What are your favourite Waves plugins?

[jim1960]

There was a time I used quite a few Waves plugins but these days my favorites are the CLA Bass and the Vocal Rider. Actually, at this point they're the only two Waves plugins I really use with any regularity. I did use the Brauer Motion on a mix I did recently for a Howard Jones style pop song but that's a fairly specialized plugin and I don't see that I'll be reaching for it much.

This shouldn't be taken as a knock on the Waves stuff. I've just found other things I prefer. Waves makes a good product at a price point friendly enough that you don't beat yourself up if you buy something and it turns out less useful than you hoped it would be (I'm not a fan of the update plan charges though). Waves plugins really helped me educate myself.

[Trevor B.]

Originally Posted by jim1960

Waves makes a good product at a price point friendly enough that you don't beat yourself up if you buy something and it turns out less useful than you hoped it would be (I'm not a fan of the update plan charges though). Waves plugins really helped me educate myself.

I couldn't agree more with the comments above. I'm also not a fan of the update plan charges. Given how competitive the plugin market has become I'm a little surprised that developers can still maintain the "update charges" business model.

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by KevWind

I used to use the L2 until I found the Massey L2007 (mac only I believe)

I too prefer the Massey L2007 limiter over the Waves L2, although the Waves L3 in its various versions is quite good too. The limiter algorithms/features in Ozone 8 are also excellent.

BTW, Steve Massey just released an update for his L2007 among his otgher plugins. Free to registered users.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

I too prefer the Massey L2007 limiter over the Waves L2, although the Waves L3 in its various versions is quite good too. The limiter algorithms/features in Ozone 8 are also excellent.

BTW, Steve Massey just released an update for his L2007 among his otgher plugins. Free to registered users.

Thanks for tip I'll check out the update

[DupleMeter]

H-Reverb is quite good. I wish I could say the same for the H-Comp...but I just can't get along with it.

Abbey Roads Chambers is really, really good...I've been using it on drums since I got it when it first came out. It's also great on high strings.

The Scheps 73 is my secret weapon for Bass & in M/S mode on my master buses.

API 2500 Compressor is seriously good, as are the API 550a & 550b EQs.

I'm kind of "meh" on the SSL channel strips (4000E & 4000G). I guess they sound ok - but I don't think they "spank" like the real SSL Though, the EQs are nice enough.

The SSL-G Bus Compressor is a nice master bus "glue" if set right...but I find the API 2500 is just as good (and sometimes better).

I know I have dozens more Waves plugs...but those are the ones I use a lot.

The thing about Waves, if you keep your eye on the ones you want, they will always end up at $29 every once in a while.

If you're looking for plugins, also check out McDSP. FilterBank & CompressorBank are still some of the best. And the DE555 is, by far, my favorite de-esser.