Hi, kind of stuck with the waves plugin releases. I got a version with R2R emulator and installed the plugins through waves central. copied waveshells / vsts into custom vst folder but Ableton live doesn't see the plugins. I'm wondering if I should use V.R version instead? Everyone says R2R method uses less resources which is why I go to it. Also I have only a handful of waves plugins I occasionally use in my workflow, so I'm not looking to install all of them.

There is a lot of talk about dancing with tambourines helping but I haven't tried that yet lol.

 

How to Find Your Plugins in Ableton Live
Last updated on: 10/19/2020 4:42:07 AM

If you are trying to load your Waves plugins in Ableton Live but you cannot find them, follow these instructions in order to make the plugins available.

Step #1 – Verify the license is activated

First, check whether the relevant plugin or bundle 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 missing plugin/s license are activated on this connected device.

If they are activated, proceed to Step #2 below.

If they are not, check if the missing plugin/s license are in My License Cloud tab. If in the license cloud, select the license/s and click ‘Activate’.

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

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 a rescan:

1. Launch Ableton Live and go to:
   Windows: Options > Preferences
   Mac: Live > Preferences
   
   
   • Select:
     
     • Plug-ins tab (Ableton Live 10.1 and above)
       or
     • File/Folder tab (Ableton Live 10.0 and below)
   • Toggle Use VST button off and on again:
     • Ableton Live 10.1 and above:
       • Under Plug In sources, toggle Use VST3 Plug-In Custom (Win)/System Folders (Mac) off and on again.
     • Ableton Live 10.0 and below:
       • Under Plug In sources, toggle Use VST Plug-In Custom (Win)/System Folders (Mac) off and on again.
   • Hold down the [Alt/Option] key and click Rescan.

Once the rescan is done, create a new session with a supported sample rate, add a track and load your Waves plugins.

 

Using Waves plug-ins with a custom VST folder

• Live Versions: All
• Operating System: All

Waves plug-ins are installed to a folder called Plug-ins V13 inside the Waves folder on your hard drive. The files in this folder should not be moved.

Note: As of Waves 12, Waves plugins are only supported in the VST3 format. We therefore recommend to load plugins in the VST3 format only for future session compatibility.

If you'd like to use a custom VST folder, you can locate the default WaveShell-VST from the locations below and copy it to your preferred custom folder:

• Windows: C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins
• Mac: Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST

Check out this tutorial from Waves for more details: How to use Waves plugins when using a custom VST folder.

 

Last edited: Apr 21, 2022

Waves plug-in compatibility

• Live Versions: All
• Operating System: All

Waves Audio Unit (AU) plug-ins are not compatible with Live. Also, as of Waves 12, Waves plugins are only supported in the VST3 format. We therefore recommend to load plugins in the VST3 format only for future session compatibility.

Note: The following Waves VST plug-ins are not compatible with Live:

360 Surround Tools
Dorrough Surround
IR 360 Convolution Reverb
UM225 / UM226

For more information about the compatibility of Waves plug-ins with Live, check these detailed charts.

We suggest to also keep your Waves plug-ins fully updated, as well as installed and authorized properly.

 

Last edited: Apr 21, 2022

Thanks, this would be helpful, but these plugins are on a new machine with no waves plugins on it previously.

 

Last edited: Apr 22, 2022

The answer you quoted doesn't say anything about having plugins previously installed or on an old machine.

Waves plugins work for me in Live and I don't do anything special with them. Download from Waves Central, patch and use from the default Program Files/Common Files/ VST3 folder. Try not doing anything special like moving to a different folder.

 

Step #3 – Rescan for Plugins

If the relevant plugin files are in the above folders, perform a rescan:

1. Launch Ableton Live and go to:
   Windows: Options > Preferences
   Mac: Live > Preferences
   
   • Select:
     • Plug-ins tab (Ableton Live 10.1 and above)
       or
     • File/Folder tab (Ableton Live 10.0 and below)
   • Toggle Use VST button off and on again:
     • Ableton Live 10.1 and above:
       • Under Plug In sources, toggle Use VST3 Plug-In Custom (Win)/System Folders (Mac) off and on again.
     • Ableton Live 10.0 and below:
       • Under Plug In sources, toggle Use VST Plug-In Custom (Win)/System Folders (Mac) off and on again.
   • Hold down the [Alt/Option] key and click Rescan.

 

I was referring to the rescanning plugins. the scanner recognizes the plugins in the bottom status bar, but when I go to search it after scan it doesn't find it.

I will try keep them in the default folder and see how that works, but I always move my plugins to a custom folder that I can easily access. If ableton is able to read it in the default, I will see if I can fix that disconnect somehow. Thanks.

 

Using Waves plug-ins with a custom VST folder
www.waves.com/support/how-to-use-waves-plugins-when-using-custom-vst-folder

- Waves plug-ins are installed to a folder called Plug-ins V13 inside the Waves folder on your hard drive.
- The files in this folder should not be moved.