Setting Up the Session with the Waves Free Plugin Pack
A few days ago, I got an email from Waves saying they were releasing a new Waves Free Plugin Pack—nine plugins available to download at no cost. I’ve used Waves plugins for years, so I figured why not see what this free bundle can really do? But instead of just listing what’s included, I wanted to put them to the test by mixing a full vocal using only these plugins.
The track I used is called Glad I Spent It by an artist I’ve worked with before, Who Killed Kenny. He’s dope—definitely check him out. I opened up the session and made a rule: no fancy third-party plugins, just the ones from the free pack. That gave me a handful of tools to work with: AudioTrack, Little Tube, VC Comp, Live Room 2, Guitar Solo, and StudioVerse (technically already free, but it’s in the pack).
Before diving into the mix, I set up two effect sends:
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One for Live Room 2, which I used as a short, tight reverb to give the vocal a bit of space without drowning it out.
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And another for Guitar Solo, which I got creative with—adding some delay and chorus for extra width and vibe.
So the idea here wasn’t to get a “perfect” mix, but to see how far you can push a vocal using only the Waves Free Plugin Pack. And honestly, I was surprised by what these plugins could do when used with intention.
Cleaning Up and Enhancing the Vocal
Once everything was loaded in from the Waves Free Plugin Pack, I started by soloing the lead vocal to get a clear picture of what needed work. The raw take had a good performance, but it sounded a little buried and muddy—definitely not mix-ready.
I reached for Little Tube first. It’s a simple saturation plugin that adds harmonic content and presence. I cranked it just enough to bring the vocal forward without making it sound too crunchy. Immediately, it felt a bit more alive and present in the mix.
From there, I dropped in AudioTrack, which ended up doing most of the heavy lifting. I used the EQ section to roll off some of the low-end mud—starting the high-pass around 250 Hz—and added a gentle high-frequency boost to open the vocal up. Even though this plugin is pretty old-school, it still gets the job done.
Next, I added some compression using VC Comp to tighten things up. The goal wasn’t to squash the vocal, just control the dynamics enough to help it sit more confidently in the mix. I actually ran two stages of compression—first with VC Comp, and then again with AudioTrack’s built-in comp. That dual-compression approach let me keep each stage subtle while still locking the vocal in place.
These are all plugins from the Waves Free Plugin Pack, and while they’re limited compared to what I’d normally use, they handled the basics surprisingly well—EQ, compression, and tone shaping.
Adding Depth with Effects
Once I had the vocal cleaned up and sitting better in the mix, it was time to add some depth and dimension. This is where the effects from the Waves Free Plugin Pack really came in handy—especially for creating space without overcomplicating the mix.
I started with Live Room 2, a reverb plugin included in the pack. For rap vocals, you don’t usually want a long, washy tail that pushes the vocal into the background. So I dialed in a short, tight room sound—just enough to make the vocal feel a bit bigger and more 3D, but still dry and upfront. To clean it up even more, I followed it with another AudioTrack, rolling off some low end so the reverb wouldn’t muddy up the mix.
Then I used Guitar Solo as a send effect. It’s designed for guitar, but I flipped it for vocals. I added a touch of delay and ran it through a chorus to create this subtle, swirling movement in the stereo field. If you’re listening on headphones, it’s the kind of effect that you feel more than hear—but once I took it away, the track felt a little flat. That’s the magic of using creative delays and modulation in just the right amount.
Even with just a few tools, the Waves Free Plugin Pack gave me enough flexibility to shape the vocal space and make it feel polished without sounding overly processed.
Final Touches and EQ Tweaks
After building up the vocal with saturation, EQ, compression, and some subtle effects, I brought the full track back in to see how everything was gelling. This is usually where small details make a big difference—and the Waves Free Plugin Pack still had more to give.
Listening in context, I noticed a few frequencies poking out in the vocal—those weird, nasally tones that can make things feel harsh or cluttered. So I dropped in another instance of AudioTrack and went hunting. A narrow cut here, a small notch there—and suddenly the vocal cleaned up even more. The background felt clearer, and the vocal sat just a bit more naturally in the mix.
With that cleaned up, I added a small midrange boost—nothing crazy, just 1 to 1.5 dB in that magical vocal range to help the performance pop a little. This is always a sensitive move; push it too far and it gets boxy or harsh, but just the right touch adds that final bit of focus that helps vocals shine on streaming platforms.
Even without fancy visuals or AI-driven features, the plugins in the Waves Free Plugin Pack handled the job. It’s all about using your ears and knowing what you’re going for.
Conclusion: Can You Mix with Just Free Plugins?
So, what’s the verdict? Can you get a solid mix using only the Waves Free Plugin Pack? Honestly—yeah, you can. Are these the most advanced or feature-rich tools in the world? No. But if you understand the fundamentals of mixing and know what to listen for, these free plugins can decent job.
In just a short session, I was able to bring a raw vocal to life—tighten the dynamics, clean up the tone, and give it space and vibe using nothing but the plugins from this free bundle. That’s pretty impressive, especially for producers or artists who might be just starting out and don’t have the budget for a full plugin suite.
If you want to check out the Waves Free Plugin Pack yourself, it’s a great way to get familiar with essential mixing tools. And if you’re still stuck—if your vocals never quite cut through, or your mix just isn’t landing the way you want—feel free to hit me up at Mix and Master My Song. I’ve also got custom Waves vocal and mastering presets to help you get closer to that pro sound without breaking the bank.
Thanks for reading—and let me know in the comments what plugins you’re getting the most mileage out of!
