Abbey Road REDD Consoles by Waves channel strip plugin interface

Abbey Road REDD Consoles: Tube Channel Strip Plugin by Waves

Abbey Road REDD Consoles is a channel strip plugin from Waves that models three classic 1960s console strips with tube-style warmth and drive. It is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats.

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01Overview

Abbey Road REDD Consoles is a set of three channel strip models built on the REDD console designs developed by Abbey Road's in-house Record Engineering Development Department. Waves developed the plugin in close collaboration with Abbey Road. The three strips each have a different character, from the raw REDD.17 to the upgraded REDD.37 and the REDD.51, which is modeled on the REDD.47 tube pre-amps. The developer positions the set as a way to add warmth and punch to bass, drums, guitars, synths and loops.

Best for

Bass processing
Drum bus warmth
Guitar tone shaping
Synth coloration
Loop saturation
Retro 1960s sound

Developer: Waves
Category: Channel Strips
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Three console channel strips with different characters
Modeled on Abbey Road REDD console designs
REDD.17 and REDD.37 model Siemens V72 tube amplifiers
REDD.51 models the REDD.47 tube pre-amps
Adjustable REDD drive for raw, hard 1960s tones
Minimalist equalization controls for musical shaping
Adds warmth to bass, drums, guitars, synths and loops
Available in VST2, AU and AAX formats

03In depth

Sound and Character of the REDD Console Strips

Each of the three channel strips has its own sonic personality. The REDD.17 and REDD.37 model the Siemens V72 tube amplifiers used in the original consoles, while the REDD.51 models the REDD.47 tube pre-amps.

The REDD drive control pushes the signal into a raw, hard sound that the developer associates with 1960s recordings. Turning it up adds grit, and backing it off keeps the tone smoother and warmer.

Waves describes the equalization section as minimalist, but the developer also calls it highly musical, meaning it is designed for broad, tonal shaping rather than surgical correction.

Workflow and Typical Use Cases

Because the plugin is a channel strip, it suits the sources that producers usually process in a single track: bass lines, drum buses, guitars, synth parts and loops. The developer specifically highlights making these sources pop with warmth.

The three strips give you a quick way to compare console characters on the same material. Switch between them to find the one that best fits the track before adjusting drive and EQ.

The plugin is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats, so it can be used in most common digital audio workstations on macOS and Windows.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Waves
Type	Plugin
Category	Channel Strip
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is Abbey Road REDD Consoles?

It is a channel strip plugin from Waves with three console models based on the REDD consoles built by Abbey Road's in-house engineering department. The strips model tube amplifiers and pre-amps from the 1960s.

Which formats and operating systems does it support?

The plugin is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on macOS, with the listed support covering macOS Monterey 12 through Sequoia 15, and on Windows 10 and later in VST and AAX formats.

What is the difference between the REDD.17, REDD.37 and REDD.51?

The REDD.17 is described as the raw, colorful model, the REDD.37 is an upgraded version, and the REDD.51 models the REDD.47 tube pre-amps. Each has a distinct character.