Mastering with ONLY Waves Plug-ins...

[Bob Olhsson]

Wavesupport | Tech Specs | Double Precision

[bossman]

Originally Posted by YRLK

I may be recording and mastering a project all on my own soon, and I would be limited to all Waves plug-in's, so what plugs should I setup for acoustic/rock music, and what ratios, thresholds, etc. should I be striving to attain?

Thanks much - B

Wow, so many combinations, you can't really go wrong. Personally, I really go to the API comp, Puig EQ, L2 and have used MPX recently. But I also like to experiment and try different combos that work for the song.

[DarkElixir]

Originally Posted by James Meeker

There are many, many cost effective options out there. The UAD plugins are very highly regarded and excellent sounding. As far as going for a cost effective plugin bundle I could easily get by on a stripped setup by using:

1.) Oxford EQ - definitely a contender for best software EQ out there. Versatile as heck (5 modes, plus the GML mode if you get that option), competes with any hardware analog EQ I've heard. Sometimes I use it over the SSL G's EQ.

2.) Renaissance Bundle - Ren compressor is great! I still consider it one of the best plugin comps out there. Ren EQ has its own character that does feel vintage, good for color. Ren Reverb is probably the best Waves 'verb out there... slightly underrated plugin. RenBass adds another tool in the box.

3.) Cranesong Phoenix - five colors, all useful for adding size and saturation. Excellent for bumping things up a notch.

4.) Massey L2007 Limiter - amazing general purpose limiter. Has four different modes and speeds for tons of combinations. Covers ALL your limiting needs... and you can master with it!

Add into this the standard ProTools Digirack plugs that are free:

5.) Bomb Factory BF76 - like the real thing you can use this on pretty much everything and it sounds great. Set and forget!

6.) DVerb - surprisingly good for lofi reverb effects. NonLin and plate are excellent on snare. I'll use this freebie over pricey 'verbs on almost every mix.

7.) Digirack Delay - not as powerful or versatile as EchoBoy, but it will do in a pinch. Slap delays are useful for Haas effect techniques.

8.) Digirack Pitch - gets the job done for stereo pitch shifting and other FX. I'll use this on mixes all the time no matter what other tools are available. Simple and works.

So basically, buy the Ren bundle and those three other plugins (Oxford EQ is the most pricey) and you are set to do some real damage. If you've got the tracks and the skill you could mix to any standard.

With the bomb factory Plug.. i wanna know how people would use it.. i am scared of saturation as i dont want to damage the signal.. if someone could give a few pointers on each plug and give us noobs some homework to study up on would be appreciated! :D

[Razik]

Originally Posted by ORC

Razik, You need to find a mastering engineer, and fast!

I uploaded that track to Sound Could different versions in different formats and it does not sound exactly as the upload wav file, it does suffer some distortion. Are you guys experiencing the same thing?

[scraggs]

soundcloud streaming is 128kbps mp3.

[Matt Hepworth]

I've done some perfectly suitable masters using only Waves intentionally.

LPLB - high pass
LPMB - general MB comp
LPBB - gentle tone shaping
L3Multi - just a pinch with a setting that reigns in sub lows without killing them
L2 - polish a couple off the top

I've yet to find a truly great general mastering comp or EQ plug. Anyone remember Timeworks?

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by James Meeker

......
1.) Oxford EQ - definitely a contender for best software EQ out there. Versatile as heck (5 modes, plus the GML mode if you get that option), competes with any hardware analog EQ I've heard. Sometimes I use it over the SSL G's EQ.

......

I'm guessing you haven't done a blind, level matched comparison on a few good mixes, in different genres... comparing the Oxford EQ to great hardware EQs like the A-Designs Hammer and the API -5500 - on just a nice 10k boost of about 2 db.

to my ears these two different EQs totally blew the Oxford away in a blind, level matched test.

I am not saying you can't do good work with good plugins.

I'm just offering a different opinion.

[Razik]

I have used some of waves plug-ins on these tracks:


Razik Mastering

[horizon]

If you use the S1 to widen the mix I`d recommend - as I mentioned in a few other places here - to use it in an Aux Bus of the stereo track of your mix and not in the stereo final output with all the other plugs.

It inverts the phase of the treated track and adds this L and R to your original stereo mix however intensively you adjust your AUX send then and that to me makes the most sense of it.

To me a possible basic chain with just using Waves would be:

Stereo mix track: -> Aux Send S1

Stereo Output: EQ(possibly 10 band) -> Compr. -> L2


horizon

[Razik]

I do usually use the S1 to adjust and even up the left and right channels.

[tomwatson]

I think the main issue with only using waves plugins is that their linear phase EQ isn't up to scratch with PLparEQ or the Algorithmix Stuff. L3 has potential if you know how to use it but you'd at least have to put a good quality EQ before it and perhaps a compressor if the song needs it, L3 is just a multiband limiter.

[tomwatson]

Originally Posted by Razik

I do usually use the S1 to adjust and even up the left and right channels.

I do the same thing if the mix lacks stereo separation. Make sure the mix still sounds good in mono. The waves PAZ analyzers will tell you if the mix needs to sound wider. Put one on your reference track and one the song you are mastering.

Whatever you decide to do. Get a good reference track!

[huejahfink]

Originally Posted by tomwatson

The waves PAZ analyzers will tell you if the mix needs to sound wider.

... and the Voxengo SPAN analyzers will alert you when you need to buy some milk.

[AcoosticZoo]

Mixing with just waves mercury bundle Yes! But Mastering with Waves Helllll No.... it will only get you a Pass 8/10, but if you want better no, waves alone wont' do it atm.

The L16 is laughable... It's soooo bad sounding. nuff said.
L2 is great... but there's much better in today's market.
Coloring, Glueing Yes to waves, they have various tape, compressor channel strip models that are based on hardware and does a wonderful job.

Regards
Josef Horhay
Mixing Engineer
www.acoosticzoo.com

[Saturn]

Originally Posted by Laarsø

Seva, here? My understanding is that all the native (non-TDM) Waves plug-ins are 32 bit floating point. TDM was 48 bit fixed with 24 bit hand-off to the next plugin. The hardware L2 is also 48 bit fixed-point internal precision. I prefer PSP Xeon at 2x Fs than hardware Waves at 2xFs, but sometimes, it's ok to add a little (-0.3 - -0.6 dB threshold) with hardware L2. Ymmv
Daniel Weiss can do magic with only 40 bit foating-point. There's SHARCs in his waters. It's all about the implementation - not the bits (as long as you have more than 32 bit words, and you're controlling the filter state variables, you're golden. 32 bit can be great, too, if you know what not to do.)

Laarsø