Waves V-Series Plug-ins

1. Introduction

The music of the '60s and '70s is characterized by a warm, fat, and rich sound with detailed midrange. Vintage analogue EQ and dynamics processors from that era, while lacking the pristine specifications of modern plug-ins, provided a sound that is difficult to replicate today. Unique EQ curves, chosen cutoff points, warmth, and a bit of harmonic distortion and noise combined to create simple, foolproof processing tools that delivered great sound in almost every application.

Waves has brought back this classic sound in three plug-ins:

• The V-EQ3 three-band equalizer with highpass filters
• The V-EQ4 four-band equalizer with highpass/lowpass filters
• The V-Comp Master Bus Compressor

The V-Series processors are not digital approximations but are modeled after actual vintage hardware. Waves engineers have created easy-to-use plug-ins that perfectly emulate the original devices, providing the power and flexibility expected from Waves plug-ins.

These plug-ins are optimally used at an operating level where 0 dBFS = +22 dBU. This is helpful when calibrating your session.

When should you use the V-EQ3?

The Waves V-EQ3 is modeled after the landmark 1073 and 1066 EQ processors. It is ideal for music production problems requiring:

• Accentuated warm, fat sound with fixed cutoff points reminiscent of '70s music.
• The ability to add more gain at specific frequencies due to unique bell curve performance, allowing up to 18 dB of gain without filter ringing.
• The signature harmonic distortion of top-of-the-line 1970s processors, contributing to the warm '70s sound.

When should you use the V-EQ4?

The V-EQ4 is a multiband EQ, modeled after the legendary 1081 EQ processor, suitable for mixing applications requiring precision and power while preserving a vintage sound.

• Offers high Q bells and numerous cutoff points, making it more suitable for mixing than the V-EQ3.
• Provides more flexibility in solving sound problems, whereas the V-EQ3 is better for shaping sound.
• Suggested workflow: Insert the V-EQ4 first in a chain, perhaps on individual instruments, then use the V-EQ3 as a mastering EQ to finalize the mix.

When should you use the V-Comp Master Bus Compressor?

The Waves V-Comp is modeled after the classic 2254 master bus compressor, designed to deliver a warm, fat sound with great mid-range detail. It is recommended for:

• Achieving fat horns or bass without sacrificing midrange detail.
• Quick and easy use to help glue tracks together and deliver nominal output gain, regardless of operating level.
• Mixing songs where attitude is more important than transparency.

When should you use a different Waves processor?

For a modern sound, analogue modeling can be turned off in the V-Series plug-ins, or other Waves EQs or dynamics processors may be preferred:

• For very precise bell filters (e.g., hum removal), the Waves Q10 is recommended.
• For material demanding high precision processing with large word sizes, the Waves Renaissance EQ is suggested.
• For a versatile dynamics processor with endless possibilities, the Waves C1 is recommended.

However, for the trademark vintage sound of the 1960s and '70s, the V-EQ3, V-EQ4, and V-Comp are unmatched.

2. Description of the Waves V-Series Plug-ins

V-EQ3 Equalizer

The Waves V-EQ3 Equalizer is a three-band EQ with a highpass filter. Modeled after the 1073 and 1066 hardware devices, it offers selected cutoff points and ±18 dB gain adjustment with a bell-shaped curve. The highpass filter ranges from off to 360 Hz with a -18 dB per octave slope. Output gain is adjustable up to ±18 dB.

Metering is in dBFS. A Trim feature measures the output peak level, allowing you to set the output level to nominal (-0.1 dBFS). The V-EQ3 uses fixed cutoff points but covers the entire frequency spectrum.

V-EQ4 Equalizer

The Waves V-EQ4 EQ is a four-band equalizer with a lowpass/highpass filter, painstakingly modeled after the 1081 hardware EQ processor. Specific cutoff points provide great control while maintaining a warm, vintage sound. Like the V-EQ3, it offers up to ±18 dB gain adjustment, with switchable high Q settings for steeper EQ curves.

V-Comp Master Bus Compressor

The Waves V-Comp Master Bus Compressor is a classic compressor/limiter with a de-esser. It accurately models the renowned 2254 master bus limiter, providing convincing vintage dynamic control. V-Comp offers separate ±18/24 dB input and output gain controls and selectable metering. It features five fixed compression ratios and a variable limiter threshold. Limiter threshold is referenced in dBU, with +22 dBU = 0 dBFS (0 dBU = -22 dBFS).

In the analogue domain, ideal levels are between 0 and +5 dBU. Translated to digital, 0 dBU = -22 dBFS. Ideal input levels for V-Comp range from -22 to -17 dBFS. Waves engineers modeled V-Comp after original hardware, making it preferable to provide input levels similar to those expected by an analogue master bus compressor.

3. Controls and Indicators

Unlike most Waves plug-ins, the V-Series plug-ins do not display frequency, gain, or other parameters in Value Windows. Values are read from knob positions to maintain the vintage feel. The LF, MF, and HF controllers are double knobs, with the inner knob controlling gain and the outer ring setting the cutoff frequency.

Controls for the V-EQ3 Equalizer

• HP (High Pass Filter): Seven cutoff points, plus off. -18 dB/octave slope. V-EQ3 HP cutoff points (Hz): 45, 50, 70, 80, 160, 300, 360.
• EQ (EQ on/off): Defeats the EQ but does not turn off analogue modeling. EQ Off is comparable to an analogue EQ in idle mode, still subject to harmonic distortion and noise characteristics. To bypass completely, turn off EQ and Analogue, or use the host application's bypass button.
• Phase (Phase Reverse): Reverses the phase of the output signal.
• LF (Low Frequency Section): Controls low frequency gain (±18 dB, continuously adjustable) and cutoff frequency. Outer ring selects five cutoff points, plus off. V-EQ3 LF cutoff points (Hz): 35, 60, 100, 110, 220. Slope: ±18 dB per octave.
• MF (Mid Frequencies, or “Presence,” Section): Controls middle frequency gain (±18 dB, continuously adjustable) and cutoff frequency. Outer ring selects mid frequency cutoff points, plus off. V-EQ3 MF cutoff points (kHz): 0.36, 0.70, 1.2, 1.6, 3.2, 3.8, 4.8, 7.0, 7.2.
• HF (High Frequency Section): Controls high frequency gain (±18 dB, continuously adjustable) and cutoff frequency of the HF shelf filter. Switchable 10 kHz or 12 kHz cutoff points, and off.
• Output: Controls the output level, adjustable in 0.1 dB increments from -18 dB to +18 dB.
• Trim meter and reset button: Measures the output peak of the EQ device in dBFS. Clicking the Trim button resets the output to -0.1 dBFS. A red clip light indicates over-level and can be reset by clicking it.
• Analogue on/off: Recreates the unique harmonic distortion and noise characteristics of the modeled devices (1073 and 1066). Turning off Analogue and EQ bypasses modeling.

Controls for the V-EQ4 EQ

Similar to the V-EQ3, frequency is selected by clicking on a knob. The inner knob sets gain, and the outer ring sets frequency. Click-drag vertically to change gain. ALT+click resets parameters.

• Lowpass/highpass filter: Selectable lowpass or highpass filter with five cutoff points each, plus off. V-EQ4 HP cutoff points (Hz): 27, 47, 82, 150, 270. V-EQ4 LP cutoff points (kHz): 18, 12, 8.7, 5.6, 3.9. Inner knob controls lowpass; outer ring controls highpass.
• LF (Low Frequency Section): Controls low frequency gain (±18 dB, continuously adjustable) and cutoff frequency. Inner knob controls gain. Switchable between shelf (default) and bell. Outer ring selects five cutoff points, plus off. V-EQ4 LF cutoff points (Hz): 33, 56, 100, 180, 330. Slope: ±18 dB per octave.
• EQ (EQ on/off): Defeats the EQ but not analogue modeling. EQ off is comparable to an analogue EQ in idle mode. To bypass completely, turn off EQ and Analogue, or use the host application's bypass function.
• Phase (Phase Reverse): Reverses the output signal phase.
• Shelf/Bell: Sets the shape of the LF and HF curves. Default is shelf; selecting this button changes to a bell curve.
• LMF (Low Mid Frequency Section): Controls low middle frequency gain and cutoff frequency. Inner knob controls gain (±18 dB for normal Q, continuously adjustable). Outer ring selects mid frequency cutoff points, plus off. V-EQ4 LMF cutoff points (Hz): 220, 270, 330, 390, 470, 560, 680, 820, 1000, 1200.
• Hi Q (applicable to LMF and HMF sections): Sets LMF or HMF bell curves to a higher (steeper) Q. Default is low Q; selecting the button results in High Q (±18dB).
• HMF (High Mid Frequency Section): Controls high middle frequency gain and cutoff frequency. Inner knob controls gain (±18 dB for normal Q, continuously adjustable). Outer ring selects mid frequency cutoff points, plus off. V-EQ4 LMF cutoff points (kHz): 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.3, 3.9, 4.7, 5.6, 8.2.
• HF (High Frequency Section): Controls high frequency gain and cutoff frequency of the HF filter. Switchable between shelf (default) and bell. Continuously variable gain ±18 dB. V-EQ4 HF cutoff points (kHz): 3.3, 4.7, 6.8, 10, 15.
• Output: Controls the output level.
• Trim meter and reset button: Measures the peak output in dBFS. Clicking Trim resets output to -0.1 dBFS. A red clip light indicates over-level and can be reset by clicking it.
• Analogue on/off: Recreates the unique harmonic distortion and noise characteristics of the modeled 1081 hardware device. Turning off Analogue and EQ removes all modeling.

Controls for the V-Comp Master Bus Compressor

The Waves V-Comp Master Bus Compressor is a straightforward compressor/limiter designed for controlled, gentle compression that glues mixes together and delivers nominal output gain.

• Input: Adjusts input level from -24 dB to +18 dB in 0.1 dB increments. Double-clicking a knob opens a dialogue box for numerical entry. Click-dragging vertically or double-clicking and using up/down arrows changes the gain value.
• Output: Sets the output level, continuously adjustable ±18 dB, controlled similarly to the Input knob.
• Meter Display: Has one scale in dBFS with an indication needle. The Meter switch selects the display mode: Input, Output, or Gain Reduction. Gain Reduction mode shows gain without make-up. The meter is disabled when the V-Comp is in bypass. A red clip light indicates over-level and can be reset by clicking it.
• Meter switch: Selects the mode of meter display (input, output, gain reduction).
• Analog Switch: Modeled after the 2254 hardware processor, harmonic distortion and noise contribute to V-Comp's character. Turn to OFF to defeat these characteristics. Settings: off, 25%, 50%, 100% for analogue modeling amount.
• Compress (Compressor On/Off): Turns the compressor on and off.
• Ratio (Compression Ratio): Sets the compression ratio. Settings update only when the mouse is released; changes cannot be heard on the fly. Settings: 1.5:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:1.
• Release: Sets the release time of the compressor. Settings: 400ms, 800ms, 1.5s, auto. Auto adjusts release time based on input signal for a “nominal” release.
• De-esser: Turns the compressor into a simple de-esser.

4. The WaveSystem Toolbar

The toolbar at the top of the plug-in allows saving and loading presets, comparing settings, undoing and redoing steps, and resizing the plug-in. For more information, click the icon in the upper-right corner of the window and open the WaveSystem Guide.