Waves Clarity Vx - Detailed Review
Audio Tools
Waves Clarity Vx - Product Overview
Overview
Waves Clarity Vx is an AI-powered noise removal plugin that is specifically designed for vocal and voice recordings. Here’s a brief overview of its primary function, target audience, and key features:Primary Function
Clarity Vx is intended to remove background noise from vocal and voice recordings, ensuring that the dialogue remains clear and intact. It effectively eliminates various types of noise, such as hiss, hum, and harsh ambient noises, without damaging the performance or introducing artifacts.Target Audience
This plugin is beneficial for a wide range of users, including content creators, musicians, podcasters, and video producers. However, it is particularly useful for anyone who needs high-quality vocal recordings free from background noise. The Clarity Vx Pro version is especially geared towards audio professionals, including music producers, engineers, and those involved in post-production for film, video, and broadcast.Key Features
AI-Powered Noise Reduction
Clarity Vx uses Waves Neural Networks to identify and separate voice from background noise, ensuring clean vocals with no artifacts or damage to the performance.Simple Interface
The plugin features a user-friendly interface with a central knob that makes it easy to use, even for those without extensive technical knowledge. This simplicity ensures fast and high-quality results with a zero learning curve.Real-Time Processing
Clarity Vx works in real-time within your DAW, allowing for immediate noise reduction without the need for rendering tracks outside of your workflow.Automation
All plugin parameters can be automated, which is particularly useful during premixes and post-production tasks.Clarity Vx vs. Clarity Vx Pro
While Clarity Vx offers a straightforward and efficient noise reduction solution, Clarity Vx Pro includes additional advanced features such as multiband controls, ambience separation, and the ability to fine-tune noise reduction across different frequency bands. The Pro version is fully automatable and includes features like individual crossover control, solo, bypass, and a difference monitor control.Conclusion
In summary, Waves Clarity Vx is a powerful and easy-to-use tool for removing background noise from vocal recordings, making it an essential asset for anyone seeking to improve the quality of their audio content. Waves Clarity Vx - User Interface and Experience
User Interface Overview
The user interface of Waves Clarity Vx is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible even for those who are not experts in audio processing.Main Controls
The core of the Clarity Vx interface is the Main Control Knob. This single knob allows you to adjust the amount of noise reduction applied to the audio signal. Turning the knob clockwise reduces the ambience and noise, while turning it counterclockwise reintroduces some of the noise or the “edges” of the voice. This simplicity makes it easy to quickly find the desired balance between noise reduction and vocal clarity.Neural Network Selection
In addition to the main knob, you can select different neural network models using the Neural Network Select option. These models have different focuses, such as reducing severe ambience or retaining secondary speech. For example, the Broad ECO mode is optimized for dialog and is CPU-efficient, allowing for more instances and shorter offline bounces. However, it is not intended for sung vocals.Additional Features
Analysis
This setting allows you to adjust how the neural network analyzes the input signal.Width
This control adjusts the size of the stereo output signal.Waveform FFT Display
This feature shows the input signal and the noise reduction in real-time, helping you visualize the effects of your adjustments.User Experience
The interface is streamlined to ensure ease of use. Tool tips are available for each control, providing immediate explanations when you hover over them. This helps new users quickly grasp the functionality of each element.Workflow Integration
Clarity Vx can be used both in real-time as a channel insert and as an offline processor, making it versatile for different workflow needs. The plugin also integrates with the WaveSystem Toolbar, which allows you to save and load presets, compare settings, undo and redo steps, and resize the plugin window.Performance and Reproducibility
The neural networks in Clarity Vx continuously adapt and improve their performance as they process audio. When working on problematic sections, looping the segment and recording multiple passes can lead to progressively better results. The neural network resets every time playback is stopped to ensure reproducibility from one playback to another.Conclusion
Overall, the user interface of Waves Clarity Vx is straightforward and easy to use, making it a valuable tool for anyone looking to quickly and effectively reduce background noise from vocal tracks and dialog. Waves Clarity Vx - Key Features and Functionality
Waves Clarity Vx Overview
Waves Clarity Vx is an AI-driven audio tool specifically designed for vocal and voice noise reduction, leveraging Waves’ advanced Neural Networks technology. Here are the key features and how they work:Real-Time Noise Reduction
Clarity Vx operates in real-time, allowing you to reduce noise from vocal recordings quickly and efficiently. The plugin uses a single central knob that you can turn clockwise to eliminate background noises such as AC noise, computer fan noise, traffic noise, and more. This real-time functionality ensures that you can clean up vocals without the need for extensive setup or rendering outside of your DAW.Simple Interface – OneKnob Operation
The interface of Clarity Vx is minimalist and user-friendly, centered around a single knob. This “OneKnob” approach makes it easy to use, especially for those on tight deadlines or who prefer a straightforward setup. You simply turn the knob to adjust the level of noise reduction, making it a “set-it-and-forget-it” tool.Neural Networks
Clarity Vx uses the same Waves Neural Networks as the Clarity Vx Pro version. These neural networks have been trained on over a million hours of data to identify and isolate human voices from background noises. This AI technology ensures high-quality noise reduction without damaging the original vocal performance.Mono/Stereo Support
The plugin supports both mono and stereo modes, making it versatile for various recording scenarios. Whether you’re working with a single vocal track or a stereo recording, Clarity Vx can handle it effectively.CPU Efficiency
Clarity Vx is relatively light on system resources, allowing you to use it on multiple tracks without significantly impacting your computer’s performance. This makes it suitable for projects where you need to clean up multiple vocal tracks simultaneously.Use Cases
Clarity Vx is ideal for a variety of applications, including:- Removing headphone bleed from vocal tracks
- Eliminating background noises like air conditioning, fans, or traffic
- Reducing animal noises or outdoor ambient sounds
- Cleaning up noisy outdoor recordings
- Removing hum from appliances like washing machines or dryers
- Reducing acoustic guitar bleed in vocal mics
Conclusion
In summary, Waves Clarity Vx is a powerful yet simple tool that leverages AI to provide high-quality, real-time noise reduction for vocal and voice recordings, making it an essential asset for anyone looking to quickly and effectively clean up their audio. Waves Clarity Vx - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
Waves Clarity Vx is praised for its ability to quickly and effectively reduce background noise in vocal recordings, leveraging Waves Neural Networks for high-quality results.Key Features
- The plugin is known for its real-time noise reduction capabilities, making it suitable for both live and post-production environments.
- However, it can be quite CPU-intensive, especially the Clarity Vx Pro version, which offers more advanced features such as multiband controls, gating, and reflections control. This increased functionality comes at the cost of higher CPU usage.
Accuracy
In terms of accuracy, Clarity Vx has shown impressive results in various tests:Performance in Tests
- It has successfully removed constant and fluctuating noises, such as those from boat engines or air conditioning, while preserving the quality of the voice. For example, in a test involving a presenter with a muffled mic over a loud boat engine, Clarity Vx eliminated the noise completely and produced a richer vocal quality compared to other tools like RX.
- It handles challenging noise scenarios, such as drones with constantly fluctuating frequencies, more effectively than some other noise reduction tools.
Limitations
Despite its strengths, there are some notable limitations and areas for improvement:Key Limitations
- CPU and Core Usage: Clarity Vx Pro, in particular, can be very demanding on system resources. It may not utilize multiple CPU cores efficiently, especially in batch processing scenarios, which can lead to slower processing times compared to other plugins.
- Batch Processing Issues: There have been reports of Clarity Vx Pro limiting processing to only 1 or 2 cores during batch processing, unlike other plugins that can utilize all available cores. This issue can be mitigated by introducing a small delay before starting the processing, but it remains a limitation.
- Distortion and Dropout: Some users have experienced distortion and dropouts with Clarity Vx, particularly if the plugin is not set up correctly or if there are compatibility issues with other software components.
- Advanced Features and Learning Curve: While the standard Clarity Vx is user-friendly with a simple interface, the Clarity Vx Pro version offers more advanced features that may require a bit more time to learn and master, especially for detailed post-production tasks.
Areas for Improvement
- Multicore Optimization: Improving the plugin’s ability to utilize multiple CPU cores efficiently, especially in batch processing, would significantly enhance its performance.
- Compatibility and Stability: Addressing the issues related to distortion, dropouts, and compatibility with other software components would enhance the overall user experience.
- Documentation and Support: Providing more detailed setup guides and troubleshooting resources could help users overcome common issues and fully leverage the plugin’s capabilities.
Waves Clarity Vx - Pricing and Plans
Understanding the Pricing Structure and Plans for Waves Clarity Vx
Standalone Purchase
- The Waves Clarity Vx can be purchased as a standalone plugin. As of the available information, it typically retails at $199.00, but it may be found on sale. For example, there was a sale where it was priced at $39.99.
Subscription Plans
- Waves Clarity Vx is also included in the Waves subscription plans. Here are the relevant plans:
- Waves Essential: This subscription includes over 120 pro-quality plugins, among which is the Clarity Vx. This plan covers a wide range of mixing and production needs, including vocal production, analog emulations, and other popular plugins. The subscription ensures you always have the latest versions of the plugins and includes additional features like Waves Stream for remote collaboration and StudioVerse for preset libraries.
- Waves Ultimate: This is the more comprehensive subscription plan that includes all Waves plugins, including Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro. It offers the most complete set of pro-quality audio plugins, with all updates and new plugins added regularly at no extra cost.
Features by Plan
- Standalone Clarity Vx: This plugin uses AI-powered Neural Networks to clean vocals by separating them from background noise such as air conditioners, room rumble, and other unwanted sounds.
- Waves Essential: Includes Clarity Vx along with other vocal production plugins, analog models, and a variety of effects and instruments. This plan also includes plugin updates and select new plugins added regularly.
- Waves Ultimate: Includes both Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro, along with all other Waves plugins, ensuring access to the full range of audio processing tools, including all compressors, EQs, effects, instruments, and AI-powered noise reduction tools.
Free Options
- There are no free permanent licenses for Clarity Vx itself, but it can be accessed through the subscription plans. However, there was a discussion about comparing it with Accusonus ERA 6 Noise Reduction Pro, which was made available for free by Accusonus after their acquisition by Meta, but this is not a direct free option for Clarity Vx.
Summary
In summary, you can either purchase the Clarity Vx as a standalone plugin or access it through one of the Waves subscription plans, each offering different tiers of features and plugins.
Waves Clarity Vx - Integration and Compatibility
Waves Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro Overview
Waves Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro are advanced audio processing tools that integrate seamlessly with various audio workflows, ensuring compatibility across a range of platforms and devices.
Compatibility with DAWs and Formats
Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro are compatible with most major digital audio workstations (DAWs) that support VST3, AU, or AAX formats. This includes popular DAWs like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and many others. To use these plugins, you need to have a DAW installed that supports these plugin formats.
Platform Support
Initially, Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro required the Rosetta 2 emulator to run on Apple M1 processors. However, with recent updates, these plugins now have native compatibility with Apple Silicon processors, including M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, and M2. This update ensures fast and seamless performance on the latest Apple hardware without the need for emulation.
Operating System Compatibility
The plugins are supported on both macOS and Windows operating systems. Specifically, Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro are compatible with macOS Ventura, ensuring users can work efficiently on the latest macOS versions.
Performance Enhancements
The latest updates include a new Neural Network called Broad ECO, which significantly improves CPU performance. This allows users to run 2-3 times more instances of Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro, enabling faster offline bounces and renders. This enhancement is particularly beneficial for professionals who need to process multiple tracks simultaneously.
Integration with Audio Workflows
Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro are integrated into the Waves ecosystem, which includes tools like Waves Central for installation, licensing, and updates. While the setup might seem complex due to the various components required (such as background servers), it provides better resource management, performance, and efficiency, especially when using multiple instances of the plugin.
Conclusion
In summary, Waves Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Pro are highly compatible with a wide range of DAWs, formats, and platforms, making them versatile tools for audio professionals across different fields, including music production, post-production, and more.
Waves Clarity Vx - Customer Support and Resources
If You Are Using Waves Clarity Vx
If you are using Waves Clarity Vx or encountering any issues with the product, Waves Audio provides several customer support options and additional resources to help you.
Contacting Technical Support
For technical issues, such as setup, usage, or troubleshooting, you can submit a Support ticket through the Waves website. Phone support is available for customers with active Waves Creative Access subscriptions or current Waves Update Plan coverage. You can call Technical Support at 1-865-909-9200 ext. 1, with lines open Monday-Thursday from 3 am – 8 pm EST, Friday from 9 am – 8 pm EST, Saturday from 11 am – 6 pm EST (for urgent live sound requests only), and Sunday from 11 am – 6 pm EST.
Sales and Orders Support
If you have questions about product features, need help with an order, or require assistance with your account, you can contact the Sales or Orders departments. For sales inquiries, call 1-865-909-9200 ext. 2, and for orders, call 1-865-909-9200 ext. 3. These lines have specific hours of operation, and international toll-free numbers are also available.
User Guides and Documentation
Waves provides comprehensive user guides for their products. For Clarity Vx Pro, you can refer to the detailed user guide that covers everything from basic controls to advanced settings, including interface explanations, step-by-step instructions, and troubleshooting tips.
Community Forum
The Waves Community Forum is a valuable resource where you can find answers to common questions, share tips and tricks, and discuss new products and updates. Users often share their experiences and solutions to issues similar to yours, and Waves technical representatives also participate to provide guidance.
Additional Resources
Waves Central
This is a necessary application for keeping your plugins up to date and managing your Waves products. It may seem complex, but it is essential for the proper functioning of plugins like Clarity Vx.
Hardware Service
For any hardware-related issues, you can contact Waves Tech Support or certified service centers depending on your location and warranty status.
By utilizing these resources, you can get the help you need to effectively use and troubleshoot Waves Clarity Vx. If you encounter any specific issues, contacting Technical Support directly is often the best course of action.
Waves Clarity Vx - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Waves Clarity Vx
Speed and Efficiency
Clarity Vx stands out for its ability to clean vocals from background noise quickly and efficiently. It operates in real-time, allowing you to hear the clean results immediately in your DAW without the need for rendering or bouncing tracks.
AI-Powered Noise Reduction
The plugin uses advanced Neural Networks trained on millions of hours of audio to distinguish vocals from non-vocal sounds. This ensures high-quality, artifact-free results without the need for a learning process for each individual track.
User-Friendly Interface
Clarity Vx boasts a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy to use even for those who are not audio experts. It features a single central knob for quick and easy noise reduction, which is ideal for fast cleanups in podcasts, interviews, and straightforward dialogue work.
Multiple Neural Networks
The plugin offers three different Neural Networks: Broad 1 for preserving main and background voices, Broad 2 for severe noises and separating main from secondary voices, and Broad ECO for low-CPU usage in heavy sessions. This flexibility allows you to choose the best network for your specific needs.
Stereo and Mono Support
Clarity Vx can process both mono and stereo audio, and it includes a special Double mode that analyzes each stereo channel separately for accurate noise removal.
Disadvantages of Waves Clarity Vx
Limited Advanced Controls
While Clarity Vx is excellent for quick and simple noise reduction, it lacks the advanced controls and multiband functionality available in the Clarity Vx Pro version. This might limit its use in more complex audio projects that require detailed fine-tuning.
CPU Usage
Although Clarity Vx is generally lightweight on CPU resources, it may still require moderate CPU power, especially when used in multiple instances. However, this is less demanding compared to the Clarity Vx Pro.
Fewer Presets
Clarity Vx comes with only 11 presets, which is fewer than the Clarity Vx Pro. While presets are not a critical feature for this type of plugin, having more options can be beneficial for different workflows.
No Multiband or Gating Features
Unlike the Clarity Vx Pro, the standard version does not include multiband controls, gating, or reflections control. These features are crucial for precise control over challenging noise profiles and are absent in the Clarity Vx.
In summary, Waves Clarity Vx is an excellent tool for quick, hassle-free vocal noise reduction, ideal for podcasts, interviews, and simple dialogue work. However, for more complex projects requiring detailed control and advanced features, the Clarity Vx Pro might be a better option.
Waves Clarity Vx - Comparison with Competitors
When comparing Waves Clarity Vx to other AI-driven audio tools in the market, several key features and differences stand out.
Unique Features of Waves Clarity Vx
- Real-Time Noise Reduction: Clarity Vx stands out for its ability to clean vocal recordings in real-time, using advanced Neural Networks that recognize and separate vocals from noise. This feature is particularly useful for saving time in post-production.
- User-Friendly Interface: Clarity Vx is known for its simplicity and ease of use, allowing users to achieve high-quality noise reduction with minimal effort. It features a single main knob for adjusting the vocal/noise balance, making it accessible even for those without extensive audio editing experience.
- Multiple Neural Networks: Clarity Vx offers four different neural networks to handle various types of noise, including a low-CPU ‘ECO’ network for heavy sessions. This flexibility is beneficial for different project requirements.
Comparison with Adobe Audition
- Adobe Audition is a comprehensive audio workstation that includes AI-powered noise reduction, spectral editing, and sound restoration. While it offers deep and precise editing capabilities, it has a steep learning curve and is subscription-based. In contrast, Clarity Vx is more focused on quick and easy noise reduction with a user-friendly interface.
- Use Case: Adobe Audition is ideal for professional audio production and complex projects, whereas Clarity Vx is better suited for fast, hassle-free cleanup of vocal recordings.
Comparison with Auphonic
- Auphonic is an AI-powered platform that focuses on automatic leveling, background noise reduction, and loudness normalization. It is easy to use and effective for basic audio enhancements but lacks the advanced features and real-time processing of Clarity Vx. Auphonic is more geared towards podcasters and interviewers needing quick touch-ups, whereas Clarity Vx is versatile enough for music, voiceovers, and dialogue post-production.
Comparison with iZotope RX 9
- iZotope RX 9 is a powerful tool for advanced audio restoration, offering detailed and precise noise reduction capabilities. However, it is more complex and expensive compared to Clarity Vx. RX 9 is better suited for professional sound engineers who need to perform detailed audio repair, whereas Clarity Vx is more accessible and faster for general noise reduction tasks.
Comparison with Sonible Smart
- Sonible Smart is an intelligent equalizer plugin that automatically adjusts frequencies to improve sound balance. While it is highly precise for equalization, it is limited to this function and does not offer the comprehensive noise reduction capabilities of Clarity Vx. Sonible Smart is ideal for musicians and content creators focusing on sound quality but does not replace the need for a dedicated noise reduction tool like Clarity Vx.
Potential Alternatives
- Waves Clarity Vx Pro: For users who need more advanced features, the Clarity Vx Pro version offers multiband adjustments, gating, and more detailed control over noise reduction. It is suitable for larger, more complex projects where pinpoint control is necessary.
- LANDR: While primarily focused on AI-driven audio mastering, LANDR does not offer the same level of real-time noise reduction as Clarity Vx. However, it is an excellent choice for musicians and producers looking to automate the mastering phase of their audio projects.
Conclusion
In summary, Waves Clarity Vx excels in its ease of use, real-time noise reduction, and versatility across various audio production needs. It is a strong choice for those seeking a quick and effective solution for cleaning vocal recordings without the need for extensive audio editing knowledge.
Waves Clarity Vx - Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Waves Clarity Vx, along with detailed responses:
What is Waves Clarity Vx and what does it do?
Waves Clarity Vx is an AI-powered noise removal plugin specifically designed for cleaning vocal and voice recordings. It uses advanced Neural Networks to separate vocals from background noise, such as air conditioner sounds, room rumble, rain, traffic, and more. This plugin ensures high-quality, artifact-free audio and provides instant results.How does Clarity Vx work?
Clarity Vx works by utilizing advanced machine learning algorithms that have been trained on millions of hours of audio. These Neural Networks can distinguish between vocal sounds and non-vocal noises, allowing for real-time noise removal without the need to ‘learn’ the profile of each individual track. The plugin offers a simple interface with a single knob to adjust the amount of noise removal.What are the different Neural Networks available in Clarity Vx?
Clarity Vx offers three different Neural Networks:- Broad 1: Preserves both main and background voices, ideal for recordings with multiple voices.
- Broad 2: Recommended for severe noises and for separating a main voice from secondary background voices.
- Broad ECO: A low-CPU neural network for dialogue only, suitable for heavy sessions where multiple instances of Clarity Vx are needed.
Can Clarity Vx handle stereo and mono audio?
Yes, Clarity Vx can process both stereo and mono audio. For stereo audio, it has a special Double mode that analyzes each channel separately and then processes them accordingly.What are the system requirements for running Clarity Vx?
To run Clarity Vx, you need:- Minimum 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
- Operating System: macOS Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 or Windows 10 64 bit (21H2), Windows 11 (21H2)
- CPU: Intel or Silicon Architecture (for macOS), X64 compatible Intel or AMD CPU (for Windows)
- Screen Resolution: Minimum 1024×768, recommended 1280×1024 / 1600×1024
- 16 GB free disk space on the system drive.
How do I balance voice and background noise with Clarity Vx?
You can adjust the noise reduction level using a single knob. This allows you to reduce everything except the voice to isolate it completely, or dial back the reduction to reintroduce some of the background noise when the voice’s context is important.Do I need a Waves account to use Clarity Vx?
Yes, you need a free Waves account to install and manage your licenses for Clarity Vx. This account also helps you keep track of your products, renew your Waves Update Plan, and stay updated with important information.Can Clarity Vx be used in real-time or offline?
Clarity Vx can be used both in real-time as a channel insert and as an offline processor, making it versatile for various production needs.Is Clarity Vx compatible with different sample rates?
Yes, Clarity Vx supports various sample rates including 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, and 96 kHz.