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Module One
Introduction to
Waves Plug-ins
Contents
A Note to the Teacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Welcome to the Waves Certification Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Objectives of this Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Part I – Classroom Instruction and Demonstrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section One: Plug-in Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section Two: Installing and Authorizing Waves Plug-ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Waves Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Waves Update Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
iLok Authorization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Upgrades and Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Moving from One Host to Another. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Keeping Your Waves Plug-ins When You Buy a New Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section Three: The WaveSystem Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section Four: Waves Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Section Five: Latency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Part II – Introduction to the Demo Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Waves Certification Program 3
Module One
Introduction to
Waves Plug-ins
end of each module, students will have an opportunity to work with the plug-in
they’ve been studying by inserting the processor into raw tracks of this session. The
“Call On Me” session does not contain any inserted plug-ins. It’s up to you and the
students to decide which tracks will benefit from the plug-in they’re studying.
The “Call On Me” session consists of a mix of the song on the first stereo track,
followed by the raw tracks. Begin your first lesson by playing the session, alternating
between the final mix tracks and the unmixed elements. Let the students hear the
differences between the mix and the tracks. It’s easy to appreciate the impact the
plug-ins have on the music.
This initial auditioning of “Call On Me” affords a good opportunity to talk briefly
with the students about the issues facing the song. How can the voice sound better?
What can be done to separate the instruments? What will bring the song to life?
As you study the Waves plug-ins, remind the students of this initial listening and
don’t let them lose track of the goal: to make a great-sounding song.
You are beginning a training program that will help you master Waves plug-ins for
audio applications. Since Waves is the largest provider of plug-ins for digital audio
workstations and sequencers, mastery of these software processors will take you a
long way in commanding the power of digital audio.
Waves Certification Program 5
• Native – Applications (in our case, digital audio workstations, samplers and
sequencers) that use the host computer’s processing power to perform all DSP
functions. Waves native plug-ins run under DirectX, VST, MAS, Audio-Units,
RTAS and AudioSuite in Waves-supported hosts. No external processing devices
are needed, although an external I/O device may be necessary to run the host
application.
• TDM – Many plug-ins use the processing power of TDM (Time-Division
Multiplexing) hardware, rather than that of the host computer. Hence, “TDM
plug-ins.” All Waves TDM plug-ins include Native components as well as TDM
(but Native products do not contain TDM components).� A Waves TDM product
can be used on both TDM and Native applications.
• Authorization – The process of activating a software product by registering it
with the manufacturer and confirming the validity of the purchase. This process
is usually transacted over the Internet.
• Host Application – Plug-in processors do not operate on their own. Instead, they
function within larger programs or platforms. A host application is a program in
which plug-ins operate.
• Host Platform – Macintosh and Windows are examples of host platforms.
• Component – Plug-ins are often available to you in several configurations. There
may be a full version of the plug-in, as well as several smaller, specialized forms.
These different plug-in configurations are called components. By selecting the
component that offers just the processing you need – and not more – you can
save processing power.
• WaveShell – Software developed by Waves to provide an interface between a host
application and the Waves plug-ins. When you select a Waves plug-in from within
Waves Certification Program 7
the host application, the application communicates with its WaveShell, which
then acts as a plug-in library, locating and activating the requested plug-in. It is
not necessary to install multiple copies of plug-ins to be used by different host
applications, since different applications have dedicated WaveShells that direct
the software to the appropriate plug-in.
• WaveSystem – The toolbar common to all Waves plug-ins. This is where you
save and load presets, compare settings, undo and redo, learn about the software
version and access the user manual.
• Dither – A small amount of noise added to a digital signal to reduce quantization
error in the least significant bits. This noise is often “shaped” to appear inaudible
to humans, so the net effect is usually one of less, rather than more noise. Waves
double precision processors use dither to reduce internally processed signals to
the word length required by the host application.
• Double Precision – Many Waves plug-in processors operate internally at
double the word length of the host application, resulting in much more accurate
calculations and greater transparency.
• Latency – A delay in audio throughput caused by a processor. Latency is most
noticeable, and hence most troublesome, when processing a track in a multitrack
session or when tracking a live performer. If the processor’s latency is excessive,
the resulting track will be out of sync and must be offset.
• RTAS – A common type of native plug-in. Real Time AudioSuite plug-ins use
the power of the host computer rather than the dedicated DSP chips on an audio
processing card.
Present the students with the logic and process of Waves installation. Pay particular
attention to the way Waves plug-ins are stored on the host computer and how
the WaveShell interacts with the host application. Internet access is required for
authorization, so students may need to complete the authorization process at home.
8 Module One: Introduction to Waves Plug-ins
Installation
Installing Waves software is easy and straightforward. Whether installing from a boxed
CD or a download, simply read the license agreement and other “read me” information,
then follow the prompts. In some cases you will be required to re-boot.
All Waves plug-ins are automatically installed into a folder named "Waves plug-ins,"
inside the Waves folder, which will be created on your internal startup disk. They don't
go into your application's plug-in folder. Instead, a WaveShell is installed into your
application's plug-in folder. The WaveShell connects your application to the Waves
plug-ins as a software gateway. You may have several WaveShells installed.
Every host application has a plug-in folder in which it scans for plug-ins. In some
cases the folder can be installed with the host application. In other cases, the
system installs the plug-in folder into a special directory dedicated to applications
using plug-ins. During Waves installation, WaveShells are placed in the plug-in
directories of the hosts that Waves recognizes. Pay attention that the version of
the installed WaveShell is the same as that of your plug-ins, otherwise the plug-ins
won’t work. Waves plug-ins will be available on the next launch of the application
provided there are no license, copy protection or configuration restrictions.
When a host application is launched, it usually performs a scan for plug-ins. Plug-
ins that were installed since the last launch are tested or validated during this scan,
and if they pass the validation they will appear in the appropriate menu when the
application is up and running. Depending on how many Waves products you have,
there may be multiple WaveShells in the host application's plug-in folder. Each
WaveShell will be tagged with a different name or version indication.
Waves Account
When purchase your first Waves product, you will open a free Waves Account. Within
your account all registration and product information is stored, allowing for quick,
accurate and trouble-free authorization and migration. To create a Waves Account,
go to www.waves.com and follow the path to users/my account.
Each time you purchase a new Waves product, you must register it with your Waves
Account.
Waves products are covered under the Waves Update Plan for one year. After one
year, you may choose to extend this service.
iLok Authorization
Waves plug-ins must be authorized before use. In the past, authorization information
was stored onto your hard drive. This was great if you worked on only one computer,
but not very convenient if you regularly spread your work between several locations.
Waves now primarily uses the iLok system to manage your accounts. It’s very simple
and very portable.
iLok is a small, plastic key that fits into a computer’s USB port. It
enables you to easily move software licenses from one computer to
another, regardless of developer or platform (Windows or Macintosh).
iLok offers Waves users many conveniences, including:
• Mobility – Use your Waves plug-ins wherever you need them.
• Cross Platform Compatibility – Move from PC to Mac and back again.
• Security from Disk Crashes – Your authorizations will still be safe.
• Easy Computer Upgrades – No need to re-authorize your Waves products when
you upgrade your computer.
Each Waves product has a slightly different iLok authorization procedure, so refer to
the Waves registration web site for detailed, updated instructions.
http://register.waves.com/
Protect your iLok as though it were cash. Waves does not offer replacement keys or
authorizations for lost or stolen iLok keys. If you plug your iLok key into a computer
in a “public” studio – that is, not at your home – don’t leave the key unattended. It’s
just too tempting and too portable. If you will be away from your iLok key for any
period of time, close the application and take your key with you.
Waves recommends that you insure your iLok key to protect its contents.
Remember, there is no software on the iLok key, only an authorization. When moving
from one host computer to another, be certain that the desired Waves plug-ins are
installed on the new computer. Otherwise, take the plug-in software with you.
Also remember that the Waves Authorization process is evolving. For the most
current information on how to authorize your Waves product, visit www.waves.
com, and navigate to “support.”
10 Module One: Introduction to Waves Plug-ins
Most students are interested in moving from one host application to another – or
between host computers – so make sure that students understand how to take their
Waves plug-ins with them when they migrate.
Discuss, too, the issues involved in moving from one host application to another
within the same computer, specifically how to move audio and edit lists between
different host applications.
One of the great benefits of iLok is the ability to move easily from one computer to
another. You can painlessly move from your home studio computer, where you are
building tracks or working on one element of a complex project, to another computer
for performing specialized processing or completing the project. When you move
from one host to another – whether from a Pro Tools running on a Mac to a Windows
Pro Tools or from Logic to Nuendo – take your iLok key with you. Assuming that
the desired plug-ins are installed on the new computer, you will be able to run your
authorized Waves plug-ins.
When moving between host applications, the easy part of the process is transferring the
Waves plug-ins parameters. You can copy your preset files to a USB flash memory or a
CD. Much more problematic is moving the audio information, as well as the edit and
fade instructions. In many cases this must be done via OMF. Again, consult your host
applications’ user manuals for export and import of audio and playlist information.
When using Waves plug-ins, save your presets with the WaveSystem toolbar rather
than through the host application. This makes migration between host applications
(Nuendo, Pro Tools, Logic, etc), or between platforms (Mac or Windows), much
easier and more standardized. And remember, the WaveSystem toolbar is identical
on practically every Waves plug-in, so you only have to learn it once.
Now, let’s take a tour of the toolbar:
Undo
Use this button rather than your host application’s undo function to back up one
step. Waves plug-ins have one level of undo, except WavesTune, SSI and GTR, which
have 12 levels of undo.
Setup A/B
The setup button toggles between
two settings. This allows for quick
A/B comparisons. Once a setting is loaded or saved, its name will appear on the
button, and will change as you toggle between two settings.
Load Menu
Here you load factory presets,
user presets and other preset
files. Factory presets are permanent elements of the
Load popup menu, created by Waves. They cannot be
changed or deleted.
You can make the current settings of the plug-in become
a user preset in your Load menu. User presets can be
changed and deleted.
Setup files may hold more than one preset. For
example, a single file can contain all the presets for a
session. When you open a Preset file, all nestled presets
become part of your Load popup menu. You can open
the same Preset file each time you use a plug-in within
your session. This makes all of the presets in that file available very quickly in every
insert of that plug-in.1
To delete a user preset, hold CMD (Mac) or CTL (Windows) and click on the Load
menu. You will be given the option of deleting the preset. You will also have the
option of closing a user preset file, which will remove the preset file and all of its
nestled presets from the Load menu.
Save Menu
Here you save presets. You can save the current
parameters as a user preset in Preset Menu or you can
create a new file. In either case, you will be prompted
to name the new preset. If you choose to save the
preset as a new file – outside the plug-in’s Preset Menu
– WaveSystem will ask you where you want to put it.
If you are planning to continue your project on another host computer, you might
consider copying your preset files onto a USB flash memory device or a CD so that
you can easily access your favorite presets.
Help
Pressing the ? button opens the manual for the current plug-in. To read these PDF
1
Due to the diversity of Waves plug-ins, there are a few exceptions to the standardized WaveSystem toolbar.
IR1 has a few unique import options, and xNoise, zNoise, Waves Tune and Q-Clone save certain parameters
in unique manners.
Waves Certification Program 13
files, you must have Adobe® Reader or an equivalent program such as Apple’s Preview.
If you downloaded your Waves plug-in from the web, pressing ? may result in the
prompt, “cannot find file.” Some on-line installers do not include the PDF file, in order
to speed download times. If you do not find the PDF help file, go to waves.com, find
your plug-in within the Products section, and locate the document download, which
is usually at the bottom of the Technical Specifications.
About
Clicking on the Waves logo will bring up the “About this Plug-in” page, providing
information about the plug-in’s version, process type and registration.
selected
not selected
To make a control “Selected and Active,” simply click it with the mouse, or navigate
to it using TAB. This deactivates the previously Active control. If only one control is
selected, it will always be “Selected and Active.” When multiple controls are selected
(using shift-click, or click-drag-select), all of them will be “Selected” but only one
of them will also be Active (normally the first one). Within a group of selected
controls, you can activate a specific control by clicking on it, or use the TAB key to
navigate to it.
Selecting Controls
By click+dragging around a group of graphic controls or button controls, you can
select and manipulate more than one parameter at a time. This is very convenient if
you have settled upon good relative values but you want to globally alter the group.
Select all of the desired buttons or markers and adjust one setting. All selected
controllers will follow suit. You can use only one button or marker in the group as
the “controller,” so select the controller within the group that you can best relate to.
Button Controls
These rectangular regions allow switching between two or more modes. To change
the mode of a button, simply click on it with the mouse.
The current setting of the button will be indicated on the button itself.
Graphic Controls
There are several types of graphic controls. Most are pretty obvious in their use, since
they behave like their hardware equivalents. A fader behaves like a fader and it stays
selected until you click elsewhere. To link two adjacent faders, click+drag between
the faders or select both faders and move either one. You can link two faders with
different values; the offsets will remain as you move the linked faders.
Grab Markers
You can control many parameters with grab
markers, the triangular markers near meters or
display graphs, or cross-hair markers on graphs.
Generally, triangular markers move along a
horizontal or vertical line. In some cases, they
may be grabbed by clicking anywhere within
their line of movement, not just on the marker
itself. This saves time and keeps your eyes where
you want them, rather than chasing after the
markers.
Cross-hair markers on graph displays can usually
be moved both horizontally and vertically. In
the horizontal direction, they often control
the parameter along the bottom of the graph
(such as frequency). In the vertical direction, cross-hair markers control a second
parameter; for example, Gain in the Q10 or Q in the C1’s sidechain EQ.
As a general rule, move the markers in the direction that reflects the logic of the
graph. Usually we think of gain in terms of “more or less,” so an up/down is the logical
displacement. On the other hand, frequency is almost always expressed along the
horizontal axis, so left/right motion is the obvious displacement. The same type of
logic applies for all Waves plug-ins. On most hosts, hovering the cursor above a graphic
marker will reveal small arrows that indicate the expected directions of movement.
Resetting Controls
You can reset most Waves parameter controls to their default settings by holding OPT
and then clicking on a Value Window button or marker (ALT+click on PC).
To reset the entire plug-in to its default settings, load the Full Reset preset from the
Load menu.
16 Module One: Introduction to Waves Plug-ins
Certain plug-ins, such as the Renaissance EQ, offer an additional button on the
WaveSystem toolbar, Flat, that allows you to reset the gain to zero without affecting
the Frequency or Q settings.