Waves Software

134 Guitarist October 2008
WAVES GTR GROUND
£470
RECORDING
We like: Clever ergonomic
design; two treadles built-in;
easy switching between
programs and stompboxes
We dislike: Can’t get out of
tuner screen using footswitch
Guitarist says: A practical
asset; makes GTR3 more than
a mouse-driven studio tool
Waves GTR Ground
PRICE: £470, controller only
TYPE: USB MIDI foot controller
ORIGIN: China
CONNECTIONS: USB, RJ45 jack for
future use
DIMENSIONS: 766 (l) x 195 (w)
x 100 (h) mm
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 4.2/9.26
POWER REQUIREMENTS: 12V DC
adaptor (supplied)
RANGE OPTIONS: GTR Pro Pack
(includes GTR3, GTR Ground and DI box)
costs £705 (Native version) or £822
(TDM version)
Waves GTR3
Software
TYPE: Software guitar recording system
ORIGIN: Israel
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: See Waves
website
AUTHORISATION: iLok required
AMPS: Direct, clean, warm, punchy,
sweet, cream edgy, drive, overdrive,
scream, crunch, crush, scorch, inferno,
monster, hot, modern, shredder,
supernatural
BASS AMPS: Directube, activator,
solidstate, mo’town, supertube, thunder,
overbass
SPEAKER CABINETS: Choice of 22
MICS: Seven guitar mics. Six bass mics.
All available on axis or off axis.
EFFECTS: Overdrive, distortion, fuzz,
metal, flanger, vibrolo, panner, phaser,
octaver, wah wah, chorus, doubler,
pitcher, bass pitcher, delay, lay-d, reverb,
spring, gate/comp, compressor, gate,
tone, EQ, axx press, volume pedal
AUTOMATION: Real time MIDI control
including dynamic automation for the
Stomps
Sonic Distribution 0845 500 2500
www.waves.com
Test results
Build quality
Features
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
The Bottom Line
In Use
The GTR Ground is primarily
designed to control GTR3 in its
standalone mode, but it can also
be used when GTR3 is used as a
plug-in and thereby control other
MIDI applications.
Connecting up GTR Ground and
launching GTR3 in standalone
mode results in the Ground’s
display windows lighting up in
orange against the black
background and showing the
current status. The loaded preset
is shown in the centre at the top
below the preset/stomp switch,
which is used to change the status
of the lower six (A to F) switches
from calling up presets to turning
the virtual stompboxes contained
within the preset on and off. Two
of the upper switches are used to
scroll up and down through the
banks of presets while the last
switch is a tap tempo button or,
with a longer press, it can be used
to call up the software tuner – on
the computer screen only and not
on the GTR Ground display, which
would have been cool. Once the
tuner is displayed, however,
another press on the footswitch
doesn’t get back to the previous
page, which is disappointing – you
have to use your mouse.
From a practical point of view,
the operating system works really
well with instant changing
between calling up presets and
being able to switch stomps on and
off, which should see you through
a gig with absolutely no fuss. The
A/B button to switch between two
parallel settings in each preset
adds flexibility, and the two
treadles can give you constant
access to wah and volume or easily
be assigned to any other
parameter within a preset, each
of which can be clicked to
instigate a quick ‘learn’ mode.
Verdict
If you’ve already invested in the
Waves software then the GTR
The two treadles can give you constant
access to wah and volume
Ground is its perfect companion.
It is functional and intuitive, but
it certainly ain’t cheap. If you are
looking to buy a full package with
software included you first need
to make a decision about whether
the particular flavour of the
software is right for you.
However, with the GTR Pro Pack
you are getting an integrated and
immensely practical system that
is definitely comparable in price
to its main rival.
You link the GTR3 software in your computer to the foot controller via USB. Please note: the software costs extra, see right…
GIT308.rev_waves 134 9/9/08 4:10:42 pm