Waves’ Curves AQ is the “world’s first autonomous EQ plugin”Waves has launched Curves AQ, an AI-powered audio plugin billed as the “world’s first autonomous EQ”.
In Waves’ words, Curves AQ doesn’t guess – it analyses your track, “decides” what sound it should have, and then creates a selection of unique EQ profiles aka ‘spectral target curves’ for you to choose from. These aren’t presets, but original spectral curves based on the natural qualities of your audio, be it vocals, instruments or full mixes.

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“While other plugins claim to be ‘smart EQs’, what they actually do is process your source to match a static factory target curve – a preset,” says Waves. “There is no real-time adaptation to your specific track and the process is not tailored to it.”
After the curves are generated, users can personalise their sound further with a number of handy controls, including the ability to blend the amount of static and dynamic EQ, and adjust the intensity of boosts and cuts globally or band by band for more flexible processing.
One standout feature is the Smart Tilt control, which offers a more sophisticated take on traditional tilt EQ. Instead of just changing the slope of the frequency spectrum, Smart Tilt allows you to easily alter the tonal balance by actively modifying the spectral target curve itself. The Offset function, meanwhile, lets you shift the entire target curve along the X-axis, changing the focal point of processing. It shifts the curve and harmonics to scale and can offer a wildly creative effect.
Another key feature is MixSense, which takes into account the “context” of your mix and adjusts processing accordingly. By using a sidechain input, MixSense analyses competing sounds and attenuates only what is necessary to bring out the source. Feed any tracks through sidechain, and AQ will adjust its processing to make room for them in the mix.
Finally, Curves AQ also includes a dedicated Live version. Thanks to zero-latency processing, it’s ideal for real-time use on stage or during live broadcasts.
The plugin is now available at an introductory price of $49.99 U.P $129.99).

Learn more at Waves.
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