essential waves plugins

Waves Rennassaince Bundle has their workhorse EQ and Compressor. Get that and you'll be in very good shape. "Can't live without" type stuff.

The Waves L3 is a very good sounding Limiter, and includes a multiband compressor for mastering. It's very useful as well.

My recommendation: Musician's Bundle 2.

Ren Compressor - nice, light native compressor, flexible, smooth sounding
Ren Vox Compressor - the easiest vocal compressor you'll ever use - one slider!
Ren EQ - ok, nothing spectacular
Doubler - love this plugin, there's very little out there that does widening, thickening and doubling like this one
Supertap - well, it's a delay

Really good value bundle that one...

Don't forget you'll need to add the cost of an iLok to your Waves purchase, and remember the WUP fees if you want to stay current, which can be sizable on large bundles... (you get a year's WUP included in your purchase).

Restoration Bundle is a must have for post production audio. Couldn't live/work without it!

I own the Platinum bundle, so I have most of their plugins and know what's useful. Here are the ones I use for just about every song:

1. L2 - I always put this on the master fader set to limit about 3-4db. Just enough that the CD you burn is not quiet.
2. L3 - use this for mastering the final mix. This is their best plugin for maximizing impact and volume.
3. Renaissance Reverb - when Altiverb and/or Space Designer are too clean I use this.
4. Renaissance Comp - This is a very useful and generally warm compressor
5. Renaissance EQ - better than the Logic EQ except for the Phase Linear EQ
6. Doubler - this is pretty useful as well, although I usually end up double or triple-tracking parts instead of using it, but it will work in a pinch.

I guess I'd have to say Bee Jay's suggestion hits most of the above (but not L2 or L3). If you don't have the L2, then you really need at least the older L1.

Most bundles from Waves ARE NOT worth the money, IMHO.

Not today, when we have more choices.

Not to mention that Logic has plenty of it´s own plugs you can work with and achieve the same results as with Waves.

I would rather spend money on something else than Waves plugins!
Especially I wouldn´t buy plugs based on their Rennessaince (or how does it slepp?) bundle.
Waves plugins are not THAT great, they are not miracles. They do not have any "instant hit" button 🙂 They do not have any different "knobs and tweakers" than Logic plugins do - you always set the ratios, attack an release times, bandwith etc etc...

The only few Logic plugs that ***** are Deesser and Adaptive Limiter.
Both Waves Deesser and R-Deesser are better than Logic one, but not worth the whole bundle investment!
adaptive Limiter- well, it *****, but so does L2. Sonnox Limiter is a way to go.


If you need to have any plugins than Logic ones, check out:

Metric Halo Channel Strip-THAT is worth the money imho...
Sonalksis
URS
Digital fishphones-(not correct spelling I guess) are free!!!!
Sonnox (Sony Oxford)

Fair to say, that Waves do have some "new" stuff based on analog simulation/modelling" which I like a bit more than their regular "Jewellery" stuff (Diamond, Gold, Platinum bundles...).
Waves SSL4000 (you can get those for 500USD or less maybe) and two other "vintage" bundles.

If you want the best comp/EQ plugins, you have to buy UAD Nevana, or SSL Duende.

But again, first I´d rather spend money on other things (stuff to learn from) than plugins.