A passive equalizer with powerful sound-shaping capabilities, the RS56 Universal Tone Control was originally introduced in the early 1950s and used in Abbey Road Studios to prepare recordings for the record-lathe, as part of the process we now know as “mastering.” Later, Abbey Road’s pop engineers began using the RS56 for studio recordings because of its abilities to dramatically manipulate sound – unlike the basic treble and bass EQs found on the mixing consoles of the time. This earned it the nickname “The Curve Bender.”

Waves and Abbey Road Studios have faithfully recreated the unique magic of the RS56, using advanced circuit modeling techniques based on the original schematics. Like its hardware predecessor, the Waves: Abbey Road RS56 passive EQ plugin features three bands with four selectable center frequencies for each and six different filter types, plus independent or linked control over the left and right channels. The result is an extraordinary equalizer that is as effective today as it was when it was created over half a century ago.
 
http://www.waves.com/content.aspx?id=12265

Mercury owners: this isn't included in the bundle as with SSL.
To all Waves users: Not sure but I'm guessing this will require a separate WUP similar to SSL so
be aware.

Carl, I caught that too. Sux to be a Mercury user and not necessarily get "everything". Why do I get REDD but not RS56?
 
I thought I got the King's Microphones too. Apparently not.
 
Looks like Waves is changing their sales strategy??!!??

I rather have the King's telephones anyway.  Or better yet...his xylophones!
 
Or his knee bone connected to his shin bone connected to his ankle bone.
 
Or an ice cream cone. 

bapu
Carl, I caught that too. Sux to be a Mercury user and not necessarily get "everything". Why do I get REDD but not RS56?
 
I thought I got the King's Microphones too. Apparently not.
 
Looks like Waves is changing their sales strategy??!!??

It's probably licensing or royalties agreements between Waves & Abbey Road Studios, similar to King's or the SSL bundle..
I did contact Waves & voiced my opinion, not that it will do much good...Not going purchase esp. if there's an added WUP fee involved like SSL..

yorolpal
I rather have the King's telephones anyway.  Or better yet...his xylophones!
 
Or his knee bone connected to his shin bone connected to his ankle bone.
 
Or an ice cream cone. 

 
Well.....I guess it's better than being Tommy Two Tone sitting on a park bench all alone
Even if he was sitting quietly eating his ice cream cone....

carl

bapu
Carl, I caught that too. Sux to be a Mercury user and not necessarily get "everything". Why do I get REDD but not RS56?
 
I thought I got the King's Microphones too. Apparently not.
 
Looks like Waves is changing their sales strategy??!!??

It's probably licensing or royalties agreements between Waves & Abbey Road Studios, similar to King's or the SSL bundle..
I did contact Waves & voiced my opinion, not that it will do much good...Not going purchase esp. if there's an added WUP fee involved like SSL..

Carl, AFAIK being a Mercury owner (and The SSL suite) I only have to pay one WUP (the max of course). Seems **if** I got the King's mic and RS56 I'd be covered, but who the heck really knows.

Here's the answer to my email from Waves support:
 
"The Abbey Road Kings Mic and SSL 4000 Collection are not included in Mercury due to respective licensing agreements with Abbey Road and Solid State Logic. The same conditions apply for the Abbey Road RS56 Passive EQ.
Taking the above into consideration, Waves provides Mercury owners with an additional discount from the already reduced introductory price.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us direct."

Well, at least Waves provided an explanation, even if it wasn't what you wanted to hear.

True, although I assumed that was the reason. Still I wanted to show my concern for releases like this. The Mercury discount price isn't very interesting to me as I can get it for about the same price at the usual online dealers. A bit of an insult imo.
 
OTOH I think Waves customer service is pretty good. They always respond quickly to my emails, as you can see here.