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How to Find Your Plugins in a Waves Host Application

May 01, 2023

If you cannot find Waves plugins in eMotion LV1, SuperRack, SoundGrid Studio or StudioRack, follow these instructions to make them available.

Step #1 – Verify the license is activated

  1. First, check whether the plugin license/s are activated on your computer or USB Flash Drive:
  2. Launch Waves Central.
    Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves.
    Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
  3. Log into Waves Central using your Waves account information.
  4. Select the Licenses page.
  5. Select the Connected Devices tab. Use the arrow on the right to expand the list.
  6. Check whether the plugin license/s are activated on one of the connected devices.

If they are not, check if the missing plugin licenses are in the Not Activated tab. If they are not activated, select the license/s and click ‘Activate’.

If not in the Not Activated tab, check if the missing plugin license/s are in a device in the Disconnected Devices tab, if there, refer to this article.

Step #2 – Verify plugin software is correctly installed

First, check whether the relevant plugin file/s are correctly installed on your computer. Go to:

Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Waves\Plug-Ins V14, (or whichever version is installed on your device, V13-V9)
Mac: Macintosh HD > Applications > Waves > Plug-Ins V14, (or whichever version is installed on your device, V13-V9)

The relevant plugin file will be named after the plugin, in this format: [PluginName].bundle. For example, the plugin file for Reel ADT will be named Reel ADT.bundle.

If the plugins you are looking for are not there, install the plugins by following the instructions in this link.

Step #3 – Rescan for Plugins

If the relevant plugin files are in the above folders, perform plugin rescan within your host Application:

  • eMotion LV1 – go to Setup > Mixer Settings > Plugins and click Scan.
  • SuperRack – go to Setup > Settings > Plugins and click Scan.
  • SoundGrid Studio – go to Setup > Plugins and click Scan.

Step #4 – Verify that the rack/channel format (Mono/Stereo, etc.) matches the plugin you are looking for

A given rack/channel will show only the plugin components that are compatible with its format. For example, CLA Effects only has Stereo & Mono-to-stereo components. Therefore, it will not appear in the plugin menu of mono-to-mono racks. If you’re not seeing the plugin you’re looking for after going through steps 1-3, verify that the rack/channel format (Mono/Stereo, etc.) matches the plugin you’re looking for.

  • If you cannot find Waves plugins in MultiRack, follow these instructions to make them available.

    Please note: MultiRack is discontinued. We highly recommend purchasing SuperRack SoundGrid/Native as a replacement.

    Step #1 – Verify the license is activated

    First, check whether the plugin license/s are activated on your computer or USB Flash Drive:

    1. Launch Waves Central.
      Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves.
      Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
    2. Log into Waves Central using your Waves account information.
    3. Select the Licenses page.
    4. Select the Connected Devices tab. Use the arrow on the right to expand the list.
    5. Check if the plugin/s license is activated on one of connected devices.

    If they are not, check whether the missing plugin licenses are in the Not Activated tab. If they are not activated, select the license/s and click ‘Activate’.

    If not in the Not Activated tab, check whether the missing plugin license/s are in a device in the Disconnected Devices tab, if there, refer to this article.

    Step #2 – Verify plugin software is correctly installed

    Please note: MultiRack supports V9 and V10 plugins only.

    First, check whether the relevant plugin file/s are correctly installed on your computer. Go to:

    Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Waves\Plug-Ins V14, (or whichever version is installed on your device, V13-V9)
    Mac: Macintosh HD > Applications > Waves > Plug-Ins V14, (or whichever version is installed on your device, V13-V9)

    The relevant plugin file will be named after the plugin, in this format: [PluginName].bundle. For example, the plugin file for Reel ADT will be named Reel ADT.bundle.

    If the plugins you are looking for are not there, install the plugins via the relevant offline installer in the legacy section of our downloads page.

    Step #3 – Rescan for Plugins

    If the relevant plugin files are in the above folders, perform the following procedure:

    Windows

    1. Quit all applications.
    2. Press [Win key] + R, type %appdata% and press Enter.
    3. Go to Waves Audio > Preferences and delete its content.
    4. In the now empty Preferences folder, create a new text document (right-click > New > Text Document) and name it ForceUseGUIScanner. This document must have a [.txt] extension and should remain empty.
    5. Launch your Waves host application.
    6. If prompted to Locate the Modules Folder, direct to:
      • :C:\Program Files (x86)\Waves\MultiRack\Modules.
    7. If prompted to Locate the Waves Public API (WPAPI) Folder, direct to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\WPAPI.
    8. If prompted to Locate the Waves Plugins Folder, direct to C:\Program Files (x86)\Waves\Plug-Ins V9/V10.

    Mac

    1. Quit all applications.
    2. In Finder, click on the Go menu while holding down [Alt/Option] and click on Library.
    3. Go to Preferences > Waves Preferences and delete its contents.
    4. ICreate an empty text document and name the file ForceUseGUIScanner. This file must have a [.txt] extension and should remain empty. Place this file in the Waves Preferences folder above.
    5. Launch your Waves host application.
    6. If prompted to Locate the Modules Folder, direct to:
      • Macintosh HD > Applications > Waves > MultiRack > Modules
    7. If prompted to Locate the Waves Public API (WPAPI) Folder, direct to Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plug-Ins > WPAPI.
    8. If prompted to Locate the Waves Plugins Folder, direct to Macintosh HD > Applications > Waves > Plug-Ins V9/V10 (or whichever version is installed on your device).

    Step #4 – Verify that the rack format (Mono/Stereo, etc.) matches the plugin you’re looking for

    A given rack will show only the plugin components that are compatible with its format. For example, CLA Effects only has Stereo & Mono-to-stereo components. Therefore, it will not appear in the plugin menu of mono-to-mono racks. If you’re not seeing the plugin you are looking for after going through steps 1-3, then verify that the rack format (Mono/Stereo, etc.) matches the plugin you’re looking for.

None of the above worked? Contact Technical Support.