The Golden Sound of the 60s and Early 70s, from Console to Tape
This is as close as you can come to sitting in the studio with Eddie Kramer back in the 60s and early 70s, as he cut and mixed classic tracks from seminal artists like Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, and the Stones. The signal chain of Helios Console, Pye compressor, and 2-track tape worked magic that lives to this day.
Now you can travel back in time to Olympic Studios, and enjoy the warm, fat, analog character of those classic recordings. These artfully crafted plugins are a breath of fresh air in a digital world.
More than Just Tape Emulation
Kramer Master Tape models ¼” analog tape saturation with uncanny accuracy—but also delivers tape delay effects. You can even isolate the tube mic pre’s sweet analog sound, and use it independently of the tape effects.
Insane Attention to Tape’s Details
Waves flew in virgin 3M Scotch 207 tape from Australia (really!) for the modeling process. The tape’s extended high-frequency response was the studio’s favorite for reproducing the sparkle of voice and acoustic instruments.
Equalization that Hits the Sweet Spots
Kramer HLS Channel’s EQ has the uncanny ability to seemingly make anything that goes through it sound better. This wasn’t only about the circuitry, but the intelligent choices made for EQ frequencies and boost/cut options.
From Low Bass to High Air
The clever bass parameter design makes controlling the low end easy (even for vinyl). The comprehensive midrange options are ideal for tone-shaping, and boosting the 10 kHz range adds unusually sweet air and brilliance.
The Secret of the PIE Sound
The Pye compressor used pulse-width modulation—not opto, FET, VCA, or other common gain-control elements—to control gain. This is the secret to Kramer PIE’s fast, transparent, low-distortion compression.
More than Bus Compression
Although the Pye compressor was revered for bus compression (whether for drums, background vocals, or masters), PIE is also a transparent compressor for any audio source–especially vocals and bass.
Created with Studio Legend Eddie Kramer
Eddie Kramer helmed the studio—and worked this gear—when he recorded and mixed Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Eddie was also there to help us choose the precise units being emulated, and then inspect, fine-tune, and validate the analog modeling process, to ensure that the modeled plugin versions match the precise sonic qualities of the originals.
Features
- Created in close collaboration with Eddie Kramer
- Versatile—process individual vocal tracks to mastering mixes
- HLS Channel models the Rolling Stones mobile truck’s Helios
- Models the classic Olympic Studios signal chain
- Captures the renowned high-end presence and fat low end
- Can optionally include the charm of analog gear’s imperfections
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
Clarity Vx / Pro and Clarity Vx DeReverb / Pro:
|
Waves 15 Supported Hosts
MacApple 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 only | OBS 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) |
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 V15New Features & Improvements in Waves V15
Bug fixes in all Waves plugins
|
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