Waves Audio
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
Waves Audio - Technical GRAMMY Award receipient, 2011.
(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.
Additionally, Waves manufactures several hardware processors for live, studio, and broadcast applications, including MaxxBCL, which includes compression, bass extension, and limiting functions.
Gilad Keren is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Waves Audio. Since the early 1990s, Gilad has been instrumental in pioneering an entirely new kind of tool, the digital audio plug-in, and the company he helped create has become instrumental in every stage of the creative audio process, from recording to mixing to mastering to broadcast, live sound, and beyond.
During his last year in the Israeli military, Keren began working for 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. During Keren's tenure, 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, partnering with electronics companies like JVC
, Sony
, Toshiba
, Altec Lansing
, Fujitsu
and others by creating sound enhancement algorithms for laptops, TVs, cellphones, and more.
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 Waves Audio products and technologies. Prior to his work at Waves Audio, 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 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.
Over 100 audio processing plug-in products have been developed under Shaashua’s direction. Waves Audio products have consistently garnered awards from the Pro Audio Industry and Audio Engineering Society (AES), including 4 TEC Awards
(Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards for Outstanding Technical Achievement) in the category of Signal Processing Technology/Software.
When the high sound pressure
levels produced by the vuvuzela
s at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
became a very real problem for broadcasters, Waves Audio devised an audio software plug-in solution utilizing two plug-ins to create a notch filter which helped greatly reduce the interference of the vuvuzela noise during the broadcast of the international sporting event.
Audio Units
Audio Units are a system-level plug-in architecture provided by Core Audio in Mac OS X developed by Apple Computer. Audio Units are a set of application programming interface services provided by the operating system to generate, process, receive, or otherwise manipulate streams of audio in...
, TDM
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
, DirectX
DirectX
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
, MAS, and VST
Virtual Studio Technology
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
.
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
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel, with additional offices in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Knoxville, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
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.
Waves Audio - Technical GRAMMY Award receipient, 2011.
Psycho-Acoustic Modeling
By analyzing and applying psychoacousticsPsychoacoustics
Psychoacoustics is the scientific study of sound perception. More specifically, it is the branch of science studying the psychological and physiological responses associated with sound...
(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 Equalization Equalization, is the process of adjusting the balance between frequency components within an electronic signal. The most well known use of equalization is in sound recording and reproduction but there are many other applications in electronics and telecommunications. The circuit or equipment used... , Gating Gating -Neurobiology:*Gating , the opening or closing of ion channels*Sensory gating, an automatic process by which the brain adjusts to stimuli*Synaptic gating, neural circuits suppressing inputs through synapses... , 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 | Bass Channel |
| CLA Drums | Drum Channel |
| CLA Effects | Effects Channel |
| CLA Guitars | Guitar Channel |
| CLA Unplugged | Acoustic Channel |
| CLA Vocals | Vocal Channel |
| DeBreath | Breath Eliminator |
| DeEsser | Sibilance Attenuator |
| Doppler | Spatial Processor |
| Dorrough | Modeled Meters |
| Doubler | Double-Tracking Processor Automatic double tracking Automatic double-tracking or artificial double-tracking was an analogue recording technique designed to enhance the sound of voices or instruments during the recording process. It used tape delay to create a delayed copy of an audio signal which was then combined with the original... |
| Enigma | Modulation Modulation In electronics and telecommunications, modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a high-frequency periodic waveform, called the carrier signal, with a modulating signal which typically contains information to be transmitted... Effects |
| H-Comp | Hybrid Compressor |
| H-Delay | Hybrid Delay |
| IR1 Parametric | Convolution Reverb |
| IR360 | Surround Surround sound Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and... 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 Limiter In electronics, a limiter is a circuit that allows signals below a specified input power to pass unaffected while attenuating the peaks of stronger signals that exceed this input power.... |
| 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 Vocoder A vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder... Effects |
| PAZ Analyzer | Psycho-Acoustic Psychoacoustics Psychoacoustics is the scientific study of sound perception. More specifically, it is the branch of science studying the psychological and physiological responses associated with sound... Analyzer |
| PS22 Stereo Maker | Mono-to-Stereo STEREO STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth... 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 Pitch (music) Pitch is an auditory perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds on a frequency-related scale.Pitches are compared as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associated with musical melodies,... 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 Pitch correction Pitch correction is the process of correcting the intonation of an audio signal without affecting other aspects of its sound. Pitch correction first detects the pitch of an audio signal , then calculates the desired change and modifies the audio signal accordingly... 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 OfficerGilad Keren is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Waves Audio. Since the early 1990s, Gilad has been instrumental in pioneering an entirely new kind of tool, the digital audio plug-in, and the company he helped create has become instrumental in every stage of the creative audio process, from recording to mixing to mastering to broadcast, live sound, and beyond.
During his last year in the Israeli military, Keren began working for 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. During Keren's tenure, 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, partnering with electronics companies like JVC
JVC
, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
, Altec Lansing
Altec Lansing
Altec Lansing is a line of professional, home, automotive, computer, and multimedia audio products first developed in 1936. They were used in many studios as monitor speakers...
, Fujitsu
Fujitsu
is a Japanese multinational information technology equipment and services company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is the world's third-largest IT services provider measured by revenues....
and others by creating sound enhancement algorithms for laptops, TVs, cellphones, and more.
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 Waves Audio products and technologies. Prior to his work at Waves Audio, 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 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.
Over 100 audio processing plug-in products have been developed under Shaashua’s direction. Waves Audio products have consistently garnered awards from the Pro Audio Industry and Audio Engineering Society (AES), including 4 TEC Awards
TEC Awards
The TEC Awards is an annual program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals. The awards are given to honor technically innovative products as well as companies and individuals who have excelled in sound for television, film, recordings and concerts...
(Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards for Outstanding Technical Achievement) in the category of Signal Processing Technology/Software.
Copyright Lawsuit
In early 2010, Waves Audio won one lawsuit and had a defendant admit liability in a second lawsuit regarding intellectual property infringements and the illegal use of its software. The two studios named were New York City-based Reckless Music, LLC, d.b.a. Skyline Recording Studios NYC, and Quad Recording Studios, Inc.Other
In September 2004, Sony announced that new VAIO PCs would include a mastering software suite with plug-ins from Sony Oxford (now Sonnox) and Waves.When the high sound pressure
Sound pressure
Sound pressure or acoustic pressure is the local pressure deviation from the ambient atmospheric pressure caused by a sound wave. Sound pressure can be measured using a microphone in air and a hydrophone in water...
levels produced by the vuvuzela
Vuvuzela
The vuvuzela , also known as lepatata Mambu , colloquially known in South Africa as "Moerstripper", is a plastic horn, about long, which produces a loud monotone note, typically around B3 . Some models are made in two parts to facilitate storage, and this design also allows pitch variation...
s at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
became a very real problem for broadcasters, Waves Audio devised an audio software plug-in solution utilizing two plug-ins to create a notch filter which helped greatly reduce the interference of the vuvuzela noise during the broadcast of the international sporting event.
External links
- Official website
- Waves API Collection Review , Sound On Sound Magazine , Jan 2008
- Waves Providing Audio Technology For Halo 3 , Gamasutra.com , Sep 2007
- Waves Audio Ltd. At Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception Red Carpet, Feb 2011