Waves API 560

Waves API 560 - 10-Band Graphic Equalizer | Shape Your Sound with Clarity, Transparency, and Musicality

The Waves API 560 is a precise digital recreation of the legendary API 560 studio hardware. Based on the classic 1967 design, this Waves API 560 plugin brings its renowned musicality and intuitive operation to modern digital audio workstations. It is famous for its unique "Proportional Q" filter topology, a design that automatically adjusts the bandwidth when boosting or cutting frequencies, resulting in an extremely smooth, forgiving, and musical sound. Whether you're processing drum overheads, piano, guitar, or other complex sources that require clear, transparent, and well-defined tonal shaping, the API 560 makes the EQ adjustment process fast and simple.

This high-end graphic equalizer, developed in official collaboration with API (Automated Processes, Inc.), is built on the core philosophy of making broad frequency adjustments through a traditional graphic interface while maintaining the sound's naturalness and harmony. The essence of its design is that even with significant boosts or cuts, the sound doesn't become harsh or muddy. Furthermore, Waves has added an Analog switch, allowing you to introduce the authentic harmonic distortion and hiss of the original 1967 hardware with a single click. You can freely choose between pristine digital quality and the warm, vintage coloration of Proportional Q, infusing your mixes with the unparalleled classic API soul and the texture of musical tone sculpting.

Core Advantages & Applications

Clear and Transparent Tonal Shaping
The API 560 uses a "Proportional Q" equalizer design, which means that as you increase or decrease the gain of a frequency band, its bandwidth (Q) narrows proportionally. This key feature allows it to add substance and clarity to a source while minimizing the coloration caused by phase shift, ensuring a pure and transparent sound.

Elegant and Natural EQ Curves
Leveraging its deep expertise and experience, API designed this graphic equalizer to sound crystal-clear and natural, making it not only highly regarded in the studio but also invaluable for EQ adjustments in live performance venues. To this day, the API 560 remains an indispensable workhorse for studio and live sound engineers.

Intuitive and Fast Graphic Operation
Speed up your mixing workflow with the graphic fader interface. Simply move the faders to get the sound you want; the API 560's high degree of forgiveness allows you to make bold moves without fear. Even when you push the high and low frequencies to extreme settings, it won't produce harsh or muddy sounds, always maintaining a clear and full-bodied listening experience.

Modern Purity & Vintage Analog Coloration
Waves has not only perfectly ported the API 560 to the pristine digital world but has also not forgotten its classic analog roots. When you want to recreate the classic sound of 1967, simply activate the Analog switch to infuse your audio with authentic harmonic distortion and analog noise, adding a touch of warm vintage color to your work.

Tech Specs

• EQ Type: 10-Band Graphic Equalizer
• Q Type: Proportional Q
• Band Center Frequencies: 31 Hz, 63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz, 16 kHz
• Gain/Cut Range: ±12 dB per band
• Analog Modeling: Switchable harmonic distortion and analog noise
• Latency: 0 samples
• Sample Rate Support: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
• Channel Processing: Mono and Stereo
• Plugin Formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX Native, AudioSuite