Waves Grand Masters Collection

Grand Masters Collection

15 precision mastering tools with musical sound

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.

Your Partner for Creative, Inspired Mastering

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.

Center

It’s never too late to fix a “finished” stereo mix—with Center, you can widen or narrow the stereo image, change the balance of sounds panned to the sides or center, raise or lower lead vocals, remix drum loops, minimize “mud,” or bring out the best in bus effects—even when you don’t have access to the multitrack session.

Center distills complex mid-side processing techniques into a convenient, easy-to-use tool. Now you can fine-tune and even “remix” tracks during mastering—from changing vocal levels, to opening up more space for synth pads. If the audio is split between center and sides—Center will give you full control.

Dorrough Stereo

Whether for recording, broadcast, or motion pictures, you need metering that tells the truth about audio levels. This isn’t just about detecting peak and overs to prevent distortion, but about the average levels that help define the emotional responses to which listeners and moviegoers react.

Now, Waves has modeled Dorrough’s patented Ballistic process—the result of a 20-year quest to perfect the science of audio measurement—and created the world’s most precise software meters.

L2 Ultramaximizer

With its legendary combination of look-ahead brickwall peak limiting, level maximization, and ultra-high resolution, the L2 has become a mainstay in mastering and mixing chains in studios everywhere. And for delivering mastered audio, the advanced output dithering algorithms and noise shaping make it easier than ever to convert audio to lower bit depths.

Engineered for mastering, with a stereo-only format, the L2’s ease of use, sonic clarity, optimized release times, effective peak limiting, and streamlined user interface are in a class by themselves.

L3 Multimaximizer

There’s a reason why the L3 Multimaximizer has been the choice of top mastering engineers for over a decade: It artfully merges five-band parametric equalization, linear-phase crossovers, transparent dynamics control, and bit-resolution conversion into an exemplary mastering chain.

Based on Waves’ proprietary Peak Limiting Mixer technology, this plugin’s deep level of control for dynamics and frequency response lets you take your master wherever you want it to go.

L3 Ultramaximizer

The L3 Ultramaximizer uses the same advanced five-band processing engine as the acclaimed L3 Multimaximizer, but distills its operation down to a streamlined, intuitive interface. There’s no better way to deliver high-quality, effective, transparent maximization when deadlines loom.

With linear-phase crossovers that prevent phase “smearing” or distortion, you’ll experience a pristine high end, defined bass, and a level of sonic quality that brings out the best in any master.

L3-16 Multimaximizer

There’s nothing like the L3-16. Fusing paragraphic EQ and dynamics control, the informative displays shows 16 virtual bands, with response represented by three discrete curves—attenuation, EQ, and priority. And it’s all under intuitive control, thanks to a familiar paragraphic EQ control set.

The result is an uncanny ability to shape masters beyond traditional dynamics—it’s almost like you’re getting inside the music, then re-balancing dynamics and frequency for the perfect mix.

L3-LL Multimaximizer

The L3-LL Multimaximizer has the same 5-band dynamics engine as the L3 Multimaximizer, but cuts latency dramatically by using phase-compensated crossovers instead of linear-phase filtering. Now you can use maximization live or for tracking—with the same interface as the standard plugin.

Waves’ proprietary Peak Limiting Mixer, ARC automatic release control, and ability to set band priorities are key to delivering unparalleled maximization while retaining a smooth, musical quality.

L3-LL Ultramaximizer

This special version of the L3 Multimaximizer not only reduces the user interface to essentials, but substitutes phase-compensated crossovers for linear-phase types, to yield a dramatic reduction in latency. Now you can dial up your ideal maximization in seconds—whether for stage or studio.

Suitable for individual instruments, groups, or the final mix bus, the combination of Waves’ Peak Limiting Mixer and automatic release control give maximum level, with maximum sonic purity.

Linear Phase EQ

Standard EQs delay some frequencies, which produces phase shifts. This can be a problem when mastering or when mixing multi-miked groups. EQ can exaggerate phase shifts caused by using multiple mics on instruments. And with parallel processing, equalizing one path can change its phase compared to the other.

For scenarios where phase is critical—especially mastering—Waves’ Linear Phase EQ is the answer. It’s transparent, free of smearing, and can handle a wide variety of crucial equalization tasks.

Linear Phase Multiband Compressor

You’ve spent countless hours crafting the perfect mix, and it’s time for multiband compression to add that final touch. Conventional multiband dynamics processors can’t avoid adding some coloration, but this artfully engineered, linear-phase design is always true to your sound.

Linear-phase, multiband compression is immune to smearing from phase issues, and processes transients with more focus and clarity—it’s the preferred processor for precision mastering.