A great engineer can craft a phenomenal mix with stock DAW plugins. These Waves tools simply make the job easier and faster.
Note: Waves frequently runs sales (50-80% off). Never pay full price for these plugins. Wait for a holiday or newsletter promotion, then grab the Waves 14 versions of the classics.
Great mixes rely on spatial effects and the subtle (or not-so-subtle) coloring of harmonic saturation. 9.
: Powered by Waves' advanced Neural Network engine, it isolates voices from complex background noise instantly. It leaves the source completely artifact-free without destroying top-end frequencies. waves 14 plugins best
: A newer AI-powered noise removal tool that is highly effective at cleaning up dialogue or vocal recordings with background noise. Clarity Vx DeReverb
If you ask a professional mix engineer which Waves plugins are actually on their master buss or vocal chain, three names inevitably rise to the top. These are not just emulations; they are industry standards.
These are the workhorses that shape your entire mix, from individual tracks to the master bus. A great engineer can craft a phenomenal mix
We've organized this list into categories to help you find exactly what you need for your workflow.
Before diving into the list, it's helpful to understand the core improvements that the Waves 14 update brought to the entire plugin suite.
Dynamic control is essential for keeping tracks glued in the mix and giving them punch and sustain. 6. Never pay full price for these plugins
: Classic emulations of the LA-2A (smooth, tube) and 1176 (fast, aggressive) compressors. The V14 Mix knob makes these even more versatile for parallel processing. L2 Ultramaximizer
The L2 is the industry-standard peak limiter. Even years after its initial release, it remains a staple for bringing mixes up to commercial loudness standards without destroying the transients or introducing unwanted distortion. Finalizing masters and maximum loudness. 13. LinEQ (Linear Phase EQ)
These are the final pieces that elevate your mix to commercial release quality.