I currently own Cre8 and am considering upgrading. However, the upgrade path for Cre8 is the Studio Bundle and I'm not sure if that would be the best route to go.

The first thing I've noticed is that the Celemony website seems to suggest that Melodyne Essential can be used as a standard vst plugin but the higher versions require a rewire or Melodyne Bridge connection.

I don't really need the multitrack or DNA features of Cre8 or Studio and I would really like a simple plugin format. That's why I'm thinking that instead of paying 160 to upgrade my Cre8 license, I could just by a copy of Essential for 80.00.

BUT...

1. Are my plugin conclusions correct, or do ALL versions of Melodyne makeyou use Rewire or Melodyne Bridge?

2. Do ALL versions of Melodyne have the same quality processing as it relates to bread and butter pitch correction. In other words, is there lesser quality pitch correction in Essential than say...Editor or Studio? Is the only difference between them the additional tricks?

Hello highmarcs,

all editions from the Melodyne singletrack family (i.e. Melodyne essential, Melodyne assistant and Melodyne editor) can operate as both a plug-in (VST, AU, RTAS) and a stand-alone application (see also here). No ReWire or MelodyneBridge required. Only Melodyne studio has the ReWire and MelodyneBridge options.

Please keep in mind that if you upgrade to Melodyne studio bundle, you will actually get two separate products: Melodyne studio and Melodyne editor (incl. DNA). So this upgrade path is the cheapest way for you to get the most advanced Melodyne technology.

However, if you are sure that you don't need neither multi-track features nor DNA, have a closer look at Melodyne essential and Melodyne assistant. See also our product comparison chart and my reply in this thread.

Thanks Claudio,

So the basic pitch correction technology/quality is the same across all editions?

Across all singletrack editions, yes.