Waves Dorrough Surround

Waves Dorrough Surround - Surround Audio Level Meter | A Professional-Grade Meter for Precisely Mastering the Surround Sound Field

In today's film, television, gaming, and music production, the use of surround audio not only significantly enhances sonic immersion but also presents unprecedented challenges for audio engineers. The complexity of multiple channels means a multiplication of potential issues, from minor peak distortion to imbalances in level relationships between channels. Any oversight can ruin the listening experience of the entire work. Therefore, a monitoring tool that can accurately and intuitively reflect true audio levels has become an indispensable core of any professional surround audio workflow. You need to ensure that peak levels do not cause distortion, that the relationship between average and peak levels is correct, and that all channels are perfectly mixed as intended.

To meet this challenge, Waves has collaborated closely with the legendary Dorrough Electronics to introduce the Waves Dorrough Surround level meter plugin. This tool is more than just software; it is a precise physical modeling recreation of the industry-standard hardware level meters. With meticulous accuracy, we have reproduced the physical characteristics and ballistics of the hardware meters, allowing you to truly "see" the real level data behind the sound you hear. Whether you are working on film post-production, broadcast-level program mixing, or developing next-generation game audio, this professional level meter provides the most reliable visual reference to ensure your surround sound productions deliver perfect, flawless audio quality on any playback system.

Key Advantages & Use Cases

Legendary Dorrough Precision
Developed in official collaboration with Dorrough Electronics, this plugin precisely models the Dorrough 40-A/B/C hardware meters trusted by top recording studios and broadcast stations worldwide. Its unique physical modeling technology ensures that the software has identical ballistic response and visual feedback to the hardware, providing the industry-recognized highest standard.

Designed for Surround Audio
Fully supports major surround sound formats including 5.0, 5.1, 6.1, and even 7.1. You can simultaneously monitor the level status of all individual channels (L, C, R, Ls, Rs, LFE, etc.) to ensure that the energy distribution and balance of every element in the sound field match your creative intent, preventing any channel from being overloaded or too quiet.

Simultaneous Peak and Average Monitoring
The core advantage of the Dorrough meter is its ability to display both Peak and Average (RMS) levels on a single graph. The peak display helps you instantly catch and prevent any momentary overloads that could cause digital clipping, while the average value reflects the perceived loudness, allowing you to better control dynamic range and overall volume balance.

Avoid Digital Distortion & Ensure Broadcast Safety
In the digital audio domain, any signal exceeding 0 dBFS will cause severe distortion. Waves Dorrough Surround provides an extremely clear peak indication, allowing you to confidently push the volume to its limits during the final stages of mixing or mastering, while ensuring the signal never exceeds the safety threshold, complying with the strict broadcast standards of platforms like radio, television, and streaming media.

Post-Production and Broadcast Industry Standard
For professionals in film, television, ad voice-overs, and game audio, the Dorrough meter is an indispensable reference tool. Using Waves Dorrough Surround means your workflow is fully aligned with international industry standards, ensuring your mixes have the highest consistency and professionalism when delivered to different platforms or partners.

Technical Specifications (Tech Specs)

• Supported Formats: Mono, Stereo, 5.0, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1
• Sample Rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
• Plugin Formats: VST2, VST3, AU, AAX Native (64-bit), AudioSuite
• Latency: 0 ms
• System Requirements (Mac):
  Operating System: macOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14
  Processor: Intel Core i7 / i9 / Xeon-W or Apple M1 / M2 / M3
  Memory: 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
  Screen Resolution: Minimum 1280x1024 (1600x1200 recommended)
• System Requirements (Windows):
  Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11
  Processor: Intel Core i5 / i7 / i9 / Xeon or AMD Quad-Core
  Memory: 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
  Screen Resolution: Minimum 1280x1024 (1600x1200 recommended)
• Authorization: Online activation via the Waves Central application. Can be authorized to a computer or a USB flash drive.