Abbey Road REDD Consoles

Name: Abbey Road REDD Consoles
Price: 29.99 USD
Author: Waves

by Waves · Channel Strip · Tube console emulation

Not rated yet

Models the REDD tube mixing consoles used at Abbey Road in the 1950s and 1960s, adding their EQ and tube coloration to tracks or buses.

Best for: Mix Bus, Vocals, Drums. Genres: Rock & Indie, Pop.

Keywords: tube, hardware emulation, warm, 60s, bass, drums, mixing, simple, vocals, British console, 50s, bus processing, colored, electric guitar, enhancement, full mix, mid/side, mix bus, silky, smooth, pads, stereo-linked, vintage, wide.

What it does

Models the EMI REDD valve consoles used at Abbey Road. Waves describes their EQ as silky and smooth, with warmth and a wide stereo image.

Console models: the REDD.17 and the later REDD.37 and REDD.51 (Sound On Sound counts three console models).
EQ: simple high and low shelving with a bass lift or pad switch.
Drive: gain and drive controls for valve saturation; switchable linked stereo and a mid/side matrix.

Source: Waves product page

When to use it

REDD Consoles is about tube colour and low-end weight rather than surgical control. It has EQ and drive but no compressor, so for compression as well look at the EMI TG12345 Channel.

Best for: adding weight to drums and bass, and warming vocals and guitars.
Genres: rock, pop, soul and retro sounds; also modern mixes that want thickness.
Watch: the range between pleasant warmth and obvious distortion is narrow, so gain-stage carefully.

What producers say

Sound On Sound (Sam Inglis, 2013) found it brimming with character and the EQ simple but very effective.

He warned that it needs careful gain management and can sound soupy if overused.

Where to buy

Plugin Boutique: $29.99 (regular $149)
PluginFox: $29.99
AudioDeluxe: $29.99 (regular $149)
Waves: see store

Tutorials and reviews

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