Waves Doubler software guide page 2 of 6
Chapter 1 – Introduction and Overview
The Waves Doubler is a digital audio effects processor that replicates the
incoming audio signal to another 2 or 4 voices. Each voice can be changed in
Gain, Pan, Delay and Tune (Pitch). This achieves a wide range of colors of
classic sounds that were popularized in the 1980’s by the use of digital
hardware units that were designed to create harmonies but were more
commonly used for pitch-shifted doubling.
The main effect is “Enriching the sound”. Often it is used to double vocals or
guitar tracks. For example, let’s say you have a vocal or instrument track that
you want to “open up”. Take voice 1, detune it down four Cents and pan to the
right. Take voice 2, detune it up four Cents and pan to the left. Setting the
voice’s gain at about –12dB already makes a big difference; bringing it up to –
6dB should make it wide open. Now, changing the delay time of each voice
and further offsetting and modulating the detune will further change the color
of the sound. Running a track through the Doubler’s presets is a good way to
get acquainted with the range of sounds of the Doubler.
The essential difference between the Doubler and other pitch modulation and
delay effects is mostly related to the Doubler’s ability to detune while
preserving audio duration. In Phasers, Flangers and such, the modulation
changes the delay and duration of the processed sound, producing a shifting
comb-filtered effect. In the Doubler, the sound is decorrelated by the initial
detune and the tuning can be further modulated. The effect resembles that of
a doubled take rather than mixed with a modulated version of the source.
The Doubler offers Two-Voice and Four-Voice components in:
Mono to Mono
Mono to Stereo
Stereo to Stereo
The Doubler controls consist of per-voice control strips, direct signal controls,
EQ, and global master controls. The basic Gain, Pan, Delay and Detune can
be controlled using the Doubler’s Graphs.
The Doubler can be used on an auxiliary bus to which multiple audio sources
can be sent. Using the Doubler as a type of “Wet” sound that excites several
tracks in the mix works really well, and is very DSP efficient.
The Doubler works great as an insert and allows you to adjust the direct gain
and pan. When inserting on a mono track, the full effect is reached by
inserting the Doubler Mono to Stereo plug-in. The mono component can work
and “hot-switching” to the mono to stereo will inherit the settings from the
mono to mono component.
Read on to get acquainted with the Doubler’s controls and displays.
