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How to Install and Activate Waves V9.6

Nov 08, 2023

To install Waves V9.6 plugins, use the following offline installation procedure.

Important Notes:

  • V9.6 plugins can be activated by Waves Creative Access subscription licenses, as well as by perpetual (non-subscription) V14-V9 licenses.
  • Products released after March 29, 2017 are not part of the V9.6 installer.
  • To check if a plugin exists in the V9.6 installer, visit this page.
  • Sample libraries for Waves instruments must be installed manually.
  • V9.6 is the last version to support RTAS plugins for Pro Tools 10 and below.
  • Software version V9.6 cannot co-exist with software versions V10 or higher.
    If you wish to run V9 side by side with V10 or higher – please install version 9.92.

This article covers situations such as:

  • You have the latest version licenses, but need to install V9.6 software due to system requirements.
  • You have V9 licenses and wish to install V9.6.
  • You are using Pro Tools 10 or lower.

On Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Mac OS Sierra (10.12) and below

  1. Activate your licenses on a USB drive using a supported computer (macOS 10.13 or higher / Windows 10 or higher) according to the Activate Licenses article.
  2. Quit any host application.
  3. Download the V9.6 Offline Installation Folder for Windows | Mac
  4. Unzip the folder to your desktop.
  5. Run the “Install_Waves_Central.dmg” file and follow the prompts to install the Waves Central Legacy version (“Waves Central L”).
  6. Launch Waves Central L.
  7. Click on Install Products.
  8. In the left panel, click on Select Offline Installer.
  9. Browse to your Desktop and select Waves – 4.4.17 and click Open.
  10. In the middle panel, select the product/s you wish to install.
    • If you are subscribed to Waves Creative Access, install the following products:
      • Mercury
      • SSL 4000 Collection
      • Abbey Road Collection
      • Pianos & Keys
      • Nx – Virtual Mix Room over Headphones
  11. Click Install

On Windows 10, Mac OS High Sierra 10.13 and Mac OS Mojave 10.14

Step #1 - Activate your Licenses

  1. Download and install Waves Central for Windows | Mac
    If you already have Waves Central installed, skip to the next step.
  2. Launch Waves Central:
    On Windows: via the desktop shortcut or via Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
    On Mac: via Applications > Waves Central.
  3. Log into Waves Central.
  4. Select the Licenses page on the left bar.
  5. Select Not Activated at the top of the page.
  6. Choose the license/s you wish to activate. Selected licenses will appear in the list on the right.
  7. Choose the target device for the activated license/s.
  8. Click the Activate button.

Step #2 – Install the plugins

  1. Quit any host application.
  2. Download the V9.6 Offline Installation Folder for Windows | Mac
  3. Unzip the folder to your desktop.
  4. Launch the Waves Central application on the system where your licenses are activated:
    Windows: via the desktop shortcut or via Start Menu > All Programs > Waves Central.
    Mac: via Applications > Waves Central.
  5. Log into Waves Central.
  6. Access the Offline Installer page and click Open Installer.
  7. Browse to your Desktop > Waves – 4.4.17 and click Open.
  8. Select the products you wish to install from the list.
    • If you are subscribed to Waves Creative Access, install the following products:
      • Mercury
      • SSL 4000 Collection
      • Abbey Road Collection
      • Pianos & Keys
      • Nx – Virtual Mix Room over Headphones
  9. Click Install
  10. Logic Pro X users only:
    1. Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Waves > Waveshells and run the Waves AU Reg Utility V9.
      If there are more than one Waves AU Reg Utility V9 file in the Waveshells V9 folder, apply these steps to them all.
    2. Click on Let’s Go.
    3. If asked to “Locate the Waves Plugins Folder”, direct to Macintosh HD > Applications > Waves > Plug-Ins V9.
    4. Launch Logic, go to Logic > Preferences > Plug-ins Manager.
    5. Make sure your Waves plugins are checkmarked. If they are not, highlight all Waves listings and click Reset & Rescan Selection.

Your products are now ready to use.

Please note – Only plugins that are part of your Waves Creative Access Subscription will show up in your DAW.

If you need any further assistance, please contact Technical Support.