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How to Find Your Plugins in Cubase

Jun 24, 2024

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

Step #1 – Verify plugin software is installed

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

Go to:

Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Waves\Plug-Ins V15, (or whichever version is installed on your device, V14-V9)
Mac: Macintosh HD > Applications > Waves > Plug-Ins V15, (or whichever version is installed on your device, V14-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 there, install the plugins by following the instructions in this link.

  • For V13-V9 plugins to show up in your DAW, their license must be activated. If you installed V14 (or above) plugins or Waves Creative Access, you can skip this step.

    Check whether the relevant plugin or bundle license/s are activated on your computer or USB Flash Drive:

    1. Launch Waves Central.
      Windows: via the desktop shortcut or Start Menu > All Programs > Waves.
      Mac: Applications > Waves Central.
    2. Log into Waves Central using your Waves account information.
    3. Select the Licenses page.
    4. Select the Connected Devices tab. Use the arrow on the right to expand the list.
    5. Check if the missing plugin/s license are activated on this connected device.

    If the plugins are not activated, check if they appear in the Not Activated tab. If that’s the case, select the license/s and click ‘Activate’.

    If the plugin licenses are not found in the Not Activated tab, check if they appear in a device in the Disconnected Devices tab. If that's the case, refer to this article.

Step #3 – Refresh the licenses

If the plugin software is correctly installed and you’ve verified that the licenses are activated to the computer you are working on or to a connected USB device, follow these steps to refresh the Licenses folder:

Windows

  1. Quit Central and Cubase.
  2. If your licenses are activated to your computer:
    • Press [Win key]+R, type %ProgramData% and hit Enter.
    • Go to Waves Audio and drag the Licenses folder to your desktop.
    If your licenses are activated to a USB device:
    • In Windows File Explorer, go to USB device\Waves.
    • Drag the Licenses folder to your desktop.
  3. Launch Central, log in and allow it to sync.
  4. Launch Cubase, create a new project with a supported sample rate and see if the plugins appear.

Mac

  1. Quit Central and Cubase.
  2. If your licenses are activated to your computer:
    • Go to Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Waves.
    If your licenses are activated to a USB device:
    • In Finder, go to USB device > Waves.
  3. Drag the Licenses folder to your desktop.
  4. Launch Central, log in and allow it to sync and re-write the license file.
  5. Launch Cubase, create a new project with a supported sample rate and see if the plugins appear.

Step #4 – Rescan for Plugins

Windows

  1. Quit Cubase.
  2. Hit [Windows key] + R to open the Run window
  3. Type %AppData% and press Enter – a folder named Roaming will open
  4. Go to the Waves Audio folder
  5. Drag the Preferences folder to your desktop
  6. Launch Cubase and create a new session with a supported sample rate. Add a track and insert your Waves plugins.
  7. If the plugins are now working, you can delete the Preferences folder from your desktop.

Mac

  1. Quit Cubase.
  2. In Finder, click on the Go menu, hold [Alt/Option] on your keyboard and click Library.
  3. Go to the Preferences folder.
  4. Drag the Waves Preferences folder to your desktop.
  5. Launch Cubase and create a new session with a supported sample rate. Add a track and insert your Waves plugins.
  6. If the plugins are now working, you can delete the Waves Preferences folder from your desktop.

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

None of the above worked? Contact Technical Support.