Install, Activate or Update SoundGrid Rack for VENUE

Jul 09, 2025

Learn how to install, activate, or update Waves SoundGrid Rack for VENUE on Avid VENUE S6L consoles. Choose the relevant VENUE / Waves software version below to download and find detailed instructions.

For more information, see SoundGrid Rack for VENUE Support Notes.

VENUE 8 or higher / V15 Waves SoundGrid Rack for VENUE with V15-V14 plugins - Fresh Install or Update

Important Notes:

System Requirements: VENUE 8 and above, 8GB RAM. If you have VENUE 7.1, follow the instructions in the appropriate section.
The console must be equipped with two AVB cards.
SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V15 is compatible with Waves V16, V15, and V14 plugins only.

Step #1 – Update your SoundGrid Rack for VENUE to V15

Follow these steps on any online computer or mobile device, not on the console.

If you have a SoundGrid Rack for VENUE subscription license, it is automatically updated to V15 in your account. Re-sync the licenses on your device as instructed in the second section below (Step #2 – Install and activate SoundGrid Rack for VENUE and V15-V14 plugins on the Avid VENUE S6L console).
If you own a SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V10/V14 license, follow these steps to update it to V15:
- To update the license, please make sure it is covered by the Waves Update Plan. If it is not covered, renew your Waves Update Plan here.
- Once your Waves Update Plan for this product is renewed, visit this page to update your SoundGrid Rack for VENUE license to V15.

Step #2 – Install and activate SoundGrid Rack for VENUE and V15-V14 plugins on the Avid VENUE S6L console

Follow these steps on any online computer (not on the console).
1. Download and install Waves Central for Mac | Windows.
  If you already have Waves Central installed, skip to step 2.
2. Launch Waves Central. Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
  Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
3. Connect your USB flash drive.
  If it’s not formatted to ExFAT, refer to this article.
4. Select the Licenses page.
5. Select My License Cloud or Connected Devices, depending on where your licenses are located.
6. Choose the SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V15 and any other plugin licenses you wish to use.
7. On the right, under Target Device for Licenses, select the USB flash drive as the target drive.
8. Click Activate. You will be prompted once the process is complete.
The products you have selected are now activated on your USB flash drive.
Follow these steps on any online computer (not on the console);
1. Plug in your USB flash drive.
2. Download one of these offline installer/s:
  1. SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V15 offline installer (does not include plugins)
  2. SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V15 offline installer including V16 plugins:
    - SoundGrid Rack for VENUE
    - Mercury Bundle
    - Abbey Road Collection
    - Studio Classics Collection
  3. SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V15 offline installer including V15 plugins:
    - SoundGrid Rack for VENUE
    - Mercury Bundle
    - Abbey Road Collection
    - Studio Classics Collection
3. Extract the downloaded zipped folders on your Mac or PC.
4. Copy the extracted ‘Waves’ folder to your USB flash drive.
  The Waves folder must be placed at the root level of the USB drive. Do not place it inside any other folder.
5. Skip to ‘Install SoundGrid Rack for VENUE on the console’ below.

1. Back in Waves Central, go to the Offline Installer page, click Create.
2. In the My Products tab, in the View menu, make sure that V15/V14 Plugins and SoundGrid Applications are selected.
3. Select SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V15 and any V15/V14 plugins you wish to include in the offline installer package.
4. De-select any SD or HD sample libraries that are installed with bundles you own by clicking them.
  A “No sample library will be installed” notice will appear on the right panel requiring your approval
  - Click ‘I understand’.
5. Under Target OS, select Windows.
  The default location for creating an offline installer is:
  - Windows: desktop
  - Mac: System HD > Users > Current User > Public
6. Check ‘I understand’ on the notice regarding licenses on the right panel.
7. Click Create an installer.
8. Plug in your USB flash drive.
9. Copy the Waves folder to the USB flash drive.
  The Waves folder must be placed at the root level of the USB drive. Do not place it inside any other folder
10. Continue to “Now Install SoundGrid Rack for VENUE on the console” below.
1. Plug your USB flash drive into the S6L.
2. In the Venue software, go to Option > System.
3. Enter CONFIG mode and press Update.
Important: Don’t skip the next step in order to ensure that the Waves Central installed on the console is compatible with the offline installer.
1. Choose Install Waves Central.
  This action copies and installs the latest version of Waves Central from the offline installer. When installation is complete, you can proceed directly to Waves Central.
  If you cancelled Auto Launch, choose Launch Waves Central here: Option/Devices/Network Cards/Waves WSG-HD > Settings.
2. In Waves Central, access the Offline Installer page. Under ‘Install from an Offline Installer’, click Browse.
3. Browse to your USB flash drive, highlight the ‘Waves’ folder, and click Select Folder.
4. From the product list, select SoundGrid Rack for VENUE, if plugins are included, select them as well.
5. Click Install.
6. Once installation is complete, restart the console.
7. Make sure the USB drive with your licenses is connected to the S6L console.
8. In VENUE, enter CONFIG mode and go to Options > Plugins, select WaveShellSoundGridRack-AAX xx.x.aaxplugin*.
9. Choose Install.
* VENUE does not display individual Waves plugins. Instead it indicates WaveShellSoundGridRack-AAX xx.x.aaxplugin.
1. In the VENUE software, enter CONFIG mode, go to Options > Devices, click on the WSG HD IO card.
2. In Settings tab and click Launch Waves Central.
3. Waves Central will load and prompt that ‘an update is available’.
  Wait at least 3 minutes for the download to finish, restart the console and re-launch Waves Central (steps 1-2).
  
  At this point Waves Central should load in the latest available version. If Waves Central did not finish updating, repeat this step but at least 5 minutes this time, then restart the console and re-launch Waves Central (steps 1-2).
4. Log in to your account, go to the Install Products page, select SoundGrid Rack for VENUE and your V15/V14 plugins and click Install & Activate.
5. Restart the console.
6. In VENUE, enter CONFIG mode and go to Options > Plugins, select WaveShellSoundGridRack-AAX xx.x.aaxplugin*
7. Choose Install.
* VENUE does not display individual Waves plugins. Instead it indicates WaveShellSoundGridRack-AAX xx.x.aaxplugin.

Step #3

Restart the surface and engine of your S6L.

Step #4 – Update the firmware of the WSG HD I/O and of the SoundGrid Server

On the S6L console, go to Options > Devices.
Enter CONFIG mode.
Select the WSG HD I/O card.
Go to Settings and click on SoundGrid Inventory.
Under Device, assign the Avid WSG-HD I/O card. In VENUE 8, the WSG-HD I/O firmware is updated automatically.
Under Servers, assign your server to slot 1.
When prompted that a new firmware is available, click Update.
The server will restart itself automatically when the update is complete.

Once done, both the I/O and SoundGrid Server should be assigned and ready for use.
You can now use the SoundGrid Rack for Venue on your channels.

VENUE 7.1 or higher / V14 Waves SoundGrid Rack for VENUE with V15-V14 plugins - Fresh Install or Update

Important Notes:

System Requirements: VENUE 7.1.0.53 and above, 8GB RAM.
The console must be equipped with two AVB cards.
SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V14 is compatible with Waves V15 - V13 plugins only
Known issue: SoundGrid Rack for Venue V14 software with V15 license:
SoundGrid Rack for Venue V15 license will not work with SoundGrid Rack for Venue V14.
To use a SoundGrid Rack for Venue V15 license on a console that has V14 installed, please contact Waves Tech Support for assistance with implementing a fix.
The SG Rack For Venue V14 offline installer does not include plugins that were released after September 2022. To install plugins released after September 2022, use Waves Central on a different computer to create a dedicated offline installer or connect the console to the internet and install the plugins using Waves Central's online installation option.

Step #1 – Update your SoundGrid Rack for VENUE license to the latest version

Follow these steps on any online computer or mobile device, not on the console.

If you have a SoundGrid Rack for VENUE subscription license, it is automatically updated to the latest version (V15) in your account. Re-sync the licenses on your device as instructed in the second section below (Step #2 – Install and activate SoundGrid Rack for VENUE and V15-V14 plugins on the Avid VENUE S6L console).
If you own a SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V10 license, follow these steps to update it to the latest version (V15):
- To update the license, please make sure it is covered by the Waves Update Plan. If it is not covered, renew your Waves Update Plan here.
- Once your Waves Update Plan for this product is renewed, visit this page to update your SoundGrid Rack for VENUE license to V15.

Step #2 – Install and activate SoundGrid Rack for VENUE and V15-V14 plugins on the Avid VENUE S6L console

Important! Make sure that your console is running software version VENUE 7.1.0.53 or higher.

Prepare a USB flash drive (‘ExFat’ formatted) to hold the offline installer/s and to activate your SoundGrid Rack for VENUE license.
If you wish, you can use 2 USB drives: one for storing the SoundGrid Rack for VENUE and/or plugin licenses, and another to hold the offline installer/s.

Follow these steps on any online computer (not on the console).
1. Download and install Waves Central for Mac | Windows.
  If you already have Waves Central installed, skip to step 2.
2. Launch Waves Central. Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
  Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
3. Connect your USB flash drive.
  If it’s not formatted to ExFAT, refer to this article.
4. Select the Licenses page.
5. Select My License Cloud or Connected Devices, depending on where your licenses are located.
6. Choose the SoundGrid Rack for VENUE and any other plugin licenses you wish to use.
7. On the right, under Target Device for Licenses, select the USB flash drive as the target drive.
8. Click Activate. You will be prompted once the process is complete.
The products you have selected are now activated on your USB flash drive.
Follow these steps on any online computer (not on the console);
1. Plug in your USB flash drive.
2. Download one of these offline installer/s:
  - SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V14 offline installer (does not include plugins)
  - SoundGrid Rack for VENUE V14 offline installer including:
    - SoundGrid Rack for VENUE
    - Mercury Bundle
    - Abbey Road Collection
    - Studio Classics Collection
3. Extract the downloaded zipped folders on your Mac or PC.
4. Copy the extracted ‘Waves’ folder to your USB flash drive.
  The Waves folder must be placed at the root level of the USB drive. Do not place it inside any other folder.
5. Skip to ‘Now Install SoundGrid Rack for VENUE on the console’ below.

1. Connect your USB flash drive to the console.
2. In the Venue software, go to Option > System.
3. Enter CONFIG mode and press Update.
Important: Don’t skip the next step in order to ensure that the Waves Central installed on the console is compatible with the offline installer.
1. Choose Install Waves Central.
  This action copies and installs the latest version of Waves Central from the offline installer. When installation is complete, you can proceed directly to Waves Central.
  If you cancelled Auto Launch, choose Launch Waves Central here: Option/Devices/Network Cards/Waves WSG-HD > Settings.
2. In Waves Central, access the Offline Installer page. Under ‘Install from an Offline Installer’, click Browse.
3. Browse to your USB flash drive, highlight the ‘Waves’ folder, and click Select Folder.
4. From the product list, select SoundGrid Rack for VENUE, if plugins are included, select them as well.
5. Click Install.
6. Once installation is complete, restart the console.
7. Make sure the USB drive with your licenses is connected to the S6L console.
8. In VENUE, enter CONFIG mode and go to Options > Plugins, select WaveShellSoundGridRack-AAX 14.4.aaxplugin*.
9. Choose Install.
* VENUE does not display individual Waves plugins. Instead it indicates WaveShellSoundGridRack-AAX xx.x.aaxplugin.

Step #3 – Update the firmware of the WSG HD I/O and of the SoundGrid Server

On the S6L console, go to Options > Devices.
Enter CONFIG mode.
Select the WSG HD I/O card.
Go to Settings and click on SoundGrid Inventory.
Under Device, assign the Avid WSG-HD I/O card.
When prompted that a new firmware is available, click Update.
When the update is done, restart the console and its engine.
Go back to the SoundGrid Inventory.
Under Servers, assign your server to slot 1.
When prompted that a new firmware is available, click Update.
The server will restart itself automatically when the update is complete.

In case you receive an error message during the update that the ‘storage device is missing’ or that ‘no new FW version is available’, refer to this Support article for detailed instructions.

Once done, both the I/O and SoundGrid Server should be assigned and ready for use.
You can now use the SoundGrid Rack for Venue on your channels.

VENUE 7.0 and below / V10 Waves SoundGrid Rack for VENUE with V10 plugins - Fresh Install or Update

Important Notes:
- Running Waves on VENUE 7 requires your S6L to have 8GB of RAM.
  Older S6L control surfaces from 2019 and earlier use a now-discontinued motherboard with only 4GB of RAM. For more information, please contact Avid Support.
- Activation and installation of SoundGrid Rack for Venue V10 on VENUE S6L V6-V7 is only supported in an offline manner, by using a USB thumb drive to hold your licenses and install via the dedicated V10 offline installer.
To install SoundGrid Inventory, SoundGrid Rack, and Waves plugins to VENUE, you must download the dedicated offline installer for V10, using a computer that’s connected to the internet (not the VENUE computer).
Prepare two ‘ExFat’ formatted USB flash drives for this installation: one for the licenses and one for the offline installer.
Do this on the computer that’s connected to the internet:
1. Download and install Waves Central for Mac | Windows.
  If you already have Waves Central installed, skip to step 2.
2. Launch Waves Central.
  Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
  Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
3. Connect the first USB flash drive. This is your licenses drive, mark it accordingly.
4. Select the Licenses page.
5. Select Not Activated or Connected Devices, depending on where your licenses are located.
6. Choose the licenses you want to move.
7. On the right, under Target Device for Licenses, select the USB flash drive as the target drive.
8. Click Activate. You will be prompted once the process is complete. The products you have selected are now activated on your USB flash drive.
9. Download the dedicated V10 offline installer (includesSoundGrid Rack for VENUE and all compatible plugins).
10. Plug in the second USB flash drive. This will be your installer drive, mark it accordingly.
11. Extract the downloaded zipped folder on your Mac or PC. The extracted folder will be named "Waves".
12. Copy this Waves folder to the second USB flash drive. The Waves folder must be placed at the root level of the USB drive. Do not place it inside any other folder.
Do this on the VENUE console:
1. Make sure that the console is not online. If it is, Waves Central will ask for an update which cannot be used with your Venue software version.
2. Plug the second USB flash drive (the installer drive) into the S6L.
3. Go to “Option/System.”
4. Enter the CONFIG mode and press “Update.”
5. Choose “Install Waves Central.” This action copies and installs Waves Central from the offline installer. When installation is complete, you can proceed directly to Waves Central. If you cancelled Auto Launch, choose “Launch Waves Central” from the Settings panel “Option/Devices/Network Cards/Waves WSG-HD/Settings.”
6. In Waves Central, access the Offline Installer page. Under Install from an Offline Installer, click Browse.
7. Browse to the installer USB drive and in the "Waves" folder, click Select Folder.
8. From the list, select the products you wish to install.
9. From the product list, choose “SoundGrid Rack for VENUE” and all of the bundles/plugins you wish to Install.
10. Click Install.
11. Once installation is complete, restart the console.
12. Plug the first USB Flash drive (the licenses drive) into the S6L.
13. In VENUE, go to Options/Plugins, select “WaveShell SoundGrid Rack,” and choose “Install.”
  
  Note: VENUE does not display individual Waves plugins. Instead it indicates “WaveShellSoundGridRack-AAX.”
Important note: V9 SoundGrid Rack for Venue and plugins are only compatible with VENUE 5.7 – 6.0 software.
Software installation requires a computer that’s connected to the internet. As part of the process, you’ll download an offline installer with which you can install Waves Central, all software, and licenses to the VENUE console.
Please make sure that your plugin and SoundGrid Rack for Venue licenses are all V9, V10 or V11 licenses, in the My Products page.
You will be installing V9 software, but the V11 and V10 licenses will activate the V9 plugins and SoundGrid Rack.
Note that plugins released in V10 and V11 will not be available in this setup.
A fresh install means that no Waves software is installed on VENUE. To install SoundGrid Inventory, SoundGrid Rack, and Waves plugins to VENUE, you must download an offline installer using a computer that’s connected to the internet (not the VENUE computer).
Prepare two ‘ExFat’ formatted USB flash drives for this installation: one for the licenses and one for the offline installer.
Important Notice:
If your console is online, Waves Central will notify you that there is a new version of Waves Central available.
Do NOT try to download or install the new version of Waves Central on your console. It is not compatible with your VENUE 5.7 - 6.0 software.
To install Waves V9 software using the existing offline installer, please temporally disconnect the console from the internet. If you need to activate Waves V9 licenses, please do so on a separate computer with a USB flash drive.
Do this on the computer that’s connected to the internet:
1. Download and install Waves Central for Mac | Windows.
  If you already have Waves Central installed, skip to step 2.
2. Launch Waves Central.
  Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
  Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
3. Connect the first USB flash drive. This is your licenses drive, mark it accordingly.
4. Select the Licenses page.
5. Select Not Activated or Connected Devices, depending on where your licenses are located.
6. Choose the licenses you want to move.
7. On the right, under Target Device for Licenses, select the USB flash drive as the target drive.
8. Click Activate. You will be prompted once the process is complete. The products you have selected are now activated on your USB flash drive.
9. Use a dedicated V9 offline installer with SoundGrid Rack for VENUE and all compatible plugins, download the dedicated V9 installer and follow steps a-d below.
  - Plug in the second USB flash drive. This will be your installer drive, mark it accordingly.
  - Extract the downloaded zipped folder on your Mac or PC. The extracted folder will be named "Waves".
  - Copy this Waves folder to the second USB flash drive. The Waves folder must be placed at the root level of the USB drive. Do not place it inside any other folder.
  - Skip to “Do this in the VENUE console” below
Do this on the VENUE console:
1. Make sure that the console is not online. If it is, Waves Central will ask for an update which cannot be used with your Venue software version.
2. Plug the second USB flash drive (the installer drive) into the S6L.
3. Go to “Option/System.”
4. Enter the CONFIG mode and press “Update.”
5. Select “Install” from the Install menu.
6. On the left-hand panel, choose Select Offline Installer.
7. When prompted, highlight the Waves folder you've moved to the USB Drive and click Select folder/Open.
8. Once installation is complete, restart the console.
9. Plug the first USB Flash drive (the licenses drive) into the S6L.
10. In VENUE, go to Options/Plugins, select “WaveShell SoundGrid Rack,” and choose “Install.”

Need more assistance? Contact Technical Support.