How to Find Your Plugins in WaveLab

Feb 07, 2024

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

Please note: The last version of Waves plugins supported on WaveLab is Waves V12.

Step #1 – Verify Plugin Software Is Correctly Installed

Check whether the relevant plugin file/s are correctly installed on your computer. Go to:

Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Waves\Plug-Ins V14, (or whichever version is installed on your device, V13-V9)
Mac: Macintosh HD > Applications > Waves > Plug-Ins V14, (or whichever version is installed on your device, V13-V9)

The relevant plugin file will be named after the plugin, in this format: [PluginName].bundle. For example, the plugin file for Reel ADT will be named Reel ADT.bundle.

If the plugins you are looking for are not in the above folder, install the plugins by following the instructions in this link.

Step #2 – Verify Licenses Are Activated

Licenses can be activated to one device (computer/USB flash drive) at a time.

Launch Waves Central
Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
On Install Products > My Products, make sure the licenses in question are showing the green checkmark under the Activated column.

Licenses Not Activated? ('Not Activated' appears under License Location column)

This procedure activates a license to your computer or an external drive:

Select the Licenses page.
Select Not Activated at the top of the page. Use the arrow on the right to expand the list..
Choose the licenses you wish to activate. Selected licenses will appear in the list on the right.
Choose the target device for the activated license.
Click the Activate button.

The license will now be activated on the selected device.

Licenses Activated? (Computer or USB device appears under License Location)

If the licenses for the missing plugins are activated to your computer or USB device, proceed to Step #3 – Rescan for Plugins below.

Please note: By default, a license will be activated to the host computer’s hard drive. You can also activate it to a USB flash drive. Use the Target Device for Licenses panel to select where you want to send the license. You can also choose not to activate the license by deselecting all target devices.

Check Disconnected Devices

In Waves Central’s Licenses page, you will find a “Disconnected Devices” tab (only if there are licenses in your account that are activated to a different device than the one you are on). Every device you have activated licenses to will appear on this list.

Click on any device on the list to expand it, and the licenses activated to it will appear below. If you see the relevant licenses on a disconnected device that you can access, you can Move Your Licenses from that device.
If you don’t have access to the device, you can Recover Your Licenses.

Step #3 - Rescan for Plugins

If the plugin software is correctly installed and your licenses are activated to your computer or to a connected USB device, perform a rescan:

In WaveLab, go to File > Preferences > Plug-ins.
Under the General tab, make sure that “Search Standard VST Plug-in Folders” is check-marked.
Click on Force Plug-in Detection at Next Launch.
Quit WaveLab and relaunch it.

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

If your plugins load in Demo mode (with periodic mutes), refer to this article.

None of the above worked? Contact Technical Support.