Waves Audio announces eMotion LV1 Classic: New fully integrated live mixing console

— 64 stereo channels / 44 buses. Industry-leading sound. Now in a classic console form factor. —

Knoxville, TN, October 1, 2024 — Waves Audio, the world-leading developer of audio mixing solutions, is pleased to announce its new fully integrated live mixing console: eMotion LV1 Classic.

With 64 stereo channels and 44 stereo buses of industry-leading sound, intuitive workflow, 16 onboard Waves Signature Preamps, and powerful Waves processors included with the console, the new Waves eMotion LV1 Classic is a hardware mixing desk that packs more live mixing power in a compact console than ever before.

eMotion LV1 Classic builds upon the proven quality of the Waves LV1 mix engine, which until now has been available only as a software-based modular system. This new hardware console delivers the LV1’s proven advantages – sonic excellence, the same processing used on GRAMMY®-winning recordings, and intuitive UI – now in the preferred console form factor and workflow of live sound engineers worldwide.

Industry-Leading Sound: LV1 Classic is powered by a double-precision 32-bit floating point mix engine, operating at 44.1–96 kHz sample rates, ensuring unmatched clarity and headroom. The console’s pristine audio is further enhanced by 16 onboard Waves Signature Preamps, featuring fully discrete analog circuits, incredibly low noise floor, and the ability to switch between pure transparent preamp sound and rich harmonic enhancement. LV1 Classic can be expanded with Waves IONIC stageboxes that also include Waves Signature Preamps.

Intuitive Workflow: The console’s software and hardware architecture is designed for maximum intuitiveness. Any operator, from seasoned professionals to volunteers in charge of house of worship sound, can quickly control what they need. The console boasts a large 21.5-inch multi-touch screen, 17 all-new 100mm faders, and a smart Quick-Access UI that guarantees speedy control of all important mixer functions. The console also allows customization of user-defined actions and views, via both the screen and the tactile surface.

Included Waves Processors: LV1 Classic comes equipped with 16 built-in Waves processors, including tools favored by the live sound industry: Dynamic EQ (F6), live vocal pitch correction (Waves Tune Real-Time), feedback & mic bleed elimination (X-FDBK and PSE), plus compression, de-essing, gating, EQ, effects, analog saturation and more (via powerful plugins such as the LV1’s channel strip eMo D5/F2/Q4 plugins, H-Delay, R-Comp, Magma, and more).

Up to eight plugin inserts are available flexibly on every single channel (every input channel plus all other channels included any bus/group), so that users can shape their processing freely without being locked into any pre-determined processing setup. The console’s processing is powered by a robust internal Waves DSP engine (with the option of easily adding more DSP if needed).

The Industry’s Finest Processing Upgrades: In addition to the onboard processors, users can upgrade seamlessly to the live sound industry’s most powerful portfolio of over 160 live-optimized Waves plugins, including analog emulations of SSL, API, and Abbey Road processors, surgical and creative mixing tools, Dugan auto-mixing, and much more.

Also available as an upgrade is the new eMo IEM plugin for immersive in-ear mixing. With eMo IEM running in LV1 Classic, no external hardware or complicated routing is required to mix immersive in-ears: with a simple click of the button, LV1 Classic can send immersive in-ear monitor mixes, providing performers with a more natural and comfortable monitor sound (which they can control themselves via the LV1’s personal monitor mixing mobile app, MyMon).

Easy Scalability: LV1 Classic systems are easy to scale up with easy expansion into systems of all sizes, from small systems with a single console with IO and DSP expansions, to mega systems with multiple consoles at different mix positions (FOH, monitors, broadcast). Up to 14 SoundGrid-compatible IO devices can be added to LV1 Classic, including Waves IONIC and other SoundGrid stageboxes, Dante® and MADI convertors, and more.
Maximum Portability: Lightweight at just 38 lbs (17.2 kg), LV1 Classic can be taken on any commercial flight. At only 15.8" H x 22.1" D x 22" W (402 x 561 x 560 mm), it is easily deployed in space-constrained setups.

Parnelli-winning FOH engineer Ken “Pooch” Van Druten (Iron Maiden, Jay Z), who has consulted Waves on developing the LV1 Classic, remarks, “I’m proud to have advised on the workflow architecture of this great console. It is intuitive, the new build is robust, and above all I’m continuously amazed by the console’s incomparable sound.”

Jeff Sandstrom, FOH engineer for Chris Tomlin and a leading voice in the house-of-worship audio community, attests to the console’s unique advantages for houses of worship: “LV1 Classic is the perfect solution for churches in need of uncompromising sound fidelity, accessible workflow, and powerful processing that solves many typical house-of-worship audio challenges, all in a compact form factor.”

Waves Senior Product Manager Yaniv Litmanovich comments, “We are excited to introduce the eMotion LV1 Classic console, making Waves’ sonic capabilities and tools accessible for all in a familiar yet innovative form factor. This robust yet compact desk blends all Waves audio and UX expertise, marking a new era in Waves’ product offerings for the live sound industry.”

eMotion LV1 Classic Features: