Waves go subscription only!

[Luke W]

Anyone got a strong recommendation for a good de-esser? I like Waves Sibilance and I've never got on with the JS one in Reaper for some reason.

Big fan of FabFilter Pro-DS, but it's not the cheapest...

[Matt Houghton]

Anyone got a strong recommendation for a good de-esser? I like Waves Sibilance and I've never got on with the JS one in Reaper for some reason.

Big fan of FabFilter Pro-DS, but it's not the cheapest...

Seconded. Easy to focus in on the problem, easy to set up the attenuation, and sounds good. I've yet to encounter an ess that this, or occasionally two instances of it in series, can't massage into place!

[Drew Stephenson]

Not exactly an impulse buy! (That would have worked as a reverb joke)
One to keep an eye on for the future though. Thanks.

[Martin Walker]

Well some enterprising individual has created a Google Docs spreadsheet with suggested replacements for over 200 Waves plugins for those who would prefer to abandon the brand for whatever reason:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/ ... I/htmlview#

You can even add your own suggestions to supplement the current recommendations from other musicians.

[James Perrett]

Anyone got a strong recommendation for a good de-esser? I like Waves Sibilance and I've never got on with the JS one in Reaper for some reason.

Have you tried ReaFIR in compression mode? It is easy to see and then tune out the sibilance.

[Guest]

Another great option for those looking to replace waves is Stillwell audio. These are enhanced versions of many of the plugins that come with Reaper.

They are affordable, with unlimited trial and even discounted prices For Reaper users.

I have used them loads.

The transient monster is excellent as a transient designer
and Major Tom plugin is great for replacing the dbx 160.

Well worth installing the lot.
https://www.stillwellaudio.com

[pbthias]

Love SOS a lot, but I am wondering why Waves going all sub isn't in any way mentioned in the news section of the page?
(Or in the industry news forum?)
If that ain't news....

[jaminem]

Love SOS a lot, but I am wondering why Waves going all sub isn't in any way mentioned in the news section of the page?
(Or in the industry news forum?)
If that ain't news....

Maybe they are just trying to avoid the hysteria that's happening on the other site...?

[Wonks]

SOS tend not to create news items unless they’ve been sent an official press release, though the news is available on the Waves Audio website, so it’s not just hearsay.

[Hugh Robjohns]

A lot of companies now prioritise social media channels for their news and promotional releases, and send traditional press releases to magazines afterwards or not at all.

However, I gather Waves have sent SOS a news item and it is already in the works....

[Luke Wood SOS News Editor]

Hugh's answer is indeed the case here.

But following the delay, a news story has now been published.

[EddyHame]

Well some enterprising individual has created a Google Docs spreadsheet with suggested replacements for over 200 Waves plugins for those who would prefer to abandon the brand for whatever reason:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/ ... I/htmlview#

You can even add your own suggestions to supplement the current recommendations from other musicians.

That's excellent! Cheers for the post! Clearly enough folk were "done" with Waves some time ago to create that doc!

[Kwackman]

Looks like they've changed their mind, must have had a lot of backlash.

https://www.waves.com/news/perpetual-wa ... s-are-back

[muzines]

There has been *huge* backlash, everywhere...

[Hugh Robjohns]

That's hilarious!

[MeJ]

Glad to see they have rolled this subscription-only plan back. I do use some Waves plugins, on more than one machine, so the second license that comes with the WUP was required for me, and the only reason I paid for WUP.

There's many Waves plugins that are frankly "meh" but a few I depend on, none of which were in the cheap subscription model, meaning I would need 2 of the expensive subscriptions for the same coverage. I will now ensure alternatives for these few are in place, in case.

However I will now try and stick to my many times restated "no more Waves!" policy... which I broke every time there was a $10 offer!

As for Waves, talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

[muzines]

It was quite amusing seeing all the ads/offers from other plugin companies taking, uh "advantage" of the Waves backlash to market their "permanent investments" (Softube) for people currently suffering from a tsunami (PSP) etc...

[resistorman]

Looks like they've changed their mind, must have had a lot of backlash.

https://www.waves.com/news/perpetual-wa ... s-are-back

Wow, that was fast! Everyone wants in on the subscription gravytrain, including BMW charging $18/ month for heated seats:

https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/2320 ... ts-feature,

but people only have room for so many subscriptions in their lives.

[The Elf]

I think a lot of damage will have been done and they could live to regret it mightily.

While creating a mix this morning I've made it a point to try replacing every Waves plug-in in my channel presets with an alternative. TBH I've found better solutions in a couple of instances.

[Luke Wood SOS News Editor]

The latest update is now in our News section.

The previous story still available, and now just covers the two new subscription packages and StudioVerse feature.

[Kwackman]

I suspect there'll be an accounting/marketing team getting the hairdryer treatment.

[MeJ]

I just got a snivelling rollback letter from Waves. Good, but as previously said, they will be paying for this in shifted attitudes and trust.

I don't in principle object to subscription offerings, as long as they are an option. For some people they can make sense, but there has to a benefit to the subscriber.

I stopped using Adobe products when they moved to subscription only, but then I'm not in professional graphics, if you are there's no choice. But that's not the case at all for film, Adobe is now a minor player.

In the plugin field AFAIK both Melda and Plugin Alliance offer subscribe-to-own models, which make a lot more sense to me. I did take up the PA "all" offer last year.

Also these companies (and many others) DON'T restrict me to just two machines (I have four in use, main DAW, VEP, mastering machine, location laptop, obvs. not all at once)...

[Drew Stephenson]

Anyone got a strong recommendation for a good de-esser? I like Waves Sibilance and I've never got on with the JS one in Reaper for some reason.

Have you tried ReaFIR in compression mode? It is easy to see and then tune out the sibilance.

I haven't, I shall add that to the list. I've only really used ReaFIR as a noise reduction tool - I've been aware it's capable of a lot more but not had a play.
Thanks

[Alperian]

As more companies go subscription model, the big winners here will be the DAW manufacturers as more bedroom producers decide that their trouble-free stock plugins ain't so bad after all.

Now under a waves subscription it's impossible for old tracks to work faithfully again if the subscription is stopped. Bounce or freeze all your tracks quickly?

For me, I was in a quandary as to upgrade (Horizons + more) or not. Now the decision happily has been taken out of my hands. I won't be subscribing.

Ignore my above. Now I have a quandary again