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15 Waves Abbey Road RS124 Compressor

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Waves Abbey Road RS124 Compressor
  

The Holy Grail of Vintage Smooth Compressors

You’ve heard the original units on almost everything the Beatles recorded at Abbey Road. You’ve heard it, most famously, on Paul McCartney’s immortal bass lines. There’s a reason why Abbey Road considered these heavily modified Altec compressors their “secret weapon.”

More recently, the RS124 sound has been a favorite of Grammy-winning mix engineer Tony Maserati, taking advantage of its unique compression tone on Beyoncé’s and Alicia Keys’ vocals.

Rescued from the Abbey road archives, several original RS124 units were restored to fully operational status in 2000. And now, thanks to Waves’ meticulous modeling, the RS124’s legendary sound is yours.

Ultra-Rare Tube Compression: Bass and Beyond

RS124 was an Abbey Road modification of the Altec 436B compressor: only 25 units were ever made. It shaped the thick, creamy tones of nearly every Paul McCartney bass line in the Beatles: “Come Together” is a prime example. Abbey Road engineers would typically push the input deep into 15-20 dB of gain reduction, producing wonderfully lush results.

Two RS124 Flavors: Studio vs. Cutter

No two RS124s sounded exactly the same. The Studio model emulates the famous 60070B unit known for its more aggressive sound that squashed transients, with faster attack and release times. The Cutting model has the slower attack time favored by Abbey Road’s cutting rooms—more suitable for bus compression and mastering.

Go Super-Aggressive with Super Fuse

Want RS124 to become more aggressive? The Super Fuse mode matches release time to attack time, creating a brutal compression character that sounds like it’s “fighting against itself.” Try this on your drum bus for complete room destruction, or to make your beats jump out of the speakers.

Original Sound. Modern Additions.

For modern mixing capabilities, features have been added to the original RS124: Sculpt your sound with mid-side processing, in addition to stereo, dual mono, and mono. Roll off high frequencies to smoothen the sound. Apply the Sidechain Highpass to remove low frequencies from your bass/kick sidechain. Dial in the perfect blend with Dry/Mix.

Features

  • Unique compression for vocals, beats, bass, synths and mix buses
  • Two RS124 versions with different tube flavors: Studio and Cutter
  • Mono, stereo, left, right, mid, and sides processing and monitoring
  • Sidechain highpass filter can beef up compressed bass or kick
  • Optional high-frequency roll-off for softer tones
  • Designed in close collaboration with Abbey Road Studios
  • Super Fuse mode adds explosive, aggressive compression sound
  • Optional Auto Hold feature reduces compression artifacts
  • Dry/mix controls for parallel, “New York style” compression
  • Presets by Beatles remixer Guy Massey and many more artists

Description

System Requirements

Waves v15 System Requirements

Mac

Windows

CPU
Intel or Silicon Architecture
See notes regarding Apple Silicon based processors		CPU
X64 compatible Intel or AMD CPU
Memory
Minimum: 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
16 GB free disk space on the system drive		Memory
Minimum: 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
16 GB free disk space on the system drive
Operating System
macOS Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14		Operating System
Windows 10 64 bit (21H2)
Windows 11 (21H2)
Screen Resolution
Minimum: 1024x768
Recommended: 1280x1024 / 1600x1024
USB displays are not supported as the primary display.		Screen Resolution
Minimum: 1024x768
Recommended: 1280x1024 / 1600x1024
Exceptions and Notes
  • These specs are for software version 15.

  • Windows: AMD Ryzen 7 is not supported.

  • Windows 10 64 bit (Pre-21H2) is not supported with software version 15.

  • Current version licenses will activate older version software (V9 and above), if the product/s in question exists in this software version.

  • To check if a plugin exists in an older version, scroll to the bottom of the older version's download page.

  • Waves plugins are officially supported on up to two screens in third-party DAWs and host applications.

  • Screen Resolution: SSL E-Channel, SSL G-Channel, Element, Codex, Dorrough, Flow Motion, Bass Slapper and Bass Fingers require minimum screen resolution 1280x1024 / 1600x1024. Recommended screen resolution for Flow Motion, Bass Slapper and Bass Fingers: 1920x1080.

  • If you experience unusually high CPU consumption from Waves Plugins V15 and above while using a non-Intel CPU on Windows, learn how to enable MKL optimization to improve CPU performance.

  • Waves Plugins and applications are supported and tested on operating systems installed on the built-in system hard drive. Operating systems installed on external hard drives are not tested and may not be fully functional with our software.


Clarity Vx / Pro and Clarity Vx DeReverb / Pro:

  • Mac: Intel Xeon-E processors are not supported

  • Windows:
    Intel Xeon processors are not supported
    Supported on Intel processors Gen 6 and above
    AMD processors lower than Ryzen 9 are not supported

  • COSMOS Sample Finder, StudioVerse Audio Effects & Instruments, Key Detector: Intel processors must be Gen 5 or above and support AVX.

  • Waves Instruments: Additional disk-space may be required for sample libraries. Specific information available on each instrument’s page.

  • RAM: Grand Rhapsody’s & Bass Finger’s minimal RAM required is 16 GB (and not 8GB, as generally described for all plugins). [Mac & Windows].

Waves 15 Supported Hosts

Mac


Apple Silicon Support

Windows

Pro Tools 2023.12, 2024 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)Pro Tools 2022, 2023 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
Ableton Live 12 (VST3)
Ableton Live 12 (VST3)
Audition 24 (VST3)
Audition 24 (VST3)

Bitwig Studio 5.1 (VST3)Bitwig Studio 5.1 (VST3)
Cakewalk by BandLab 2024 (VST3)
Cubase 13 (VST3)
Cubase 13 (VST3)
DaVinci Resolve 18.5 DaVinci Resolve 18.5
Digital Performer 11 (Audio Units)
FL Studio 21 (VST3)
FL Studio 21 (VST3)
Garage Band 10.4 (Audio Units)
Komplete Kontrol 3 (VST3)Komplete Kontrol3 (VST3)
Logic Pro X 10.8, 11 (Audio Units)
Luna 1.6 (Audio Units)
Nuendo 13 (VST3)
Nuendo 13 (VST3)
OBS Studio 29 (Intel Only) Via StudioVerse, Stereo onlyOBS Studio 29 (Intel Only) Via StudioVerse, Stereo only
Premiere Pro 24 (VST3)
Premiere Pro 24 (VST3)
Maschine 2 (VST3)
Main Stage 3 (Audio Units)

Pyramix 14 (VST3)
REAPER 7 (VST3)
REAPER 7 (VST3)
Reason 12.7 (VST3)Reason 12.7 (VST3)
Samplitude Pro X8 (VST3)
Sequoia 16 (VST3)
Studio One Professional 6 (VST3)
Studio One Professional 6 (VST3)
The DAW versions listed above are the latest on which we tested and officially qualified each version of our products.

Waves’ latest version works on newer sub-versions of these DAWs, unless stated otherwise.

Waves plugins comply with the major audio plugin formats (VST3, AU, AAX).
If your DAW is not listed below, but supports VST3, AU or AAX, it should work fine with our software.

Your DAW must be running on an operating system that supports it in order for plugins to work properly. To confirm that your DAW version is supported on your operating system, please refer to your DAW’s website.


Exceptions & Notes:


General:

  • These specs are for software version 15.

  • V15 supports 64-bit only.

  • In hosts that support both VST and VST3 plugins, we highly recommend using only VST3 plugins in new sessions from now on, and migrating plugins in old sessions to VST3.

  • With the release of Waves V13 plugins, we announce full official Apple Silicon support for host applications that are themselves Apple Silicon-compatible. We will work to provide official ARM support for more host applications as they become Silicon-compatible. We will update this page with new developments as they are available.

  • MIDI Support: The following hosts do not offer MIDI support: Pyramix, Premiere, Audition and OBS.

  • MIDI Learn:

    Not supported in the following plugins: Scheps Omni Channel 2, MultiMod Rack, CLA MixHub, Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain.
    Native Instrument hosts: MIDI learn is not supported in effect plugins if they’re inserted after a virtual instrument plugin in Maschine and Komplete Kontrol.
    Logic Pro, MainStage, Digital Performer, Luna: Only certain plugins support MIDI learn. Click here for a full list.
    GarageBand: MIDI Learn is supported only with Waves Virtual Instrument plugins.

  • Mono to Stereo components are not supported in Cakewalk by BandLab, GarageBand and Luna.

  • Sidechaining is supported on the following hosts: Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Nuendo, Cubase, Cakewalk by BandLab, Audition, Ableton Live, FL Studio, REAPER, Bitwig Studio, Samplitude, Sequoia and Studio One.

  • Demo Mode: Audio mutes are not synced between plug-ins running in Demo Mode, when tracks are set to Input Monitoring and the transport is stopped.

  • Surround plugins are supported on the following hosts: Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Digital Performer, Nuendo, Cubase, Audition, Premiere, REAPER, Pyramix and DaVinci Resolve.

  • Drag and Drop support: ‘Drag and Drop' of samples and audio files in to CR8 Creative Sampler is possible only on DAWs that support this feature: Ableton Live, Cubase, Nuendo and Studio One.

  • GarageBand: The Preset Browser is not available on Intel Mac computers.

  • Adobe Premiere on Apple Silicon Macs: While loading plugins / changing parameters, you may experience a slow graphic refresh rate.

  • Maschine/ Komplete Kontrol: The following plugins will not function correctly when loaded as VST3 plugins: API-2500, C1 Compressor, dbx160 Compressor / Limiter, H-Comp Hybrid Compressor, Renaissance Compressor, SSL G-Master Bus Compressor, V-Comp. Maschine 2.17.2 and Komplete Kontrol 2.9.2 include a fix for this issue.

  • FL Studio: FL Studio 21.1.1.3318 may produce graphics issues on Mac computers with Intel processors.
    Solution: Update FL Studio to the latest version (21.0.3.3352 or later).

  • DaVinci Resolve: Tempo Sync is not supported.



See all exceptions here

 

 

Change Log

View All Waves Release Notes here

All Waves Plugins: Across-the-board software update to V15


New Features & Improvements in Waves V15

  • New: StudioVerse Instruments – a virtual instrument rack plugin where you can play from thousands of chains from the StudioVerse library, each combining layered instruments, MIDI FX and audio FX. Create & share your own instrument presets across DAWs, and publish them on StudioVerse.

  • Updated: StudioRack – now called StudioVerse Audio Effects. We’ve optimized the search engine and added tags & suggested presets to a streamlined plugin window to help you find presets faster and hear results quickly. StudioVerse Audio Effects is backwards compatible with old StudioRack presets & sessions.

  • New in SSL G-Master Buss Compressor: High-pass sidechain filter added

  • New in H-Delay Hybrid Delay:

    • Dual Mode added for separate control of left and right delay times.

    • Choose whether ping-pong delays start from left or right.



  • New in all Waves plugins: MIDI Learn added, plus the ability to save MIDI map presets as a separate layer than plugin presets. (Please note that this feature has not been added in Audio Unit hosts [Mac] such as Logic, Digital Performer and Luna.) Learn more here.

  • New in all Waves plugins: Favorites Presets – Save and manage your favorite settings and access them easily through the Preset Browser.

  • New in over 70 plugins (see full list): You can now lock the Input and Dry/Wet parameters when scrolling through presets, for seamless A/B comparison.

  • New: Plugins added to popular bundles

    • Mercury: Nx Virtual Mix Room, Spherix.

    • Horizon: CLA Unplugged, Greg Wells PianoCentric, Key Detector, Magma Springs, Manny Marroquin Triple D, Nx Virtual Mix Room, Retro Fi, Lofi Space, Spherix, Voltage Amps.

    • Diamond: CLA Unplugged, Greg Wells PianoCentric, Key Detector, Magma Springs, Manny Marroquin Triple D, Nx Virtual Mix Room, Retro Fi, Lofi Space, Spherix, Voltage Amps.

    • Platinum: CLA Unplugged, Greg Wells PianoCentric, Key Detector, Magma Springs, RetroFi, Lofi Space, Voltage Amps.

    • Gold: Key Detector, Magma Springs, Voltage Amps.



  • New: Hi-res HiDPI graphic interfaces added for CLA Epic, CLA EchoSphere, Scheps 73 and H-Comp Hybrid Compressor.

  • Improved: Abbey Road plugins have been renamed for easy access: All plugin names now start with "Abbey Road."

  • New: You will now receive notification through the plugin hamburger menu when updates are available.

  • New: You will now receive notification via plugins before Waves Creative Access subscription licenses expire or require resync for offline systems: Learn more.

  • New: Presets by Nir Z added to Abbey Road Chambers, Abbey Road Reverb Plates, Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain, BB Tubes, CLA Mixhub, Magma Tube Channel Strip, OVox, SSL EV2 and SSL G Channel.

  • Improved: Artist presets previously featured on Waves.com added to GTR3 ToolRack.

  • VST2 support has not been updated in the latest version of our software and will not be available in future releases.


Bug fixes in all Waves plugins

  • Fixed: Bouncing instrument tracks offline in Reaper will not result with muted instruments.

  • Fixed: The space bar now operates correctly in Pro Tools, even after text entry, while the transport is in play.

  • Fixed: Maschine and Komplete Kontrol knobs maintain stability and do not jitter when using the mouse in Logic while Waves plugins are active.

  • Fixed: The tab key operates correctly after text entry.

FAQs

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