Overview
Hardwave WettBoi is a combined reverb and delay plug-in aimed at hard-dance producers. It ships as a VST3 and CLAP binary for Windows, macOS and Linux. The current stable version is 0.4.5 and it is sold for EUR 19.99 (regular price EUR 29.99).
Installation
- Create a Hardwave account. The free Analyser is included, and a Pro subscription unlocks all paid plug-ins.
- Download the Hardwave Suite installer from https://hardwavestudios.com/downloads. The Suite is the only installer; individual plug-ins are not downloaded separately.
- Run the installer and sign in with your Hardwave account.
- In the Suite interface locate WettBoi and press Install. The Suite copies the VST3 and CLAP files to the standard plug-in folders for your OS:
Windows - C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 and C:\Program Files\Common Files\CLAP (mirrored to the per-user folder). macOS - ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3 and ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/CLAP. * Linux - ~/.vst3 and ~/.clap.
- If your DAW does not automatically detect the new plug-in, perform a plug-in rescan in the DAW's plug-in manager and then load WettBoi on a track.
First-run warnings Windows will flag the installer as from an unknown publisher. Click More info then Run anyway. macOS will block the app. Right-click the installer, choose Open, then confirm in the dialog.
Core Controls
WettBoi combines two processing sections - Reverb and Delay - each with its own set of parameters. Below are the most frequently used controls and their defaults.
Reverb Section
| Control | Default | Range | Unit |
|---|
| Reverb On | true | - | - |
| Reverb Type | Room | - | - |
| Pre-Delay | 18.0 | 0 - 200 | ms |
| Size | 65.0 | 0 - 100 | % |
| Decay | 2.4 | 0.1 - 20 | s |
| Damp | 40.0 | 0 - 100 | % |
| Width | 120.0 | 0 - 200 | % |
| Rev Wet | 70.0 | 0 - 100 | % |
| Freeze | false | - | - |
| Rev EQ HP | 20.0 | 20 - 2000 | Hz |
| Rev EQ LP | 18000.0 | 1000 - 20000 | Hz |
Delay Section
| Control | Default | Range | Unit |
|---|
| Delay On | true | - | - |
| Delay Sync | true | - | - |
| Delay L | 400.0 | 1 - 2000 | ms |
| Delay R | 600.0 | 1 - 2000 | ms |
| Note L | Eighth | - | - |
| Note R | DottedEighth | - | - |
| Feedback | 35.0 | 0 - 95 | % |
| Delay HP | 120.0 | 20 - 2000 | Hz |
| Delay LP | 8000.0 | 1000 - 20000 | Hz |
| Ping Pong | true | - | - |
| Dly Wet | 55.0 | 0 - 100 | % |
| Mod Rate | 0.5 | 0.01 - 10 | Hz |
| Mod Depth | 0.0 | 0 - 100 | % |
| Saturation | 0.0 | 0 - 100 | % |
| Mix | 75.0 | 0 - 100 | % |
Side-Chain Ducker
WettBoi includes a built-in side-chain ducker that can be used to tame the reverb or delay when a kick or bass hits.
| Control | Default | Range | Unit |
|---|
| SC Threshold | -18.0 | -60 - 0 | dB |
| SC Attack | 2.5 | 0.1 - 50 | ms |
| SC Hold | 60.0 | 0 - 500 | ms |
| SC Release | 280.0 | 10 - 2000 | ms |
| SC Source | Internal | - | - |
Setup steps
- Enable SC Threshold (set to a negative value, e.g., -18 dB).
- Choose the side-chain source: Internal uses the plug-in's own input; you can also route an external kick or bass track to the side-chain input of WettBoi in your DAW.
- Adjust Attack, Hold, and Release to shape how quickly the ducker reacts and recovers. Short attack and release give a tight pumping effect; longer values smooth the transition.
- Fine-tune Threshold so the reverb or delay level drops only when the side-chain source exceeds the set level.
Practical Tips for Hard-Dance Mixes
Short pre-delay (10-30 ms) keeps the reverb tight and preserves the punch of the kick. Set Size around 60 % and Decay between 1.5 s and 3 s for a spacious but controlled tail. Use Width above 100 % to widen the reverb without losing mono focus in the low end. For classic "big room" sounds, enable Freeze on the reverb and automate Rev Wet to open on breakdowns. Pair the delay with Ping Pong enabled and set Delay L and Delay R to complementary rhythmic values (e.g., 400 ms left, 600 ms right) for a moving stereo effect. Apply a gentle Delay HP (around 200 Hz) to keep low frequencies clean, and a Delay LP (around 8 kHz) to avoid harshness. Use the side-chain ducker on the Rev Wet or Dly Wet parameter to create rhythmic pumping that follows the kick pattern. When mixing a bassline, lower the Damp and Rev EQ HP to keep the low end tight, while raising the high-frequency EQ points for clarity. * Experiment with the LFO targeting Rev Wet or Dly Wet for subtle movement; set LFO Rate between 0.5 Hz and 2 Hz for a slow wobble.
By following the installation steps, understanding the key parameters, and applying the side-chain ducker, you can integrate WettBoi into hard-dance productions with confidence.