Waves V12 – Frequently Asked Questions

To make sure that your computer, operating system and DAW versions are compatible with Waves V12 software, please refer to our System Requirements and Supported Hosts pages.

Important note:

Waves V12 is officially supported on Windows 10 and macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 and up. V12 is not officially supported on operating systems earlier than Windows 10 (e.g., Windows 7, 8.0 and 8.1) and earlier than macOS High Sierra 10.13.6.

V12 plugins are fully supported in these applications:

• StudioRack V12 and V11
• SoundGrid Studio V12 and V11
• SuperRack V12 and V11
• eMotion LV1 V12 and V11

V12 plugins are not supported in the following application versions:

• MultiRack V9
• SoundGrid Studio V9
• StudioRack V9
• eMotion LV1 V9 and V10

We recommend that you do not install V12 plugins on a system where you intend to use them inside these older application versions.

Important: V12 licenses will successfully activate V12.7, V12.0, V11, V10 or V9 plugins. This means that even if you use an application such as MultiRack which doesn’t support V12, you can still update your licenses to V12, and use the same V12 licenses to activate both V12 plugins (for example, on a machine where you are running a DAW such as Pro Tools) and your V10 plugins (for example, on the machine where you are running MultiRack). To find out whether a certain plugin exists in a legacy version, visit the version's download page, and scroll down to the bottom.

Updating to V12 will give you access to the latest features added to Waves plugins, including:

• Plugin resizing
• New plugin preset browser: Find & audition presets quickly via text search
• New in V12.7: New user preset system: Save, load & share your own presets intuitively
• New in V12.7: HiDPI graphics added to Waves Tune Real-Time and all four SSL plugins
• Plugins added to premium bundles
• Many bug fixes and performance improvements: see list
• Access to our new series of Waves Premium Masterclasses

Discover more about the new features here

No, this update is not mandatory – although we do always recommend updating to the latest version.

Operating systems and DAWs are constantly being updated. In order to make sure that your Waves software is fully compatible with all the latest OS and DAW revisions, we do recommend that you update all of your Waves plugins to V12, as long as your operating system and DAW can support this version.

That said, as long as there are no changes to your current system, your current Waves version should continue to work as usual, so this update is not mandatory.

Note that new products and software updates will be added to V12 only, so updating means you can continue to enjoy all future plugins and updates.

Updating to V12 will give you access to the latest features added to Waves plugins, including:

• Plugin resizing
• New plugin preset browser: Find & audition presets quickly via text search
• New in V12.7: New user preset system: Save, load & share your own presets intuitively
• New in V12.7: HiDPI graphics added to Waves Tune Real-Time and all four SSL plugins
• Plugins added to premium bundles
• Access to our new series of Waves Premium Masterclasses
• And more

Please Note: If the ‘Updates Available’ button at the top of Waves Central appears, this means that there are updates available for you within the same major version – for example, from V12.0 to V12.7. Pressing this button will not in any way force you to update from V11 to V12.

IF YOUR LICENSES ARE V11 OR BELOW

Step 1: Ensure that your system and DAW support V12.7 plugins.

Step 2:

• If your licenses are covered by the Waves Update Plan, update them to V12 for free.
• If your licenses are not covered, renew your Waves Update Plan, then update to V12.

Step 3: Install & activate the latest V12.7 plugin software via Waves Central.

IF YOUR LICENSES ARE ALREADY V12

Step 1: Ensure that your system and DAW support V12.7 plugins.

Step 2: Update your V12 software to 12.7 for FREE by clicking ‘Updates Available’ in the Waves Central application.p>

Please Note:

• If the ‘Updates Available’ button at the top of Waves Central appears, this means that there are updates available for you within the same major version – for example, from V12.0 to V12.7. Pressing this button will not in any way force you to update from V11 to V12.
• V12 plugins are fully supported in the current V12 versions of the Waves SuperRack, eMotion LV1, SoundGrid Studio and StudioRack applications.
• V12 licenses will activate V12, V11, V10 or V9 plugins. For example: You can take your V12 licenses to one machine where you installed V12 software, and then move the licenses to another machine where you have V10 software installed – the V12 licenses will activate the plugins on both systems.

If you have found that your setup is supported with software version 12.0 only (in the system requirements or Supported Hosts page) refer to the ‘How to Install V12.0’ article for a full set of instructions.

Not sure which license version/s you have, or whether your products are covered by the Waves Update Plan?
Refer to this guide for a comprehensive set of instructions on how to check, update, install and activate your Waves licenses. This guide will help you check your current license versions, activation status, and Waves Update Plan coverage.

To renew your Waves Update Plan coverage, go to the Get Waves Update Plan page in your Waves account.

Once you’ve renewed your Waves Update Plan, you can update your licenses to V12 on the Get Latest Version page in your account.

Once your licenses are up to date, install & activate your products on your computer.

Learn more about the Waves Update Plan.

No. The new Waves Central (V12) will not update your Waves software (for example, from V11 to V12).

If you want to install a new V12 plugin or bundle, but you don’t want to update your existing plugins – Waves Central will allow you to do that. Simply install the new V12 plugin – Waves Central will leave you with your old V9, V10 or V11 software, without updating them to V12.

Please note: If the ‘Updates Available’ button at the top of Waves Central appears, this means that there are updates available for you within the same major version – for example, from V12.0 to V12.7. Pressing this button will not in any way force you to update from V11 to V12.

No. When you buy, upgrade or register a new Waves license, it comes with one free year of Waves Update Plan coverage. Any license covered by the Waves Update Plan can be updated to V12 for free, at the Get Latest Version section of your Waves account.

Important note regarding Bundle Upgrades: When you upgrade your existing plugins or bundle licenses to a bigger bundle, the new bundle license to which you’ve upgraded is registered automatically as the latest version, V12, and receives one free year of the Waves Update Plan coverage. In that case, you don’t need to update your new bundle license to V12 – just install & activate the new V12 bundle on your computer.

There are a few possible scenarios:

1. Look at the ‘Install Products’ page of Waves Central:
   • V12 (12.7), V11 and V10 licenses will show on the ‘Install Products’ page and can be installed and activated directly from this page.
   • V12.0 software can be installed only using a dedicated offline installer, available with instructions on the V12.0 Legacy Download page.
   • V9 licenses will not show on the ‘Install Products’ page – you will find them in the ‘Licenses’ page.
   • V9 software can be installed only using dedicated offline installers, available with instructions on the V9 Legacy Downloads page.
   • V10 and V11 software can be installed either online or by using dedicated offline installers, available with instructions on each version's download page.
2. You might have multiple accounts
   Make sure that the products you are looking for are registered to the same account you're logged into in Waves Central. Visit the My Product page of your Waves.com account to check whether the licenses are registered to this account.

If the licenses are not there, they might be registered to a different account that you have. If you need assistance, contact our Technical Support team.

Not to worry! V12 licenses can activate V9, V10 and V11 software.

First, activate your V12 license/s to your computer or USB device.

Next, install the plugins version compatible with your system - see instructions per version here: V12 |V11 | V10 | V9

Please note:

• Products released after June 10, 2018 are not available in V9.
• Products released after October 28, 2019 are not available in V9 or V10.
• Products released after October 19, 2020 are not available in V9, V10 or V11.
• To find out whether a certain plugin exists in a legacy version, visit that version's download page, and scroll down to the bottom.

Learn how you can Move Your Licenses between devices.

Before installing or updating to V12, check our System Requirements and Supported Hosts pages to make sure that your system and DAW are compatible with Waves V12.

Multiple plugin versions can run on the same system, as long as you don't install two (or more) versions of the same plugin. Each plugin should be installed as either V9.92 or V10 or V11, but not more than one version.
For example: Version 9.92 of the J37 Tape plugin and version 10 of the CLA-2A plugin can run on the same system. Version 9.92 of J37 and version 10 of J37 can't.

Please note:

• Software versions earlier than 9.92 cannot co-exist with software versions V10, V11, or V12. If you wish to run V9 side by side with newer versions – please install version 9.92
• For this reason, installing new versions alongside V9 may cause temporary loss of access to the V9 plugins on systems that do support both versions. We are aware of this issue and it can be repaired by reinstalling V9.92 plugins or contacting Tech Support.

If the computer you are using is also used by others (for example in a commercial studio, school system, rental company, etc.), we highly recommend that you run Waves Central’s Version Organizer Version Organizer (in Waves Central’s ‘Settings’ page) after moving licenses, to make sure your license version/s and the installed software version/s are aligned.
For more information please refer to this page.

Waves Central no longer asks if you wish to uninstall all previous plugin version when updating to or installing V12.

• If you have updated all of your licenses to V12, you can safely uninstall all of your V9 and/or V10 plugins.
• If you haven't already updated your licenses, get the latest license version.
• If you are installing a new V12 product on your system. one that had never been installed as before, it's OK to keep your older software installed.

Please keep in mind:

Multiple versions of plugins can run on the same system, as long as you don't install two (or more) versions of the same plugin. Each plugin should be installed as either V10, V11 or V12, but not more than one version.

For example: Version 10 of the J37 Tape plugin and version 12 of the CLA-2A plugin can run on the same system. Version 10 of J37 and version 12 of J37 can't.

If the computer you are using is also used by others (for example in a commercial studio, school system, rental company, etc.), we highly recommend that you run Waves Central’s Version Organizer Version Organizer (in Waves Central’s ‘Settings’ page) after moving licenses, to make sure your license version/s and the installed software version/s are aligned.
For more information please refer to this page.

It's OK, you can get there at your own pace 😊.

V9 plugins can be installed via Waves Central, using a dedicated V9 offline installer available on the V9 Legacy Downloads page.

V10 and V11 plugins can be installed online, via Waves Central, or by using a dedicated offline installer available on each version's download page.

You can manage your licenses on the Licenses page in Waves Central.
See the Move Licenses support article for precise instructions on how to manage your Waves licenses.

Waves Central can create offline installers for versions 10-12.
If you wish to install V10, V11 or V12 software, you can do so either by creating an offline installer, or using a dedicated offline installer available on the version's download page.
If you need to install V9 software, you can do so using a dedicated V9 offline installer, available on the V9 Legacy Downloads page.

Each plugin license covered by the Waves Update Plan is eligible for a 2nd bonus license, which you can use on different devices.

If you have previous 2nd licenses from earlier versions on different devices, they will be removed from your account once the primary license has been updated to the latest version (V12).

Your V11 Waves Music Maker Access subscription license will be updated to a V12 license automatically, the next time you launch Waves Central and log in.

The activated V11 license/s will be replaced by activated V12 license/s, but without updating or installing V12 software. (Note that the Platinum V12 license includes new plugins: LoAir, Smack Attack and Submarine, which were not included in Platinum V11.)

If you wish to install the V12 software, please refer to our System Requirements and Supported Hosts pages to make sure that your computer, operating system and DAW versions are compatible with Waves V12.

• If your computer, operating system and DAW are compatible with V12, select your V12 bundle/custom 5-pack plugins in Waves Central’s ‘Install Products’ page and click ‘Install’, or refer to these instructions.
  
  Once the installation is complete, we recommend running Waves Central’s Version Organizer (in Waves Central’s ‘Settings’ page).
  
  
• If they are not compatible with Waves V12, or you wish to stay with your installed version for any other reason, the new V12 license will continue to work and activate with your existing software version – you will experience no change.