Introducing My Most Used Plugins from Waves

Hello everyone! I’m Yuki Kito, a guitar instructor.
Recently, Waves introduced a subscription model, sparking quite a bit of debate in the music programmer’s community. For those who already own a lot of Waves plugins, it’s a particularly complex issue. Personally, I haven’t subscribed yet, but the idea of having access to a vast array of plugins at once is certainly tempting.

That said, even with so many plugins, we often only use a small handful regularly. I still think the previous ‘buy once’ model has its merits.

Today, I’d like to introduce some of my favorite Waves plugins that I use frequently! Waves offers many excellent plugins, but I’ve narrowed down my selection to the ones I find particularly user-friendly and essential.

Recommended Plugin 1:

WAVES H-Delay Hybrid Delay

First up is the H-Delay, which is included in the Gold bundle. While there are many delay plugins from various manufacturers, what sets H-Delay apart is its versatility and ease of use.

For instance, it can create a lo-fi, tape echo feel, modulation delay with chorus effects, or apply high-pass and low-pass filters to the delay signal. Basically, H-Delay can handle almost all of these tasks.

It can also sync to BPM, and for guitarists, it comes with the familiar tap tempo feature. If you’re after a lo-fi sound for tape echo or want to add width with modulation delay, H-Delay makes it easy without the hassle of constantly inserting different delays on buses or inserts. Just using H-Delay alone allows you to achieve a wide range of sounds.

In that sense, it’s a very flexible and easy-to-use delay plugin.

Recommended Plugin 2:

WAVES Center

This plugin is also included in the Waves Diamond bundle. For people like me who focus on composition and arrangement but are just ‘okay’ at mixing and mastering, it can be a game-changer.

With Center, you can adjust the balance between the Center and Sides of the stereo image, and decide whether to place low or high frequencies in the center or sides.

It changes the sound quite noticeably, making it easy to hear the difference in any monitoring environment. I mainly use it on the stereo output to adjust the stereo width. After lightly compressing the mix with a mastering compressor, I use Center to widen the sound. That’s how I use it, but if anyone knows other techniques, please share them with me!

Recommended Plugin 3:

WAVES SSL G-Master Buss Compressor

Next up is the SSL G-Master Buss Compressor, which I use on drums or stereo outputs.

From what I’ve gathered, when mixing drums, especially with items spread across various frequency ranges (like snares, toms, and cymbals), it can be hard to get the sound to gel together. Inserting a Buss Compressor on the drum bus helps create a ‘glue’ effect, making the drums feel more cohesive and unified.

Also, this plugin comes with presets from legendary producers like Chris Lord-Alge, famous for the CLA Series, making it easy to find a good starting point. You can even switch the Analog button on and off to change the character of the sound.

Recommended Plugin 4:

WAVES VU Meter

Lastly, I’d like to introduce the VU Meter. I only recently bought it, but it’s great for measuring the volume of each track when inserted on the stereo output.

For those familiar with mixing and mastering, this might be basic knowledge, but some say that setting the volume levels of core instruments like kicks and snares before beginning the mix makes it easier to balance everything else without the “synth is too loud” issue. There are plenty of YouTube tutorials explaining how to use VU Meters and set proper levels.
I’ve only been using it for about a month, but I now always insert it on the stereo output.

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