Can anyone lead me to the actual Waves VST plugin path so I can direct it to my DAW? There are many lengthy VST3's that do nothing. At one time, I briefly saw WAVES VST, but it disappeared. I am using the recent V.R.15 v25.01.23 version.

 

C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3

WaveShell1-VST3 15.0_x64.vst3
WaveShell1-VST3 15.2_x64.vst3
WaveShell2-VST3 15.0_x64.vst3

 

Thanks for responding Radio.

The DAW shows briefly, the scan of WaveShell VST, but does not show up in the DAW itself. Very strange.

 

Waves Complete 2022.03.13 Release
Systematical changes you should know
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Installation Path
In this version of Waves, we found that some paths are hardcoded.
Therefore, installation path will be fixed to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Waves\".
2. VST3
VST3 installation is now required, because some Waves apps loads it.
Unlike other R2R releases, path is fixed to "%COMMONFILES%\VST3\".
Uninstall / Clean Up
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If this is your first Waves install, skip this step.
Run included "R2R_Kill_Waves_Background_Process.cmd".
Uninstall previous release.
Uninstall Waves Central.
Clean Paths:
Your VST2, VST3, AAX plugins dir
C:\Program Files (x86)\Waves\
%PROGRAMFILES%\Waves Central\
%PROGRAMDATA%\Waves Audio\
%APPDATA%\Waves Audio\
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Waves Audio\
%PUBLIC%\Waves Audio\
=> If you think you are not experienced, search "WaveShell*" in your C drive, then delete all.
=> We always see people having problem with old shells which should be uninstalled before.
Clean Registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Waves\
Install Runtimes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you use SoundGrid, install/update SoundGrid drivers.
Google "Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable", download from Microsoft and install/update :
Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2012 x86 and x64
Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2013 x64
Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2015-2022 x64
Install Waves
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Run our setup and install.
Scan or rescan plugins from your DAW.
If you use sample based instruments, locate the instruments path from application start up or GUI.
Sample Libraries Releases (currently, most can be also downloaded from Waves official) :
Waves.Bass.Fingers.Library.HD.v1.0-R2R
Waves.Bass.Fingers.Library.SD.v1.0-R2R
Waves.Bass.Slapper.Library.HAPPY.NEW.YEAR-R2R
Waves.Clavinet.Library-R2R
Waves.Electric.88.Library-R2R
Waves.Electric.200.Library-R2R
Waves.Electric.G80.Library-R2R
Waves.Grand.Rhapsody.Library.HD.v1.0-R2R
Waves.Grand.Rhapsody.Library.SD.v1.0-R2R
Waves.Sample.Libraries.Factory.Pack.v1.0.3.5-R2R (CR8 Sampler asks for this)
Restarting Background Waves Servers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is useful when background process are doing something wrong.
When background servers are not working correctly, following issue happens.
* Plugin scan fails (WaveShell return 0 plugins)
* Preset Browser does not works
* COSMOS (also in CR8 Sampler browser) does not launch, or exits with no license error
Run included "R2R_Kill_Waves_Background_Process.cmd".
Run these EXE manually.
"%PROGRAMDATA%\Waves Audio\WavesLocalServer\WavesLocalServer.bundle\Contents\Win64\WavesLocalServer.exe"
"%PROGRAMDATA%\Waves Audio\WavesPluginServer\WavesPluginServerV13.1.bundle\Contents\Win64\WavesPluginServer.exe"
=> Basically, those EXE will be started when it is neeeded.
=> However, our testers found that COSMOS fails starting them on some computers.
=> It leads COSMOS getting stuck at startup.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEAM R2R 2022

 

@Radio
Thank you so much for the info.
While my DAW/VST Host doesn't recognize Waves, I decided to try Blue Cat PatchWork, and it worked very well. The only hurdle I have left is my Waves plugs are now reading "in demo" mode.

 

What's your DAW? Reaper? If so, did you rename one of the Waves plugins inside Reaper at some point? (F2 in the FX browser)

 

I had similar issue with a couple of release of Waves (R2R) not showing in DAW and been installing them for many years (but not with the latest release).
This is what I had to do with a few previous versions:
If all Waves plugins are not showing then that maybe down to ProgramData folder Security where I had to add Everyone to the ProgramData / Waves Audio [folder] for all the Waves plugins to show. Also had to do similar edits in the ProgramData [Folder] to be able to drag Toontrack in DAW and also for only some previous Arturia installations for plugins to show in my DAW

 

My DAW is Reaper, but I was trying to use Cantabile. Waves will show during scanning process, but will not show in available plugins. I didn't try to rename anything.

I did try changing permissions, but not in that particular folder. I will try that.

 

Uninstall Waves completely and I recommend you to use the latest R2R version, follow the enclosed instructions (NFO)!

 

If you need this for Reaper, I'd remove all references to WaveShell from Reaper's .ini files (all of them: reaper-fxoptions.ini, reaper-fxfolders.ini, reaper-defpresets.ini, reaper-vstshells64.ini, reaper-vstplugins64.ini, reaper-vstrenames64.ini) - very good chance it'll fix it.

 

Waveshells*.vst3 must be installed in C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3, not in C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\Waves\.