My Ultimate Vocal Mixing Chain With Waves Plugins

Using the best vocal mixing plugins can make all the difference between an amateur and a professional-sounding track when mixing vocals. Waves plugins are a go-to for mixing engineers worldwide, and they are known for their intuitive design, exceptional sound quality, and versatility.

Waves vocal plugins are trusted by top-tier mixing engineers like Chris Lord-Alge, Manny Marroquin, and Tony Maserati. These industry legends rely on Waves audio plug-ins for their consistent results, whether in the studio or live settings. The plugins are not only powerful but also user-friendly, making them accessible to both beginners and seasoned professionals.

Before showing you one of my go-to Waves vocal chains, I must highlight the tool I always use to streamline the vocal mixing process: StudioVerse Audio Effects, the revamped version of StudioRack in V15. This free utility plugin allows you to host all your Waves plugins within any DAW, making creating, saving, and recalling complex vocal chains easy.

Now, let’s explore the ultimate vocal mixing chain using Waves plugins hosted within StudioVerse for optimal workflow management. At the end of my article, you will find a link to download my StudioVerse Preset for free. Let’s start with…

1. NS1 Noise Suppressor

NS1 stands for “Noise Suppressor 1,” and it’s particularly effective for eliminating unwanted ambient noise, such as room hum, fan noise, air conditioning sounds, or general background hiss. So, NS1 is the first Waves plugin in my vocal chain, which I use to clean up the vocal recording by removing unwanted background noises.

• Purpose: Noise reduction.
• Placement: First plugin in the chain to remove any unwanted background noises (if any).
• Settings: Set the slider to reduce background noise until you achieve a clean vocal without compromising the natural sound quality, typically between 10-30% reduction.

2. Waves Tune Real-Time

Waves Tune Real-Time ensures that your vocals are perfectly in tune from the start, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of mixing. It’s handy for live performances or studio recordings where subtle pitch correction is necessary without introducing noticeable artifacts.

• Purpose: Real-time pitch correction.
• Placement: I put this after noise suppression, ensuring the vocals are ideally in tune before any other processing is applied.
• Settings: First, I set the key to match my track, with moderate speed and note transition settings (around 40-60%) for natural pitch correction to maintain vocal expressiveness.

Buy Link: Waves Tune Real-Time

3. F6 RTA (Dynamic EQ)

The F6 RTA is invaluable for surgical frequency adjustments. Its dynamic capabilities allow you to tame harsh frequencies without thinning out the vocal, ensuring a balanced sound across different vocal performances.

• Purpose: Frequency sculpting and surgical EQ correction.
• Placement: After the vocal pitch correction.
• Settings: Use dynamic bands to target and control specific frequency ranges that become problematic only at certain volumes.

Buy Link: Waves F6 RTA

4. PuigTec EQP-1A

The PuigTec EQP-1A adds a classic analog warmth and presence to vocals, making them stand out in the mix. Its ability to boost frequencies while maintaining subtlety is unmatched, making it a staple in many of my vocal chains.

• Purpose: Tonal enhancement and analog saturation.
• Placement: After F6 for broad tonal shaping.
• Settings: Boost low-end at 100 Hz by 2-3 dB for warmth, and high-end at 8-10 kHz by 3-4 dB for clarity.

Buy Link: Waves PuigTec EQP-1A

5. CLA-76

I use the serial vocal compression technique in many vocal mixing scenarios to achieve a balanced, dynamic, and controlled sound. The Waves CLA-76 compressor is my first step in serial compression. This compressor plugin is perfect for taming the initial vocal transients, those quick, sharp peaks that can make a vocal sound too aggressive or uncontrolled.

• Purpose: Fast and aggressive compression.
• Placement: After the tonal EQ.
• Settings: Start with a fast attack and release, and adjust the input and output to reduce the loudest parts by 3-5 dB.

Buy Link: Waves CLA-76

6. CLA-2A

After the CLA-76 has handled the fast transients, the CLA-2A comes in to add a layer of smooth, natural compression. The CLA-2A is an opto compressor, which means it reacts more slowly to changes in the signal. This slower response is perfect for leveling out the overall dynamics of the vocal, smoothing out the peaks and valleys without introducing harshness or artifacts.

• Purpose: Smooth and natural compression.
• Placement: After the CLA-76 compressor.
• Settings: Set the CLA-2A with a moderate amount of peak reduction, typically around 3-5 dB of reduction, and adjust the gain to match the overall level of the vocal.

Read more about Vocal Serial Compression With 1176 and LA-2A

7. Renaissance DeEsser

The Waves Renaissance DeEsser is crucial for taming harsh “s” and “t” sounds without dulling the overall vocal brightness. I love its precise control, keeping the vocal clarity intact while removing unwanted sibilance.

• Purpose: Sibilance control.
• Placement: Post-compression.
• Settings: Target the specific frequency range of sibilance, usually around 5-8 kHz.

Buy Link: Waves R-Desser

8. H-Delay

The Waves H-Delay plugin adds a sense of space and depth to the vocals, making them sound fuller and more engaging. Its versatility allows me to create anything from a subtle ambiance to a wide, spacious effect.

• Purpose: Delay effect for depth and space.
• Placement: Parallel Split (Send channel).
• Settings: Set to 1/64th note for a subtle doubling effect or experiment with ping-pong delays for a wider stereo image, filter the unwanted frequencies, and set the Analog knob to 0 if you don’t want any extra tape noise.

Buy Link: Waves H-Delay

9. Abbey Road Plates

The reverb effect is essential for placing vocals within a spatial context. Abbey Road Plates offer a classic, lush reverb sound, which I often add to hip-hop, rap, or rock vocals. If I need a more transparent and natural reverb, I will use Renaissance Reverb. Both options enhance the vocal’s presence without overwhelming the mix.

• Purpose: Adding reverb for space and depth.
• Placement: After the delay (in the Parallel Split channel).
• Settings: Use Abbey Road Plates for lush plate reverb or R-Verb for a smoother, more natural decay.

Buy Link: Waves Abbey Road Plates

10. Vocal Rider

At the end of my Waves vocal chain, I put the Vocal Rider, which ensures that vocal levels remain consistent throughout the track. This automated gain controller allows me to focus on other aspects of mixing and not spend a lot of time with vocal gain staging.

• Purpose: Automated volume control.
• Placement: Final plugin in the chain.
• Settings: Set the target range and let Vocal Rider automatically adjust the volume.

Buy Link: Waves Vocal Rider

11. Kramer Master Tape (Optional)

If I’m looking for that extra touch of analog warmth, the Kramer Master Tape is the perfect addition to my Waves vocal chain. It adds subtle saturation, making your vocals sound richer and more polished.

• Purpose: Adding analog warmth and saturation.
• Placement: End of the chain (Main Chain or Parallel Split).
• Settings: Adjust the saturation and tape speed to add character without overpowering the vocal.

Buy Link: Waves Kramer Master Tape

I hope my above Waves vocal chain provides a good starting point for your next big mixing project and will make your vocals shine. Remember that your unique touch is what will make your mix stand out. Don’t be afraid to experiment, tweak settings, and make adjustments that suit your style and the specific needs of your project.

Mixing is as much an art as a science, and the more you play with these plugins, the more you’ll develop a sound that’s yours. So dive in, have fun, and let your creativity lead the way!

Free Download: My StudioVerse Waves Vocal Chain