How to Use Waves Plugins when Using a Custom VST or VST3 Folder

Jun 24, 2024

Learn how to use Waves plugins if you use a custom VST or VST3 plugins folder.

All Waves plugins are installed to a folder named "Plug-Ins V15" (or whichever version is installed on your device), which is inside the Waves folder, located on your system hard drive. These files should not be moved.

Instead, a WaveShell is placed in your host application's plugins folder. The WaveShell connects your host application to the plugins as a software gateway.

Important Note!

The VST 2 plugin format is not supported with Waves from V15.

If you’re using V14 or below, we highly recommend using VST3 plugins in new sessions from now on, and migrating plugins in old sessions to VST3.

Default locations

During installation, the WaveShell is placed in these default locations:

Windows:
VST: C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins
VST3: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
Mac:
VST: Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST
VST3: Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins > VST3

When using a custom VST folder:

If you prefer using a custom VST folder, copy the appropriate WaveShell file into your preferred folder:

Windows:
VST: WaveShell-VST [version number]_x64.dll
VST3: WaveShell-VST [version number].vst3
Mac:
VST: WaveShell-VST [version number].vst
VST3: WaveShell-VST [version number].vst3

These files can also be found in the WaveShell backup folder:

Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Waves\WaveShells V15 (or whichever version is installed on your device).
Mac: Macintosh HD > Applications > Waves > WaveShells V15 (or whichever version is installed on your device).

Please note that you will need to copy the WaveShells to your custom folder again after any installation or update via Waves Central.

Need any assistance? Contact Technical Support.