By Seva, Waves Audio
Waves makes software audio processors providing the essential tools for processing and optimizing sound on computer-based editing systems such as those of Digidesign's Pro Tools and Sound Designer II, Sound Forge, Deck II v2.5, Adobe Premiere v4.0, Bias Peak, and MacroMedia Sound Edit 16, as well as real-time processing using Waves WaveShell-RT.The quality and power of audio processing by Waves plug-ins are unique, comparable in sound quality to the high-end pro audio gear found in many of the world's top studios. Some of our products are thought by many of our users to be the best in the world in their class regardless of the technology used.
Waves plug-ins are not just a collection of particular effects, but a complete system providing all the essential tools you need to get world-class sound quality, including equalizers for the highest degree of tonal control possible; compressors and dynamic processors for adjusting all aspects of sound level and dynamics; peak limiters for getting the hottest possible sound while retaining quality; total control over the stereo effect; a unique top-quality reverberation and distance simulation processor, and much more.
Waves plug-ins are transportable between a wide and growing range of systems. Once you buy a plug-in for one computer platform, you can upgrade it for many other platforms, usually at nominal cost, and many improvements and upgrade options are made available without any charge to end users. Your plug-ins will not become obsolete tomorrow, but will become more powerful with time thanks to Waves' policy of making improvements and enhancements available.
Waves plug-ins are designed to work together seamlessly so that you can combine them to create even more powerful processing and effects. For example, under both Digidesign's Sound Designer II and their TDM mixing system, you can combine individual processes used in Waves plug-ins in unique combinations to obtain the precise processors needed for your particular project.
To illustrate: several Waves plug-ins have powerful setup libraries that allow them to be used for any number of specialized jobs. Buying a Waves C1 Compressor/Gate or Q10 Equalizer is the equivalent of buying 20 or 30 different dedicated processing devices. Did you know that the C1 Compressor/Gate is also a powerful hiss removal processor, a de-esser, an enhancer, and can even be used to remove excess reverberation? Did you know that the Q10 also can be used to alter digital pre-emphasis, has a range of pseudostereo effects, or can be used for proper equalization of old 78 rpm records, or to provide telephone or AM radio sound quality simulation? No other audio plug-ins provide this unlimited system power.
And the Waves user interface is also unique. We have not sacrificed usability to cosmetics. Waves click-and-drag mouse-driven interface, with optional keyboard entry, is consistent across platforms - learn it once, use it everywhere. Waves put maximum effort into user ergonomics, and our plug-ins provide a wealth of graphic feedback that tells you precisely what you are doing to the sound at each moment. Our meters are superb, allowing you to see the effects of most adjustments instantly in helpful graphical displays.
The plug-ins now offered include:
The Q10 Equalizer: 10-band high quality paragraphic stereo equalizer, independently adjustable on two channels, or 60 bands of user-assignable EQ under TDM, with almost 200 effects and processes in the Q10 setups library, most of them user-customizable. A real "Swiss Army Knife" of equalizers, which will do any EQ task you can think of.
The C1 Compressor/Gate: The ultimate high-quality processor for adjusting the dynamics of audio signals. Compression, gating, dynamic filtering, expansion, enhancement, sidechain EQ and more. With user-customizable setups library for many different effects and processes, and an extensive tutorial manual. Includes all the normal dynamic processor effects, and many useful ones you have never previously imagined.
The L1 Ultramaximizer: Many pro users say this is the best peak limiter in the world, superior even to $8000 tube products. Ideal for getting hot sound with minimal side effects. Excellent for all multimedia applications, and used by the world's top multimedia software houses. Also ideal for CD mastering, incorporating the IDR (increased digital resolution) process which improves quality and dynamic range for very quiet sounds, and which independent tests have found to be superior to the "big name," much-hyped quality enhancement systems.
The S1 Stereo Imager: Provides detailed control and enhancement of stereo images, without the nasty side effects of many other stereo processors.
TrueVerb: Not just a state-of-the-art reverb that currently runs in TDM, this plug-in has been designed to correctly simulate the actual response of sounds heard in a good room. You can adjust not only reverb time but also room size and even the distance of the sound from the listener. A uniquely natural reverb, easy on the ear, and providing a virtual reality effect of acoustical accuracy unlike anything else available.
AudioTrack: A low-cost entry point into the world of Waves plug-ins, offering a combination of equalization, compression and gating which will be very useful for basic processing of audio sound files. Obviously this is not as refined as our high-end products, AudioTrack is nevertheless everything a lot of musicians will need without breaking the budget.
Various WaveShells: A WaveShell is what allows Waves plug-ins to run on particular computer-based platforms. WaveShells are already available for the following systems: Digidesign Sound Designer II, Digidesign TDM, Adobe Premiere (includes Deck and PEAK), and SoundEdit 16. There is also a Real Time WaveShell-RT that allows Digidesign processing cards such as AudioMedia II to be used for processing audio in real time, just like outboard gear.
Pricing for the Waves plug-ins varies based upon the platform you will be using it on (Sound Designer, TDM, etc.), but they are all very competitively priced and absolute bargains compared to their hardware-based counterparts. Waves processors are a complete system with unlimited and continually expanding flexibility. The individual products for single platforms are the best of their kind and superb value on that basis alone, but that's truly only the tip of the iceberg.
For further information on specific Waves products and some very interesting demo files, see our online Web page at "http://www.waves.com".