Waves Harmony

Name: Waves Harmony
Price: 32.93 USD
Author: Waves

by Waves · Pitch & Tuning · Harmony generator

vst3s Score 8.0/10 · rated #10 of 10 pitch & tuning

Generates up to eight harmony voices from a single vocal in real time: automatically from the key, played from a MIDI keyboard, or shaped on a graphical soundscape.

Each voice has its own pitch, formant, panning and filtering.

Best for: Vocals. Genres: Pop, R&B & Soul, Electronic & EDM.

Keywords: vocals, keys, A/B compare, MIDI-controllable, live performance, modulation matrix, subscription, thick, wide.

What it does

Waves Harmony generates up to eight harmony voices from a single vocal in real time.

Three ways to make harmonies: automatically from the key and scale, played from a MIDI keyboard, or drawn on a graphical XY display.
Per-voice controls: pitch, formant, panning, delay, filtering and modulation, including envelopes and LFOs.
Snapshots: store settings and switch between them during a live performance.
Key and scale lock: keeps generated voices in key.

It's also included in Waves' Essential and Ultimate subscriptions.

Source: Waves product page

When to use it

Waves Harmony is the only dedicated harmony generator among the rated plugins. Auto-Tune Pro 11's Harmony Player now does four voices inside the tuner, but Harmony goes to eight with more per-voice shaping and stereo placement. Revoice Pro 5 is for matching real, sung harmonies; Harmony makes synthetic ones.

Best for: instant harmony stacks for demos and topline writing, live harmonies from a keyboard, and wide stereo vocal effects.
Genres: pop, R&B and electronic.
Look elsewhere if: you need harmonies that pass for real singers in a finished mix, or your CPU is already stretched.
Tip: tune the lead first: automatic mode needs an accurately pitched source.

What producers say

Reviewers like its speed and range, but temper expectations on realism.

MusicRadar (2022) called it "among the quickest routes" to stereo harmony stacks and praised the modulation depth and snapshots.
Production Expert (Luke Goddard, 2022) called it "one clever audio plugin", good for thick stacks and demos, but unlikely to replace real harmonies on professional productions.
Gripes: heavy on CPU (MusicRadar); automatic mode needs accurate pitch input and some tweaking (Production Expert).

Where to buy

Best Service: $32.93
PluginFox: $34.99
Sweetwater: $39.99
Plugin Boutique: $39.99 (regular $199)
AudioDeluxe: $39.99 (regular $199)
Waves: see store (Price changes with Waves' weekly sales)

Tutorials and reviews

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