WAVES Announces The API Collection
(Waves | Posted 2007-06-28)
Waves, the world's leading developer of professional audio signal processing solutions, announces the release of The API Collection, the latest in its line of modeled plug-ins which deliver the sound of classic consoles and components. Following in the footsteps of the phenomenally successful Waves SSL 4000 Collection and the V-Series, The API Collection is a remarkable set of precision-engineered plug-ins that capture every nuance of the original analog gear. It is available separately and as part of Waves Mercury bundle.
Developed in association with API (Automated Processes Incorporated), The API Collection features four processors, painstakingly modeled on the most renowned and popular API modules: the 550A 3-band equalizer (shown), 550B 4-band EQ, the 560 graphic equalizer and the 2500 stereo compressor.
Familiar to engineers all over the world and used on numerous hit records, API modules are known for their unique sonic signatures, which were meticulously captured and recreated by the Waves engineering team. The API Collection goes way beyond mere emulation; it is the only software that truly recreates the actual sound of API modules, according to the creators of the original hardware.
The 550A was developed in the late 1960s and has been a firm favorite ever since. It provides reciprocal, repeatable EQ at 15 points in five steps of up to 12 dB boost/cut divided into three overlapping ranges (five frequency centers per band). HF and LF can be set to either peaking or shelving and there is an additional bandpass filter that can be adjusted independently of the main EQ. "Proportional Q" narrows the Q at extreme settings. The unit has exceptional headroom with a +30 dB clip level.
The 550B is an equalizer with four overlapping bands and seven switchable filter frequencies spanning up to five octaves per band, with up to 12 dB boost/cut. "Proportional Q" narrows the bandwidth at extreme settings and widens it a minimal settings. The 550B allows the undoing, affecting, or even reversing of previous modifications. It's a versatile EQ for all kinds of processing requirements.
The 560, based on the API classic from 1967, is a 10-band octave-based graphic equalizer with 12 dB boost/cut per band. Its precision filtering and high headroom (+28 dB) make it ideal for signal enhancement and room tuning. It also features "Proportional Q" along with an unmatched curve shaping ability. Boost and cut capabilities are identical, making undo easy.
The API 2500 stereo compressor is a versatile processor that has become a studio standard for shaping the punch and tone of a mix with unparalleled finesse. Use it either in stereo or as two independent mono channels for maximum flexibility. The 2500 includes auto gain make-up allowing changes in threshold and ratio to be made without affecting the overall output level. It features both feedback and feedforward compression and an incredibly musical sound that has made it a favorite for many years. The unit includes a switchable 3-position Thrust HPF, three Variable Link filter types, soft/medium/hard knee, and six release settings including one continuous.
The API Collection is available now and requires iLok authorization. It carries a U.S. MSRP of $2,000 TDM and $1,000 Native. For more details, visit www.waves.com.
