Waves...smh

[seangm]

I created this spreadsheet to keep track of Waves alternatives. Feel free to contribute and share this where you feel it would be relevant...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

It's not letting me update the spreadsheet, is there some sort of permissions that needs to be given to everyone?

[ghettosynth]

I wonder where we are in the life of this thing? I can't believe that Waves doesn't hire smart business people. I agree that other firms will look at this and see if now is the right time for them. I can't imagine that those of use who gave Waves $30 from time to time are going to bite at a subscription. Surely they see that? We cannot be a part of their future plan. They must be betting on their ability to compete with other vendors offering their full catalogs.

I'm not hearing lots of support from the "only $15 a month, that's way cheap" people. I suspect part of that is because now they have to pick and choose who they give their monthly budget to? Slate? Waves? UAD? Who's subscription sounds as good when it's now $50/month out of pocket, if you want all of them, where you pay or lose access to some part of your library?

I wonder if the "deniers" are ready to acknowledge a "trend" yet?

[Funky40]

edit: wrong thread. sorry

[plexuss]

I created this spreadsheet to keep track of Waves alternatives. Feel free to contribute and share this where you feel it would be relevant...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

It's not letting me update the spreadsheet, is there some sort of permissions that needs to be given to everyone?

Thanks for pointing this out, I've never created a public google doc. Can you check it now and let me know if its working for you or not?

[Gadnnr]

I created this spreadsheet to keep track of Waves alternatives. Feel free to contribute and share this where you feel it would be relevant...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

It's not letting me update the spreadsheet, is there some sort of permissions that needs to be given to everyone?

Thanks for pointing this out, I've never created a public google doc. Can you check it now and let me know if its working for you or not?

Well... It was working fine but I accidentally made it private and now I can't access it. Sorry

[plexuss]

I created this spreadsheet to keep track of Waves alternatives. Feel free to contribute and share this where you feel it would be relevant...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

It's not letting me update the spreadsheet, is there some sort of permissions that needs to be given to everyone?

Thanks for pointing this out, I've never created a public google doc. Can you check it now and let me know if its working for you or not?

Well... It was working fine but I accidentally made it private and now I can't access it. Sorry

No worries. I saw that. I figured out how to prevent people from changing the share permissions so it should be more secure now.

[PieBerger]

I created this spreadsheet to keep track of Waves alternatives. Feel free to contribute and share this where you feel it would be relevant...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

Great idea! I added a bunch of Analog Obsession equivalents, as a bonus they are free/donationware, so disgruntled customers don't even have to open their wallets!

[Compyfox]

I am sorry, but I do not agree with this list in a lot of cases. Trading a "now subscription only" with other subscription based tools (especially UAD) is... yeah.

There is also the topic of "straight 1:1 replacements" vs "do-alikes" (aka: getting you in the ballpark). In the end, it is your choice what to go for.


I won't be adding to the file. Too many people already messing about. I'll just provide some commentary. Feel free to add at your own leisure (or ignore completely):

Code: Select all

Abbey Road Chambers                -
Any Reverb with Impulse Responses that were recorded with "old mics"
and stone walls, LiquidSonics 


Abbey Road J37 Tape                - 
nothing already listed is a "Studer J37". These devices sound significantly
different and run too fast. The J37 could only run at 7,5ips or 15ips. If
anything, U-HE SATIN can get you there, maybe Black Rooster Audio Magnetite.
The UAD Spark Studer A-800 can run at 7,5ips (subscription! or UAD hardware
bundled). Slate VTM is a modern/cleaned-up Studer that runs at 15ip and 30ips. 


Abbey Road King’s Microphones      - 
Neither Antares Mic Modeler nor IKM Mic Room covers these mics


Abbey Road REDD Consoles           -  
Softube Chandler is not a REDD, nobody mentioned Shattered Glass Audio CodeRED


Abbey Road Reel ADT                -  
a tape machine in parallel(!!!) that has "drifting heads" (too strong
flutter), Airwindows ADT, Vacuumsound ADT (no longer developed, find on
Plugins4Free)


Abbey Road Reverb Plates           -  
Soundtoys/Kush Audio Goldplate, Arturia Rev Plate-140, TAL Reverb, 
Soundtoys LittlePlate, Black Rooster Audio RO-140, Fuse Audio Labs VREV-140, 
etc.


Abbey Road RS124 Compressor        -  
Klanghelm MJUC


Abbey Road RS56 Passive EQ         -  
basically any EQ at these fixed frequencies, else Softube "Abbey Road
Passive EQ", or Nomad Factory All-Tech 9063b EQ


Abbey Road Vinyl                   -  
Tokyo Dawn Labs SimulatheREF. If you're rather after "effect", then there
is still iZotope Vinyl or now Unfiltered Audio Needlepoint


Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter        -  
Audiothing Type B, alternatively BBE Sonic Maximizer plugins (e.g. formerly
Nomad Factory, now Plugivery -- if still maintained)


API 2500                           -  
most maintained "everything API" is either Softube or Plugin Alliance


B360 Ambisonics Encoder            -  
e.g. IEM Plug-in Suite, 


Berzerk Distortion                 -  
This is basically a waveshaper with various waveforms and additional
modulation. Nothing listed would replace that, not without modulation 
capabilities. Else one could list MWaveshaper (lacks modulation),
alternative is DISTRHO Cardinal with it's various Waveshaper modules


BSS DPR-402                        -  
while not a clone, Black Rooster Audio BlueAsh SC-5 and BlackAsh SC-5. 
Else, look at Plugin Alliance


CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter        -  
CLA-3A Compressor / Limiter        -  
CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter        -  
none of them list Black Rooster Audio, Fuse Audio Labs or 
Plugin Alliance yet


Codex Wavetable Synth              -  
usability wise, basically everything incl. Tytell's Vital and kv331
Audio's Synthmaster One


Dorrough Stereo                    -  
Klanghelm VUMT (RMS Mode), Martin Zuther K-Meter (Windows and Linux Only,
but VST3!), Brainworx bx_meter, built into RME Audio's Digicheck (standalone)


Doubler                            -  
basically any delay/pitch shifter combo that works within a 30ms range.
Else, Eventide H3000 Factory, anything modular, too many tools to list


Electric 200 Piano                 -  
Electric 88 Piano                  -  
Electric Grand 80 Piano            -  
anything Modartt, AAS Lounge Lizard, Sampleson E-Pianos, GSi MisterRay
(if still around), UVI Keysuite Electric, Spectrasonics Keyscape, etc


F6 Floating-Band Dynamic EQ        -  
Soundradix SurfEQ


GTR3                               -  
anything GTR3 based has long since been replaces with things from 
IK Multimedia, Line6 (Helix), Scuffham, Plugin Alliance, you name it


InPhase                            -  
since this is not an automated tool, then things like Eventide Precision
Time Align


IR1 Convolution Reverb             -  
anything IR Convolution reverb can be easily replaced with either DAW
bundled, or Kuffinke SIR, LiquidSonics Reverberate


Kramer Master Tape                 -  
This is an AMPEX based tape machine, so U-HE SATIN, Ampex 440B, UAD Spark
Ampex ATR-102 Mastering (subscription! or UAD hardware bundled), 


L1 Ultramaximizer                  -  
Anything "L1" based can now be replaced with whatever is out there.
Fabfilter, Tokyo Dawn Labs, you name it.


LowAir                             -  
Unlike MaxxBass, that(!) is a low frequency synth. So Brainworx bx_subsynth
or Metric Halo Thump2 would work


Magma Tube Channel Strip           -  
Heavily "inspired" by Universal Audio Consoles, so WaveArts Tube 
Saturator 1 (free, discontinued) or Tube Saturator 2, Soundtoys 
Decapitator, etc


MaxxBass                           -  
None(!) of the listed tools do what MaxxBass does. The listed tools are all
"signal triggered low frequency synthesizers". MaxxBass runs the signal
through a low-pass filter, compressor and then a saturator before the
signal is being mixed back to the dry signal again. The "improved"
alternative is Melda Production MBassador!


MDMX Distortion Modules            -  
aside from additional modulation features, they're legit MXR, Boss and
Ibanez guitar pedals


MondoMod                           -  
any chorus out there covers this


Morphoder                          -  
Xils Vocoder, zynaptic Orange Vocoder, TAL Vocoder, you name it


NLS Non-Linear Summer              -  
SSL 4k G, Neve and TG-12345 console "preamp sim"


OVox Vocal ReSynthesis             -  
if only zynaptic Orange Vocoder 4 would be out yet


PAZ Analyzer                       -  
any suitable FFT Analyster


Primary Source Expander            -  
don't fall for the UI -- this is a bog standard Expander with a 
Range Control!!!!


PuigTec EQs                        -  
it's a Pultec EQP-1A, there are plenty including Ignite Amps, 
Nomad Factory and IK Multimedia


Q-Clone                            -  
There are plenty of "cloning EQ's" on the market now. I refuse to mention 
one particular plugin company though


Renaissance Bass                   -  
see MaxxBass, only less control


S1 Stereo Imager                   -  
Alex Hilton A1Audio A1StereoControl, Brainworx bx_control, etc


Scheps 73                          -  
This is a Neve 73 EQ based channel strip, plenty of alternatives around
incl. Plugin Alliance/Lindell Audio Console 80


SuperTap                           -  
U-HE Color Copy (all "coloring" off), Native Instruments Replika XT, 
Eventide UltraTap and H3000 Delay, HY-Plugins Delay4, just to name a few


Vocal Rider                        -  
Hornet Plugins AutoGain (all variants)


VU Meter                           -  
Klanghelm VUMT, PSP TripleMeter, Presonus VU Meter -- 
many to list -- not all of them "accurate" or up-to-date (like Sleepy Time Records)


Waves Harmony                      -  
Everything listed is more traditional, including the forerunners of "vocal
pitching" -- Antares. There is currently no 1:1 alternative (like, legit
none -- maybe after KVR Developer Challenge 2023). Eventide OctaVOX is a
honorable mention, but it lacks the modulation and intelligent
harmonization. Sorry - you're out of luck here!


WLM Plus Loudness Meter            -  
This has long since surpassed by literally anything. Highly recommended / 
most accurate: Youlean Loudness Meter, NUGEN Audio VisLM. 
I **do not** consider dpMeter Pro to be accurate in certain modes


X-Series "Denoisers"               -
As already mentioned, iZotope RX and Acon Digital Restoration Suite

...have at it!

Finding suitable replacements for things where there are no replacements for will be fun... not.


Oh and... Support the indie devs!

[Compyfox]

Quick update...

I just dipped a toe into editing the Google Document... At some point, that document needs to be locked. At the moment, it's not fun to read/edit anything. Honestly... why don't we just all write "THIS PLUGIN", throw it at the wall and see what sticks (which seems to be the current route with the edits), instead of actually writing down 1:1 known alternatives?

I'm reading a lot of plugins that are not even close to the Waves plugin in question.
Or ones that are in the ballpark, but not quite. (like "Waves Harmony" -- sorry, there is really no 1:1 alternative with that feature set... yet!)


However... considering that Waves actively hides valid criticism on Social Media, and threads are being... er... "closed" both here and on GS... it's great to see that there are a nigh endless amount of alternatives for 98% of the offered tools.

The only way to learn, is people speaking with their wallets.

[Yadrichik_Chaya]

You know it is really REALLY bad when someone like Bolo Da Producer, in his latest video if you search for ”waves creative access, is upset over what Waves did(!).




I need to remind you all that Bolo is the guy who endorses Unison Audio, so in reality he has no credability.
But it goes to show how bad the situation really is.

[2:43AM]

I've kind of lost touch over the years with Waves, especially with their offline installers. Never felt the need to re-download the newest ones, if even available, because well...I never saw THIS coming! So will offline installers be available and/or will Waves Central grandfather perpetual license owners to allow reinstallation of plugins (assuming licenses are intact on a dongle/USB drive, or hard drive)?

[Bombadil]

I had Abbey Road Chambers and Plates. Forget which version, but they didn't work on my M1 when I tried to install them. So, screw it. Anybody who goes sub will immediately lose my support.

[Olnium]

I've kind of lost touch over the years with Waves, especially with their offline installers. Never felt the need to re-download the newest ones, if even available, because well...I never saw THIS coming! So will offline installers be available and/or will Waves Central grandfather perpetual license owners to allow reinstallation of plugins (assuming licenses are intact on a dongle/USB drive, or hard drive)?

You can currently create an offline installer for your bundle of perpetual licences from within Waves Central. Seeing as your perpetual licences aren't going to change from here on out, you may as well create one now and keep it somewhere safe in case they remove the option in future.

[2:43AM]

You can currently create an offline installer for your bundle of perpetual licences from within Waves Central. Seeing as your perpetual licences aren't going to change from here on out, you may as well create one now and keep it somewhere safe in case they remove the option in future.

That was my logic, for sure. Thanks for the reply. I was about to go into Waves Central to see what options are available, and I see it asked for me to agree to their EULA, which upon clicking did not work. (For a while this morning, the Waves website was down).

[ghettosynth]

I've kind of lost touch over the years with Waves, especially with their offline installers. Never felt the need to re-download the newest ones, if even available, because well...I never saw THIS coming! So will offline installers be available and/or will Waves Central grandfather perpetual license owners to allow reinstallation of plugins (assuming licenses are intact on a dongle/USB drive, or hard drive)?

Good question. In fact, I have some un-activated but now out of wup products that I can't activate. It seems like the only Waves thing that I actually cared a bit about, I can't use.