Waves Audio RS56 Passive EQ User Guide
WAVES: ABBEY ROAD
RS56
USER GUIDE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 – Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Welcome ...................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Product Overview ......................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 About the RS56 ............................................................................................................................ 3
1.4 Components ................................................................................................................................. 3
Chapter 2 – Interface and Controls ..................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Interface ....................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Controls ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Chapter 3 – The WaveSystem ............................................................................................................. 9
3.1 The WaveSystem Toolbar ............................................................................................................ 9
3.2 Preset Handling ............................................................................................................................ 9
3.3 Interface Controls ....................................................................................................................... 12
3.4 Waves Preferences (Pro Tools only) .......................................................................................... 13
Abbey Road Studios, Curve Bender and RS and their associated logos are trade marks of EM I ( I P) Limited.
Waves: Abbey Road RS56
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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 the
time to read through this manual.
In conjunction, we also suggest you become familiar with www.wavesupport.net
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
products, reminders when updates are available, and information on your authorization status.
, you will receive personalized information on your registered
. There you will find an
1.2 Product Overview
A passive equalizer with powerful sound-shaping capabilities, the RS56 Universal Tone Control was
originally introduced in the early 1950s and used in Abbey Road Studios to prepare recordings for the
record-lathe, as part of the process we now know as “mastering.” Later, Abbey Road’s pop engineers
began using the RS56 for studio recordings because of its abilities to dramatically manipulate sound –
unlike the basic treble and bass EQs found on the mixing consoles of the time. This earned it the
nickname “The Curve Bender.”
Waves and Abbey Road Studios have faithfully recreated the unique magic of the RS56, using
advanced circuit modeling techniques based on the original schematics. Like its hardware predecessor,
the Waves: Abbey Road RS56 passive EQ plugin features three bands with four selectable center
frequencies for each and six different filter types, plus independent or linked control over the left and
right channels. The result is an extraordinary equalizer that is as effective today as it was when it was
created over half a century ago.
1.3 About the RS56
The RS56 is a passive EQ, meaning no amplification of any kind is used to create its filters. In fact, it
can’t even be plugged into a power socket. Passive EQs use high value capacitors and inductors to
Waves: Abbey Road RS56
User Guide
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achieve the desired filtering. This lack of amplification means passive equalizers can only attenuate the
signal, not boost it. Therefore, boost-like frequency-shaping is achieved by attenuating the entire signal
except the specified frequency. For example, to achieve a 6 dB “boost” at 1 kHz, a passive EQ
attenuates the entire signal by 6 dB apart from 1 kHz. The entire input signal is attenuated by the sum
total amount of possible boost; in the case of the RS56 hardware, with three bands that can boost up to
10 dB each, the overall signal attenuation is 30 dB. In most cases, make-up gain is applied postprocessing to bring the signal back up; at Abbey Road Studios, make-up gain was applied using V72
amplifiers, as found in the REDD.17 and REDD.37 consoles.
Created in the early 1950s by EMI engineer Mike Batchelor, the monophonic Universal Tone Control
Type RS56 was the most flexible equalizer of its time, and an influence on EQ designs for years to
come. Later, the stereo RS56-S was introduced, which offered independent linkable controls for left and
right channels. The RS56 is one of those rare, mythical pieces of equipment that only the most
hardcore gear aficionados even know about. The original RS56 featured three bands (Bass, Treble and
Top) with four selectable center frequencies for each and six different filter types, providing +/- 10 dB of
cut/boost in 2 dB increments; the Waves: Abbey Road RS56 plugin offers +/- 20 dB of cut/boost, in 0.1
dB increments. The RS56 is an extremely musical-sounding EQ; the center frequencies of its Bass and
Treble bands are exactly one octave apart and, in the Top range, half an octave apart.
The RS56 was used in Abbey Road Studios from 1951-1970 to put the finishing touches on recordings
prior to disc-cutting. However, due to the RS56’s ability to dramatically transform the sound of input
source material (as well as EMI’s dedication to “True Fidelity”), its studio use was initially restricted to
fixing externally-recorded materials; the RS56 was deemed unnecessary for recordings made at Abbey
Road. However, as time went on and experimentation in the recording studio became more acceptable,
the Beatles’ engineers were the first to be granted permission to use the RS56 for recording and
mixing.
1.4 Components
WaveShell technology enables us to split Waves processors into smaller plugins, which we call
components. Having a choice of components for a particular processor gives you the flexibility to
choose the configuration best suited to your material. RS56 includes the following components:
o RS56 Mono
o RS56 Stereo
Waves: Abbey Road RS56
User Guide
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