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Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Waves CLA Drums". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Unleash the raw power of your drum tracks with the Waves CLA Drums plugin, a quintessential tool for both seasoned producers and aspiring musicians. Crafted meticulously under the guidance of the legendary Chris Lord-Alge, this plugin offers a gateway to instantly achieving professional-quality drum sounds. Dive into a world where your drum kits resonate with clarity and punch, effortlessly transforming your mix into a polished masterpiece.

The Waves CLA Drums plugin is designed with six essential controls, ensuring an intuitive experience that doesn't sacrifice depth or flexibility. Whether you're looking to enhance the kick, snare, toms, or cymbals, each control is fine-tuned to provide maximum impact with minimal effort. Perfect for tight deadlines or those moments of inspiration, it delivers a seamless blend of power and precision right at your fingertips.

Beyond its user-friendly interface, the plugin's robust processing capabilities ensure your tracks maintain their natural dynamics while pushing the boundaries of sonic excellence. It's this balance of ease and effectiveness that makes the CLA Drums a staple in any serious producer's toolkit.

Key Features:

  • Developed in collaboration with Chris Lord-Alge for industry-standard drum sounds
  • Six intuitive controls for efficient and impactful sound shaping
  • Enhances kick, snare, toms, and cymbals with clarity and punch
  • User-friendly interface designed for quick, professional results
  • Ideal for both beginners and experienced producers looking for high-quality drum processing

Product specs

Available since October 2016
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Delay No
Dynamics No
Effect Filter No
Encoder/Decoder No
Equalizer No
Guitar amps/-effects No
Channel Strip No
Metering / Analysis / Correction No
Modulation Effects No
Multieffect / Plugin-Host No
Overdrive/Distortion No
Preamp / Saturation No
Psychoacoustic tool / Enhancer / Exciter No
Restauration No
Reverb No
Special FX Yes
Summer / Mixing Consoles No
Tape Simulation No
Pitch Shifter / Harmonizer / Timestretching No
Transient Processing No
Vocoder / Vocal effect No
Mastering Tools No
Hardware Controller No
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FAQs

What kind of processing does Waves CLA Drums offer for drum tracks?

Waves CLA Drums provides specialized drum processing with features like compression, EQ, and reverb tailored for enhancing drum sounds, offering a polished and punchy mix.

Is Waves CLA Drums suitable for live drum mixing?

Yes, Waves CLA Drums is designed to deliver studio-quality drum processing, making it suitable for both live and studio mixing environments.

Can Waves CLA Drums be used with any DAW?

Waves CLA Drums is compatible with most major DAWs, including Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and Logic Pro, provided they support VST, AU, or AAX plugins.

Does Waves CLA Drums include reverb effects?

Yes, Waves CLA Drums includes reverb effects specifically tailored to enhance the natural sound of drum kits within a mix.

How does Waves CLA Drums enhance the sound of a drum kit?

Waves CLA Drums enhances drum kits by providing intuitive controls for compression, EQ, and reverb, resulting in a more defined and impactful drum sound.

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Live Event with Chris Lord-Alge - Part 2: CLA Drums Plugin

Video thumbnail for Live Event with Chris Lord-Alge - Part 2: CLA Drums Plugin by Waves Audio

Live Event with Chris Lord-Alge - Part 2: CLA Drums Plugin

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Video thumbnail for The Best Plugins For Drum Overheads - Waves CLA Drums by True Sound Studios

The Best Plugins For Drum Overheads - Waves CLA Drums

True Sound Studios

True Sound Studios

Video thumbnail for CLA Drums Plugin Review from Waves (TRT02) by Ed Thorne | Mixing & Mastering

CLA Drums Plugin Review from Waves (TRT02)

Ed Thorne | Mixing & Mastering

Ed Thorne | Mixing & Mastering

Video thumbnail for Waves CLA Drums - The Quickest Way To A Record Ready Drum Sound by The Studio Rats

Waves CLA Drums - The Quickest Way To A Record Ready Drum Sound

The Studio Rats

The Studio Rats

Video thumbnail for Waves CLA Drums - The Definitive Guide by BenoniStudio

Waves CLA Drums - The Definitive Guide

BenoniStudio

BenoniStudio

Video thumbnail for One plugin. One problem. One minute. | WAVES CLA DRUMS by Euge Valovirta

One plugin. One problem. One minute. | WAVES CLA DRUMS

Euge Valovirta

Euge Valovirta

Reviews

PROS

  • "Bigfoot" preset offers uniquely powerful drum sound customization

  • Seamless integration with Pro Tools for efficient workflow

  • Ideal for quick and easy drum mixing solutions

CONS

  • Compatibility issues with Mac, especially during software upgrades

  • Permanent analog sound creates unwanted hiss in certain tracks

  • Lack of modern updates limits versatility for contemporary music styles

  • Limited parameter variety leads to similar sounding drum mixes

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Waves CLA Drums.

Features and functionality

  • CLA Drums reportedly uses multiband compression and EQ to achieve its signature tone, often cutting around 500 Hz.

    Source
  • Using CLA Drums on individual channels instead of a bus can be CPU intensive, but switching to low latency mode can manage this load effectively.

    Source
  • Utilizing CLA Drums for specific effects can be achieved by copying desired hits to special tracks, processing them via insert, and printing when satisfied.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Users find CLA Drums effective for quick, consistent kick and snare sounds, especially in rock and pop mixes.

    Source
  • CLA Drums is seen as beneficial for demos or quick recordings due to its ease of use and immediate tonal improvement.

    Source
  • Employ CLA Drums as a send on individual tracks to maintain recorded sound, or as an insert for samples or poorly recorded drums to alter the sound significantly.

    Source
  • For optimal workflow, use CLA Drums on track inserts for consistent snare sounds, or on buses to unify multiple snare tracks with a single treatment.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The SweetDrums plugin from Analog Obsessions is noted for its multiband compression and saturation, offering a similar transformative effect on drums.

    Source
  • The CLA Bass plugin is praised for its performance in rock bass, with some preferring it over other CLA plugins.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • Combining Softube saturation with CLA Drums on kick and snare tracks enhances warmth and presence before routing to a drum bus for compression.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Waves CLA Artist Signature Collection

soundonsound.com

Waves' CLA Drums, as part of the Artist Signature Collection, offers a punchy and straightforward route to achieving that sought-after rock drum sound. The plug-in excels on overheads, delivering a powerful and cohesive mix with minimal tweaking. However, it may not suit every style, as its intensive compression can sometimes lead to a lifeless sound on individual drums. The CPU-heavy nature of the plug-in limits its usage across multiple tracks, necessitating serious computing power. Ideal for rock genres, it’s a valuable tool if your system can handle the load, showcasing impressive results without the complexity.

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 6 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Apster uses Waves CLA Drums

Apster

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post by djapster, Apster showcases his use of the Waves CLA Drums plugin, highlighting its role in his music production process.

See how Greg Wells uses Waves CLA Drums

Greg Wells

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video at 7:44 Greg wells also mentions his shock in the CLA drums plugin saying "The drum one is crazy,especially for rock drums"

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Waves CLA Drums, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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