX and SpectraLayers, every does have options the opposite lacks. I’ve already talked about SpectraLayers’ layer-based idea and wider alternative of stem-separation modules, which is able to attraction to many producers and post-manufacturing engineers. Additionally, SpectraLayers contains the very helpful Reverb Match and Voice Improve modules, which don’t have any RX equivalents.
The identical is true the opposite means as effectively, with RX’s loudness modules being significantly enticing for mixing and mastering workflows: Loudness Management and Loudness Optimize support with matching your audio to particular loudness necessities, whereas Streaming Preview simulates how your audio will sound on varied streaming platforms. RX additionally contains modules for cleansing up widespread mic issues, akin to De-rustle and De-wind, however these are a part of the Superior version, aimed largely at TV and movie manufacturing, and this leads us to the largest and most evident distinction between the 2 apps: value.
At £298, the top-spec SpectraLayers Professional 13 prices £1001 lower than RX 12 Superior’s £1,299. At £389, RX 12 Customary contains all of RX’s music-focused instruments, and is nearer in value to SpectraLayers Professional, with the additional £100 simply justified by the inclusion in RX of normal plugin variations of a lot of its modules. Nevertheless, lots of the TV/movie post-production instruments that iZotope level to when explaining the Superior version’s pricing are proper there in SpectraLayers Professional too, solely with out the £1000 premium.
And the winner is…
Pricing apart, it’s nearly inconceivable to separate these two apps. RX’s modules are usually extra tweakable and tuneable than SpectraLayers’, which is a plus, however SpectraLayers counters with it’s layers, and delivers outcomes extra shortly by protecting modules easy and parameter counts low, which can also be a plus.
Each can get you out of a bad-recording-fix, and conjure the best silk purse from the roughest pig’s ear. However each may also show one other outdated saying, particularly “you may’t polish a t*rd”, with outcomes which can be barely an enchancment on what was fed in. A lot is dependent upon the specifics of the recording and the particular faults you’re attempting to repair.
So, when it comes to pure performance and functionality, I name a draw. With pricing added to the ultimate reckoning, although (and assuming you don’t want RX-specific instruments) SpectraLayers Professional has to take the crown…
However, little doubt, iZotope is already limbering up for a battle of the v13s!
