Users who have large number of folders may change folder icons while in version 12, it is a bland view where WL decides how users’ folders look like. Can this be changed to old way?
Also the open “Any Type” menu is gone.
If you use the Operating System file browser, then you can see the original icons.
When using the WaveLab file browser, you are limited to the WaveLab style.
By the time WaveLab 9 was introduced in 2016, there was a noticeable shift towards flat design in user interfaces. WaveLab adapted to this trend by redesigning its icons to be more minimalist and straightforward. The updated icons featured simple shapes, solid colors, and clean lines, which helped reduce visual complexity and improve clarity. This approach modernized the interface and made icons easier to distinguish, contributing to a less cluttered overall design.
This change was generally well-received and reflected broader industry trends aimed at enhancing user experience through simplicity. While some users may prefer the older, more detailed style, design updates like this inevitably come down to balancing evolving standards with user preferences.
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I have to agree with you about this change with respect to time, but people change icon in windows to identify folders and also can avoid a second step - Reveal in File Explorer by using standard opening procedure like Reaper and all other software.
This kind of a workflow would not bother someone working with a few folders but when it comes to 20 folders of files having 50 sub folders within each folder, all having identical names, it would be hard to work.
And about the “Any Type” menu, that was very handy to cut copy paste files from within the File-Open menu.
By these two features being taken off, I think you have made WL like a gated environment, where once you enter, there is no way out of the software environment from within the software (other than minimizing, using drag and drop, and Ctrl+Shift+I in Montage).
WaveLab includes an option to select all file types it recognizes. For copying and pasting other types of files, it’s best to use your operating system’s file browser, as such operations are beyond WaveLab’s scope.
With each new version, WaveLab focuses on refining its feature set rather than simply adding new ones while retaining everything from the past. The aim is to streamline functionality and concentrate on areas relevant to WaveLab’s purpose, avoiding unnecessary complexity and maintaining a balanced, uncluttered experience.
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Which it does very, very well indeed.
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The .MRK and .GPK (unless routed to a separate folder) file falls in “Any Type”.
Also, the “Any Type” was a tool to
- Check for files other than audio inside folder (while working)
- Delete unwanted files (including files created by WL (esp… MRK) within folder through WL
- To open Montage and Audio. If brought back can also open Batch Processor.
I was using system file selector to open files for a month, when I turned this off, WL is opening the file through WL browser, but the file open window is still open.
I got it fixed by docking
Also, on using system file selector and using file tab (top left corner), file open, render from master section etc. is still on WL 12 theme.
The full file space window can be made floating and remain such, independently from the quick open/save options.
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