WAVES Eddie Kramer Signature plug-ins Need Reviews

M

MUguy

New member
I just saw that WAVES is having a big sale for next 3 days or so.

One of the items On Sale at a large discount is the Eddie Kramer Signature series. I'm looking at the signature series not his WAVES Tapes, Tubes, and Transistors bundle.

I'm really tempted since it is on sale for only $150 for the whole Signature bundle. However, I want to get some feedback from folks that may have used it before.

What are your thoughts? It's pluses/minuses.

I've been a musician for a few decades (I used to have a Tascam 4 track), but new to digital recording.

Thanks and Happy 4th of July,

MUGuy
 
Re: WAVES Eddie Kramer Signature plug-ins Need Reviews

I have Kramer Master Tape, HLS, and PiE. What would you like to know? They sound fantastic, but are faithful reproductions -- the PiE is quite noisy, but super musical. The HLS and Master Tape have a 'low noise' setting if you want to 'cheat' and get the analogue simulation without the noise.

If you are looking to do modern-sounding recordings, I would avoid the Kramer stuff, however; it's really for analogue addicts! :)
 
Re: WAVES Eddie Kramer Signature plug-ins Need Reviews

I don't mind analog. I'm a 70s and 80s rock sound kind of guy anyway.

Have you ever worked with the WAVES Signature series of either CLA, Maserati, or Kramer that are on sale right now? All of those look like great prices, but I'm not sure that I need them unless they are going to be fairly useful versus just getting some other Waves or Slate plug-ins that are based off of classic compressors, boards, tape machines, etc.

Thoughts?
 
Re: WAVES Eddie Kramer Signature plug-ins Need Reviews

I have ... too many Waves plugins lol .. not really. I use them all constantly. It all comes down to what you are trying to achieve. If you want a couple of plugins to add some glue and musical colourations to your mixes, I can't recommend the Kramer Master Tape enough. That plugin alone can be used on an insert, bus, or on your master output and be used for EQ, compression, tonal/transient shaping, as well as slap back delay.

After that, it comes down to what you are looking to do. I generally do not advise novices to use vintage style compressors; it's easy to get the compression wrong and you end up with a strangled mess. That being said, my favorite comps for bass guitar and drums are the Kramer PiE and CLA-2. The LA-2A compressor sounds MONSTROUS on rock bass guitar!

The PuigChild is very cool, but would only use it on the master bus; and it can definitely screw with your mix, so you need to strap it on the output first thing and mix with it throughout or you will never get it to sound right.

For a novice, I would recommend the Renaissance compressor, L-2 or L-3 limiters, or OneKnob Louder brick wall limiter.

Sorry, I am assuming your are a novice!

If you are an experienced engineer, I would say definitely go w the Tubes, Tape, and Transistor pack. The HLS is a fantastic channel strip; I particularly like it on kick drum.

Now, Slate ... that's a whole new kettle of fish. First, you have to have an iLok2 USB key for the plugins to work. If you don't have an iLok, that will be an extra $40 or so you will need to spend and you must have the iLok on your computer with the license on there for it to work.

Slates virtual tape machine, comps, and analog summing plugins are fantastic; definitely first rate, and generally on a par w Waves.

If you are new to recording 'in the box', and are using a PC or running a DAW that supports VSTs, you should make this one of your first stops -- Bedroom Producers Blog. Loads of FREE commercial and open source plugins.
 
Last edited:
Re: WAVES Eddie Kramer Signature plug-ins Need Reviews

Oh, about the Signature Collections. I don't like 'em. You're better served using individual plugins. Also, you can download any Waves plugin with a free demo.
 
Re: WAVES Eddie Kramer Signature plug-ins Need Reviews

Did you ever pull the trigger on this? I am going to be picking up the API 2500 compressor and NLS this morning. I would really like to try the PuigChild, but honestly, don't see myself using it that much. The NLS looks like it will be an essential piece of kit, and looks more versatile than Slate's virtual mix bus.
 
Re: WAVES Eddie Kramer Signature plug-ins Need Reviews

Grabbed the API 2500 and NLS today; the NLS is interesting; it will take some work to get it dialed in. I can see myself using it on the input of my interface when I am bringing in the analogue 2-channel mix down from my desk back into the DAW. The NLS bus control is really freaking cool, but I am a ways away from really being able to try it out (my album is still in its infancy right now).

As for the 2500 ... whoa. I cannot believe I've gone so long without this one. KILLER compressor. Just plain killer. It dethroned my previous favourite, the Kramer PiE. I still love the PiE and of course it's on a case-by-case basis, but I took a bass track this morning and ran it through the NLS, HLS, and 2500 just to see how much tonal shaping I could do ... the results were very promising, to say the least.
 
Re: WAVES Eddie Kramer Signature plug-ins Need Reviews

I think I'm just going to get the CLA-76 from Waves for now and pick up the Eddie Kramer bundle later this month. The bundle is on sale through the end of July. So, no rush.

Keep me updated on the 2500. I may look at that one later down the road.
 
Re: WAVES Eddie Kramer Signature plug-ins Need Reviews

The Signature stuff hides too much from you to really control it. It's supposed to be for noobs to get you in the quality ballpark quicker, but the problem is the same that any preset will have: it has to assume a particular signal path and way the tracks were recorded in order to do anything well, and that's just not how people are really recording their tracks in the field. Bedroom producers are all over the map in how they get their tracks down.

The NLS is indispensable. I was able to reduce the instances of EQ and compression all over my mixes once I deployed that. It's best to individually choose it as an insert on each track one at at time, rather than copy, so that you get a different channel emulation on each of your channels. Sounds like a real desk that way. Vocal rider is another very very useful tool.

The PuigChild and the CLA-76s are among the most useful and natural compressors I have. The CLA-76 sounds the closest to my hardware 1176 of any emulation I have. The only reason I ever use something else is just to avoid build up of too much of that particular character in the mix. I've used the Puig successfully on submixes and individual instruments before. Software compressors are better if you don't slam them, however. If I find myself needing to really hit a compressor hard, I usually go back and try to record a more even track first. (Unless of course it's for an effect, then go for it. Two of the same in series at a lower ratio works better than slamming one instance hard, at least in software.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top