Best Waves plugins?

[J4R1O]

Hi guys,

I'm really excited about Waves plugins and how good they work, and I'd like to hear your opinion about the Waves plugins every ITB mixer should own.

I already have REDD, KMT, Aphex, MondoMod, Bass & Vocal Rider, The King's Microphones, but I'm really lookin' forward to see HLS and PIE on sale. Renaissance Compressor, L2 Ultramaximizer and MaxxBass are also on my must-have list. I have IK's T-RackS Grand, so I don't necessarily need 1176, LA-2A, Pultec or Fairchild plugins, but I'm a little bit curious about NLS. So, NLS or Slate VCC?

I also do a little post production (simple noise removing, adjusting some levels, etc.), so I've been thinking about NS1. I guess I have to try it and see how it works...

[Eddie TX]

Hi there ... looks like you've got a good start to your Waves collection. REDD and KMT are nice, and I use the Vocal/Bass Rider plugins all the time.

If your IK bundle includes the channel strip, you probably don't really need the Waves SSL bundle, although it's one of their finest achievements.

You may want to look into the H-series plugins. They are very flexible and can do just about anything. The H-Delay is on sale right now for under $50 -- very good deal.

If you really want to have some fun, check out the Artist Signature bundles. Not for every taste, but they're something nobody else offers. They make it easy to get a good mix together quickly.

NLS is more noticeable as an effect than VCC. Used sparingly, it can make things sound really cool.

As always, you ought to demo the plugins before buying, just to make sure you like what they do. Waves' demos are fully functional for seven days. Be sure you make time to test them fully, because I don't think you can demo the same plugin/bundle twice.

Cheers,
Eddie

[lfm]

You already started with some singles, and if you continue getting all of the best through singles, you will pay more than necessary for them.

Think and look through the bundles is my overall tip - and look for the next bargain campaign on each.

I think you might get some discount buyingt Kramer TTT and having KMT already - ask for that - but really, think your future through a bit ahead will save you lots.

I like Waves a lot too, not only for what plugins do - but for consistancy in gui, good A/B testing abilities, easy to use preset saving into menues and built in help.

The last year I saw the full Gold bundle with 31 plugins for about $220 - what did you pay for MondoMod which is included there. Do you see my drift....it's plenty useful stuff in there - I like it a lot, maybe a handful I did not use yet.

See if any of the signature series is to your liking now - get that for $199, and also a $200 voucher to use on a bundle - 50% off each bundle up to the amount of $200.

There were a thread over CLA Classic Compressors compared to other vendor hardware emulating - including IK - and also some posters had actually used the hardware 1176 as comparison. Check that out - since as I remember IK did not top those charts compared to UAD or Waves.l

SSL4000 is probably among Waves proudest creations, and UAD from what I read is only ones to beat it. There is a reason SSL4000 is not included in Mercury bundle - it sells very well anyway.

So using vouchers together with different bundles - and await as far as vouchers are valid for campaign - that's the way to go.

Have fun selecting....

[masterhiggins]

There is a reason SSL4000 is not included in Mercury bundle - it sells very well anyway.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the reason they're not included in Mercury has to do with the licensing agreement between Waves and SSL. SSL gets a far larger cut when purchased singly than they would being included in the Mercury bundle. If you see how much they charge for their Duende plugins, it's clear that profit is at the top of their priorities.

[lfm]

There is a reason SSL4000 is not included in Mercury bundle - it sells very well anyway.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the reason they're not included in Mercury has to do with the licensing agreement between Waves and SSL. SSL gets a far larger cut when purchased singly than they would being included in the Mercury bundle. If you see how much they charge for their Duende plugins, it's clear that profit is at the top of their priorities.

It may be as you say - or it does serve both better sold separately since it sells well anyway.

Now following Pensado's Place each week for almost a year - SSL is mentioned very often by guests in show, sometime as UAD version, yes, but very often as Waves as well.

[masterhiggins]

There is a reason SSL4000 is not included in Mercury bundle - it sells very well anyway.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the reason they're not included in Mercury has to do with the licensing agreement between Waves and SSL. SSL gets a far larger cut when purchased singly than they would being included in the Mercury bundle. If you see how much they charge for their Duende plugins, it's clear that profit is at the top of their priorities.

It may be as you say - or it does serve both better sold separately since it sells well anyway.

Now following Pensado's Place each week for almost a year - SSL is mentioned very often by guests in show, sometime as UAD version, yes, but very often as Waves as well.

Oh don't misunderstand me. I didn't mean to suggest that they're not good plugins. I'm just saying that that logic suggests that their other modeled products aren't as good. I personally find that their API is their best compressor and the SSL compressor pales in comparison to the Glue or Busspressor. When Waves agrees to licensing terms with SSL, they're bound to certain restrictions concerning the functionality. Notice how there's no wet/dry feature for parallel compression or sidechain option? Every review I've ever read greatly favors the Glue over the Waves buss compressor.

Basically, I'm just saying I wouldn't read too much into the bundling scenario. That's all.

[J4R1O]

You already started with some singles, and if you continue getting all of the best through singles, you will pay more than necessary for them.

Think and look through the bundles is my overall tip - and look for the next bargain campaign on each.

I haven't paid MSRP for any of my Waves plugins. KMT cost me $79 (MSRP $200), MondoMod $9 (MSRP $100), REDD $199 (MSRP $349), Aphex Exciter $99 (MSRP $250), Bass Rider $49 (MSRP $200) and Vocal Rider $49.50 (MSRP $300). Only The King's Microphones cost me almost its MSRP ($100), but there was some 20% off sale so I paid $80 for it. Unfortunately it was on sale next month and cost only $29! So that kinda sucked, but you can't always predict the future, right?

I think you might get some discount buyingt Kramer TTT and having KMT already - ask for that - but really, think your future through a bit ahead will save you lots.

I'll keep my eye on that TTT...

There were a thread over CLA Classic Compressors compared to other vendor hardware emulating - including IK - and also some posters had actually used the hardware 1176 as comparison. Check that out - since as I remember IK did not top those charts compared to UAD or Waves.

I really do like those IK models. I'm sure Waves' models are good and I will demo them later.

SSL4000 is probably among Waves proudest creations, and UAD from what I read is only ones to beat it.

I have IK's version of SSL4000 (British Channel and Bus Compression) and especially that Bus Comp is awesome!

So using vouchers together with different bundles - and await as far as vouchers are valid for campaign - that's the way to go.

Have fun selecting....

Thanks! Actually, I have one voucher left...

[J4R1O]

SSL4000 is probably among Waves proudest creations, and UAD from what I read is only ones to beat it. There is a reason SSL4000 is not included in Mercury bundle - it sells very well anyway.

I thought Mercury is THE ULTIMATE Waves bundle that includes all their plugins. Ok, I was wrong.

[Eddie TX]

It's good that you're buying the plugins when they're on sale, but if you weren't aware, you'll get even better prices from resellers like plugindiscounts.com, wavesuniverse.com, audiodeluxe.com, and jrrshop.com. All are reputable dealers.

Also, lfm is right about getting more bang for your buck with a bundle like the Gold ... if you can pick that up for a good price (it's been under $300 a few times) you'll get a lot of cool stuff.

And yes, the SSL bundle is (I think) the only thing that's NOT included in Mercury.

Cheers,
Eddie

[lfm]

Oh don't misunderstand me. I didn't mean to suggest that they're not good plugins. I'm just saying that that logic suggests that their other modeled products aren't as good. I personally find that their API is their best compressor and the SSL compressor pales in comparison to the Glue or Busspressor. When Waves agrees to licensing terms with SSL, they're bound to certain restrictions concerning the functionality. Notice how there's no wet/dry feature for parallel compression or sidechain option? Every review I've ever read greatly favors the Glue over the Waves buss compressor.

Basically, I'm just saying I wouldn't read too much into the bundling scenario. That's all.

No damage done - I didn't read you that way.

In Reaper you have dry/wet for every plugin - you don't need as a plugin feature.
Either way it's easy to accomplish with sends to a buss.

But sidechain is probably a good point for many to know about.
I only heard good things about the Glue - I'm sure it's very good.

But there is threshold for me starting to get single plugins for very small vendors - we saw result of Kjaerhus Audio. They may just disappear. That frightens me a bit.

[J4R1O]

Hi there ... looks like you've got a good start to your Waves collection. REDD and KMT are nice, and I use the Vocal/Bass Rider plugins all the time.

Hi Eddie! I thought I wrote you an answer, but I was wrong. So, here it comes...

Two weeks ago I didn't know that V/B Riders even exist and now they're my favourite plugins. I'd like to try Vocal Rider on sidechain, but I've heard that it is impossible on Sonar X1...

If your IK bundle includes the channel strip, you probably don't really need the Waves SSL bundle, although it's one of their finest achievements.

Yes, it includes. British Channel and Bus Compression. That Bus Comp is really nice. I use it on the drum bus and on the master bus.

You may want to look into the H-series plugins. They are very flexible and can do just about anything. The H-Delay is on sale right now for under $50 -- very good deal.

2-3 weeks ago I wanted to demo the Q-Clone so I had to install the whole Diamond bundle. If I remember, there was H-Comp included, but I simply had no time to try all those plugins.

If you really want to have some fun, check out the Artist Signature bundles. Not for every taste, but they're something nobody else offers. They make it easy to get a good mix together quickly.

I'm sure they're flexible plugins, but I think they're little bit expensive. Guess I have to demo them later to find out.

NLS is more noticeable as an effect than VCC. Used sparingly, it can make things sound really cool.

I'm using Sonar X1, and I think Cakewalk included their version of NLS on Sonar X2. I'm about to upgrade to X2 as soon as I my album mix is ready and then I'm gonna demo Waves NLS to compare them.

As always, you ought to demo the plugins before buying, just to make sure you like what they do. Waves' demos are fully functional for seven days. Be sure you make time to test them fully, because I don't think you can demo the same plugin/bundle twice.

When I had to install that whole Diamond bundle to demo Q-Clone, I wrote to Waves Support and told them that it is simply impossible task to test all those plugins in one week and they told me that I can contact them if there is some specific plugin that I want to demo later.

[SWallace]

I have found the H-EQ to be insanely useful. Best of all is quickly you can choose the different models. KMT can really help some sounds punch through a mix. Some of their older plugins are extremely low CPU usage. For example L1 uses 0-1% of my CPU. While Studio One's Limiter uses 5-7%.

[Eddie TX]

I'd like to try Vocal Rider on sidechain, but I've heard that it is impossible on Sonar X1...

Right, since VR's sidechain function uses VST3, which Sonar doesn't support. But you can add that feature with another plugin:

http://www.hor-net.com/plugins/hornet-autogain.html

It's on sale today for 6 euros! Enjoy ...

Cheers,
Eddie

[J4R1O]

Right, since VR's sidechain function uses VST3, which Sonar doesn't support. But you can add that feature with another plugin:

http://www.hor-net.com/plugins/hornet-autogain.html

It's on sale today for 6 euros! Enjoy ...

Cheers,
Eddie

Thank you for letting me know! Just purchased it!

[masterhiggins]

But there is threshold for me starting to get single plugins for very small vendors - we saw result of Kjaerhus Audio. They may just disappear. That frightens me a bit.

True. That's a good point. LOL. I never even heard of them (Kjaerhus).

The only caveat to that logic though is that usually one spends a relatively small amount of money on those other companies, buying 1 or 2 plugins out of the lot. With Waves, on the other hand, people usually buy huge bundles of plugins, of which they only actually use 1 or 2. In addition to that, there's the WUP to continue receiving updates, etc. In the event that the smaller company folds, there's only a small amount of investment lost.

On the other hand, even big companies discontinue products. NI is fracking huge and they've discontinued quite a lot of software over the years (Pro-53, Vokator, Spektral Delay, B4, etc). The Pro-53 was particularly popular, which confuses me a bit why they would choose to discontinue that one. Oh well. But I do see your point. They will probably be around for a very long time.

When I'm choosing a company to support (by purchasing their stuff), I usually take a few things into consideration:

1) They listen to feedback and reply - Companies like Fabfilter, PSP, u-he, ValhallaDSP, and Cytomic aren't super huge. Each of those companies have pretty small teams (Cytomic is pretty much just Andy and his wife), but they are very active in the forums and interact with customers on a regular basis. Antoni of PSP usually responds directly and I've never communicated with a nicer guy. These are the kind of things that most people find pretty important.

2) They are open about the products they're developing - They give you updates on things they have on the burner, and sometimes even tell you when some projects have to be shelved to fix an important issue on a current product. This transparency lets you know they're actively working on their stuff rather than just sitting back and collecting money, doing the bare minimum to keep a product working and praying to God that Apple or Windows doesn't implement a change that requires code maintenance to pass validation checks.

3) Frequent updates - Sure, this is closely related to reason 1, but in addition to fixing problems or implementing feature requests, they take it upon themselves to set the bar even higher. (Think new digital oscillators in u-he Diva)

4) Their products are reasonably priced - Okay, this one is pretty hard to judge, I'll admit. The prices jump all over the place, but once a purchase is made, they don't nickel and dime you to death with paid updates every 6 months. They base their business model on the fact that NEW users actually will actually pay for their software rather than trying to stick it to the current customers by making them buy new versions because of the smallest functional changes.

5) No bullsh*t copy protection schemes. All of the companies listed above have very generous licensing terms. They don't assume everyone is a criminal user posting their serial numbers on torrent sites. If you disagree with this assessment, I understand. I don't want to argue about it here.

6) They allow license transfers, even for a fee. I completely absolutely wholeheartedly agree that they deserve compensation for their efforts, even for a license transfer. Having the option to transfer licenses is important to me. Very important. If I can't, I don't buy. Simple as that. I have made one exception to that rule, though. Cytomic's plugins are so awesome I would never resell them, and they're dirt cheap for their level of awesomeness. However, Andy has informed me via e-mail that his policy will change once he's implemented his own copy-protection scheme. Awesome.

That's pretty much all I can think of at this point. It's 1am here and I'm no longer thinking straight. Good night, folks.

-Sam