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How to run Waves Plugins on macOS Mountain Lion 10.8 and Mavericks 10.9

Mar 26, 2022

To run Waves plugins on macOS Mountain Lion 10.8 or macOS Mavericks 10.9, please follow the steps below:

Step #1 – Activate licenses to a USB Flash Drive using a supported system

On a computer running an operating system that supports the current version of Waves Central (Windows 10 and up / macOS 10.13 and up), follow these steps:

  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. 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. On the right panel, choose your connected USB flash drive as the target device for license activation.
  7. Click the Activate button.

Step #2 – Install Waves plugins on the macOS Mountain Lion 10.8 or macOS Mavericks 10.9 machine

  1. Quit any host application.
  2. Download the V9.6 Offline Installation Folder for Mac.
  3. Unzip the folder to your desktop.
  4. Run the “Install_Waves_Central.dmg” file and follow the prompts to install the Waves Central Legacy version (“Waves Central L”).
  5. Go to the Applications folder and run Waves Central L.
  6. Click on Install Products.
  7. In the left panel, click on Select Offline Installer.
  8. Browse to your Desktop and select Waves – 4.4.17 and click Open.
  9. 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

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

  10. Click Install
  11. Once done, connect the USB flash drive you have prepared in Step #1 to this computer to activate the plugins.

    12. Important Notes:

    • V9.6 plugins can be activated by Waves Creative Access subscription licenses, as well as by perpetual (non-subscription) V14-V9.2 licenses.
    • Products released after March 29, 2017 have not been added to the V9.6 installer.
    • To check if a plugin exists in the V9.6 installer, scroll to the bottom of this page.
    • 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.