Waves Audio CLA Drums User Guide

WAVES

CLA DRUMS

USER GUIDE

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Introduction................................................................................................- 3 -

1.1 Welcome..............................................................................................................- 3 -

1.2 Product Overview................................................................................................- 3 -

1.3 Concepts and Terminology..................................................................................- 4 -

1.4 A Few Words from Chris .....................................................................................- 4 -

1.5 Components........................................................................................................- 5 -

Chapter 2 – Quickstart Guide............................................................................................6

Chapter 3 – Interface and Controls...................................................................................7

3.1 Interface...................................................................................................................7

3.2 Controls...................................................................................................................8

Chapter 4 – The WaveSystem........................................................................................14

4.1 The WaveSystem Toolbar.....................................................................................14

4.2 Preset Handling.....................................................................................................14

4.3 Interface Controls..................................................................................................16

4.4 Waves Preferences (Pro Tools only).....................................................................18

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Chapter 1 – Introduction

1.1 Welcome

Thank you for choosing Waves! In order to get the most out of your Waves processor,
please take

In conjunction, we also suggest that you become familiar with www.wavesupport.net
There you will find an extensive Answer Base, the latest Tech Specs, detailed
Installation guides, new Software Updates, and current information on Authorization
and Registration.

By signing up at www.wavesupport.net
your registered products, reminders when updates are available, and information on
your authorization status.

1.2 Product Overview

The Waves Artist Signature Series is our exclusive line of application-specific audio
processors,
mixing engineers. Every Signature Series plug-in has been precision-crafted to capture
the artist’s distinct sound and production style. For experienced and aspiring audio
professionals alike, the Waves Signature Series allows you to dial up the sound you’re
looking for quickly, without interrupting the creative flow.

The CLA Artist Collection consists of six plug-ins, each designed to handle a specific
mixing task:

• CLA Vocals

• CLA Drums

• CLA Bass

• CLA Guitars

• CLA Unplugged

• CLA Effects

the time to read through this manual.

.

, you will receive personalized information on

created in collaboration with the world’s top producers, engineers, and

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1.3 Concepts and Terminology

Sensitivity Control/Sensitivity LED

The Sensitivity LED’s 3 colors indicate when appropriate levels are reached:

 Led Off (too low)
 Green (good)
 Yellow (optimal)
 Red (very hot)

Push the Sensitivity Control upwards until the LED lights up. We recommend adjusting
the Sensitivity Control as soon as y
with the highest peaks for best results.

In most cases, the Sensitivity LED indicates that your levels hit the processor in a way
that will give you the intended output
optimal results for your source material may be achieved even when the Sensitivity LED
does not display “optimal” levels (yellow). As always, trust your ears.

Modes

The CLA Drums plug-in is designed primarily for multi-track drum kit recordings.
Each of the plug-in’s six Drum Modes is optimized for a different element of the drum kit
or microphone position:
and bells), Overheads, and Room.

Kick, Snare, Toms, Cowbell (also suitable for cymbals, hi-hats,

ou open the plug-in, using the section of your song

result. However, it’s important to keep in mind that

Color

Each fader on CLA Artist Signature Collection plug-ins controls a specific function, such
as compression or reverb. Each function has a color-coded selector which controls th
internal characteristics of that function, resulting in a different sound character or “Color.”
You can mix and match different colors across the different faders.

e

1.4 A Few Words from Chris

"One of my favorite activities is to work on drums. When creating the CLA Drums plug­in, I had one
and any mix and just have fun! There are six different modes: Kick, Snare, Toms,
Overheads, Room and, of course, my favorite, Cowbell. There are three color-coded
presets for bass EQ, treble EQ, compression, and reverb, plus a noise gate so you can
even get rid of leakage. The faders let you control the amount of each effect and,
especially important for drums, we’ve included a phase switch so you can find the best
setting for the kit."

thing in mind: Anyone who uses it can get a great drum sound for any song

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1.5 Components

WaveShell technology enables us to split Waves processors into smaller plug-ins, which
we call
you the flexibility to choose the configuration best suited to your material.

The Waves CLA Drums has two components:

components. Having a choice of components for a particular processor gives

• CLA Drums Mono-to-Stereo – Mono in to Stereo out component

• CLA Drums Stereo – Stereo in to Stereo out component

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Chapter 2 – Quickstart Guide

• Insert the CLA Drums plug-in on a drum track.

• Select the correct Drum Mode.

• Adjust the Sensitivity control until you achieve proper levels, as indicated by the

Sensitivity LED and the input meter.

• The current plug-in settings now represent Chris's default setup.
Tweak the following controls to fit your mix:

• Adjust the Bass and Treble faders. Toggle through the Colors to find the EQ that
works best for the song.

• Use Compress for dynamic range control. Toggle through the Colors to find that
which works best for the song.

The Gate is used to reduce spill or bleed from other elements of the kit.

•

hard or soft gating.

• Adjust Reverb and Delay effect levels. Toggle through the Colors to find that
which works best for the song.

Please note:

• When all colors are set to clear (Bypass/Mute), some fixed processing as
designed by Chris is st

EQ adjustment will take effect once the EQ faders are moved. At zero, cycling

•

through the

All other faders are active and set to Chris's default setup when at zero.

•

• Delay control is available in Cowbell mode only; Gate control is not available in

this mode.

> If the Output meter goes into the red, use the Ouput fader to lower the Output level.

EQ Colors will have no effect.

Choose

ill active.

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