Nuendo 15: Dialogue, Mixing, and Workflow Enhancements

Steinberg has announced the release of Nuendo 15, a significant update to its digital audio workstation tailored for audio post-production and media creation. This latest iteration introduces a suite of new features and workflow improvements designed to enhance accuracy in dialogue editing, boost efficiency in mixing, and streamline session management. Consequently, audio professionals can expect to achieve greater consistency and speed in their projects. Nuendo has long been a foundational tool for crafting the soundtracks of numerous high-profile movies, television shows, games, and immersive experiences. With this evolution, it continues to solidify its position in the industry.

The new version integrates several key advancements. For instance, it features integral measurement of dialogue intelligibility, alongside substantially improved automation capabilities. Furthermore, users will benefit from simplified multi-channel management, a collection of new sound design tools, and a scalable user interface. Timo Wildenhain, Steinberg Head of Pro Audio, states, “With Nuendo 15, we’re igniting the next evolutionary stage for audio post-production and media production in general. With industry-first functions like the Analyzer Track display and improvements in virtually all program areas — including editing, video, and ADR — Nuendo 15 is a groundbreaking update.”

Enhanced Analysis and Automation

An industry-first feature in Nuendo 15 is the Analyzer Track, which allows for precise measurement and display of dialogue intelligibility. This technology, based on Fraunhofer IDMT, provides at-a-glance, color-based metering, enabling instant identification of problem areas. Users can perform real-time analysis or utilize the new offline analysis and display feature on the Analyzer Track, complete with adjustable thresholds to align dialogue with broadcaster specifications.

Moreover, the film mixing automation system has received a significant update. It now includes a new vertical, space-saving view, and introduces several new functions. These include parameter selection via touching plug-in controls, copy/paste automation, individual track punch out in Latch Mode, and clearer visual automation states. Another highly requested feature, Convert Channels, automatically splits or merges files to match a selected track layout. This means surround clips can be quickly broken into structured stems, or mono files combined into stereo pairs during import or across multiple tracks, thereby reducing repetitive setup tasks and streamlining session preparation.

Improved Import and Export Capabilities

For broadcast and post-production workflows, Nuendo 15 now supports direct import of MXF video and audio tracks from OP1a containers. This offers immediate compatibility with AVC Intra 50/100/200 and MPEG-2 codecs, with more formats planned for future updates. Additionally, support for MPF and MXF/S ADM imports allows full scene metadata to be brought into a session. Meanwhile, video export options have become more flexible, offering various resolutions and encoding choices. These include a range of presets, software or GPU encoding, and support for text overlays from the active marker track, which enables timecode, dialogue, and other ADR attributes to be burned into the exported video. A quick export option further streamlines audio rendering, facilitating faster previews and intermediate deliverables during active sessions.

New Sound Design and Music Tools

Nuendo 15 integrates all the latest audio and sound design features from Cubase 15. This includes AI-powered stem separation, which is particularly effective for vocal isolation and rebalancing. Furthermore, a redesigned Expression Maps system refines articulation control. The DAWproject format expands interoperability, allowing projects to move seamlessly between Nuendo, Cubase, Cubasis, and other supported DAWs while maintaining their original structure and intent.

New effects are also part of this update. The UltraShaper compressor, for example, combines transient shaping, clip limiting, and EQ sculpting for precisely controlled dynamics. The real-time PitchShifter offers formant preservation, saturation modes, stereo unlinking, and a ±24 semitone range. Beyond these, six new Modulators add motion and evolving textures. Natural-sounding synthesized vocals can be created with the Omnivocal plug-in, extending possibilities for vocal design, temp dialogue, and experimental applications. Finally, expressive monophonic or polyphonic melodic patterns can be created with the Pattern Sequencer.

Additional sounds are included in Nuendo 15, featuring expanded HALion libraries, a redesigned Groove Agent SE, a collection of 40 modern Drum Machine kits, and extra, genre-spanning loop packs with curated samples. Thirty new Chord Pad presets also provide ready-to-use harmonic structures for tonal references, sustained beds, or compositional placeholders.

Further Workflow Enhancements

A new Hub simplifies session initiation, offering resizable panels, project previews, and enhanced search and filtering options. Similarly, a redesigned ADR panel provides a clearer structure and more streamlined visual layout. Any Folder Track can now be assigned its own group channel, with tracks in the folder automatically routed to their corresponding bus. Volume and pan controls are available directly within the track controls area, including customizable layouts per track type. On macOS, Nuendo 15 supports native full-screen mode, enabling immersive editing and mixing across Project and MixConsole windows.

Features

• Analyzer Track for precise dialogue intelligibility measurement (Fraunhofer IDMT technology)
• Updated film mixing automation system with new vertical view and functions
• Convert Channels feature for automatic file splitting/merging based on track layout
• Direct import of MXF video and audio tracks from OP1a containers
• Flexible video export options with presets, GPU encoding, and text overlays
• AI-powered stem separation (from Cubase 15)
• Redesigned Expression Maps system
• DAWproject format for expanded interoperability
• New effects: UltraShaper compressor, real-time PitchShifter, six new Modulators
• Omnivocal plug-in for synthesized vocals
• Pattern Sequencer for melodic patterns
• Expanded HALion libraries, redesigned Groove Agent SE, 40 new Drum Machine kits, loop packs
• 30 new Chord Pad presets
• New Hub for streamlined session initiation
• Redesigned ADR panel
• Folder Track group channels
• Volume and pan controls within track controls area
• macOS native full-screen mode support
• WaveLab Go ARA extension for audio analysis, editing, and repair
• Updated Score Editor with new tools
• New color schemes for SuperVision modules
• Improved Headphones Match with updated compensation curves
• User-adjustable interface scaling for all stock effect plug-ins
• Pinch-to-zoom gestures on compatible macOS devices
• Sampler Track instant sample replacement via MediaBay Hot Swap

Price
Suggested Retail Price: 999.00 € / 999.99 $
Update from Nuendo 14 to Nuendo 15: 199.00 € / 199.99 $

 

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More info: Steinberg | Nuendo 15