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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Chapter 3 – Interface and Controls
3.1 Interface
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3.2 Controls
Drum Mode toggles between the six drum types.
Range: Kick, Snare, Toms, OH (Over Heads), Room, Cowbell (cymbals, hi-hats
and bells).
Input Sensitivity is used to achieve optimal plug-in input le
Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)
Default: 0
Input Meter displays input signal pe
Range: -26 to 0 dBFS
Clip LED lights up when levels exceed 0 dBFS. Click inside the meter area to reset.
vel.
ak level.
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Balance adjusts the offset between left and right signals. (Ste
reo com
Range: +/- 6 dB (in 0.1 steps)
Default: 0
Sensitivity LED indicates the presence of prope
r levels.
Range: LED off (too low), Green (good), Yellow (optimal), Red (very hot)
Phase Switch engages input phase reversal.
Range: On/Off
Default: Off
ponent only)
Bass controls low frequency gain.
Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 ste
Default: 0
Bass Color
toggles bet
ween low frequency filters.
Range: Clear (Bypass), Green (Sub), Blue (Lower), Red (Upper)
Default: Green (Sub)
ps)
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Treble controls high frequency gain.
Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)
Default: 0
Treble Color toggles between high frequency filt
Range: Clear (Bypass), Green (Bite), Blue (Top), Red (Roof)
Default: Green (Bite)
ers.
Compress controls the
dynamics range.
Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)
Default: 0
Compress Color toggles different compressio
Range: Clear (Bypass), Green (Push), Blue (Spank), Red (Wall)
Default: Green (Push)
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Reverb controls the reverb wet mix.
Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)
Default: 0
Reverb Col
r toggles between reverb environments.
o
Range: Clear (Mute), Green (Studio), Blue (Club), Red (Hall)
Default: Green (Studio)
Gate controls the gate threshold. (Not available
Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)
Default: 0
in Cowbell mode.)
Gate Color
toggles bet
ween gating shapes. (Not available in Cowbell mode.)
Range: Clear (Bypass), Green (Soft), Red (Hard)
Default: Green (Soft)
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Delay controls the delay
wet mix. (Cowbell mode only.)
Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)
Default: 0
Delay Color toggles delay times and character. (Cowbell m
syncs to session BPM.)
Range: Clear (Mute), Green (16 – 1/16 note), Blue (Dot Eight – Dotted 1/8 note),
Red (Quarter note)
Default: Green (16
ode only; delay time
Output controls the output level.
Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 ste
Default: 0
ps)
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Output Meter displays output signa
l peak level.
Range: -26 to 0 dBFS
Clip LED lights up when levels exceed 0 dBFS. Click inside the meter area to reset.
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Chapter 4 – The WaveSystem
4.1 The WaveSystem Toolbar
All Waves processors feature the WaveSystem toolbar which takes care of most
administrativ
features of the WaveSystem toolbar are the same on practically all Waves processors,
so familiarity with its features will be helpful whichever processor you are using.
Toolbar Functions
Undo Undoes the last 32 actions.
Redo Redoes the last 32 undone actions.
Setup A/B Toggles bet
Copy A->B
Load Recalls presets from file
Save Saves presets in the Wa
? Opens the manual for the processor you are using
e functions you will encounter while working with your Waves software. The
ween two presets. This is useful for close comparison of
different parameter settings
Copies the current settin
gs to the second preset register
ves file formats
4.2 Preset Handling
Preset Types
Factory Presets are permanent presets in the Load menu. Factory presets cannot be
over-written or deleted.
different factory presets.
User Presets are your favorite settings of the plug-in saved as a preset in the Load
menu, under ‘User Presets’. User Pr
Setup Files may contain more than one preset.
the presets for a session. When you open a Setup File, all its setups become part of
your Load pop-up menu for fast access. This can be particularly useful with multiple
instances of a plug-in in a single session. By saving all the settings you create into a
single Setup File, they can all be quickly available for every instance of that plug-in.
When applicable, different component plug-ins may have
esets can b
e over-written and deleted.
For example
, a single file can contain all
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Loading Presets and Setups
Click on the Load button to see the Load pop-up menu. The menu is divided into four
sections. If a section is not currently available it will not appear in the Load pop-up menu.
Open Preset File… Select to op
your own creations.
‘Filename.xps’: Displays any currently loaded Setup File and its presets.
Factory
User Presets: Displays any loaded User Presets.
Presets: Displays the default Factory Presets.
en any setup or preset file, whether from the Library or
Saving Presets and Setups
Click on the Save button to see the Save pop-up menu. Four options are available. If an
option is not currently available it will be grayed out and inaccessible.
Save to New
Save ‘File Name’ – “Preset Name” Overwrites the settings
Save to ‘File Name’ As…
Put into Preset Menu As…
File… Select this t
prompts - first for the setup filename, then for the
preset name. You must provide a name for both the
setup file and the preset. Click OK (ENTER) to
complete the save. It is a good idea to create a
folder in which to save several setup files for a
project.
(whether a User Preset or a preset from a Setup
File) with the current settings. If a Setup File is
currently loaded, the name of the Setup File is
displayed followed by the name of the preset itself.
If a User Preset is loaded, its name is displayed.
Saves the current settin
Setup file that is open (if one is not open, the option
is grayed out). You will be prompted to give the
preset a name.
Save the current setting
will always be in your Load menu (until deleted).
You will be prompted to give this preset a name.
User Presets are stored in the plug-in’s preference
file.
o start a ne
w Setup file. There are two
of the loade
gs as a new preset into the
s into a User Preset that
d preset
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Deleting Presets
You may delete User Presets and presets within a Setup File. Factory Presets and
Setup Library files cannot be deleted
1. Hold the Command (Mac)/Control (PC) key down.
2. Click-and-hold the Load button to see the pop-up menu.
3. While still holding the Command/Control key, select the preset or setup to delete.
4. A confirmation box will appear, allowing you to cancel or ‘OK’ the deletion.
or overwritten.
A/B Comparison and Copying
The Setup A/Setup B button may be clicked to compare two settings. If you load a preset
in the Setup B position, t
and vice-versa.
If you want to slightly modify the settings in Setup A, you can copy them t
clicking on the Copy to B button, then alter Setup A and compare with the original Setup
B.
The name of the current setup will be shown in the title bar (on platforms which support
it), and will switch as you change fro
Note: an asterisk will be added to the preset name when a change is made to the preset.
his will not affect the preset loaded into the Setup A position,
o Setup B by
Setup A to Setup B.
m
4.3 Interface Controls
Controls can be in one of three states:
• Not Selected where the control is
• Selected where the con
• Selected and Active where the control is the tar
keyboard entry
trol is the target of mouse control entry only
Toggle Buttons
Toggle buttons display the state of a control, and allow switching between two or more
states.
display which updates with the current setting, and others (bypass, solo, or monitoring
toggles) illuminate when the control is active.
Some processors have l
and-drag adjustment while retaining t
le-click to change the control’s state. Some toggle buttons have a text
Sing
ink buttons between a pair of toggle buttons, allowing click-
not the target of any user entry
get for both mouse and
he offset between the controls.
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Value Window Buttons
Value windows display the value of a control and allow click-and-drag
direct control via the keyboard.
• Using the mouse, click-and-drag
windows support left/rig
will appear to let you know which direction of movement that button supports).
• Using the arrow
up/down – left/right (depending on the direction supported by that button) to
move in the smallest incremental steps across the button’s range (holding down
the arrow keys will move faster through the range).
• Using ke
directly enter the value from your keyboard. If you enter an out of range number,
the button stays selected but remains at the current setting (system beeps? If
system sounds are on?)
Some processors have link buttons between a pair of value windows, allowing click-
and-drag adjustment while retaining t
entry, double click on the button to open the value window, and
y
key
ht, some up/down (as you hover over a button, arrows
s, click once with mouse to select the button, and then use
on the value window to adjust. Some value
he offset between the controls.
adjustment, or
Sliders
Click on the slider itself or anywhere within the sliders track. T
slider sett
ings is displayed in a hover window above/below the slider path.
he numerical value of the
Hover Box
Hovering boxes will appear and display the control value when hovering with the mouse
over the control.
TAB Functions
TAB moves the ‘selected’ status to the next control, with shift-TAB moving in the reverse
direction.
Additionally, the Mac has an option-TAB function for ‘down’ movement and shift-optionTAB for ‘up’ movement
If you have several Value Window Buttons selected, TAB functions will take you through
the selected
Hitting Esc or Return will return the 'focus' to the DAW application.
controls on
where applicable.
ly.
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4.4 Waves Preferences (Pro Tools only)
When launching Pro Tools, hold Shift to view the Waves plug-in Preferences window.
The following options ar
e available:
• Don't use AudioSuite plug-ins
• Dont use RTAS plug-ins
• Don't use TDM plug-ins
• Rescan all plug-ins
• HUI control surfaces support (low res)
• Enable single-click text entry
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