Improve the Quality of Your Mixes with Ease! Recommended Plug-ins for Adding a Little More to Your Mixes [Waves]

WAVES plug-ins are a favorite among professionals as they instantly enhance the quality of your mixes.
Many of you are probably already using the main bundles GOLD, PLATINUM, DIAMOND, and HORIZON. But, did you know that there are plug-ins that can be added to these bundles to dramatically improve the quality of your mixes?
Even if you don't have WAVES plug-ins, there are many powerful plug-ins that can be added as a hidden taste to your everyday mixes, and will greatly enhance the texture and atmosphere of your music.
I would like to introduce you to some of my recommended plug-ins, with a focus on the Signature Series!

Check out the WAVES Signature Series

Signature Series

This popular series reproduces the sound creation know-how of the world's top engineers as plug-ins. Professional mixers use multiple processors for EQ, dynamics, spatial effects, to create great sounds through precise settings that can be described as craftsmanship. The Signature Series incorporates their trade secret processor combinations and settings inside a single plug-in. By simply intuitively manipulating the on-screen switches and knobs, the built-in effect chain works together to give your tracks the texture and sound of top professional productions that you cannot get with other plug-ins!

For example, the Jack Joseph Puig Signature Series is a bundle that condenses the mixing techniques of Jack Joseph Puig of U2 and Lady Gaga fame, and includes the following single plug-ins

As you can see from the names, the plug-ins are separated by sound source type, such as JJP Vocals and JJP Guitars. Just by launching these plug-ins, you can incorporate the Grammy Award-winning sound into your own mixes. In particular, JJP Vocals is a favorite of many users because it adds his magic texture, color, and atmosphere to vocals, which are the face of a song!

The Signature Bundle Series is roughly divided into the following categories, along with examples of artists that each engineer has worked with.

Genres are just being used as examples only. You can expand your sound creation by incorporating your favorite ones as you like.

Some of the major WAVES bundles include some of the plug-ins from the original Signature Series. Please refer to the following for details.

○ Eddie Kramer Drum Channel
Included in major bundles: Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Horizon

○ Greg Wells ToneCentric
Included in major bundles: Platinum, Diamond, Horizon

○ CLA Cuitars、Maserati DRM
Major bundles included: Horizon

Let's take a look at some other recommended plug-ins and bundles!

CLA Classic Compressors

This plug-in is modeled after the vintage compressors CLA-2A, CLA-3A, CLA-76 Blacky, and CLA-76 Bluey owned by Chris Lord Alge, the master who also created the signature series. It adds punch and depth to drums, guitars, vocals, keyboards, and all other sound sources through comfortable compression and distortion.

*Parts Included in the Original Bundle

○ CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter
○ CLA-3A Compressor / Limiter
○ CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter
Major bundles included: Horizon

OneKnob Series

The OneKnob series allows you to brush your sound up to your liking with just one action of turning the on-screen knobs. OneKnob Phatter is for adding a bit of fatness, OneKnob Brighter is for brightening up the sound a bit, and so on. The following is a list of the contents of this series.

*Parts included from the original bundle

○ OneKnob Filter
Parts included from the original bundle: Horizon, DIAMOND

○ OneKnob Driver
Parts included from the original bundle, DIAMOND, Platinum

○ OneKnob Pumper
Parts included from the original bundle: Horizon, DIAMOND, Platinum

API Collection

Plug-ins modeled after API's EQ and dynamics modules are described to be loved by engineers the world over. These plug-ins offer smooth EQs, dynamics modules that add a unique punch, and even the unique sounds that give the “API style” used in top recording productions. Included are the dual-channel compressor API 2500, the reciprocating equalizer API 550 with its powerful yet smooth character, and the graphic equalizer API 560 for aggressive sound creation.

SSL 4000 Collection

Modeled after the legendary SSL 4000 Series consoles used by professionals to the finest detail, these plug-ins add the clarity and musical detail that define the SSL sound, while supporting the subtle processing required to drive a mix. In addition to the channel strips SSL E-Channel and SSL G-Channel, which consist of a crisp EQ and dynamics section, it also includes SSL G-Master Buss Compressor and SSL G-Equalizer.

I introduced a bundle of WAVES plug-ins, which are useful not only as little extras, but also as stand-alone products. I hope you will find them useful in your own productions as well!