Waves Audio
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| Industry | Software |
|---|---|
| Products | Mercury Bundle, Diamond Bundle, Platinum Bundle, Studio Classics Collection, Gold Bundle, Silver Bundle, Dorrough Meter Collection, CLA Classics, Chris Lord-Alge Artist Signature Collection, JJP Analog Legends, Eddie Kramer Artist Signature Collection, Eddie Kramer HLS Channel, Eddie Kramer PIE Compressor, Tony Maserati Artist Signature Collection, Native Power Pack, API Collection, SSL 4000 Collection, V-series, Broadcast Bundle, Grand Masters Collection, Masters Collection, GTR3, GTR Solo, Musicians 1, Musicians 2, IR1, IR360, Post Production Tools, Restoration Bundle, 360 Surround Tools, L3-16, LIVE! Bundle, Renaissance Maxx, Transform Bundle, Z-noise, H-Delay, H-Comp, Vocal Rider, Vocal Bundle |
| Website | Waves.com |
Waves Audio Ltd. is a developer and supplier of professional audio signal processing technologies and audio effects, used in recording, mixing, mastering, post production, surround, live, and broadcast sound. Since the early 1990s, Waves processors have been available as plugins for most popular audio hosts and platforms, including Audio Units, TDM, DirectX, MAS, and VST.
Under its Maxx brand, Waves offers its technologies as DSP semiconductors and licensable algorithms for consumer electronics, and are currently used in products from companies including Sony, Sanyo, JVC, Toshiba, and Altec Lansing. Maxx technologies are used to enhance audio performance and improve sound in televisions, laptop computers, mobile phones, VoIP, multimedia speakers, and portable audio systems.
The company's corporate headquarters and development facilities are located in Tel Aviv, Israel, with additional offices in the United States in Knoxville, Tennessee and Shenzen, China.
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[edit] History
Founded in October 1992 by Gilad Keren and Meir Sha'ashua, Waves pioneered the use of software extension applications, or "plug-ins", for digital audio signal processing and manipulation. Waves' first plug-in was the Q10 Paragraphic Equalizer.1 The Q10 was innovative in three main ways. First, it was one of the earliest third-party plug-ins for the nascent Pro Tools platform, which has since become the industry standard. Second, its intuitive graphic user interface (GUI) provided easy access to and control over more parameters than had previously been possible. Finally, the Q10 offered sound quality equal to or better than its hardware counterparts.
Further stimulating Waves’ first decade of success was the development of the L1 Ultramaximizer Peak Limiter, which established a new benchmark for dynamic controls, and introduced the concept of "look-ahead" limiting, a term which is now in general use throughout the audio software industry. The L1 was the first in Waves L-Series, which now includes the L2, L3, L3-LL, and L3-16 Ultramaximizers and Multimaximizers.
Waves Audio - Technical GRAMMY Award recipient, 2011.
[edit] Psycho-Acoustic Modeling
By analyzing and applying psychoacoustics (the way the human brain perceives sound), Waves developed proprietary modeling techniques used to re-create the sonic characteristics of the world's most desirable analog hardware. Their SSL 4000 Collection was developed in association with Solid State Logic, makers of the original SSL 4000 mixing consoles. The API Collection was created in conjunction with Automated Processes Inc. (makers of API components), while the V-Series is based on Rupert Neve console modules. Waves also offers a collection of modeled guitar amplifiers, speaker cabinets, and stomp effects called GTR, which includes software emulations of popular amps and cabs by Marshall, Fender, Mesa/Boogie, Vox, and others.
[edit] Audio Processors
| Processor Name | Function |
| API 550A | 3-Band Equalizer |
| API 550B | 4-Band Equalizer |
| API 560 | 10-Band Graphic Equalizer |
| API 2500 | Stereo Compressor |
| AudioTrack | Channel Strip with EQ, Gating, and Compression |
| C1 Parametric Compander | Dynamics Processor |
| C4 Multiband Compressor | Dynamics Processor |
| Center | Center - L/R Mixer |
| CLA-2A | Modeled Compressor |
| CLA-3A | Modeled Compressor |
| CLA-76 | Modeled Compressor |
| CLA Bass | Bass Channel |
| CLA Drums | Drum Channel |
| CLA Effects | Effects Channel |
| CLA Guitars | Guitar Channel |
| CLA Unplugged | Acoustic Channel |
| CLA Vocals | Vocal Channel |
| DeBreath | Breath Eliminator |
| DeEsser | Sibilance Attenuator |
| Doppler | Spatial Processor |
| Dorrough | Modeled Meters |
| Doubler | Double-Tracking Processor |
| Enigma | Modulation Effects |
| H-Comp | Hybrid Compressor |
| H-Delay | Hybrid Delay |
| IR1 Parametric | Convolution Reverb |
| IR360 | Surround Parametric Convolution Reverb |
| IR-L | Parametric Convolution Reverb |
| Kramer V | Vocal Channel |
| Kramer B | Bass Channel |
| Kramer D | Drum Channel |
| Kramer FX | Effects Channel |
| Kramer G | Guitar Channel |
| Kramer HLS | Modeled Channel Strip |
| Kramer PIE | Modeled Compressor |
| L1 Ultramaximizer | Peak Limiter |
| L2 Ultramaximizer | Peak Limiter |
| L3 Multimaximizer | Multiband Peak Limiter |
| L3 Ultramaximizer | Peak Limiter |
| L3-16 Multimaximizer | 16-Band Peak Limiter |
| L3-LL Multimaximizer | Low Latency Multiband Peak Limiter |
| L3-LL Ultramaximizer | Low Latency Peak Limiter |
| Linear Phase EQ | Transparent Equalizer |
| Linear Phase Multiband | Transparent Dynamics Processor |
| LoAir | Subharmonics Generator |
| Maserati ACG | Acoustic Guitar Designer |
| Maserati B72 | Bass Phattener |
| Maserati DRM | Drum Slammer |
| Maserati GTi | Guitar Toner |
| Maserati HMX | Harmonics Generator |
| Maserati VX1 | Vocal Enhancer |
| MaxxBass | Low Frequency Extension |
| MaxxVolume | 4-Way Dynamics Processor |
| MV2 | 4-Way Dynamics Processor |
| MV360 | 4-Way Dynamics Processor for Surround |
| MetaFlanger | Modulation Effects |
| MondoMod | Modulation Effects |
| Morphoder | Vocoder Effects |
| PAZ Analyzer | Psycho-Acoustic Analyzer |
| PS22 Stereo Maker | Mono-to-Stereo Processor |
| PuigChild 670 & 660 | Modeled Limiter |
| PuigTec EQP-1A | Modeled Compressor |
| PuigTec MEQ-5 | Modeled Compressor |
| Q-Clone | Hardware EQ Modeling |
| Q10 | Paragraphic Equalizer |
| Renaissance Axx | Dynamics Processor |
| Renaissance Bass | Low Frequency Extension |
| Renaissance Channel | Channel Strip |
| Renaissance Compressor | Dynamics Processor |
| Renaissance DeEsser | Sibilance Attenuator |
| Renaissance EQ | Paragraphic Equalizer |
| Renaissance Reverb | Spatial Processor |
| Renaissance Vox | Dynamics Processor |
| S1 Stereo Imager | Spatial Processor |
| SSL G-Master Buss Compressor | Dynamics Processor |
| SSL G-Equalizer | Parametric EQ |
| SSL E-Channel | Channel Strip |
| SoundShifter | Time and Pitch Transformation |
| SuperTap | Analog-Style Tap Delay |
| R360˚ Surround Reverb | Surround Spatial Processor |
| S360˚ Surround Panner | Surround Spatial Processor |
| S360˚ Surround Imager | Surround Spatial Processor |
| LFE360˚ Low Pass Filter | Surround Bass Processor |
| L360˚ Surround Limiter | Surround Dynamics Processor |
| C360˚ Surround Compressor | Surround Dynamics Processor |
| IDR360˚ Surround Bit Re-Quantizer | Surround Dithering Processor |
| M360˚ Surround Mixdown | Surround Spatial Processor |
| M360˚ Surround Manager | Surround Spatial Processor |
| Trans-X | Transient Shaper |
| TrueVerb | Spatial Processor |
| Vocal Rider | Level Automator |
| Waves Tune | Pitch Correction and Transformation |
| Waves Tune LT | Pitch Correction and Transformation |
| WNS | Noise Suppressor |
| UltraPitch | Pitch Transformation |
| UM225 / UM226 | Stereo to Surround |
| V-Comp | Vintage Dynamics Processing |
| V-EQ3 | Vintage Equalization |
| V-EQ4 | Vintage Equalization |
| X-Crackle | Noise Reduction |
| X-Hum | Noise Reduction |
| X-Noise | Noise Reduction |
| X-Click | Noise Reduction |
| Z-Noise | Advanced Dynamic Noise Reduction |
Additionally, Waves manufactures several hardware processors for live, studio, and broadcast applications, including MaxxBCL, which includes compression, bass extension, and limiting functions.
[edit] Founders
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Gilad Keren - Chief Executive Officer
Gilad Keren is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Waves Audio. Since the early 1990s, Gilad has been instrumental in pioneering an entirely new kind of tool, the digital audio plug-in, and the company he helped create has become instrumental in every stage of the creative audio process, from recording to mixing to mastering to broadcast, live sound, and beyond.
During his last year in the Israeli military, Keren began working for Tommy Friedman, a renowned figure in the Israeli recording industry. When a cousin introduced him to (eventual Waves co-founder) Meir Shaashua, the two found a strong common interest: sound, and, more precisely, digital sound. After returning to the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), Keren began to develop what would become Waves’ first plug-in, the Q10, which debuted at the Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention. During Keren's tenure, Waves has grown from a two-man operation to a worldwide company with over 150 employees and offices in the U.S., Israel, and China. Additionally, the company has entered the consumer electronics arena, partnering with electronics companies like JVC, Sony, Toshiba, Altec Lansing, Fujitsu and others by creating sound enhancement algorithms for laptops, TVs, cellphones, and more.
Meir Shaashua - Chief Technological Officer
Meir Shaashua is co-founder and Chief Technological Officer of Waves Audio. Since the company’s inception, Mr. Shaashua has been responsible for the development of all Waves Audio products and technologies. Prior to his work at Waves Audio, he worked together with Mr. Keren at Audio Animation, where he was responsible for the development of DSP algorithms used at FM radio stations for sound enhancement. Mr. Shaashua was also part of the Talpiot program in the IDF, serving as a R&D officer for five years and completing his service at the rank of Captain. During his military service he was active in developing DSP algorithms and control software for an experimental radar system, and later served as the head of the RPV section. He holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and also studied at Tel Aviv University's Department of Communication Control and Computers.
Over 100 audio processing plug-in products have been developed under Shaashua’s direction. Waves Audio products have consistently garnered awards from the Pro Audio Industry and Audio Engineering Society (AES), including 4 TEC Awards (Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards for Outstanding Technical Achievement) in the category of Signal Processing Technology/Software.
[edit] Copyright Lawsuit
In early 2010, Waves Audio won one lawsuit and had a defendant admit liability in a second lawsuit regarding intellectual property infringements and the illegal use of its software. The two studios named were New York City-based Reckless Music, LLC, d.b.a. Skyline Recording Studios NYC, and Quad Recording Studios, Inc. [1]
[edit] Other
In September 2004, Sony announced that new VAIO PCs would include a mastering software suite with plug-ins from Sony Oxford (now Sonnox) and Waves.[2]
When the high sound pressure levels produced by the vuvuzelas at the 2010 FIFA World Cup became a very real problem for broadcasters, Waves Audio devised an audio software plug-in solution utilizing two plug-ins to create a notch filter which helped greatly reduce the interference of the vuvuzela noise during the broadcast of the international sporting event.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/waves_audio_wins_case_against_copyright_infringement "Waves Audio Wins Case Against Copyright Infringement" ProSoundWeb , May 2010
- ^ http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=6800 , "Sony bundle mastering suite with flagship VAIO PCs" , Sound On Sound , Sep 2004
- ^ http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Waves-Audio-Introduces-Vuvuzela-Noise-Reduction-Solution-for-2010-FIFA-World-Cup-1276599.htm "Waves Audio Introduces Vuvuzela Noise Reduction Solution for 2010 FIFA World Cup" Marketwire.com , Jun 15 2010
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Waves API Collection Review, Sound On Sound Magazine, Jan 2008
- Waves Providing Audio Technology For Halo 3, Gamasutra.com, Sep 2007
- Waves Audio Ltd. At Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception Red Carpet, Feb 2011
