I have the Waves LA-2A which is supposed to be a legend for vox. I always get noise with it in the quiet parts of my vocal track. I don't crank it, I use a preset and tweak a little. Noise issue aside, I don't hear the magic, either. I also have Waves Gold which includes the Neve 1073 and experience the same thing with it. I've auditioned a Fairchild 670, same thing. Renaissance vox is okay noise wise, but a very processed sound. I do blues and other roots music, so I don't want a processed sound, but that's what I always get if anything. I'm never happy with the reverb, either (Waves Renaissance), I use it sparingly, you can't tell it's there unless you A-B. Ambience free reverb has worked a little better, but it's still ho-hum.

Maybe my problem lies elsewhere. Maybe my recording isn't good and I don't realize it. My singing isn't that good, but sometimes I get lucky and it is (I think) passable. Any help appreciated.

Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak