Pro Mastering Tools: Precise. Surgical. Musical.
From the character of tubes and transformers used in hallowed vintage gear, to the clarity and performance that exists only in the digital domain, Grand Masters covers every facet of traditional mastering—and includes innovative options that let you add your own signature touch.
Whether you master hip or hop or modern country, classical string quartets, electronic music, or rock, Grand Masters enhances your masters—from subtle to surgical—with best-in-class sound quality that always sounds musical.
Transparency is Paramount
For the cleanest highs, and a design that eliminates smearing from phase issues, the Linear Phase EQ and Multiband Compressor deliver the most transparent processing available with any technology.
Processing for Power and Clarity
For total control over dynamics, 7 plugins cover every flavor of maximizing—from the broadcast-oriented MaxxVolume, to the industry-standard L2 and L3 Maximizers, to the breakthrough 16-band L3-16 Multimaximizer.
EQ with Character
Mastering isn’t always about transparency, but character—detailed body, high-end sparkle, and subtle tube saturation. For that classic sound, the VEQ3 and VEQ4 model the 1066, 1073 and 1081 mic pres and EQ. V-Comp models the thick, rich sound of the 2254 bus processor’s three audio transformers.
More than Just a Pultec
Pultec EQs remain the go-to mastering choice for musical, sweet tone-shaping. The PuigTec EQs model Jack Joseph Puig’s personal, expertly maintained, hand-selected Pultec EQs with can’t-tell-the-difference accuracy.
Enhance Your Imaging
Widen a mix without artifacts. Boost the center for vinyl. Enhance or tame overhead drum mics. In post-production, focus dialog capture with stereo mics. Center gives full control over the center/side balance.
Advanced Metering: Your Reality Check
The Dorrough Meter Collection provides the insights you need about your audio—peak and average metering, phase correlation, sum and difference, overs, independent left/right channel display, peak hold, and more.
Features
- Ultra-transparent linear-phase EQ and multiband compression
- Spot-on emulations of Pultec’s famed mastering processors
- Multiple Maximizers for clarity, power and precise dynamic control
- V-series compressor and EQs for the best of vintage gear
- Includes Dorrough’s essential diagnostic metering
- Shape low frequencies and center channel for mastering vinyl
Description
System Requirements
OS Requirements
Mac Requirements
- Cpu: Intel or Silicon Architecture
- Ram: 8
- Disk: 16
- Version: macOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14
- Additional requirements: Minimum: 1024×768
Recommended: 1280×1024 / 1600×1024
USB displays are not supported as the primary display.
Windows Requirements
- Cpu: X64 compatible Intel or AMD CPU
- Ram: 8
- Disk: 16
- Version: Windows 10 64 bit and Windows 11
- Additional requirements: Minimum: 1024×768
Recommended: 1280×1024 / 1600×1024
Waves 14 Supported Hosts
MacApple Silicon Support | Windows |
|---|---|
| Pro Tools 2022, 2023 (AAX Native, Audiosuite) | Pro Tools 2022, 2023 (AAX Native, Audiosuite) |
| Ableton Live 11.2, 12 (VST3) | Ableton Live 11.2, 12 (VST3) |
| Audition 23 (VST3) | Audition 23 (VST3) |
| Bitwig Studio 4,5 (VST3) | Bitwig Studio 4, 5 (VST3) |
| Cakewalk by BandLab 2022 (VST3) | |
| Cubase 12 (VST3) | Cubase 12 (VST3) |
| DaVinci Resolve 18.5 | DaVinci Resolve 18.5 |
| Digital Performer 11 (Audio Units) | |
| FL Studio 21 (VST3) | FL Studio 21 (VST3) |
| Garage Band 10.4 Audio Units) | |
| Komplete Kontrol 2 (VST, VST3) | Komplete Kontrol 2 (VST, VST3) |
| Logic Pro X 10.7 (Audio Units) | |
| Luna 1.3 (Audio Units) | |
| Nuendo 12 (VST3) | Nuendo 12 (VST3) |
| OBS Studio 29 (Intel Only) Via StudioRack, Stereo only | OBS Studio 29 (Intel Only) Via StudioRack, Stereo only |
| Premiere Pro 23 (VST3) | Premiere Pro 23 (VST3) |
| Maschine 2 (VST, VST3) | |
| Main Stage 3 Audio Units) | |
| Pyramix 14 (VST3) | |
| REAPER 6 (VST3) | REAPER 6 (VST3) |
| Reason 12.6 (VST, VST3) Apple Silicon Supported with VST3 only | Reason 12.5 (VST, VST3) |
| Samplitude Pro X7, X8 (VST3) | |
| Sequoia 16 (VST3) | |
| Studio One Professional 6 (VST3) | Studio One Professional 6 (VST3) |
Waves’ latest version works on newer sub-versions of these DAWs, unless stated otherwise.
If your DAW (or DAW version) is not listed here, we recommend you demo the product you wish to purchase to confirm it works.
Your DAW must be running on an operating system that supports it in order for plugins to work properly. To confirm that your DAW version is supported on your operating system, please refer to your DAW’s website.
Exceptions & Notes:
General:
- Multiple versions of Waves plugins (for example v13 and v14) should be able to work on the same system (as long the system supports each of those versions)—but please note that we no longer test or officially support this scenario.
- These specs are for software version 14.
- V14 supports 64-bit only.
- In hosts that support both VST and VST3 plugins, we highly recommend using only VST3 plugins in new sessions from now on, and migrating plugins in old sessions to VST3.
- With the release of Waves V13 plugins, we announce full official Apple Silicon support for host applications that are themselves Apple Silicon-compatible. We will work to provide official ARM support for more host applications as they become Silicon-compatible. We will update this page with new developments as they are available.
- MIDI Support: The following hosts do not offer MIDI support: Pyramix, Premiere, Audition and OBS.
- Mono to Stereo components are not supported in Cakewalk by BandLab, GarageBand and Luna.
- Sidechaining is supported on the following hosts: Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Nuendo, Cubase, Cakewalk by BandLab, Audition, Ableton Live, FL Studio, REAPER, Bitwig Studio, Samplitude, Sequoia and Studio One.
- Demo Mode: Audio mutes are not synced between plug-ins running in Demo Mode, when tracks are set to Input Monitoring and the transport is stopped.
- Surround plugins are supported on the following hosts: Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Digital Performer, Nuendo, Cubase, Audition, Premiere, REAPER, Pyramix and DaVinci Resolve.
- Drag and Drop support: ‘Drag and Drop' of samples and audio files in to CR8 Creative Sampler is possible only on DAWs that support this feature: Ableton Live, Cubase, Nuendo and Studio One.
- GarageBand: The Preset Browser is not available on Intel Mac computers.
- Adobe Premiere on Apple Silicon Macs: While loading plugins / changing parameters, you may experience a slow graphic refresh rate.
- Maschine/ Komplete Kontrol: The following plugins will not function correctly when loaded as VST3 plugins: API-2500, C1 Compressor, dbx160 Compressor / Limiter, H-Comp Hybrid Compressor, Renaissance Compressor, SSL G-Master Bus Compressor, V-Comp. Maschine 2.17.2 and Komplete Kontrol 2.9.2 include a fix for this issue.
- FL Studio: FL Studio 21.1.1.3318 may produce graphics issues on Mac computers with Intel processors.
Solution: Update FL Studio to the latest version (21.0.3.3352 or later). - DaVinci Resolve: Tempo Sync is not supported.
Ableton Live:
- Plugin parameters are not auto-populated in Ableton Live for some plugins with many (over 67) automatable parameters.
- Ableton Live sessions created with previous versions (V10/V11) of the plugin components listed below, will not load in the sessions after the plugin version is updated:
- C4 Multiband Compressor: Mono component
- C6 Multiband Compressor: Mono component
- L2 Ultramaximizer: Mono component
- Q1-Q8 Equalizers: Mono component
- F6 Floating-Band Dynamic EQ: Mono component
- Nx – Virtual Mix Room over Headphones: 5.0, 5.1 and 7.1 components
Plugins:
- Abbey Road Studio 3:
- Not supported under Audition, Premiere on Mac.
- Surround is supported on Pro Tools, Logic Pro (no 7.1 support), Cubase, Nuendo, Digital Performer and REAPER. Surround is not supported on Ableton Live, GarageBand, Main Stage, Studio One, Samplitude, Sequoia and Cakewalk by BandLab.
- Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain - Not supported under Garage Band.
- Bass Fingers - Not supported under Pyramix on Windows.
- B360 Ambisonics Encoder – 5.1 to 4.0 and 7.1 to 4.0 are not supported by Logic Pro X. In Pro Tools, B360 Ambisonics components are available on standard ‘QUAD’ tracks only, and not yet available on ‘1st order Ambisonics’ tracks.
- CLA MixHub:
- The insert slot is not supported under Bitwig Studio.
- Inserting a plugin in the insert slot while automation is in touch mode and all automation lanes enabled may result in a crash or unexpected behavior.
- CLA MixHub V14’s insert slot supports V14 and V13 Waves plugins.
- CLA Nx - Not supported under Audition, Premiere and FL Studio on Mac.
- DeBreath - Not supported under Main Stage and Premiere on Mac.
- Dorrough Stereo: Only the vertical version of Dorrough Stereo is available in SuperRack, eMotion LV1, SoundGrid Studio and StudioRack.
- Dorrough Surround: Only the vertical version of Dorrough Surround is available in SuperRack.
- eMo Generator:
- When using eMo Generator in Logic or Digital Performer, make sure to enable the input monitor on the channel where the plugin is inserted.
- Not supported under FL Studio on Mac
- Grand Rhapsody Piano, Electric 200 Piano, Electric 88 Piano, Electric Grand 80 Piano, Clavinet and Bass Slapper are supported on the following hosts: Pro Tools (AAX Native), Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Digital Performer, Nuendo, Cubase, Main Stage, Studio One, Cakewalk by BandLab, Reason, Samplitude (VSTi), Sequoia (VSTi), FL Studio, REAPER, Garage Band (on i7), Maschine and Komplete Kontrol.
- Lofi Space and Retro Fi: Tempo Sync is not available in Premiere Pro.
- GTR3 / GTR Solo – Not supported under Audition, Premiere and FL Studio on Mac.
- Kaleidoscopes - Not supported under Luna
- Morphoder - Not supported under Garage Band
- MultiMod Rack - Not supported under Garage Band
- NLS Non-Linear Summer – Not supported under Audition, Premiere and FL Studio on Mac.
- Nx Virtual Mix Room:
- Not supported under Audition and Premiere.
- Surround is supported on Pro Tools, Logic Pro (no 7.1 support), Cubase, Nuendo, Digital Performer and REAPER. Surround is not supported on Ableton Live, GarageBand, Main Stage, Studio One, Samplitude, Sequoia and Cakewalk by BandLab. In Pro Tools, Nx Ambisonics components are available on standard ‘QUAD’ tracks only, and not yet available on ‘1st order Ambisonics’ tracks.
- Q-Clone is not supported on the following hosts: Main Stage, Garage Band, Audition, Premiere and FL Studio.
Q-Capture component not supported on Main Stage. - Scheps Omni Channel:
- The insert slot is not supported under Bitwig Studio and Garage Band.
- Scheps Omni Channel 2’s insert slot is not supported under Bitwig Studio, Garage Band, in SoundGrid Host applications and in SuperRack Performer with third-party VST3 plugins.
- Inserting a plugin in the insert slot while automation is in touch mode and all automation lanes enabled may result in a crash or unexpected behavior.
- Scheps Omni Channel V14’s insert slot supports V14 and V13 Waves plugins.
- SoundShifter: On Pro Tools, SoundShifter Graphic & Parametric support AudioSuite only.
On all other hosts, only SoundShifter Pitch is supported. - UM225 & UM226 are supported on the following hosts: Pro Tools, Nuendo, Cubase, Audition, Premiere, REAPER, and Pyramix. UM226 is also supported on Logic Pro and Digital Performer.
- Waves Harmony cannot be controlled by MIDI in GarageBand.
- Waves Stream: The Waves Stream Receive component is not supported in GarageBand running in macOS Sonoma on Intel Macs.
- Waves Virtual Instruments are not supported on Adobe Premier.
- Waves Tune & Tune LT are fully supported on the following hosts: Pro Tools (AAX Native 64-bit), Logic Pro, Digital Performer, REAPER, and Cakewalk. Waves Tune & Tune LT are also supported on the following hosts, but without ReWire support: Ableton Live (Arrangement view only), Nuendo, Cubase, GarageBand, Audition, Premiere, Studio One, FL Studio, Reason, Bitwig, Luna, Samplitude, Sequoia. ReWire is not supported on Apple Silicon processors.
- X-FDBK is not supported on Adobe Premiere and Pro Tools Audiosuite
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