Waves Audio, a global leader in professional audio plugin development, is expanding its suite of creative tools with the release of InTrigger, an intelligent drum replacement plugin designed to streamline workflows while maintaining musical nuance.
A statement from the company discloses that InTrigger was created “to make drum triggering faster, easier and more accurate.” At the heart of the plugin is an advanced hit detection engine that eliminates the need for manual threshold adjustments and painstaking editing. It automatically accounts for ghost notes and mic bleed with impressive precision—saving engineers and producers valuable time.
The plugin’s intuitive two-step workflow sets it apart. According to Waves, “You just need to click the Learn button and InTrigger’s smart algorithm automatically detects and categorizes the drum hits. In step two, you assign a new sample. That’s it.” This efficiency allows users to stay focused on the creative process, rather than getting bogged down in technical corrections.
Musicality is a central focus. The built-in Humanize control dynamically adjusts the envelope and tone of each hit in real time, giving programmed drums a natural, expressive feel. Users can also stack up to eight sample layers to achieve greater sonic depth and character.
To enhance the experience further, InTrigger comes with a license for COSMOS, Waves’ A.I.-powered sample manager. Integrated directly into the plugin, COSMOS offers access to 1400 curated one-shot drum samples and allows users to search, audition, and organize their sounds all within the session.
For live sound professionals, Waves is also including a dedicated version: InTrigger Live. Built specifically for Waves’ eMotion LV1 and SuperRack environments, it delivers zero latency and fast, reliable detection. While it omits the Learn and COSMOS features for stage stability, it still supports manual thresholding and up to four sample layers—tailored for real-time performance needs.
Industry professionals are already recognizing InTrigger as a standout tool.
Joe Chiccarelli (Morrissey, The Strokes, Beck) notes, “This is the most comprehensive drum sampler I’ve ever used. Where other drum replacers fall short in nuanced or dynamic performances, InTrigger preserves the drummer’s intent—while letting you layer additional samples on top of the original hits.”
Lu Diaz (DJ Khaled, Pitbull, Beyoncé) echoes that sentiment: “InTrigger not only saves me a ton of time, but its level of customization and detail is on another level.”
Koen Heldens (XXXTentacion, Kanye West) adds, “InTrigger takes drum replacement and augmentation to the next level with zero-threshold hassle… Just dead-on triggering and a smart, effortless workflow.”
Key features include:
- Intelligent hit detection with single-click “Learn” function
- Onset Gate to eliminate mic bleed and false triggers
- Humanize knob for natural tone and feel
- Built-in CR8 sampler for advanced drum layering
- Integrated COSMOS browser for in-context sample auditioning
- InTrigger Live version optimized for stage setups
InTrigger is now available as part of the Waves Ultimate subscription (monthly or annual), and is also included in the Waves Mercury bundle. A perpetual license is available for those who prefer a one-time purchase.
For more information, visit: waves.com/plugins/intrigger-drum-replacer
