This happens to me off and on, and I can’t seem to get rid of it. Today it appears in a way where Wavelab (10.0.50) skips small sections when it approaches the end of the clip (last 3-4 seconds or so) + it cuts off the end of the clip about one second too early. I’ve been using multiple plugins on the clip, and as soon as I remove Ext FX, the problem goes away. The problem remains also when Ext FX is my only plugin on the clip. When I render the clip, it doesn’t skip around BUT it chops off the ending. This is extremely problematic, obviously.
Also, sometimes the timing of the audio and visual waveform representation is dead on, and sometimes it’s way off, like one full second.
I’ve been trying to detect Latency on Ext FX, changing buffer size up and down, all with no effect.
System is: Wavelab Pro 10.0.50.
iMac, late 2019 with MacOS 10.15.7.
UAD Apollo 8
I have similar problems on WL 10.0.50. and Orion 32 + 3rd gen. and/or Focusrite 8PRE
I was trying to use 3-4 External FX ( as I use software plug ins). but its impossible.
Lots of noises clicks, glitches, I can use only 1 External FX and have to make multiple renders until I have one take with no problems.
I must insert 5-10 second of silence before my render because I always have noises and glitches at start.
On Logic Pro X / Nuendo I can insert lots of hardware ( 4-6 units) on main buss without problems,
I´m on mac Mojave and have tried on any other 3 Macs with same problems.
I recommend using the External FXs in the Master Section, primarily.
If you want to use them in the montage, better do not put plugins with latency further in the audio chain, and don’t put two External FX in the same chain.
Sorry for raising but this is the closest existing post I’ve found and it highlights the issue I’m having. I’m on Wavelab 12.0.30 and the issue described by the OP still exists, which seems to be to be a pretty fundamental flaw for a mastering suite program.
Rendering audio with External FX on seems to bring some kind of issue every time for me, making using outboard gear very hard work or at worst, frankly, not worth it.
Not being able to assign more than one External FX on a chain, or not advisedly putting that plugin into a montage chain - why? Also why is this seemingly simple bug still an issue after at least 2 full version revisions? Is this issue somehow unfixable?
I upgraded to W12 to see if this issue was finally fixed. Nope - it seems I almost have a case for a refund, seeing as the product is on the cusp of not doing what is quite a basic function of a mastering suite program.
Moaning aside - can we get some clairifation from Steinberg on recognition for this bug? I’m happy to submit a video of my issue this side if it will help fix it.
The bug in summary again: you will get silence instead of the intended audio at the end of your renders using the External FX plugin. As the OP states, changing the latency to 0 doesn’t help, nor do all the settings in the options tab, including ‘record latency’, ‘Perform fade in / out when starting / stopping playback’ settings, nor even the ‘reverb tail’ setting.
In the montage, External FX does not fit well with the presence of offline plugins that have latency. There is currently no easy solution for this.
On another hand, using External FX in the Master Section is recommended.
I appreciate the reply. It doesn’t really get to my core point though - am I wildly out of line suggesting that external FX should be possible error free in the saveable part of a montage ? Ie, the output section? In what way is this fundamentally harder to implement on the software side than having it work in the master section?
I should add, it’s not bulletproof in the master section, either. The latency setting is hugely unpredictable wherever in the chain the plugin is hosted.
I struggle to see how the problem is fundamentally unsolvable, considering I can very simply run external FX in Cubase, with saved settings, without latency or timing issues. In fact this is what I’m resorting to and it’s incredibly time consuming.
If this fix is a low or no-priority issue for Wavelab development I think it would be better to just say so. In the meantime I think I will sadly have to resort to competitors’ software for my mastering suite solution. A bit of a disappointment to be honest considering how simple the bug appears to be.
I appreciate your response but this is my honest feedback.
The WaveLab Audio Montage was not initially (WaveLab 3.0) designed to include hardware inserts in the clips and tracks. Introducing this feature later (in WaveLab 10) posed a challenge. It functions well with simple plugin chains, but latency compensation becomes less predictable when offline plugins with latency are added.
That said, I know several users who use the External FX (only) in the Master Section daily without issues.
There are also other reliable ways to use analog gear in WaveLab, as demonstrated and recommended in this video by Justin:
Hey Guys! I am having a similar issue as Edward. I get pops and clicks, during playback and render, when I use External FX anywhere. I have tried it in the clip, track, montage output, and master section. It keeps doing it. I can have no hardware, just the I/O and it does it. It is really bad if I click the auto delay detect. I have not been able to master using outboard gear in WL12 since I got it. I had to go back to PT.
Additionally, for those having issues with playback using External FX in the Clip. It only happens if you have a reference track on the playback line. If you move the reference track away from the line, it will play. I know…CRAZY!!!
Anyway, I will have to use Justin’s method (thanks Justin) if I am to use WL12. It is sad. I purchased WL12 for the External FX option, amongst other things, and it does not work properly. I hope Steinberg is looking into this issue.
I have the buffer maxed out to 2048. I am using an Apollo X16, I go out the Apollo, to the Flock (outboard gear), then Dangerous Covert-AD+, and return AES to the Apollo.
I did read a few more threads on here, tried some of PG’s suggestions, and found a solution. I placed the External FX in the master section and then put the Acustica Lace behind it. It did the same thing. Then I removed the Lace. It stopped popping. I put the Lace back and it did it again. Soooo…plugin latency. I decided to use the Pro-L2 instead. It worked like a charm. whhhoooooh. This is good for now. Steinberg, get it together. Blessed!
