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How to Use Waves Plugins in OBS Studio

Oct 02, 2023

Learn how to use Waves plugins in OBS Studio, via the Waves ‘StudioRack for OBS’ plugin chainer.

Install StudioRack for OBS:

  1. If you do not have a Waves account yet:
    1. Create a Waves account here.
    2. Purchase the plugins you want to use in OBS, or subscribe to Waves Creative Access.
    3. If you would like to try some plugins before purchasing, follow the steps on the How to Try or Demo Waves Plugins article.
  2. Install StudioRack. *If you are subscribed to Waves Creative Access, StudioRack for OBS will be installed with the rest of the plugins. Please continue to step 3.
    1. Launch Waves Central (if Waves Central is not yet installed, download it here).
    2. In Waves Central, go to the Install Products page and click on the All Products tab.
    3. In the search bar at the top, type ‘StudioRack’.
    4. Select ‘StudioRack’ from the list and click Install.
    5. Once installation is done, quit Waves Central.
  3. Add StudioRack for OBS to the OBS Audio Mixer.
    1. Launch OBS.
    2. Access the Audio Mixer and click on the 3-dot icon next to the audio channel on which you wish to use plugins.
    3. Select Filters and click on the “+” icon at the bottom left.
    4. Select VST 2.x Plug-In
    5. Name the filter (We recommend naming it ’StudioRack’).
    6. In the VST 2.x Plug-In menu, select Waves StudioRack for OBS and check the ‘Open interface when active’ checkbox.
    7. Click ‘Open Plug-In Interface’.
    8. Studiorack will now instantiate.
      All Waves plug-ins installed on your system will be available via Studiorack.
      Click on the “+” on any insert to add a plug-in.
    9. If your Waves plugins are missing from StudioRack, please refer to the How to Find Your Plugins in StudioRack article.

If Waves StudioRack for OBS does not appear in the VST 2.x Plug-In list:

Windows:

  1. Quit OBS Studio.
  2. Navigate to the following location: C:\Program Files\VSTPlugIns and drag the file named ‘Waves StudioRack for OBS.dll׳ to your desktop.
  3. Launch OBS Studio.
  4. Make sure Waves StudioRack for OBS is not listed in ‘Filters’.
  5. Quit OBS Studio.
  6. Drag ‘Waves StudioRack for OBS.dll' back from your desktop to
    C:\Program Files\VSTPlugIns
  7. Launch OBS Studio, check if Waves StudioRack for OBS is now available.

Mac:

  1. Quit OBS Studio.
  2. Navigate to the following location: Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plug-Ins > VST, hold CMD on your keyboard and drag the file named ‘Waves StudioRack for OBS.vst’ to your desktop.
  3. Launch OBS Studio.
  4. Make sure Waves StudioRack for OBS is not listed in ‘Filters’.
  5. Quit OBS Studio.
  6. Drag ‘Waves StudioRack for OBS.dll' back from your desktop to
    Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plug-Ins > VST
  7. Launch OBS Studio, check if Waves StudioRack for OBS is now available.

Known Issues:

  • Mac: Waves StudioRack for OBS is supported on Intel-based Macs only.
  • Windows: When expanding or collapsing StudioRack in OBS, or using plugin resize, the container window of the plugin may not adjust properly, parts of the plugin interface may be missing.
    Workaround: enable “HiDPi override by system” in OBS’s Properties.

Need any further assistance? Contact Technical Support.