Hey everyone,

I couldn’t really decide where to open this topic, but I think it’s a serious issue.

With the new Waves update, Waves plugins no longer appear inside Pro Tools 12.5.

(I installed and tested this on another PC as well.)

Unfortunately, it seems like this might be the end of the road for PT 12.5. I really hope we see a new one take the stage.

If anyone has updated Waves and experienced this issue on PT 12.5 and managed to solve it, I’m open to any kind of feedback. However, from what I’ve read, it looks like it’s no longer supported…

The strange thing is that, for example, the new Magma Stress Box does appear. But only that one.

Just so you know…

 

Downgrade Waves plugins:
If you have perpetual licenses, use Waves Central to install an older version (e.g., V12, V13, or V14) that was still compatible with PT 12.5.

 

Meh. That’s a choice too, of course… Still, it would have been nice to see a new PT on the scene. It’s clearly heading toward a point where it’s both old and no longer usable.
Changing a DAW can sometimes be really difficult. That’s why I think saying “just change your DAW” comes across as a bit arrogant.

 

He didn't actually say change DAW's, just downgrade the waves version to one that works. I'm running waves 15 with 12.5HD and it all works fine. I do agree that a new PT version needs cracking. Been too long now.

 

Oh of course. I meant that for comments that might come in the future. Sorry about that.
I’m happy for you! And definitely don’t update Waves. lol

 

I haven't found any inferences to waves v16 not working in PT 12.5HD. Have you tried deleting protools caches & preferences and allow it to rescan the system for plugins? When you reopen protools and it asks for plugin location, direct it to c:\program files (x86)\Waves\Plug-ins\V16

 

All of these methods have been tried. Pro Tools doesn't even ask for location on startup. You rescan by holding down SHIFT (Waves). But even that failed...

 

Supported Hosts --> www.waves.com/support/tech-specs/supported-hosts#version-16

MAC
Version 16 - Pro Tools 2024.10, 2025.6, 2025.10 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
Version 15 - Pro Tools 2023.12, 2024, 2024.10 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
Version 14 - Pro Tools 2023.12, 2024, 2024.10 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
Version 13 - Pro Tools 2021 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
Version 12 - Pro Tools 2020 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
Version 11 - Pro Tools 2018, 2019, 2020 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
Version 10 - Pro Tools 12, 2018, 2019 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
Version 9.92 - Pro Tools 11.3.2, 12, 2018 (AAX Native, Audiosuite)
Version 9.6 - Pro Tools 11.3.2 - 12.7.1 (AAX Native 64-bit, Audiosuite)

The safest and most widely used choice for Pro Tools 12.5 is Waves V9 (ideally V9.6 or V9.92 for better stability).

Waves Complete v9.6 2016.03.23 AAX RTAS VST VST3 WiN
P2P 25 March 2016 | 1.53 GB

Waves All Plugins Bundle v9r22 MacOSX-R2R
TEAM R2R 2014.10.24 | 1.07 GB

 

Last edited: Dec 23, 2025 at 9:24 PM

yeah, whatever. I have waves v15 running with PT12.5HD and it works fine. Before that it was v14 and before that v13...

OP: Probably just roll your waves install back to v15 and chill until a newer PT version gets released.

 

Last edited: Dec 23, 2025 at 11:11 PM