Hey Folks--
 
I spent a little stint at working at Guitar Center (between jobs) a number of years ago and was introduced to Waves. I had always seen that their bundles were very expensive and I really never got into their stuff myself.
 
A little while ago, and I can't recall why, I started looking into some of their plug-ins, and they were having a sale, so I bought a couple. I bought their low-end ($50) plug-ins like, Maserati Drums, Maserati Vocals, Resonant Bass, and One Knob Louder.
 
I've been recording for over 30 years, and have UA stuff for plug-ins and felt a little like the Waves plug-ins were too easy--and maybe for noobs that don't understand all the controls, functions, and applications for 'real' EQs and compressors like the UA stuff.
 
Well, I'm here to tell you that the Waves stuff works great, but more importantly, sounds great. I feel a little like I'm cheating when I dial in a drum track with controls labeled, 'thump' and 'snap' but you know what? I'm over it! The darn thing makes the drums (or bass, etc.) sound great and I don't care what the interface looks like.
 
Anyway, I know many of you already have this impression, but I wanted to share my experience so maybe some of the more seasoned pros out there will consider some of the 'simple' plug-ins to do some of the jobs you need, and that Waves has products that do them very well--and quickly.
 
Well, just wanted to share.
 
Thanks for reading,
 
Stephen

I cannot get over their WUP and business practices.
 
I think a lot of the Waves plugins are very professional and quality products.
 
I just will not be buying into any companies pay for service later artificial warrantee.  I want a car, I go buy a car.  I don't lease - anything (except the apartment I live in, oh and that one girl friend but she's gone now but that's it! swear!).

When I first purchased the CLA and Kramer sig packs, I thought perhaps because of their nature, the all in one type, everything hidden underneath thing, that they may not be that good. It didn't take long after trying them to realize they were actually pretty good, I remember dropping the CLA Drums thing on a drum track, selecting an appropriate preset and just thinking wow, it sounded so good instantly.
 
Since then I have purchased pretty much everything Waves has to offer that interests me (heaps) and pretty much use them exclusively along with iZotope's stuff, Ozone, Alloy2, Nectar production suite, and a few other bits and pieces. I gave away my Melda and Fab Filter Total packs (never really liked either gui styles, quite bland and nauseating to me, good plug's though I guess) I just found that I could get what I wanted far quicker and easier, with much less fuss with Waves stuff. Now days although I still use the 'simpler' CLA/Kramer sig type stuff where it works best, I use them mainly as placeholders, for an instant 'better' sound until I replace them with individual Waves plugs, sometimes not, because the 'simpler' stuff is just what the doctor ordered.
 
I love my Waves stuff, for me easy to use, easy to get the sound I want quickly, awesome sound quality, and have been for me trouble free. Just wish I had jumped on the bus earlier, although not to much earlier as I don't do the ilok dance, glad they dropped that :)

I've use them in all my projects since 2000, a great set of tools.

Considering they started out a small company like all the rest they've done quite well. Can you imagine trying to start & market the first plugin company back in 1992?

There's much better technology today but everyone else has pretty much copied what they've done since.

I think Waves plugins are quite well executed...except the Waveshell and the WUP.
I don't want to pay an annual fee for my plugins.  If updates come, they should be free...
it the plugin is "upgraded" then I don't mind paying the upgrade if it's worth it.

But the WUP has it's advantages and disadvantages...mostly the later, as many plugins rarely
get "updated" other then Op Sys updates...

Also, their "illusion of value" principle, overpricing out of the gate and then having "marathon"
sales, at up to 90% off.

Granted, these are ALL timely business principles...just doesn't work for me...add
to that the usual "Waveshell" issues and I sold every Waves plugin I had.  BUT, for
the most part, they are still some of the best plugins out there...I just opted out...

There seems to be a lot of confusion out there about the WUP.  It's like the extended service plans common with other products -- it's completely optional.  Every plugin and bundle that you buy comes with one year of WUP, but if you choose not to extend it, the plugins will still continue to function indefinitely.  You just won't get any updates or bundle additions (which, as Larry pointed out, are rare).  Also note that unless the WUP is active, you cannot transfer your licenses to someone else. 
 
Waves plugs are ubiquitous in pro studios and have been used to produce countless major recordings.  They're pretty much an industry standard, even if they've been surpassed in many cases by the competition.  But these days, it's possible to get into them cheaply by hitting the frequent sales.  Which reminds me ... the last couple years around the end of June, there's been a $50 coupon sale, which has proven to be a great time to grab individual plugs.  Keep your eyes open for the next couple weeks ... have fun!
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

It's no different than having a Sonar membership or getting other daw upgrades.
You can still use the product after the time is up or renew to get  the updates.
 
As far as rarely updating their plugins
http://www.waves.com/downloads/release-notes

Yah, they do updates when required, but for any individual plugin, it's not likely that updates will be frequent.  In my experience they're among the most stable and bug-free plugins around.  They seem to have their QA process down pat, which is another thing I like about Waves. 
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

I realize all of that...was a Waves customer for years...up until last year...
I don't want to buy "Plugin Insurance"...If I had Mercury then
it would probably be worth it...but I'd still have to deal with all the WaveShell
issues that seem to constantly rear their heads...

Just don't like the model...if they dumped the Shell and WUP I'd probably be 
back in heartbeat...and many of their plugs are "CPU" Hogs...and I have a
decent, powerful, machine.

The ONLY thing I've subscribed to is the EastWest CC Cloud...and there's a reason.
I get to TRY everything for a year before I decide what I will and won't buy before spending
hundreds and hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on things that I will probably
never use...at the end of the year...I'll either drop it or switch to the 7 program option
@$29.99 and get the 7 most usable programs that I find..if I haven't already bought them
that is...in which case I'd just opt out...

I STILL have a PERPETUAL Pro Tools License (PT12 and PT2016)
I STILL have a PERPETUAL Sonar Platinum License (SP2015)
S1P3...etc...
And ALL of my everything is still "non-subscription"

If it works for you GREAT.  But, for me, there are enough "as good or better" options out there,
with far less issues to contend with...
 

I hear you.
Luckily I've never had any major issues after 15 years of using them.
No CPU  or Wave shell problems. I remember some graphic issues once when they were dx.