The latest version of Steinberg’s powerful spectral editing software is now available, and comes packed with new features and enhancements that they say take unmixing and spectral repair to a new level. SpectraLayers 11 comes packed with new algorithms that offer enhanced unmixing, improved speech processing, more powerful noise recognition capabilities and more.
Unmixing & Spectral Repair
With the arrival of version 11, SpectraLayers’ unmixing capabilities have been greatly improved. A new Unmix Chorus module makes it possible to separate lead and background parts in vocal-only layers, and an Unmix Crowd Noise module allows live event recordings to be split into individual performance and crowd sound tracks. Unmix Song AI, meanwhile, offers automated separation of up to seven discrete instruments, and the software promises generally improved results on stem, drum and voice separation.
As for repair work, a new AI-powered Voice DeClip algorithm has been added, and has been trained on thousands of pairs of clipped and non-clipped recordings, helping it to quickly and effectively apply processing that tackles distortion in audio files. Voice DeNoise has also been improved, and now includes a strong noise option designed to address excessively noise speech content.
Interface Improvements
Steinberg have adjusted the software’s user interface in an effort to accommodate the ever-increasing number of processes, which are all now presented as Modules in their own dedicated panel. Modules can be chained to create sophisticated multi-process configurations, and Modules within chains can be programmed to operate on whole layers or layer selections, while processes can be diverted to other layers, repositioned in the chain, and saved as custom presets.
A refined Home screen design is joined by a new Compact Panels view that enlarges or reduces the horizontal spectrogram and waveform displays while keeping controls accessible at all times, and There are also improvements to the Display, Channels and History panels, as well as the Composite Layers, Downmix Channels and Selected Layers views.
New batch processing capabilities have been introduced, making it possible to add or drag and drop multiple files into the Batch Process dialog, where they can have their export settings applied before being rendered as either a mixdown or independent layers.
Editing & Refinement
Multiple layers can be selected for editing and management and dragged directly into the Cubase and Nuendo Arrange windows in ARA mode, and layers can also be dragged directly to the desktop to quickly extract transcoded audio files. A new configurable Transfer Brush tool non-destructively shifts content between source and destination layers in real time, while a Transient Pencil tool allows users to draw transients directly in the spectrogram display.
A number of other editing tools and processes have been added, including:
- A configurable Selection Fading and Sharpening brush tool, which works at selection borders to sculpt and edit fades.
- Editing selection fades is now integrated within the selection process.
- A new Signal Generator module, which merges the legacy tone, noise and silence generators and adds a transients generator.
- It’s now possible to reverse the audio of any selection.
- A Loop Preview facility for looping selections while working. Process chains can be tweaked and saved while auditioning the component processes.
- Volume envelopes can now be easily applied to Layers and Channels, with their graphs appearing in the waveform display.
Compatibility
SpectraLayers 11 is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or 11, and Macs running macOS 11 and above.
Pricing & Availability
SpectraLayers 11 is available now, with pricing as follows:
- SpectraLayers Pro 11: $299.99£254 / €299
- Upgrade from Pro 10 to Pro 11: $79.99£57.80 / €79.99
- SpectraLayers Elements 11: $79.99£68 / €79.99
- Upgrade from Elements 10 to Elements 11: $29.99£21.25 / €29.99
Customers who have activated versions 6 through 10 after 15 May 2024 are eligible for a free update to the latest equivalent version. GBP prices include VAT.
