Waves 14 Plugins

Waves V14, released in June 2022, serves as a significant maintenance and feature update for the vast Waves Audio catalog. It focuses on improving workflow speed and modernization rather than introducing a single "flagship" plugin. Key New Features in V14

The V14 update introduced several functional enhancements to streamline the mixing process:

Mix and Trim Knobs: Added to most popular compressors, including the API 2500, CLA-2A, CLA-3A, CLA-76, Renaissance Compressor, and SSL G-Master Bus Compressor.

Mix Knob: Allows for instant parallel compression within the plugin itself.

Trim Knob: Enables quick output adjustment to maintain consistent gain staging.

Faster Performance: Significant improvements to load times for plugins, presets, and sessions within DAWs.

Enhanced Preset Workflow: New drag-and-drop functionality allows users to audition and load presets more rapidly.

HiDPI Graphics: Sharper, resizable user interfaces for high-resolution displays were added to the Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain, API Collection, CLA-2A/3A/76, F6 Dynamic EQ, OVox, and PuigTec EQs.

CR8 Creative Sampler: This plugin now functions as a standalone application, usable without a DAW for sample shaping and playback. Expanded Support via StudioRack waves 14 plugins

A major highlight of the V14 ecosystem is the updated Waves StudioRack, which now supports third-party VST3 plugins. This allows users to create custom processing chains that mix Waves plugins with tools from other developers, all within a single rack that includes internal macros and parallel processing splits. Notable Plugins in the V14 Version

While V14 covers the entire Waves library, specific plugins are frequently highlighted by producers for their utility in modern workflows:

4. Complete Plugin List (Waves 14 Edition)

Total plugins included: Over 180 (retail versions not all included in one bundle – but flagship bundles contain:)

Most notable plugins in Mercury / Horizon / Diamond bundles:

Abbey Road Collection
SSL 4000 Collection
API Collection
CLA Signature Series
H-Delay, H-Comp, H-Reverb
L2 Ultramaximizer
Renaissance Bass, Compressor, EQ
WLM Plus Loudness Meter
Torque (drum tone shifter)
Submarine (subharmonic synthesizer)
Smack Attack (transient shaper)

9. Complete Marketing Email (Ready to Send)

Subject line: Waves 14 is here – lower CPU, new plugins, better workflow

Body:

Hi [Name],

You’ve been asking for 64-bit performance, scalable UI, and smarter tools.
We listened. Waves V14, released in June 2022, serves as

Introducing Waves 14 – your mixing environment, evolved.

✅ New plugins like MDMX, Curves Equator, Silk Vocal, and COSMOS sample finder.
✅ Up to 40% lower CPU – run more instances without glitching.
✅ Resizable plugin windows – perfect for high-res monitors.
✅ Free if you’re on WUP.

Check your Waves Update Plan status now → [link]

Not on WUP? Upgrade your bundle starting at $99.

Mix faster. Create more.
– The Waves Team

Chain 2: The Crushed Drum Bus (Rock/Indie)

SSL E-Channel (V14 native GUI is gorgeous)
Magma (Drive at 7, Tone at 6)
R-Comp (Slow attack, fast release, 4dB GR)
L3-LL Multimaximizer (Low latency limiting to catch peaks)

C. New Add

Waves V14, released in June 2022, serves as a significant technical update focused on workflow speed, precision control, and visual fidelity for professional audio production Core Technical Advancements Integrated Parallel Processing

knobs were added to Waves' most popular vintage-modeled compressors, including the Renaissance Compressor SSL G-Master Bus Compressor

. This allows for instant parallel compression and output leveling directly within the plugin interface. Performance Optimization Abbey Road Collection SSL 4000 Collection API Collection

: V14 achieved significantly faster loading times for plugins, presets, and overall DAW sessions. Some heavy plugins that previously took over 20 seconds to load saw substantial reductions in startup time. HiDPI Graphical Refresh : Select high-demand plugins received ultra-sharp

graphics for modern 4K/high-resolution displays. Notable updates include the Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain API Collection F6 Dynamic EQ PuigTec EQs Workflow Enhancements : A new quick drag-and-drop preset workflow

was introduced to allow users to audition and swap settings more rapidly. New Tools and Standalone Apps CR8 Creative Sampler : In V14, the CR8 sampler became available as a standalone application

, enabling sample manipulation and sound design without requiring a host DAW. eMotion LV1 Update : The V14 update for the LV1 live mixer added support for 32+2 faders

via dual FIT controllers and increased DSP power through multi-server support. System Compatibility (V14) System Requirements | Support - Waves Audio

Waves V14 plugins are the 2022 iteration of the industry’s most expansive software suite, focusing on workflow efficiency and performance stability rather than just new sound signatures. As professional audio production moves toward high-resolution displays and complex routing, the V14 update serves as a technical bridge, ensuring legacy tools remain viable in modern digital audio workstations (DAWs).

The most significant advancement in V14 is the introduction of mix-and-match sidechaining. Traditionally, sidechaining required navigating cumbersome menus or was limited by the plugin's internal routing. V14 allows users to toggle sidechain inputs directly within the plugin interface, significantly speeding up tasks like ducking bass under a kick drum or carving out space for vocals. This update also introduced HiDPI graphics for popular plugins like the Abbey Road RS124 and the CR8 Creative Sampler, ensuring interfaces look crisp on 4K monitors—a vital fix for eye strain in long mixing sessions.

Technically, V14 is optimized for Apple Silicon (M1/M2) and the latest Windows updates, offering better CPU management and faster loading times. This is crucial for producers running high track counts. While the core algorithms of classics like the Renaissance Compressor or the SSL G-Master remain unchanged—preserving the "Waves sound" that has defined records for decades—the surrounding architecture is more robust.

However, the V14 ecosystem is also defined by the Waves Update Plan (WUP) and the shift toward the Waves Creative Access subscription model. While the plugins themselves are world-class, users must navigate the cost of keeping licenses current to access these V14 features. Ultimately, Waves V14 is less about "new sounds" and more about modernizing the user experience, ensuring that the tools engineers have relied on for 30 years work seamlessly in today's high-speed production environments.

Integration & workflow features

Preset browser with tagging, favorites, and improved A/B comparison.
Macro controls on many plugins for fast tonal adjustments.
Sidechain and external key support across dynamics and creative effects.
Streamlined automation readiness and DAW session recall.

5. Sub Align (Phase Fix for Low End)

Life-saving utility plugin.

Brown note alert: Many engineers place sub kicks 180 degrees out of phase with bass guitars. Sub Align visually delays one track by milliseconds to align the waveforms.
Use case: Syncing a sample kick with a recorded kick drum, or aligning a DI bass track with an amp mic.