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How to Run Waves Plugins on macOS High Sierra 10.13

Mar 31, 2024

In order to run Waves plugins on macOS High Sierra (10.13), please follow the steps below to activate and install them:

Step #1 – Activate licenses

  1. Download and install Waves Central 14.5.3 for Mac
    If you already have Waves Central installed, replace it with this version.
  2. Launch Waves Central from Applications > Waves Central.
  3. Select the Licenses page.
  4. Select Not Activated at the top of the page.
  5. Choose the license/s you wish to activate. Selected licenses will appear in the list on the right.
  6. Choose the target device for the activated license/s.
  7. Click the Activate button.

Step #2 – Install the plugins on the 10.13 system

First, check whether your Mac’s graphics card supports ‘Metal’ – you can do so on Apple’s website. This will determine what version of Waves plugins you can install.

If your computer supports Metal, follow these steps to install Waves V12.7:
Method 1: Install Online with Waves Central

  Click here for an interactive tutorial in Waves Central

  1. Launch the Waves Central application on the computer where your licenses are activated via Applications > Waves Central.
  2. Log into Waves Central.
  3. Click the Install Products page > All Products tab.
  4. Click the View menu and select only V12 Plugins.
  5. Use the search bar to search and select the products you wish to install. Review the selections in the Summary section.
    • If you’re Subscribed to Waves Creative Access, select the following products to install all Waves plugins:
      • Abbey Road Collection
      • Abbey Road Studio 3
      • CLA Nx
      • Inspire
      • Mercury
      • Nx – Virtual Mix Room over Headphones
      • Nx Ocean Way Nashville
      • SSL 4000 Collection
      • StudioRack
      • TRACT System Calibration
  6. Click the Install button.
Method 2: Use the dedicated V12 Offline Installer
If you are installing bundles or single plugins:
  1. Quit any host application.
  2. Download the V12.7 Offline Installation Folder for Mac.
  3. Unzip the folder to your desktop.
  4. Navigate to the Waves – 10.10.21 folder which you just extracted.
  5. In the folder, launch the file named “install.cen”.
  6. Waves Central will open on the Offline Installer page.
  7. Use the search bar to search and select the products you wish to install.
  8. Click Install.
If you are installing Waves Creative Access:
  1. Quit any host application.
  2. Download the V12 Waves Creative Access Offline Installation Folder for Mac.
  3. Unzip the folder to your desktop.
  4. Navigate to the Waves V12 Plugins folder which you just extracted.
  5. In the folder, launch the file named “install.cen”.
  6. Waves Central will open on the Offline Installer page.
  7. Select All Waves Plugins.
  8. Click Install.

Important Notes:

  1. For V12 products to work, you will need to have corresponding licenses that are V12 or higher.
  2. If you are subscribed to Waves Essential, only plugins that are part of this subscription option will show up in your DAW.
  3. Products released after October 10, 2021 will not be available in the V12 offline installer.
  4. To see a list of the plugins available in the V12 installer, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
  5. When installing using the offline installer, sample libraries for Waves instruments must be installed manually.
If your computer does not support Metal, follow these steps to install Waves V11:
Method 1: Install Online with Waves Central

  Click here for an interactive tutorial in Waves Central

  1. Launch the Waves Central application on the computer where your licenses are activated via Applications > Waves Central.
  2. Log into Waves Central.
  3. Click the Install Products page > All Products tab.
  4. Click the View menu and select only V11 Plugins.
  5. Use the search bar to search and select the products you wish to install. Review the selections in the Summary section.
    • If you’re Subscribed to Waves Creative Access, select the following products to install all Waves plugins:
      • Abbey Road Collection
      • Abbey Road Studio 3
      • Inspire
      • Mercury
      • Nx – Virtual Mix Room over Headphones
      • SSL 4000 Collection
      • StudioRack
      • TRACT System Calibration
  6. Click the Install button.
Method 2: Use the dedicated V11 Offline Installer
If you are installing bundles or single plugins:
  1. Quit any host application.
  2. Download the V11 Offline Installation Folder for Mac.
  3. Unzip the folder to your desktop.
  4. Navigate to the Waves V11 – 18.10.20 folder which you just extracted.
  5. In the folder, launch the file named “install.cen”.
  6. Waves Central will open on the Offline Installer page.
  7. Use the search bar to search and select the products you wish to install.
  8. Click Install.
If you are installing Waves Creative Access:
  1. Quit any host application.
  2. Download the V11 Waves Creative Access Offline Installation Folder for Mac.
  3. Unzip the folder to your desktop.
  4. Navigate to the Waves V11 Plugins folder which you just extracted.
  5. In the folder, launch the file named “install.cen”.
  6. Waves Central will open on the Offline Installer page.
  7. Select All Waves Plugins and StudioRack.
  8. Click Install.

Important Notes:

  1. For V11 products to work, you will need to have corresponding licenses that are V11 or higher.
  2. If you are subscribed to Waves Essential, only plugins that are part of this subscription option will show up in your DAW.
  3. Products released after October 18, 2020 will not be available in the V11 offline installer.
  4. To see a list of the plugins available in the V11 installer, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
  5. When installing using the offline installer, sample libraries for Waves instruments must be installed manually.

Your products are now ready to use.

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