Waves API 560

What Waves API 560 Is For

Waves API 560 is a graphic equalizer plugin designed to get straight to the point: you push a fader and immediately hear the result. It excels on rich and complex sources where clear and well-defined shaping is sought, without making the sound harsh or muddy. It's an excellent choice for equalizing drum overheads, pianos, guitars, as well as for adding weight to a bass, opening up vocals, or reinforcing a bus without losing naturalness.

Its "graphic" approach makes it very effective in mixing for broad corrections, quick boosts, or deliberate tonal choices. And since the API 560 also has a strong live history, it adapts equally well to performance and FOH contexts (where decision speed is essential) as to studio productions where elegant curves and a sense of headroom are desired.

Main Features

Proportional Q: precision when boosting, smoothness when cutting

The sonic core of the Waves API 560 is based on a Proportional Q topology: the bandwidth narrows as gain increases. In practice, this allows it to remain musical and "forgiving" for quick adjustments, while gaining precision when strongly emphasizing a frequency area. The result: adding substance and clarity while limiting excessive coloration related to phase shifts.

10 octave-spaced bands from 31 Hz to 16 kHz: immediate spectral reading

With its 10 frequencies spaced an octave apart (from 31 Hz to 16 kHz), the API 560 encourages quick decisions: boosting bass, cleaning low-mids, projecting presence, or adding air. This architecture is ideal when shaping an overall color, creating a clear contour in a busy arrangement, or simply restoring balance in seconds.

Better control of the critical zone around 0 dB

For fine tuning, the plugin offers additional resolution in the +/- 4 dB zone, where most subtle adjustments occur. This helps precisely dose presence, attack, or brightness without going overboard.

Analog Mode: from modern to vintage on demand

When you want to switch from a clean contemporary sound to a more "vintage" signature, activate the Analog switch to introduce authentic harmonic distortion and slight hiss. An important workflow point: the analog circuit emulation can remain active even with the EQ bypassed, handy for comparing the impact of color alone or maintaining a consistent grain on a track.

Output section: phase and level to fit the processing into the mix

The Waves API 560 includes phase inversion and level control up to +/- 18 dB. Ideal for compensating a global boost, adjusting gain staging, or quickly checking phase coherence on multi-mic takes (e.g., overheads, snare, and room), without multiplying utility plugins.

Technical specifications