Is Wavesfactory Equalizer Really Intelligent? Find Out!

Is Wavesfactory Equalizer Really Intelligent? Find Out!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. About the Waves Factory Equalizer Plugin
3. The Concept of "Making Everything Equal"
4. testing the Waves Factory Equalizer on a House Vocal Loop
5. Evaluating the Effectiveness on Drums
6. Exploring the Impact on Bass
7. Comparing Waves Factory Equalizer with Other Plugins
8. The Flaws in the "Flat Ruler Line" Approach
9. Recommendations for Waves Factory
10. Conclusion

🎯 Introduction

In this article, we will dive into a review of the Waves Factory Equalizer plugin. Designed to intelligently and automatically EQ tracks, this plugin promises to improve the overall sound of any audio it processes. We will explore its features, test its effectiveness on various elements of a mix, and discuss its pros and cons. Let's see if the Waves Factory Equalizer lives up to its claims and if it can be a valuable addition to your audio production workflow.

🎧 About the Waves Factory Equalizer Plugin

The Waves Factory Equalizer is an audio plugin that aims to intelligently adjust the tonal balance of tracks. By creating a curve and adjusting frequencies to match it, this plugin strives to make everything sound equally balanced. With options for cut, boost, attack, release, and more, it offers a range of parameters to fine-tune the EQ settings. While it may seem like a big claim, let's put it to the test to see how well it performs.

🎛️ The Concept of "Making Everything Equal"

At first glance, the idea of making everything flat and equal might seem appealing. However, when it comes to mixing audio, this approach may not always yield the desired results. Mixing is about creating a Sonic landscape where different instruments and elements have their own space and presence. By attempting to flatten everything, the Waves Factory Equalizer runs the risk of blending the individual components and creating an indistinct, homogeneous sound. We will explore this further in the following sections.

🎚️ Testing the Waves Factory Equalizer on a House Vocal Loop

To begin our evaluation, we applied the Waves Factory Equalizer to a simple and poorly sounding house vocal loop. The intention was to improve upon its original state and assess the plugin's ability to enhance the sound. However, the results were less than satisfactory. The equalizer seemed to make the mix undecipherable, with the drums and other elements getting lost in the Blend. The overly flat and homogenous sound detracted from the intended improvement.

🥁 Evaluating the Effectiveness on Drums

Next, we turned our attention to the impact of the Waves Factory Equalizer on drums. In theory, the equalizer should carve out space for each drum element and create a balanced mix. However, the plugin's approach of tilting everything towards the highs resulted in an unbalanced and exaggerated sound. The kick was overshadowed, and the drums lacked presence and Clarity. While the Waves Factory Equalizer attempted to expose certain frequencies and hide others, it did not yield the desired improvements.

🎸 Exploring the Impact on Bass

Moving on to the bass, we expected the Waves Factory Equalizer to help create a clean and controlled low end. Unfortunately, the plugin's one-size-fits-all approach did not deliver the desired results. It indiscriminately cut the lower mids and lows while boosting the higher mids and highs. This generic treatment took away the character and depth of the bass, making it sound artificial and unbalanced. A static shelf EQ with precise adjustments would have been more effective in this case.

🆚 Comparing Waves Factory Equalizer with Other Plugins

To put the Waves Factory Equalizer into perspective, we compared its performance with other similar plugins such as Smart EQ3 and Gullfoss. While there were similarities in functionality, the Waves Factory Equalizer fell short in terms of achieving a natural and coherent mix. Other plugins managed to separate and articulate individual elements better, providing a more musical approach to EQing. The Waves Factory Equalizer's flat ruler line approach hindered its effectiveness in a mixing context.

❌ The Flaws in the "Flat Ruler Line" Approach

The concept of making everything equal by flattening the frequency curve reveals a fundamental flaw in the Waves Factory Equalizer's approach. Mixing involves sculpting and shaping the tonal balance to allow each element to stand out and contribute to the overall sonic experience. The Waves Factory Equalizer's attempt to make everything equally balanced eliminates the dynamic interplay between instruments, resulting in a dull and monotonous mix. A more nuanced and instrument-specific EQ approach would be more appropriate.

💡 Recommendations for Waves Factory

While Waves Factory has proven itself with other high-quality plugins, the Equalizer falls short of expectations. To improve its effectiveness, it would be beneficial for Waves Factory to implement instrument-specific EQ curves, similar to Smart EQ3's machine learning approach. By allowing manual or dynamic EQ curves for different groups of instruments, the Equalizer could achieve a more musical and balanced mix. This would make it a more valuable tool in the audio production process.

🎵 Conclusion

In conclusion, the Waves Factory Equalizer plugin does not live up to its promise of making everything equal. Its overly flat approach hinders the process of mixing and fails to bring out the best in individual elements. While Waves Factory has a solid track Record with other plugins, the Equalizer requires significant improvements to be a valuable asset in audio production. As with any tool, it's important to consider the specific needs of your mix and choose plugins that Align with your creative goals.

Highlights:

• The Waves Factory Equalizer promises to intelligently EQ tracks for an improved sound.
• The plugin's approach of making everything equal ignores the intricacies of mixing.
• Tests on vocals, drums, and bass revealed that the Equalizer produced unbalanced and artificial results.
• Comparison with other plugins highlighted the limitations of the Waves Factory Equalizer.
• Recommendations for Waves Factory include implementing instrument-specific EQ curves.
• The Equalizer falls short of expectations and requires significant improvements for a more musical and balanced mix.

FAQs:

Q: Is the Waves Factory Equalizer plugin effective for mixing?

A: The Waves Factory Equalizer's approach of making everything equal actually hinders the process of mixing. It creates a flat and homogenous sound, undermining the individuality and character of the elements in a mix. Other plugins, such as Smart EQ3 and Gullfoss, offer better results in terms of separating and articulating different instruments.

Q: What improvements could Waves Factory make to the Equalizer plugin?

A: It would be beneficial for Waves Factory to implement instrument-specific EQ curves, allowing manual or dynamic adjustments for different groups of instruments. This approach, similar to Smart EQ3's machine learning, would yield more musical and balanced mixes.

Q: Can the Waves Factory Equalizer be used for mastering?

A: While the Waves Factory Equalizer may have some uses in mastering to achieve a more or less flat tonal balance, other plugins such as Gullfoss and Voxengo's tools are better suited for this purpose.

Resources:

• Waves Factory Equalizer Plugin: www.wavesfactory.com
• Smart EQ3 Plugin: www.sonible.com/smart-eq/
• Gullfoss Plugin: www.soundtheory.com/home
• Voxengo Plugins: www.voxengo.com