Waves Launches RS56 Universal Tone Control – Abbey Road’s Passive EQ “Curve Bender”
It’s comforting to know there are so many classic pieces of gear still to be emulated.
The latest beloved hardware to go into the box is a classic Abbey Road mastering EQ that migrated into the mix phase for the engineers there – the Waves RS56 Universal Tone Control a.k.a “The Curve Bender.”
Yet another piece of Abbey Road’s sonic legacy is available, via Waves new RS56 Universal Tone Control.
This EQ with an iconic pedigree has three bands with four selectable frequencies for each, made even more flexible by the presence of six different filter types.
The RS56 is available now, costing $99 for Native and $149 for Soundgrid format. Here are more specifics on the latest mixing and mastering plugin to arrive into the universe, straight from Waves:
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.
Features:
- Based on the legendary RS56 Universal Tone Control passive EQ
- Three bands with four selectable center frequencies for each
- Six different filter types
- Independent or linkable left/right controls
- Developed in association with Abbey Road Studios
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