How to Add a Recording/Playback Computer to a SoundGrid Network

Apr 29, 2025

Learn how to add a separate computer to your SoundGrid network for recording and playback purposes.
This article assumes you already have a supported and functional SoundGrid network.

If you need assistance with setting up your network, please refer to our SoundGrid Setup pages.

What you need

An existing SoundGrid network.
One computer running either Windows or Mac that fully supports the SoundGrid Driver.
One ethernet cable that meets SoundGrid’s requirments.

Setting up:

If there is no SoundGrid application installed on this computer, install the SoundGrid Driver on the recording/playback computer:
- Download and Install Waves Central.
- Launch Waves Central.
- In the Install Products tab, under All Products, click on the search bar
- Type ‘ASIO’ and select SoundGrid Vx ASIO/Core Audio Rec/PB Driver from the search results. Try the latest version first.
  * In most cases, using the driver version that corresponds with your host application version is recommended. So SuperRack v13 should install the v13 driver, eMotion LV1 V15 should use the v15 driver, etc.
- Click Install.
- Restart the computer.
  - If you need to re-install the SoundGrid driver, or switch between driver versions, you can install the required driver from this location:
    Win – C:\Program Files (x86)\SoundGrid\Utilities
    Mac – MacHD > Applications > Waves > SoundGrid > Utilities
    Alternatively, you can install with Central as described above.

Mac users please note:

After installing the driver, make sure to go to System Preferences > Security, open the lock to make changes, and “Allow” loading software from “Waves Inc.”
Verify the following permission - Click on the Apple Logo > System Settings. Go to General > Login Items. Allow "Waves Inc.". in case it is already allowed please toggle off and on again.

Connect an ethernet cable from the computer to your SoundGrid dedicated network Switch.
On the recording computer, open the SoundGrid Driver Control Panel and select the Ethernet port you’ll be using to connect to the SoundGrid Network.
On your SoundGrid host application, assign the rec/pb computer and set the driver channels to the minimum amount you require.
- LV1:
- SuperRack:
- QRec:
Create the required patch to the rec/pb computer:
- To record a direct, unprocessed signal, create a patch from the Waves IO to the rec/pb computer.
  - LV1 (Patch > Device-to-Device):
  - SuperRack (Patch > Device-to-Device):
  - QRec (Assigning the IO will patch it to the SoundGrid Driver):
- To record a wet, SoundGrid processed signal, create a direct patch from the channel/rack to the rec/pb computer. Note that muting channels in LV1 or SuperRack will mute the recorded channel.
  - LV1: Create a Pre-Fader, Post Process, Direct out patch like the following (Patch > Output):
  - SuperRack:
    - Patch each rack’s output to its recording channel.
    - Each rack will have two outputs:
      - Return to console
      - Recording
- For playback or virtual soundcheck, create a patch from the rec/pb computer to the Waves IO.
  - LV1: In this example, we created a patch from the Rec/PB computer to Input B
  - SuperRack:
    Set the rack inputs to the rec/pb computer.
    Set the rack outputs to the Waves IO.
    TIP: You can use the Flip Input Bank A/B hot key to quickly switch from virtual soundcheck to the live feed.
  - QRec has no option to record wet, processed channels.
On the recording computer, launch your SoundGrid Driver supported DAW and assign Waves SoundGrid as your playback engine.

Learn how to set up Reaper for SoundGrid Playback and Recording