OBRA and Waves at a glance
| OBRA Audio Mastering | Waves Online Mastering | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 2 songs a day: all three masters, every control, a 24-bit WAV or FLAC download, no watermark | The page offers "Try Free"; it does not state the trial's length or limits |
| Pay per song | $3 / €3 / £3 per extra song (30 days of downloads of that song, 88.2 / 96 kHz and 32-bit float included) | Credit packs, in US dollars: 1 credit $3.99 · 5 credits $17.45 ($3.49 each) · 15 credits $44.85 ($2.99 each) |
| Yearly | OBRA PRO, $10 / €10 / £10 a month: unlimited mastering, album and vocal + beat mixes | Standard $71.64 a year for 36 credits ($1.99 a track) · Pro $169.99 a year, unlimited |
| What you control | Three masters per song, a Studio rack, reference mode and album mode | Style, tone and reference controls, according to its page |
| Account | None | Not stated on the page |
| Where your audio goes | Stays on your device: the engine runs in your browser | An online service: you upload the song |
Prices as shown on Waves' online mastering page on 27 October 2026. The page notes that the content is not available in some countries. Sources at the end.
Where Waves is the better choice
- You already own Waves plugins or a Waves subscription and want your masters in the same account.
- You master many songs a year and like paying by credit: at $1.99 a track on Standard or unlimited on Pro, it is cheap per song.
- You want style, tone and reference controls from a company known for mastering plugins.
Where OBRA is the better choice
- You master a few songs: the free two a day cost nothing and an extra song is a flat $3 / €3 / £3, with no pack to buy up front.
- You want to listen to three masters at the same loudness, then download only the one you chose.
- You do not want an account to hear a master.
- You want a plain loudness readout (integrated LUFS, true peak) on the file you download.
The credit maths
A Waves credit costs $3.99 alone, $3.49 in a five-pack and $2.99 in a fifteen-pack. OBRA's extra song is $3 flat, with the first two songs of each day free. Fifteen songs on Waves cost $44.85 as a pack. On OBRA, fifteen songs across eight days cost nothing, and fifteen on the same day cost $39 (thirteen beyond the free two at $3). Waves Standard at $71.64 for 36 credits is cheaper per song than OBRA's $3 once you pass 24 paid songs, so a prolific producer should do the sum on their own year.
Compare them on your own song
Master the same mix on both and match the loudness before you choose. Credits and subscriptions only make sense after you like the result.
If you want a person to do it
Every service on this page is automatic. If the mix itself is the problem (a muddy low end, a vocal that sits wrong), a master cannot fix it, and a person can. OBRA ULTRA sends your tracks to an OBRA engineer who mixes and masters your song and sends back a WAV and a written note, $19 / €19 / £19 per round, back within 72 hours. Spots are limited each week.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Waves Online Mastering cost?
On 27 October 2026 its page showed credit packs of 1 for $3.99, 5 for $17.45 and 15 for $44.85, and yearly plans of $71.64 for 36 credits (Standard) or $169.99 unlimited (Pro).
Is there a free alternative to Waves Online Mastering?
Yes. OBRA masters two songs a day free with no account and lets you download a 24-bit WAV or FLAC.
Do I need an account for OBRA?
No. The mastering page works without signing up, and the file stays on your device.
Is OBRA better than Waves for mastering?
We do not claim that. Both are automatic. Compare them on your own song at matched loudness, and pick the one that serves it.
How do I compare two masters fairly?
Match their loudness first (louder always sounds better for a few seconds), then listen to the chorus and the quietest part on headphones and on a phone speaker. Check the true peak of the files you download: −1 dBTP or lower for streaming. OBRA matches the loudness for you when you compare its three masters with your original.