Front-of-house engineer/producer Brad Divens (Garbage, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Jane’s Addiction, Linkin Park) is one of a growing number of engineers turning to live tools from Waves Audio.
Divens notes, “When working with platinum Finnish rock act HIM, Waves plugins allow me to be as creative with my console layout as my imagination can dream up. I love the ability to use SSL E Channel on the drums and SSL G-EQ on the keyboards, API 550B and the CLA 3A Compressor/Limiter on bass and the VEQ4 and Renaissance Axx on guitar.
“Parallel compression on the drums is something I have been doing for a while now using the SSL G-Channel Buss Compressor and the PuigTec EQP-1A on the drum group and also on the parallel drum group. With Waves plugins I’m able to create the signal chain very easily.”
As with any act, HIM presents certain unique challenges, and Waves plugins are there to help.
Divens elaborates: “With HIM I have a very dynamic singer, Ville Valo, and I also have wedges, side fills and back line – all competing with the lead vocal. The C6 Multiband Compressor allows me to compensate and adjust on a song-per-song basis, depending on what is going on around Ville and also the style in which he is singing.
“The PAZ Analyzer is also a big help in a setting where I’m not carrying a full FOH package. It allows me the ability to spot something in the mix as opposed to thinking it might be a PA problem.”
On the road and at home in the studio, Divens is a Waves fan through-and-through.
“My absolute must have Waves plugins are SSL 4000 Collection, API Collection, CLA Classic Compressors, V-Series, NLS Non-Linear Summer, C6 Multiband Compressor, Q10 Equalizer, and Doubler,” he concludes. “Having the Mercury bundle allows me to use all the outboard gear I’ve ever wanted to use in a live setting without actually having to carry it. I’ve got all the greats right at my fingertips. Pure sonic bliss.”
