Z-Noise by Waves noise reduction plugin interface

Z-Noise: Music-Oriented Noise Reduction Plugin by Waves

Z-Noise is a noise reduction plugin from Waves for removing hiss, hum and other noise from musical material. It is designed to keep transients and dynamics intact.

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01Overview

Z-Noise is a Studio Tools plugin from Waves in the Audio Restoration subcategory. The developer describes it as music-oriented noise reduction, aimed at sources such as mic preamp hiss, hum, and instruments that pick up computer noise. It can extract a noise profile even when no silent section is available, and it offers an Adaptive mode for noise that changes over time. Waves is positioning it for recording studios that need to clean up tracks and masters.

Best for

Mic preamp hiss removal
Hum reduction
Guitar noise before high-gain amps
Mastering cleanup
Computer noise in recordings

Developer: Waves
Category: Audio Restoration
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Broadband processing across all frequencies
Noise floor reduction pushed further down
Pre-emphasis and de-emphasis to limit transient smearing
Adaptive mode for noise that changes over time
5-band EQ for shaping the noise profile
Time- or frequency-based resolution optimization
Monitor mode to hear what is being removed
Retains dynamics and low-frequency accuracy

03In depth

Noise Reduction Built for Musical Material

Waves says Z-Noise uses transient preservation technology to remove noise without smearing the attack of musical sounds. Pre-emphasis and de-emphasis processing is included to help prevent transient smearing.

Broadband processing covers the full frequency range, and the plugin is described as retaining dynamics and low-frequency accuracy. Its noise floor reduction can be pushed further down when the material needs it.

For recordings where the noise varies, Adaptive mode reduces noise over time, even when the noise profile changes.

Controls for Shaping the Noise Profile

A 5-band EQ lets you shape the noise profile with fine control. Reduction can be optimized for either time-based or frequency-based resolution, so you can favor the kind of precision your material needs.

Z-Noise includes a monitoring feature that lets you hear what is being removed. This makes it easier to tell whether the reduction is taking away noise or useful signal.

Waves names guitar noise reduction before high-gain amps as an ideal use, along with general cleanup of recordings.

04Specs