CLA Guitars - Audio software WAVES - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Audio Plugin (VST/AU/AAX)
Brand	Waves
Model	CLA Guitars
Format	VST, AU, AAX (64-bit)
System Requirements (Windows)	Windows 7 or later, Intel/AMD dual-core processor, 4 GB RAM
System Requirements (Mac)	macOS 10.12 or later, Intel dual-core processor, 4 GB RAM
License Type	Requires iLok account (cloud or USB)
Interface	Intuitive GUI with mic positioning, amp, pedal, and room controls
Presets	100+ presets by Chris Lord-Alge
Key Functions	Guitar tone processing: EQ, compression, reverb, delay, distortion
Installation Method	via Waves Central application
CPU Usage	Optimized for low latency performance
Support	Waves support website and knowledge base
Updates	Free updates within the same major version

Frequently Asked Questions - CLA Guitars WAVES

How do I install CLA Guitars?

Download and install Waves Central from the Waves website. Log in to your account, locate CLA Guitars in 'My Products', click 'Install', and follow the prompts. The plugin will be available in your DAW after installation.

Can I use CLA Guitars in Pro Tools?

Yes, CLA Guitars supports AAX format, so it works with Pro Tools (64-bit version). Install via Waves Central and ensure you select AAX format during installation.

What is the difference between CLA Guitars and other Waves guitar plugins?

CLA Guitars is designed by Chris Lord-Alge and focuses on providing multiple guitar tones (acoustic, electric, bass) with a streamlined interface. It includes mic positioning, amp models, pedals, and room control, optimized for mix-ready sounds.

How do I activate the license?

After purchase, your license is added to your Waves account. Activate via Waves Central using an iLok cloud session or a physical iLok USB key. The plugin will remain authorized as long as the iLok device or cloud session is connected.

Is CLA Guitars compatible with macOS Big Sur?

Yes, Waves has updated CLA Guitars to be compatible with macOS Big Sur (11.x) and newer. Ensure you have the latest version installed via Waves Central.

How do I reset the plugin to default settings?

Open the plugin in your DAW and click the spanner icon (settings). Select 'Reset to Default' or hold Ctrl/Cmd and click on any control to reset that single parameter. For full reset, use the preset menu 'Default'.

Can I use CLA Guitars on multiple computers?

Yes, with a single license you can install the plugin on multiple computers, but it can only be active on one at a time. For simultaneous use, you need additional licenses.

Why is the plugin not showing in my DAW?

Ensure the plugin is installed in the correct format (VST/AU/AAX) for your DAW. Rescan plugins in your DAW’s plugin manager. Also verify that your system meets the minimum requirements and that the license is active.

How do I update CLA Guitars to the latest version?

Open Waves Central, go to 'Updates', and click 'Update All' or select CLA Guitars individually. Restart your DAW after updating to load the new version.

How do I uninstall CLA Guitars?

Use Waves Central: go to 'Installed Products', find CLA Guitars, click the gear icon, and select 'Uninstall'. Restart your computer and remove any leftover files if necessary.

USER MANUAL CLA Guitars WAVES

Chapter 1 – Introduction......3

1.1 Welcome....3
1.2 Product Overview ...... 3
1.3 Concepts and Terminology....4
1.4 A Few Words from CLA....5
1.5 Components .... 5
3.1 Interface....7
3.2 Controls 8
3.3 The WaveSystem Toolbar....13

Chapter 2 – Quickstart Guide......6

Chapter 3 – Interface and Controls....7

Chapter 1 – Introduction

1.1 Welcome

Thank you for choosing Waves! In order to get the most out of your new Waves plugin, please take a moment to read this user guide.

To install software and manage your licenses, you need to have a free Waves account. Sign up at www.waves.com. With a Waves account you can keep track of your products, renew your Waves Update Plan, participate in bonus programs, and keep up to date with other important information.

We suggest that you become familiar with the Waves Support pages: www.waves.com/support. There are technical articles about installation, troubleshooting, specifications, and more. Plus, you'll find company contact information and Waves Support news.

1.2 Product Overview

The Waves Artist Signature Series is our exclusive line of application-specific audio processors, created in collaboration with the world's top producers, engineers, and mixing engineers. Every Signature Series plug-in has been precision-crafted to capture the artist's distinct sound and production style. For experienced and aspiring audio professionals alike, the Waves Signature Series allows you to dial up the sound you're looking for quickly, without interrupting the creative flow.

The CLA Artist Collection consists of six plug-ins, each of which is designed to handle a specific mixing task.

• CLA Vocals
• CLA Drums
• CLA Bass
• CLA Guitars
• CLA Unplugged
• CLA Effects

1.3 Concepts and Terminology

Sensitivity Control/Sensitivity LED

The Sensitivity LED's 3 colors indicate when appropriate levels are reached:

Led Off (too low)
Green (good)
◆ Yellow (optimal)
◆ Red (very hot)

If the LED is off during playback, your input signal is too low. Push the Sensitivity Control upwards until the LED lights up. We recommend adjusting the Sensitivity Control as soon as you open the plug-in, using the section of your song with the highest peaks for best results.

In most cases, the Sensitivity LED indicates that your levels hit the processor in a way that will give you the intended output result. However, it's important to keep in mind that optimal results for your source material may be achieved even when the Sensitivity LED does not display "optimal" levels (yellow). As always, trust your ears.

Modes

CLA Guitars plug-in features guitar Modes which address the most common guitar flavors: Clean, Crunch, Heavy, and Bypass.

Re-Amplify

The CLA Guitars plug-in was designed to process guitars that were recorded either by mic'ing an amp or direct (DI). When recording electric guitars, it is a common practice to record a DI (direct injection) signal in parallel to the microphone/amp signal. This offers the opportunity to "re-amplify" the source using a different amp than the original. CLA Guitars includes a unique Re-Amplify feature, which activates a modeled guitar amp selected especially for each Guitar Mode. If your source is a mic'ed amplifier, however, you'll want to keep the Re-Amplify function set to Off.

Re-Amplify also causes the guitar Modes to function differently, depending on whether it is on or off:

• When Re-Amplify is off, the Modes refer to the type of recorded material. Choose clean if you have a clean recorded guitar, crunch if you have a crunchy guitar sound, etc.
• When Re-Amplify is on, the Modes refer to the desired result. Choose clean if you want a clean sounding guitar, heavy if you want a heavy guitar sound, etc.

Color

Each fader on CLA Artist Signature Collection plug-ins controls a specific function, such as compression or reverb. Each function has a color-coded selector which controls the internal characteristics of that function, resulting in a different sound character or "Color." You can mix and match different colors across the different faders.

1.4 A Few Words from CLA

"Two words describe the CLA Guitars plug-in: Instant Gratification. Every time I plug in my axe, I just can't stop playing! It delivers the guitar sounds I've used on tracks from Green Day to Daughtry, quickly and easily. It's like a guitar toolbox with all the necessary combinations. The plug-in features three modes—Clean, Crunch, and Heavy—with DI and Re-amping modes for each. You get three color-coded presets for the six most important effects, for the perfect blend of bass, treble, compression, reverb, delay, and chorusing/doubling."

1.5 Components

WaveShell technology enables us to split Waves processors into smaller plug-ins, which we call components. Having a choice of components for a particular processor gives you the flexibility to choose the configuration best suited to your material.

The Waves CLA Guitars has two components:

• CLA Guitars Mono-to-Stereo – Mono in to Stereo out component
• CLA Guitars Stereo – Stereo in to Stereo out component

Chapter 2 – Quickstart Guide

• Insert the CLA Guitars plug-in on a guitar track.
• Select the desired Guitar Mode, and turn on Re-Amplify, if needed.
• Adjust the Sensitivity control until you achieve proper levels, as indicated by the Sensitivity LED and the input meter.
• The current plug-in setting now represents Chris's default setup.

Tweak the following controls to fit your mix:

• Adjust the Bass and Treble faders if additional EQ is desired. Toggle through the Colors to find that which works best for the song.
• Use Compress for dynamic range control. Toggle through the Colors to find that which works best for the song.
• Adjust Reverb, Delay and Pitch effect levels. Toggle through the Colors to find that which works best for the song.

Please note:

• When all colors are set to clear (Bypass/Mute), some fixed processing as designed by Chris is still active
• EQ adjustment will take effect once the EQ faders are moved. At zero, cycling through the EQ Colors will have no effect.
• All other faders are active and set to Chris' default setup when at zero

Chapter 3 – Interface and Controls

3.1 Interface

CHRIS LORD-ALGE COLLECTION A: Full Reset A→B Load Save ? Chris lord-Alge Re-Amplify ON CLEAN CLOAN CRUNCH HEAVY STRASS OFF +10 - 0 - -10 - INPUT SENS UPPER LOWER SUB BITE BASS TREBLE COMPRESS REVERB DELAY PITCH FULLER TOP SPRANK PUSH ASTINA FULL CLUB EIGHT SPRINGER COKE MUTE STEREO Guitars +10 - 0 - -10 - INPUT SENS BASS TREBLE COMPRESS REVERB DELAY PITCH OUTPUT

3.2 Controls

Guitar Mode toggles between guitar modes. In Bypass, mode-specific processing is inactive when Re-Amplify is Off; when Re-Amplify is On, Bypass also turns off the modeled guitar amp.

Range: Clean, Crunch, Heavy, Bypass

Default: Clean

Re-Amplify engages a modeled guitar amp, tailored for the current guitar mode.

Please note: CPU load increases when Re-Amplify switch is on.

Range: On/Off

Default: Off

Input Sensitivity is used to achieve optimal plug-in input level.

Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)

Default: 0

0 4 12 18 M L R INPUT SENS

Input Meter displays input signal peak level.

Range: -26 to 0 dBFS

Clip LED lights up when levels exceed 0 dBFS. Click inside the meter area to reset.

Balance adjusts the offset between left and right signals. (Stereo component only)

Range: +/- 6 dB (in 0.1 steps)

Default: 0

Sensitivity LED indicates the presence of proper levels.

Range: LED off (too low), Green (good), Yellow (optimal), Red (very hot)

Bass controls low frequency gain.

Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)

Default: 0

Waves CLA Guitars

User Guide

Bass Color toggles between low frequency filters.

Range: Clear (Bypass), Green (Sub), Blue (Lower), Red (Upper)

Default: Green (Sub)

Treble controls high frequency gain.

Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)

Default: 0

Treble Color toggles between high frequency filters.

Range: Clear (Bypass), Green (Bite), Blue (Top), Red (Roof)

Default: Green (Bite)

Compress controls the dynamic range.

Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)

Default: 0

Waves CLA Guitars

User Guide

Compress Color toggles between compression characters.

Range: Clear (Bypass), Green (Push), Blue (Spank), Red (Wall)

Default: Green (Push)

Reverb controls the reverb wet mix

Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)

Default: 0

Reverb Color toggles reverb types.

Range: Clear (Mute), Green (Club), Blue (Hall), Red (Arena)

Default: Green (Club)

Delay controls the delay wet mix.

Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)

Default: 0

Delay Color toggles between delay times and characters. Please note: Delay time syncs to the session BPM.

Range: Clear (Mute), Green (Eight - 1/8 note), Blue (Edge - Dotted 1/8 note),

Red (Quarter note)

Default: Green (Eight - 1/8 note)

Pitch controls the pitch modulation wet mix.

Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)

Default: 0

Pitch Color toggles between pitch modulation types.

Range: Clear (Mute), Green (Stereo), Blue (Wide), Red (Spreader)

Default: Green (Stereo)

Output controls the output level.

Range: +/- 10 (in 0.1 steps)

Default: 0

R1 R2 R3 R4 OUTPUT

Output Meter displays output signal peak level.

Range: -26 to 0 dBFS

Clip LED lights up when levels exceed 0 dBFS. Click inside the meter area to reset.

3.3 WaveSystem Toolbar

Use the bar at the top of the plugin to save and load presets, compare settings, undo and redo steps, and resize the plugin. To learn more, click the icon at the upper-right corner of the window and open the WaveSystem Guide.

Waves CLA Guitars

User Guide