Waves Api bundle review

gabriel g.

gabriel g.

Member
Sep 7, 2006
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Hey guys the last thread about this awsome plugins got closed because of some idiots who arent able to buy a fucking Ilock and download the FREE fully functional demo of any waves plugins....

I own the Studio classics bundle (including Waves SSL, V-series(neve emulations) and the api collection) about 10 month and used it on every project.

All plugins included in this bundle is AMAZING!!!

The SSL stuff is very sharp, and very crisp. The channel-strips (e-channel AND g-channel) have awsome gates, and the EQ are working perfect for drums.
The compressor in the channels isnt my cup of tea...
The masterbus compressor owns big time, but only with moderate settings...

The V-stuff is very creamy, and has nice harmonic content.
The compressor is super sweet but very noisy so I only use 25% - 50% analog mode. Big minus are the small settings on attack and release time.
The Eq are amazing!!! The low and high-cut options make your guitars sit in the mix in a couple of minutes...

The API-stuff sounds very punchy and clear...
The 550a and 550b eq are great on everything BUT the small setting options MUST fit the need. The 2dB steps on the eq can be a pain in the ass, esp. when you think 1dB would work perfect!!!

The 560 eq is great too. Works great on kick and bass-guitar...

THE ALLMIGHTY COMP:
Very complex, works on everything with soft to hard settings.
IMO the best software comp out there.

ERMZ:
You said in the other thread that the real deal and the emulation are totaly different.
Sorry but simply NOT TRUE!!!
A collage budy of me did a educational project and compared the real deal with the software version.
He matched them 100%->you couldnt hear any difference. Nor did the Prof. in audio engineering...
He zoomed in while doing the presentation and the sample stages of both audio files were totaly THE SAME!!!

His conclusion was: You can match them 100% But the different paramter work slightly different

cheers

My conclusion about the bundle:
A lot of cash for the most powerfull software emulations out there.
This plugins help you bring your mix to the next level, but you need to know what you are doing and have to learn the plugins.

My conclusion about the api 2500:
If you want this punchy compressor only go for the real deal if you have a good converter.
Outboard has alot of good aspects but it all works with good converters.
If you are using some shitty firepod, behringer or god knows what units to convert you analog signal into the digital world stick to the software:)
 
gabriel g. said:
ERMZ:
You said in the other thread that the real deal and the emulation are totaly different.
Sorry but simply NOT TRUE!!!
A collage budy of me did a educational project and compared the real deal with the software version.
He matched them 100%->you couldnt hear any difference. Nor did the Prof. in audio engineering...
He zoomed in while doing the presentation and the sample stages of both audio files were totaly THE SAME!!!

His conclusion was: You can match them 100% But the different paramter work slightly different

cheers
Click to expand...

First off, I'm very glad to hear that you're happy with your purchase. Nothing quite like investing a bit, and knowing it was worth it.

Second, I'll be waiting here for your friend to post that shoot-out so it can be objectively validated by everybody.

EDIT: For the sake of posterity, here is the GS thread where multiple shoot-outs were posted: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gear...sts/173165-waves-api-2500-vs-api-2500-hw.html
 
Next time I see him, I´ll ask him for the files!!!!!!
The dude who owns the real Api 2500 said that he liked the real-deal-version more (but he is one of the vodoo guys:) )
the other people couldnt point out the real one and the emulation...

I must say:
You can match them (also maybe just very close to each other) but the units react different, so people please dont think you can use the SAME SETTINGS...

Maybe waves used a different unit for the emulation then the cummon ones (like they did the CLA stuff)
 
gabriel g. said:
Hey guys the last thread about this awsome plugins got closed because of some idiots who arent able to buy a fucking Ilock and download the FREE fully functional demo of any waves plugins....

I own the Studio classics bundle (including Waves SSL, V-series(neve emulations) and the api collection) about 10 month and used it on every project.

All plugins included in this bundle is AMAZING!!!

The SSL stuff is very sharp, and very crisp. The channel-strips (e-channel AND g-channel) have awsome gates, and the EQ are working perfect for drums.
The compressor in the channels isnt my cup of tea...
The masterbus compressor owns big time, but only with moderate settings...

The V-stuff is very creamy, and has nice harmonic content.
The compressor is super sweet but very noisy so I only use 25% - 50% analog mode. Big minus are the small settings on attack and release time.
The Eq are amazing!!! The low and high-cut options make your guitars sit in the mix in a couple of minutes...

The API-stuff sounds very punchy and clear...
The 550a and 550b eq are great on everything BUT the small setting options MUST fit the need. The 2dB steps on the eq can be a pain in the ass, esp. when you think 1dB would work perfect!!!

The 560 eq is great too. Works great on kick and bass-guitar...

THE ALLMIGHTY COMP:
Very complex, works on everything with soft to hard settings.
IMO the best software comp out there.

ERMZ:
You said in the other thread that the real deal and the emulation are totaly different.
Sorry but simply NOT TRUE!!!
A collage budy of me did a educational project and compared the real deal with the software version.
He matched them 100%->you couldnt hear any difference. Nor did the Prof. in audio engineering...
He zoomed in while doing the presentation and the sample stages of both audio files were totaly THE SAME!!!

His conclusion was: You can match them 100% But the different paramter work slightly different

cheers

My conclusion about the bundle:
A lot of cash for the most powerfull software emulations out there.
This plugins help you bring your mix to the next level, but you need to know what you are doing and have to learn the plugins.

My conclusion about the api 2500:
If you want this punchy compressor only go for the real deal if you have a good converter.
Outboard has alot of good aspects but it all works with good converters.
If you are using some shitty firepod, behringer or god knows what units to convert you analog signal into the digital world stick to the software:)
Click to expand...

Cool review dude :kickass:
 
I am also a big fan of waves API,SSL, they are totally awesome. The SSL channelstrip is my to go EQ, and the 2500 and SSL buss compressor ends up on every projetc.
But i dont use the API EQ's that much, i dont like the interface of em that much, and as you stated its a pain in the butt when you only need to go -+ 1db haha'

@Ermz did you buy the Waves CLA bundle? If so, are you pleased with how the comps. sounds?? I want these badly, i use the Bombfactory 1176 allot in my mixes but from what i heard the Waves bundle kicks some serious butt :)

You have to consider workflow when you compare a software vs hardware, I dont think the hardware is that much that difference to justifie the price

cheers
 
crillemannen said:
I am also a big fan of waves API,SSL, they are totally awesome. The SSL channelstrip is my to go EQ, and the 2500 and SSL buss compressor ends up on every projetc.

You have to consider workflow when you compare a software vs hardware, I dont think the hardware is that much that difference to justifie the price

cheers
Click to expand...

The SSL channel strip is my go-to for eq and most compression needs, its generally a great all around plugin.

When you compare the read thing prices to the plugin prices, they virtually sound the same, and you can use as many instances as you need for the project that your CPU permits. That and having the plugin right there makes the workflow smooth.
 
I'm loving the API bundle...
the madatory +-2 dB steps make the EQ unusable for electric (distorted) guitar for me, but it's great on acoustics that can live with a stringer boost in the highs...

it is the only EQ I'm using for vox (both 550a and b are awesome) and I'm using the 2500 on vox whenever I'm too lazy to patch in the outboard EQ.
this bundle winds up on every project I'm doing and I couldn't live without it.....
I'm not using the 560 that much, but that's mainly because the early versions had a bug in that one and so I just didn't use it.....now that the bug is fixed I should perhaps try it again
 
Crill, the Waves CLA bundle is very good. If you can hold out for a month or so, I will have some 1176 Rev D and Rev A clones here to compare directly. I don't expect them to sound the same, since the circuitry modeled will likely be different, but they do correspond to generally the same models. I'll see which sound 'better' and take it from there.

The 1176 blue is winding up on all my vox tracks, and the black is all over my parallel comps, drum rooms and bass. LA-2A is sick for backing vocals and 'tame' acoustics/rhodes/pianos. LA-3 can be nice on guitars.
 
Forgot to ask.

Any of you guys taken a listen to the clips on that GS thread? REALLY obvious difference on '3' and '4'. Listen to how the analogue grabs and releases. It instantly fattens the drums, whereas the plug-in is just straight up and boring. Pop release, pop release. The attack always gives it away. ITB is always more harsh and in your face. Analogue is rounded and 'pulls' more. Just more musical sounding.
 
^ I can clearly hear the difference but both are very fatiguing for me with that kind of extreme compression with 3 being even more nasty in that respect. It does sound more live though. Between 1 and 2, which would be more like the amount of compression I'd use, the difference isn't as big.

BTW lol @
once put online a sample of my songs claiming that the drums during the first 26 seconds were recorded using Neve Portico 5012 preamp and the rest of the song were recorded using Alesis console preamps. Truth is that, the drums were recorded using the Neve preamp during the whole song! But you know what?

Pootkao said that after the first 26 seconds:

"Your cymbals got harsher.
The snare is thinner."

Oldone said:

"Well, sorry to disagree but the sound was dramatically different. The kick lost its width in the track and the low end died on both the kick and the snare. I would say the drums went from 3D to 2D flat. If you can't hear the difference it could be your DA or your monitors are in need of an upgrade. Something changed dramatically on the low end. There is more punch to the kick in the first 26 seconds vs the last. The same with the snare. Where was the mic placement for the bottom snare? That might explain what I am hearing."

Whitepapagold said:

"I definitely preferred the portico drums. It does feel like some thickness is lost after the break but maybe it sounds like that anyway.... "
Click to expand...
 
Probably because 4 barely sounds like its compressing anything. The transients are just clean and there is no pull whatsoever. Not very exciting to listen to. When I clamp down with a mix bus comp I want the entire track to start bouncing - the Waves SSL Comp is incapable of that, as is the Waves 2500. Closest I came was using the Old Timer on there.

Love that quote btw. Shows us that we'll hear what we want to hear.
 
Ermz said:
Forgot to ask.

Any of you guys taken a listen to the clips on that GS thread? REALLY obvious difference on '3' and '4'. Listen to how the analogue grabs and releases. It instantly fattens the drums, whereas the plug-in is just straight up and boring. Pop release, pop release. The attack always gives it away. ITB is always more harsh and in your face. Analogue is rounded and 'pulls' more. Just more musical sounding.
Click to expand...

+1


The hardware API 2500 has a much greater glue effect and sounds more saturated!

Luckily i found the files on my harddive. So take a listen and deceide for yourself :) .

API 2500 HW vs SW
 
Really want to try the API stuff.
Hopefully UA will do an emulation of it soon :)

But really, 2dB steps on the gain?? That seems a little too much.
I would imagine that sometimes the sweet spot you want is in-between somewhere.
Of course Waves cant be blamed for this but..
 
gabriel g. said:
My conclusion about the api 2500:
If you want this punchy compressor only go for the real deal if you have a good converter.
Outboard has alot of good aspects but it all works with good converters.
If you are using some shitty firepod, behringer or god knows what units to convert you analog signal into the digital world stick to the software:)
Click to expand...

Just want to add: API 2500 are also available in 500 serie format (for "low budget" studio)
 
Also own the SCC. The SSL channel is my go-to for just about everything. The API plugs end up here and there, but I haven't touched the V series much at all. I should give them a chance again.
Waves H-Comp is becoming one of my faves too.
 
I tried the Api bundle and i'll be honest was fairly non plussed. I love the Api 525 outboard (the real thing) but the eqs were a bit bland for me, and the compressor was a bit all or nothing. Just my opinion.
I do however love the SSL and moreso the CLA bundle both of which i shall be buying shortly
 
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