CLA Epic by Waves is an all-in-one reverb and delay plugin featuring eight modules based on Chris Lord-Alge’s favorite studio gear, with routing for blending and sending delays to reverbs.
Purpose and Design
CLA Epic combines four delay modules—SLAP, THROW, TAPE, CROWD—and four reverb modules—PLATE, ROOM, HALL, SPACE—into a single plugin. Each module is modeled on Chris Lord-Alge’s hardware settings, capturing his signature approach to creating space and dimension in mixes.
The plugin is built for blending multiple effects creatively. You can activate any combination of the eight modules and adjust their levels using console-style faders, mimicking how Lord-Alge balances multiple effects on his mixing console to achieve his known depth of sound.
Key Capabilities
A central feature is the ability to route delays into reverbs. You can send any delay to the output, to one or more reverbs, or to everything simultaneously with a button click. This internal routing eliminates complex DAW setups that would otherwise take hours to configure.
Each effect module includes familiar parameters plus modulation controls for adding texture and spread. The plugin ships with Chris Lord-Alge’s default settings for each effect, so you can load it and blend immediately without deep tweaking, though deeper adjustments are available.
Workflow
The typical workflow involves loading CLA Epic on a track—vocals, drums, guitars, or synths—then activating the desired delay and reverb modules. Start with the default presets, use the faders to blend effects, and explore send routing to create cohesive spatial depth within seconds.
For advanced control, you can adjust modulation and other parameters per module. The plugin includes over 350 presets: 50 crafted by Lord-Alge for vocals, drums, guitars, and keyboards, and more than 300 from producers like Greg Wells and Michael Brauer, offering quick starting points for various sources.
Practical Applications
CLA Epic is suited for mixing and production across genres, particularly where a large, epic sound is desired—such as rock, pop, and cinematic tracks. Use it on lead vocals for depth, on drums for room feel, or on synths for expansive textures, as the source suggests flexibility across instruments.
The internal delay-to-reverb sends allow you to create complex effect chains in seconds, making it efficient for busy sessions. Its CPU-friendly design permits multiple instances if needed, and the plugin is designed to open the gate to more depth in your mixes according to the publisher.
Key features
- Eight effect modules: four delays (SLAP, THROW, TAPE, CROWD) and four reverbs (PLATE, ROOM, HALL, SPACE)
- Blend and layer effects using console-type faders
- Send any delay to any reverb with a button click
- Modulation control per effect for added texture
- 50 presets by Chris Lord-Alge
- Over 300 presets by Greg Wells, Michael Brauer, and others
- Based on Chris Lord-Alge’s favorite studio gear
Best for
CLA Epic is ideal for producers and engineers seeking Chris Lord-Alge’s signature depth in a single plugin. It excels on vocals, drums, and guitars in rock, pop, and cinematic productions, offering rapid routing and blending that saves time while achieving professional space.