Waves swaps plugins for hardware as it announces an optimised music-making PC

Music software companies moving into hardware is nothing new, but we can’t recall a plugin developer releasing its own computer before. Waves Audio is doing just that, though: the Waves Axis One is a Windows 10 PC that’s optimised to run its products.

The machine has been custom-designed and is built into a rugged half-rack 2U case. It’s designed to be used for live sound, broadcast and studio work, and promises rock-solid performance. It can also be used as the centrepiece of a Waves SoundGrid system.

The specs are as follows:

  • Computer optimized to run Waves software applications
  • Intel® i5 8500 Processor
  • 16GB DDR4 RAM
  • 256GB SSD internal storage
  • Windows 10
  • 2 HDMI ports, 1 display port
  • 1 SoundGrid port (EtherCon connector), 1 Ethernet port (RJ45 connector)
  • 8 USB2/USB3 ports, 1 USB-C port
  • Rack-mountable case, 2U half-rack

The Waves Axis One can be pre-ordered now for $1,499 and will be shipping in early 2019.  

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.