Waves Audio

Waves

Waves_orange
Industry	Computer software
Products	Mercury Bundle, Diamond Bundle, Platinum Bundle, Studio Classics Collection, Gold Bundle, Silver Bundle, Dorrough Meter Collection, CLA Classics, JJP Collection, Eddie Kramer Collection, Tony Maserati 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, 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.

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.

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.

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	Modeled Compressor
CLA Drums	Modeled Compressor
CLA Effects	Modeled Compressor
CLA Guitars	Modeled Compressor
CLA Unplugged	Modeled Compressor
CLA Vocals	Modeled Compressor
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.

Founders

Gilad Keren - Chief Executive Officer

Gilad Keren is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Waves Audio, the world’s leading developer of digital signal processing tools, heard on hit records, major motion pictures, and popular video games the world over. Over the past two decades, Gilad has been instrumental in pioneering an entirely new kind of tool, the digital audio plug-in, and the company he helped create has gone on to affect every stage of the creative audio process, from recording to mixing to mastering to broadcast, live sound, and beyond.

Mr. Keren has always had a passion for great sound. During his last year in the Israeli military, Gilad began working for the legendary 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. In the years since, 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, creating sound enhancement algorithms for laptops, TVs, cellphones, and more, which have been implemented by industry giants including JVC, Sony, Toshiba, Altec Lansing, and Fujitsu.

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 products and technologies. Prior to founding the Company, 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 prestigious 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.

Among the products created under Shaashua’s direction are over 100 audio processors, which have garnered dozens of awards including 4 Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the category of Signal Processing Technology/Software. In the last five years, Meir once again helped Waves spearheaded a revolution in the sound world with groundbreaking vintage models like the SSL 4000 Collection and The API Collection, which made it possible for engineers and artists to unleash the power of the world’s most respected recording consoles, on their computer production systems.

External links

• Official website