Done With WAVES? Try THESE Alternatives. 

Gotta love a quick and clean divorce. Thanks for creating a proactive discussion on how to dust down and move on 😎

For every content creator giving advice on Waves' alternatives, I'm here for it!

We need more content like this.

Analog Obsession, Tone Boosters V3, and Accusonus are all free and there is quite a bit of crossover with Waves from compressors, tape, vocal leveler, etc.

IK T racks is definitely worth a look, and very reasonably priced.

MAJOR bummer! Good thing there are people out there that make some quality freeware as well!

I'm loving this positive moving forward attitude here! Everything you recommend is top shelf.

Thanks for this! I just bought the townhouse to replace the ssl master bus and I didn't realize nectar had a leveler akin to the vocal rider. You earned yourself a new subscriber

Yes. Just YES. Great vid, great recommendations! Subscribed and looking forward to watching your other videos!!

Thank you for posting a bunch of alternatives! I need to replace MV2 and CLA Bass. I just like those two plugins.

Thanks for this. As soon as I received the Waves email notification of the change to subscription I mentally said goodbye. I will certainly be checking out some of those you have recommended.

Now, THIS is the video we needed!

just what i was looking for! thanks!

Thank you! I was literally looking for alternatives before I came across this video.

Thank you! This was really useful!

Months before this news, I was already buying external hardware such as the WA TB 12, (2) of the WA 73 EQ, (2) of the WA 76, WA 2a, topped off with the Tegeler Creme, for my mix buss, and mastering. The Tegeler Creme is RIDICULOUSLY Amazing! This decision has certainly been quite expensive, however- my recording quality has been so much better, and with this Waves news, I am very happy to be semi 'off of the grid'. As far as plug ins go- Arturia makes some GREAT stuff, as well. I LOVE their reverb plate, their Tape Delay. Also, their keyboard, and synth sounds, are second to NONE! Arturia Pigments is 'jaw-dropping' AMAZING, just with the presets in there. Arturia is not a subscription based plug in.

thank you for the knowledge

Thanks for the alternatives

I agree with most all these recommends. I been moving away from waves for last few years using most a lot of the stuff you named in here as my replacements. The only bummer on older songs I have so many waves plugins in place. So one day when its time I may go back and swap out the stuff when that happens.

Native Instrumenst VC160 is a great DBX 160 recreation.

That was great thank you. Didn't know KIT plugins. Great to discover awesome new developers.

Great review!

Gunna need a cheat sheet man! Thanks for this video, Waves F"d up bigtime.

put on your list fabfilter C2. It has classic comp (replicate 1176,2A,whatever) and opto comp and much more. With advanced control and graphic knee visualisation .... kind of all in one plugin that does the job 😊

When I stopped using Waves I switched entirely to Slate Digital instead. The slate collection has all of the same analog emulations that Waves has, so there's no extra learning curve for Waves users. The ONE thing Slate are missing though, is a proper dynamic EQ. So I'm stuck using the free Tokyo Dawn Dynamic EQ instead, but it's actually very functional and easy-to-use.

This sort of action is how we can all get back at Waves. Power to the people 👍

You just earned my Subscription!

awesome video! I've tried some other subsynth/harmonic synth style plugins but I have to say, even if I eventually run into compatibility issues down the line and have to pay 30 bucks once to update the plugins I've got I will. I'd just miss R-Bass too much haha

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been limiting use of my WAVES plugs in the last year. I've found the Arturia Rev PLATE-140 to be an excellent EMT replacement for the Abbey Road Plates.

IK 76/2A are also really really GREAT CLA76/2A replacements. Not just for the price - They're FABULOUS.

The VU compressor is great, got a review coming out soon for that, the Sonimus Satson CS is a great channel strip, Audio Assault also has some good stuff too

Great video. I'm using Logic plugins for 90% of what I need, and I also have a bunch of awesome UA plugins. Oh, and Soothe 2 - that thing is amazing.

When I dropped Waves some years ago I was missing the API plugs. The 550A, 550B and 560 are great EQ's. I found my replacements in Volko Audio QA, QB and QG. Sounds pretty much the same as waves versions and also have the same settings. Volko is not very cheap but they do have sales on occation.

Very good. Please, the same video with all the free alternatives !

Thanks for this! I just need an alt for MV2 and Scheps Parallel Particles.

While on the topic of SSL, I have to say I really love the SSL Drumstrip

1) MV2 can be replaced with ADPTR SCULPT from PA since it has an upward, downward compressor and expander. 2) DBX 160 & Renaissance AXX can be replaced with PA Brainworx elysia mpressor. 3) 1176 can be replaced with PA Brainworx Purple MC77, UAD 1176 or Purafied VU compressor for a 4:1 ratio clean to dirty 1176. 4) LA2A can be replaced with PA Brainworx bx_opto followed by the Soundtoys Little Radiator before to emulate the input 12AX7 tube then the Fuse Audio Labs VCL-25A after to emulate the output 12AU7 tube or UAD LA2A. 5) Multiband compressor can be replaced with ToneBoosters MBC. 6) Digital EQ can be replaced with ToneBooster Equalizer 4. 7) SSL 4000 E can be replaced with PA Brainworx bx_console SSL 4000 E and the preamp section can be replaced with Purafied SLP 538 EQ or UAD SSL 4000 E. 8) 1073 Preamp can be replaced with Softube British Class A (Vintage neve preamp with old school marinair transformer) or Red Rock Sound AQ173 (Modern neve preamp). 9) API EQ can be replaced with Red Rock Sound AQ550, AQ550B and AQ560. 10) Pultec EQ can be replaced with Red Rock Sound EQP-1A. 10) Plate reverb can be replaced Fuse Audio Labs VREV-140. 11) Spring reverb can be replaced with Fuse Audio Labs VREV-666. 12) Chamber reverb can be replaced with Softube Atlantis Dual Chamber, LiquidSonics Seventh Heaven, LiquidSonics Illusion or UAD Capitol Chamber. 13) Tape Machine can be replaced with Kiive Audio Tape Face for 2-tracks tape recorder, Softube Tape for Multi-tracks tape recorder & Fuse Audio Labs Flywheel for Reel-to-reel tape recorder. 14) MaxxBass can be replaced with PA Brainworx bx_subsynth or Red Rock Sound Bass Enhancer. 15) Transient Designer can be replaced with PA Brainworx SPL Transient Designer Plus (Place the Fuse Audio Labs RS-W2395C plugin after the SPL Transient Designer Plus, then use the drive knob to emulate an output transformer). 16) Waves Vocal Rider can be replaced by PA Unfiltered Audio Zip with these settings -> Threshold = -55 dB, Auto = On, Ratio = 2.00, Lookahead = 12 ms, Attack = 1 ms, Release = 5 ms & AGC = On.

Great video, great initiative against this lousy action of Waves! I own a lot of their plugins, I think I have them almost all but from now on I won't buy anything anymore from them. No way of transferring to a subscription model!.. And I have sent them an email about this. Hopefully all users will follow this buyers strike and let's see what Waves has to say then. This is an awsome reaction, bravo !.. I subscribed to your channel and will further analyze your very interesting alternatives and am looking forward to see your other videos.

Dbx 160 UAD, Native Instruments/softube, arturia close to, acustica audio nebula library. For the Pye compresor you can find it in the viridian suite from acustica audio.

Very useful thank you I agree with comments below- you could nicely make a series of videos on different types or actual models and compare. A timely video - thanks a lot

GOOD JOB...THANK YOU...

RBass can be replaced by Bass XL from denise audio. I made a quick video playing with it against RBass on my channel. It does the thing pretty nicely.

My recommendation for the EQP-1A is Red Rock Sound’s RRS EQP-1A. They also have the Neve 33609 as the RRS Comp 609

Black Rooster also has a pretty good LA-2A and LA-3A.

Really been digging the plug-in alliance channel strips

Analog obsession has a db160 compressor and Im not sure if he’s still doing the pay what you want model but I think it’s one guy and worth supporting. I use it on di guitar all the time. Does the thing. I use nls for subtle saturation on every channel for console sound. Gonna miss that and the abbey road compressed rs124 or whatever it’s called the most.

Great video. Any alternatives for bass rider?

In the same boat - thanks for this.

Is the bative SSL channel strip any good?

Oh and the black rooster audio plugins are GREAT!

Thanks for the shoutout! Cheers! 🐼💜

Let's do this boys! 💪

For MV2 I’m going yo try out ADPTR Audio’s Sculpt. Mainly for the upwards compression option. Although FF Pro-MB can also be a a single band upwards compr solution if you just use 1 band. But although I have pro-MB I’m still hoing to try out Sculpt, other than that I’m also looking for replacement for Soundshifter since that is the best quality real-time pitch shifter I’ve ever used and I’ve tried a lot of them. Any suggestions for MV2 and Soundshifter alternatives are very welcome.

The S1 and the L1, L1 Maximizer. PS22, WLM Loudness meter. CLA vocals

Nice video. The Fat channel is something to checkout too, for 1176 and pultec style emulations... Do you have any suggestions for a Vitamin alternative? Of all my waves plugins, it's the only one I find my self leaning on if I'm mixing a session I didn't record...

Great video - I guess this video is a year old but I would assume the waves subscriptions still applies... how many of these alternatives are compatible with the newer mac silicon chips like M1 Max, M2, etc? Thanks for the tips

DMG Audio has the Trackcomp 2 which contains a DBX 160, as well as many other compressor models.

A good Dbx 160 Vca comp is the Arturia one, they make other cool emulations as well

Is there a good VST for the Yamaha SPX 90 verb? I've been looking for a while.

I was done with waves in 2008, when I discovered UAD. Their plug ins emulated the analog devices that I owned, before I went digital

Good feature. Frankly, I moved on from the few Waves plugins considered essential years ago. Cytomic’s Glue was one of the best SSL comps and I believe it predates Waves’ offering. It really was rhe L2, the Rvox and the R Bass that were considered industry standards for quite some time. I’ve moved on to the Kazrog K Clip however, and Denise’s new XXL is finally a viable R Bass alternative. As far as RVox, you get over it after a while. Waves is still quality, but the competition is fierce.

Waves Soundshifter , any alternatives for tht ? Tht can transpose samples cleanly

Any alternative to the feedback suppressor plugin...? I need only thatone plugin for shows but now I cant buy it.....

I've been struggling to find a replacement for my Brauer Motion and CLX room emulation.

Any suggestions for replacing Q10 surgical EQ and Vitamin multiband saturator / widener?

Which one you recommended for API Comp?

May I suggest that you make a separate video for each Waves plugin? It could become THE authoritative series. As new plug-ins come on the market, viewers can leave comments with the latest recommendations. These videos may be referenced for years to come. 🎉

bookmarked & subbed some nice plugins I hadn't come across cheers.. hope someone finds an alternate for renaissance...

a good replacement for the dbx 160 would be the major tom by stillwell audio! as well im sure that uad will have their dbx 160 on native in the future

T-racks White 2a is a pretty solid LA2A emulation. Have tested it with Waves and UAD. White 2a comes a bit closer to the UAD emulation.

Thanks!

Any suggestion to replace the L1?

I confirmed magnetite is a great tape machine emulation, i recommend reelbuss from toneboosters too, the old version is free and the "mix glue" presets are very useful in mix

Plug in alliance has one called "Sub lifter" its M1 compatible and might be an ok alternative to R bass

dbx 160 - Stillwell major tom. FET alternative - Stillwell Rocket. Another good alternatives to have in your arsenal: Sonimus TuCo (VariMu) and Boz Digital Labs +10dB(Kind of unique FETComp, works wonders in drum buss and rooms). Tonebosters EQ4 a cheaper alternative to ProQ3, full featured. Softube Tape, amazing tape simulation plugin.

Analog obsession has the Dbx compressor

Analog Obsession LALA is a great alternative and so it PA Purple Audio MC77 or Arturia 1176

For MV2 i use sucessfully Adaptr Sculpt from PA.

I did the 30 day full plug-in tryout offered Fab Filter’s ProQ3. I am warning anyone who thinks they can try out the ProQ3 for just a while, y’know, give it a go? Don’t do it. There’s a reason this plugin is in practically everyone’s box. FabFilter has nailed the UI. The “dynamic” EQ feature is a stellar built-in band compression. The preset menu has truly usable templates. And, it’s very easy on the CPU. You’ll be breaking open your piggy bank to get it. I did. Not sorry.

Plugin Alliance in general is a upgrade to waves and a cooler company with similar prices on the frequent sales.

For reverb big recommendation for pro-r and for distortion trash 2 is limitless

McDSP ML4000 is a fair replacement for MV2. Denise audio BassXL is worth a look as a replacement for Rbass. Their plates and rooms are excellent too and very affordable. PSP's FETpressor is an excellent replacement 1176.

Arturia's vca 65 and 1176, Black Rooster Audio LA2A and LA£A, IK Multimedia SSL and 1176... But how do I replace NLS?

Any good limiters out there that can replace L1? I mainly use it on bass and vocals.

Softube makes a great 160. It’s also included in the native instruments bundle

Black rooster has an awesome 3A! Loving it so far

Any alternative for Rvox ?

Meir Shashoua CTO & Co Founder of Waves has just stated Perpetual Licenses and updates will be back alongside subscriptions ASAP. PR Stunt? or customer backlash? I'm still gonna look into your alternatives though and thanks for making this.

Native Instruments VC160 plugin I believe is a dbx 160 plugin

Do you need an ilok usb for the UAD PLUGINS ?

There's alternatives in the ik multimedia track 5 for pretty much any waves plugging aside from voczl rider harmony and clarity vx delay and reverb TC electronic 6000 totaly worth it Keive audio and plugging alliance have pretty much the same offerings as well as you covered pretty much everything else in the video honorable mention for softube plugging they need some love

does anyone have anything for the abbey road RS124? or even any good Altec emulations?

Question... Not sure if this was answered.. Can you do the 7 day free trial sub, upgrade what you have and then bounce?

Cual seria el reemplazo del Waves NLS?

I love that my wife is encouraging me to buy new plugins to dump Waves :-)

Dude your impression of Glen from Spectresoundstudios is fucking spot on man.

Analog Obsession makes a dbx 160. Anteres has a plugin similar to the MV2 called AVox Punch. Apogee makes thee best Pultec emulation as it is the ONLY one endorsed by Pulse Techniques (makers of the Pultec EQ) and Overloud Comp 670 is one of the best Fairchild emulations.

Anyone with an alternative to RVox? Thanks for this great video. Btw, you need to establish affiliate links for these alternatives. Great info!

Great video man but you forgot one or the best eq of the moment...check Kirchhoff-EQ

But I can’t find the substitute of RBass, CLA Guitar, MV2