The New Waves Curves AQ Plugin: My First Impressions

I’m always on the hunt for new tools that push the boundaries of what’s possible in audio production. So when Waves Audio dropped their new plugin, Curves AQ, I had to put it to the test in a real mastering session. The result? Let’s just say I’m more than impressed.

Let it be clear from the beginning that this is not intended to be a review, I will not go into many technical details and settings. This article is about the plugin’s main features, and what made me consider this EQ plugin a very interesting tool, especially when using it for mastering.

The World’s First Autonomous EQ

We’ve all seen our fair share of “smart EQs,” but Curves AQ takes it to a whole new level. Unlike traditional EQs that offer generic presets or one-size-fits-all settings, AQ actually learns from your audio and generates 5 completely unique EQ profiles tailored to the specific material you feed into it. These aren’t presets, they’re spectral target curves created by analyzing the natural characteristics of your track.

As a full-time job mix and mastering engineer, the idea of a plugin making EQ decisions for me raised an eyebrow. But after using it, I can confidently say: it’s not about replacing the human touch, it’s about accelerating the workflow while still letting you stay in control.

What Stood Out in My Workflow

Here’s what I loved most while working with Curves AQ:

Spectral Targeting Technology – The white curve you see in the plugin isn’t just a visual gimmick. It’s the destination EQ shape that AQ creates after analyzing your audio. From there, you can tweak the tonal balance to taste using intuitive controls. It’s almost like shaping clay with precision tools.

MixSense Feature – This is a game-changer: MixSense allows AQ to react in real-time to another signal (via sidechain) and resolve clashing frequencies between two tracks. I tried it on vocals clashing with guitars, and it carved space in a way that felt transparent and musical.

Dynamic vs Static EQ Blending – Sometimes you need a surgical static cut, and sometimes you need EQ that adapts to dynamics. AQ lets you blend both, globally or per band, giving you surgical precision and musicality in the same tool.

Boosting & Cutting Controls – One of the cleverest features: independent control over boosting and cutting, globally and per band. This gave me incredible nuance when mastering, letting me boost presence without overcutting warmth.

Smart Tilt & Offset – The Smart Tilt is more than a simple tonal balance tool, it reshapes the spectral target in a natural, musical way. Paired with the Offset function, which shifts the entire EQ profile along the frequency spectrum, it offers powerful creative flexibility.

Curves AQ in Mastering: Real-World Results

I used Curves AQ on a recent rock mastering project. The mix was already solid, but AQ helped me:

• Smooth out harsh mids
• Add clarity to the top end
• Control muddy low-mids without killing the body of the track
• Get to final loudness (-10 LUFS) with less aggressive limiting

The plugin felt like a blend of AI precision and human decision-making. It didn’t try to overdo things, and with just a few tweaks, I had a polished result that sounded big, clean, and balanced.

For those working in live sound or need zero latency, Curves AQ also includes a LIVE version, same engine, just optimized for real-time performance.

Final Thoughts

As someone picky about what makes it into my mastering chain, Curves AQ has become one of my go-to EQs for achieving clean, controlled vocals.

I’ve included it directly in several chains from my Waves vocal presets pack, so you can instantly hear how this plugin shapes your vocals in a real mix.

If you’re serious about your mixes and masters and want to explore what AI can improve your mixing and mastering tasks, Curves AQ is definitely worth checking out. Find more at Waves Curves EQ (Official Website).