Waves adds to the mix
Published: PRODUCTS
Waves Audio has unveiled a software-based mixer that is based on its SoundGrid technology. Dubbed the eMotion LV1, the live digital mixing console provides real-time audio mixing for front-of-house, monitor and broadcast engineers.
The eMotion LV1 comes in three configurations: 64, 32 or 16 stereo/mono input channels. The mixer can be controlled by hardware control surfaces and multi-touch devices, ranging from four touchscreens to a single laptop or tablet. Each of the mixer’s channels has its own plugin rack capable of running up to eight Waves and third-party plugins. All plugin presets and chains saved in eMotion LV1 can be shared with the Waves MultiRack and StudioRack plugin hosts. The mixer’s channel strip is provided by Waves eMo plugins: eMo D5 Dynamics, eMo F2 Filter and eMo Q4 Equalizer.
The mixer is reportedly compatible with industry-standard control surfaces. It features a 32-bit floating point mix engine providing up to 96kHz sample rate. It also offers up to 16 auxes, eight audio groups (stereo/mono), L/R/C/Mono and eight matrices. There are 16 DCA faders, eight mute groups and eight user-assignable function controls.
The mixer uses the SoundGrid infrastructure for audio networking. It can be configured as a portable or stationary setup, and can connect to any SoundGrid-compatible I/O or server.
The manufacturer is also aiming to put the optimal acoustics of a mix room into a user’s headphones with the introduction of its Waves Nx virtual mix room plugin. According to the manufacturer, the plugin provides the same natural depth, natural reflections, and panoramic stereo image users would be hearing from speakers in an actual, physical room.
Waves states that its Nx technology will bring several benefits to monitoring on headphones. Alongside factors such as not having to repeatedly cross-reference between speakers and headphones and reducing ear fatigue by creating a natural sounding environment, the manufacturer states that Waves Nx will mix 5.1 surround on regular stereo headphones.
One of the most interesting aspects is the real-time head tracking. Using a computer camera or the Waves Head Tracker unit, users can move around the virtual mix room to get a more realistic experience.
Waves has also been busy adding to its range of plugins. Its Signature Series has swelled with the addition of two Greg Wells plugins – the Greg Wells MixCentric and the Greg Wells PianoCentric. Both plugins join the Greg Wells VoiceCentric plugin to form the Greg Wells Signature Series bundle.
Finally, the manufacturer has also unveiled the Waves Abbey Road Reverb Plate plugin. This is a result of Waves individually modelling the harmonic distortion of both the drive and output amps as well as the individual plate/damper behaviours for the four EMT 140 plates installed at the famous recording complex.