[Jeezer]

I like some plugs of each maker.

Waves are good as they (Eqs and comps) all pretty much work perfectly with my D-Command's dedicated section, they do good work there. I'm not blown away by their 'analog emulations' as other plug-ins from other companies but plenty of people have used them for years and made big records with them so...

I keep a few waves plugs, some great utility stuff (meters etc), I don't like most of the GUIS on the older stuff, and even the new stuff always has laggy guis, that said I mostly use D-command for mixing so it's only an issue when I'm mousing during setup or in-depth sub mixing of a source.


Fabfiilter = Great surgical eq (Pro Q2) way nicer to use than anything waves has in that realm, and does work with D-Command but a bit less slick, Pro G gate is the best gate for me, Pro DS = highly respected desser, and Pro L2 is one of the best limiters out there. I use all of those in every project along with a handful of waves 'utlity' things like VU meters, sometimes some of their weird plugs like brauer motion, rarely an eq, sometimes a CLA76 comp. I usually prefer slates FG-Grey to waves SSL bus comp (both work great with D-Command), for tape I prefer slate over waves a lot. Other eqs and comps I use (and prefer to all of the above) are ELI Arouser (my goto comp - flexible and great sound/action), PSP E27 (awesome character EQ based on the Avedis unit), Kush/slyfi eqs like Axis (api) and hammer (another great character eq but smooth and subtle). Audified RZ EQ Is also good.

Those 3 eqs are my go tos for any itb work if not printing through my Portico II (Rupert neve) or Api hardware, and the arouser + some comps from smaller makers (fuse audio, audified etc) do most the work so stuff like waves, and moreso fabfilter is reserved for the detailed work or again 'utility' - gating, de-essing, metering... and PRO Q2 if I need surgical (in natural phase mode not zero latency!).

I personally have no interest in full bundles from either FF or waves, they both have stuff I'm not interested in (especially waves which is massively bloated with nigh on 30 years worth of stuff I'd never use nor want clogging up my slick system I run with MINIMAL plug ins!). Less plugs in PT the better for me, faster loading, less crash risk etc.

So I'll pass on bundles, I don't want/need slate's bundle either. Good bundles would be stuff from Soundtoys, Eventide (not all but most of it is cool), and maybe softube… but seriously I much prefer to just pick and choose bespoke pieces from each maker to build my own unique blend of ITB spices, rather than rely on one maker to attempt to make the best of everything.

I'd take Arouser, PSP E27, Axis, Hammer, Pro L2, Pro Q2, slate tape/fg-grey (not VMR I hate it!), Lex reverbs (LXP/PCM), eventide mod/verb FX (Blackhole/H3000/Ultratap etc) over any full waves bundle who imo have never had the greatest sound or GUIS. YMMV