CLA Unplugged by Waves effects plugin interface for acoustic instruments

CLA Unplugged: Acoustic Channel Strip Plugin by Waves

CLA Unplugged is an effects plugin from Waves that combines two reverbs, delay, bass and treble EQ, and compression, designed for acoustic instruments such as piano, acoustic guitar, strings, woodwinds and voice.

VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS
AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique
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01Overview

CLA Unplugged is built around acoustic sources. Its six effects each offer three modes and an effect amount fader, so you can place a source in a space or shape its tone without building a chain from scratch. The plugin was created with mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge, and Waves says its bass and treble EQ curves were optimized for acoustic instruments. It runs as VST2, AU and AAX on Windows and macOS.

Best for

  • Acoustic guitar mixing
  • Piano reverb and polish
  • String section ambiance
  • Vocal space and echo
  • Woodwind processing
  • Tempo-synced delay
Developer
Waves
Store
Plugin Boutique
02Key features

What you get

  • Created with mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge
  • Six effects, each with three modes and an effect amount fader
  • Designed for piano, acoustic guitar, strings, woodwinds and voice
  • Two reverbs with different characters for layered ambiance
  • Separate pre-delay for each reverb to expand the sense of space
  • Delay times sync to host tempo for rhythmic echo effects
  • Bass and treble EQ curves optimized for acoustic instruments
  • Compression for added dynamics, power and punch
03In depth

Reverb, Delay and Space for Acoustic Instruments

The core of CLA Unplugged is two reverbs with different characters, each with its own pre-delay. Separate pre-delay settings let you keep the dry signal clear while the reverb tails spread out behind it, which helps when you want a sense of depth without muddying the mix.

The delay section offers rhythmic echo effects, and its delay times can sync to the host tempo. That makes it practical for adding a timed repeat to a piano line, a guitar part or a vocal phrase while staying locked to the song.

EQ, Compression and Dynamics

Bass and treble EQ curves are designed for acoustic instruments, according to Waves. The plugin also includes compression that can push dynamics for more power and punch, with precise control over the result.

Because the EQ, compression and reverb sit in one plugin, you can shape tone and dynamics before adding space. This works well for a single acoustic track or a group such as strings, where you want a consistent polish across several sources.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

DeveloperWaves
TypePlugin
CategoryChannel Strip
FormatsVST2, AU, AAX
Operating systemsWindows, macOS
05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does CLA Unplugged support?

CLA Unplugged is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats.

Which operating systems does CLA Unplugged run on?

It runs on Windows and macOS. On Mac, the listed requirement is macOS Monterey 12 or later, and on PC, Windows 10 or later.

What instruments is CLA Unplugged designed for?

Waves positions it for piano, acoustic guitar, strings, woodwinds and voice.

Does CLA Unplugged sync delay to the project tempo?

Yes. The delay times can sync to the host tempo for rhythmic echo effects.

07Developer

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