My List Of Top 15 Best Waves Vocal Plugins

Having the right tools is essential when it comes to vocal mixing. The process usually involves an EQ, compressor, saturator, delay, and reverb. Waves is one of the most respected names in the audio plugin industry, known for delivering high-quality, user-friendly plugins that can improve any vocal track.

However, with a vast selection of plugins, choosing the best VST plugins for vocals can be overwhelming. We’ve gathered some of the best Waves vocal plugins to help you streamline your workflow and achieve the best vocal sound for your music and mixing projects.

Waves Tune Real-Time

Waves Tune Real-Time is essential for achieving pitch-perfect vocals without the artifacts commonly associated with tuning. It allows seamless real-time pitch correction, perfect for studio recording and live performances. Simply set it to the key of your track (e.g., F minor) and adjust the speed note transition for a natural effect. If the tuning sounds too intense, quickly slow down the note transition to find the perfect balance.

Buy Link: Waves Tune Real-Time

Silk Vocal

The Waves Silk Vocal plugin is designed as a smart EQ and dynamics processor tailored explicitly for vocal processing. It streamlines the vocal mixing process by automatically detecting and addressing problematic resonances across 2,000 frequency bands, making it a versatile tool for beginners and professionals. The plugin offers intuitive controls for low, mid, and high-frequency ranges. It also includes a gate control and compressor, which work similarly to the R-Vox compressor.

Buy Link: Waves Silk Vocal

F6 RTA (Dynamic EQ)

Waves F6 RTA is a powerful dynamic EQ similar to the FabFilter Pro-Q but more affordable. This dynamic EQ plugin lets you solo bands hone in on specific frequencies and make them dynamic, which is perfect for controlling harsh frequencies without thinning out the vocal. I mainly use this EQ for corrections and removing unwanted frequencies.

Buy Link: Waves F6 RTA

PuigTec EQP-1A

The Waves Puigtec EQP-1A is a highly regarded emulation of the classic Pultec EQ, known for adding warmth and presence to vocals. If I use the F6 for frequency sculpting and corrections, the PuigTec EQ is perfect for adding tone. It excels in boosting low and high frequencies while maintaining subtlety in the mix.

Start by boosting the low-end at 100 Hz by 3-4 dB to add warmth and the high-end at 10 kHz by 3-4 dB for clarity and presence. You can attenuate high frequencies around 5-10 kHz by 2-3 dB to smooth out any harshness, making these settings ideal for enhancing vocal warmth and brilliance.

Buy Link: Waves PuigTec EQP-1A

API 550B

The API 550 is a classic EQ and, in my opinion, one of the best wave EQs for vocals if you need more control over the vocals than the Pultec EQ above. It brings warmth and clarity to the vocals. With its fixed frequency points and smooth response, this EQ plugin enhances vocal presence, adds brightness, and carves out space in the mix. It is particularly well-suited for boosting midrange frequencies, making vocals stand out without sounding harsh.

Buy Link: Waves API 550

CLA-76

The CLA-76 is a faithful emulation of the classic 1176 compressor, renowned for its fast attack and release times. This analog compressor plugin is ideal for adding punch and energy to vocals, and it works beautifully on both lead vocals and background harmonies. The CLA-76’s aggressive compression gives vocals that polished, radio-ready sound.

Buy Link: Waves CLA-76

Also read: Vocal Serial Compression With The CLA-76 and CLA-2A

Renaissance Vox (R-Vox)

R-Vox is a go-to vocal compressor plugin known for its simplicity and effectiveness. It features a single control slider that handles compression, gating, and limiting, making it incredibly easy to use. The R-Vox vocal compressor plugin is straightforward and helps glue your vocals together, making them sit perfectly in the mix. Simply pull down the compressor to bring the vocals up and position them exactly where you want in the mix.

Buy Link: Waves R-Vox

Renaissance DeEsser

The Renaissance DeEsser plugin by Waves is excellent for controlling and reducing sibilance, which is the harsh “s” and “t” sounds that can make a vocal track sound sharp or unpleasant. The Renaissance DeEsser is known for its transparency and effectiveness, allowing you to tame these frequencies without dulling the overall brightness and clarity of the vocal. You can adjust the frequency range to target specific sibilance issues, and the sidechain feature allows for more precise control.

Buy Link: Waves R-Desser

H-Delay

The H-Delay is another plugin I use in almost every Waves vocal chain. With its built-in analog-modeled sound, H-Delay adds warmth and depth to vocals, making it a go-to plugin for creating space and atmosphere in a mix. You can set the BPM or milliseconds for effects like slap delay, and there’s a filter built-in, which is essential for me. Set it to a quick 1/64th note for a subtle doubling effect, or experiment with ping-pong delays for a wider stereo image. Turn off the analog setting unless you want noise in your mix.

Buy Link: Waves H-Delay

Renaissance Reverb (R-Verb)

R-Verb is a classic reverb plugin that offers a wide range of reverb styles, from subtle ambiance to cavernous spaces. It’s known for its smooth and natural decay, making it an excellent choice for adding depth and space to vocals. The Renaissance Reverb is also very CPU-efficient, making it a reliable option for larger projects.

Buy Link: Waves R-Verb

Abbey Road Plates

Abbey Road Plates is an exceptional reverb plugin modeled after the legendary plate reverbs used at Abbey Road Studios. This plugin captures the unique sound of the original plates, offering lush, warm, and smooth reverb tails that can add a rich sense of space and depth to any vocal track.

What sets Abbey Road Plates apart is its ability to enhance the presence of vocals without overwhelming the mix. The plugin provides a wide range of reverb types, each with its distinct character, allowing you to tailor the reverb to suit the mood and style of your vocal track or instruments.

Buy Link: Waves Abbey Road Plates

Vocal Rider

Vocal Rider is a unique plugin that automatically adjusts the volume of your vocal tracks in real time. It saves you hours of manual volume automation and ensures that your vocals sit perfectly in the mix. It’s an invaluable tool for maintaining consistent vocal levels throughout a track. Read more about How to use Waves Vocal Rider.

Buy Link: Waves Vocal Rider

MV 2

I love using Waves’s MV2 for its dual-stage compression, which lets me enhance the quiet details in a vocal while keeping the louder parts under control. It’s perfect for maintaining a consistent and clear vocal presence without sacrificing dynamics. Plus, dialing in the right amount of compression is super easy, making it many of my rap and hip-hop, rock vocal mixing chains.

Buy Link: Waves MV2

Vocal Bender

Vocal Bender is my tool of choice when I want to get creative. It allows real-time pitch and formant shifting, perfect for adding unique vocal effects. Whether I’m going for a subtle pitch shift or something more extreme, this vocal plugin makes it easy to experiment with my adlibs and create sounds that stand out.

Buy Link: Waves Vocal Bender

Kramer Master Tape

The Kramer Master Tape plugin adds analog warmth and saturation to your vocal tracks, emulating the sound of vintage tape machines. It’s perfect for adding character and richness to vocals, giving them a more rounded and polished sound.

Buy Link: Waves Kramer Master Tape

In Conclusion

With so many options available, selecting the best Waves plugins for vocals comes down to understanding your needs and workflow. The plugins mentioned above are some of the most reliable and effective tools for vocal production, trusted by top engineers and producers worldwide.

Investing in a few key plugins can significantly enhance your vocal production without overwhelming yourself with too many choices. Remember, quality over quantity is the key to a successful mix.

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