WAVES Magma Channel Strip User Guide

: June 10, 2024
: WAVES

Table of Contents

Introduction
Magma Channel Strip
Interface
Controls
References
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WAVES Magma Channel Strip User

Magma Channel Strip

Introduction

Thank you for choosing Waves! To get the most out of your new Waves plugin, please take a moment to read this user guide. To install software and manage your licenses, you’ll need a free Waves accoun —sign up at www.waves.com. With a Waves account you can renew your Waves Update Plan, participate in bonus programs, and keep up to date with other important information.

We suggest that you become familiar with the Waves Support pages: www.waves.com/support. There, you’ll find technical articles about installation, troubleshooting, specifications, and more. Plus, you’ll find company contact information and Waves Support news.

Magma Channel Strip

Magma Channel Strip combines an EQ, an expander/gate, and a compressor in one plugin. Its simple interface helps you quickly and accurately sculpt a channel, while delivering the authentic, warm, classic tube sound that defines the Waves Magma family of plugins.

Waves is a world leader in analog component modeling. Our modeling of classic EQs and compressors is famous for sonic elegance and fidelity to the hardware originals. Waves True Valve Modeling technology—the process used to model the tubes that make up Magma Channel Strip—provides an even more faithful recreation of the classic tube circuits.

Magma Channel Strip is the perfect choice when you need a simple and powerful channel strip that caries the signature Magma sound. There are two Magma Channel Strip components: mono and stereo.

Magma Channel Strip signal flow: Input, EQ, Dynamics, output fader, meter.

Interface

Input Section
➊ Phase Reverse
➋ HP filter
➌ Sensitivity
➍ Input Gain/Drive
EQ Section
➎ High shelf
➏ Mid bell, sweep able frequency
➐ Bass (low shelf)
Dynamics Section
➑ Expander control
➒ Gate/Expand switch
➓ Compressor control
⓫ Smash On/Off
⓬ Expansion and Compression meters
Output Section
⓭ Output fader
⓮ VU meter
⓯ Meter sensitivity

Controls

Input Section

Phase reverse	On/Off switch	Inverts the phase of the input signal.
Input HP filter	3-position switch	Hi-pass filter removes rumble from the

input signal. Used to improve definition of low-frequency elements.
Range: Off, 60 Hz, 110 Hz
Sensitivity| Variable control (screw)| Controls the headroom, which influences the behavior of the drive section.

These adjustments are compensated at the end of the chain, so output gain remains the same.
Range: -12 dB to +12 dB

Input gain (Drive)| Variable control| Controls the input gain. As input gain is raised, harmonic distortion increases, and peaks are reduced.
Range: 0 to 100

EQ Section

High shelf| Variable control| Wide shelf, starting at 2.5 kHz. Range: -14 dB to +14 dB;
---|---|---
Mid| Wide bell| Wide EQ. At a given Q, positive gain values result in a wider bell than negative values.
Mid Frequency adjust| Variable control| Controls the frequency of the mid bell.

Range: 100 Hz to 5 kHz; Default: 1.6 kHz (middle position)

Bass (low shelf)| Variable control| Low shelf, Range: -14 dB to +14 dB

Dynamics Section

Expand| Variable control| Controls the gate open and close. As this value is raised, the difference between loud and soft peaks increases (this normally reduces noise).
Range: 0 to 100.
---|---|---
Gate/Expand| 2-position switch| Sets function of the Expand control. Range: Gate or Expand
Compressor| Variable control| Controls the threshold and makeup gain. Threshold range is 0 dB to -35dB. Makeup gain range is 0 dB to +15dB. These are controlled simultaneously by the compressor knob, whose indicated range is 0-100.
Smash| 2-position switch| Switches between compressor modes. This affects ratio, as well as attack and release times. Smash on: higher ratio, quick attack, quick release Smash off: lower ratio, slower attack, slower release
Gain Reduction Meters| Multi-LED meters| Separate gain reduction LED meters: Expander (left), Compressor (right) Range: Blank (no gain reduction), Yellow (moderate gain reduction), Red (significant gain reduction)

Output Fader

Controls the output level of the plugin.
Range: -48 dB to +12 dB

VU Meter

Measures output level, VU scale
Range: -20 dBVU to +3 dBVU. Red LED indicates clipping (0 dBFS).
Click on the red LED to reset the clip indicator.

Use the screwhead to calibrate the meter to your DAW reference.
Range: -12 dB to +12 dB

Use the bar at the top of the plugin to save and load presets, compare settings, undo and redo steps, and resize the plugin. To learn more, click the icon at the upper-right corner of the window and open the Wave System Guide.
Controls