Waves Announces the GTR (Guitar Tool Rack) System

Jul 25, 2005 7:51 PM, By Gino Robair

           
 

Waves has announced the GTR (Guitar Tool Rack) system (Mac/Win; $600 Native; $1,200 TDM), created in association with Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Guitars. GTR is a three-part integrated hardware/software system. It begins with the Waves/PRS Guitar Interface, a hardware guitar-impedance and level-matching unit. Next is Waves Amp, a software plug-in that offers seven emulated amps of different drive levels (from clean to distortion), multiple speaker cabinets (two of which can be played at once, with pan and phase reverse options), and six mic emulations (with different placement options on one or two cabinets). The third part includes Waves Stomp, a plug-in featuring 23 guitar effects (accessed using a virtual pedal board that is controllable in real time via MIDI), and Waves Tuner, a plug-in that offers standard and alternate tunings.

The Waves/PRS Guitar Interface outputs mic- and line-level signals on XLR and 1/4-inch TS jacks, respectively Waves Amp includes Bass, Middle, Treble, and Presence controls specifically tuned for each amp model. The Drive control is normalized, so it can be adjusted for tone without readjusting output gain. Several cabinets are available—two can be used simultaneously. The pan controls let you blend and pan them in stereo, and the phase switch on each cabinet adds more tonal options.

Waves Stomp has 23 guitar effects in mono, mono-to-stereo, and stereo. The effects categories are Distortion, Modulation, Spatial (delay, reverb, and reverse and pitch-shifted delay), and Basic (Gate/Comp, Compressor, Gate, Tone, and EQ). Most Stomps can be synchronized to the host bpm, and all Stomps have MIDI control options.

A DVD about the GTR system is available. It includes a video that explains the various features, and gives a brief explanation of the Guitar Interface by Paul Reed Smith, as well as demo GTR software. Visit the Waves Web site and fill out the request form to receive the DVD.