Waves is moving to subscription only

[swervinbob]

If you already own some Waves plugins, you will no longer be able to update them. Now, the only way to buy and update Waves plugins is through one of two subscription plans.

Waves Creative Access Plugin Subscriptions | Waves

The world’s largest, most diverse catalog of industry-leading audio plugins for music production and mixing, plus powerful AI mixing tools—all at your fingertips.

www.waves.com

 

[GoldieLocks]

I've enjoyed my waves plugins for the last 3 years ----- But there are definitely BETTER plugins. I'm gonna start looking at other subscription services based on their brutal bad/quick marketing move... since this is apparently the future of the industry. (or I'll just really learn to get the most out of my Reaper JS plugins - and smaller company offerings).

It's this ATMOS thing that i'm really concerned over (might affect a lot of my future efforts)

 

[ahiddentableau]

Yuck.

I guess I can cross them off my list for plugins. Too bad, since they make a number of workhorse plugins that I like and have paid for, but I'll soon be SOL when the current versions stop running on whatever future version of my OS I happen to be using.

 

[NoTeleBob]

The way of the software world now. Don't sell anything, lease it all. Endless income stream.

 

[Esquire Jones]

Years ago I had a problem with their "dongle" activation code and lost access to the software.

Very unhelpful service and never found the love again. Buh bye.

 

[Mouth]

Well that's crappy. Sure enough they're not in my cart and there's only a "Start Free" button on the plugin page.

I have had a few waves plugins I wanted to get. I guess I won't be now. I guess all of the ones I have will get used less and less over the coming years.

 

[andy__d]

It doesn’t surprise me: this was the direction they’ve been headed for a while now.

The funny thing is that it seems badly timed: the software industry has been heading universally down the path of ARR licensing ever since Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office 365 forced themselves on us; and the same has been happening in media, with cable bills becoming replaced with a plethora of streaming services.

A lot of folks I’ve spoke to recently have already hit “peak subscription “ - they’re just not prepared to sign up for any more subscription services, and are looking to cut back to just the essentials. So, waves are going to be competing with not just other plug-in vendors, but Netflix, Hulu and Disney+. How many families are going to prioritize Dad’s “hobby” plugins over the shows and sports that the whole family are watching?

 

[suthol]

It's been the way of the world in telecommunications for over 20 years.

Lucent when it was still Lucent had RTUs ( Right To Use ) for every single device hanging off the box and if you sold the PBX the rights weren't transferable.

 

[studio]

I only liked one of their plugins, The Durrough loudness meters.

The best alternative to all this is back to good old fashioned hardware devices!

Yup. Get em while they're still affordable!

 

[badscrew_projects]

Screw them

 

[Peegoo]

Wave bub-bye. It's easy.

 

[suthol]

I've got Waves Tune & E Channel, use tune often and rarely use the E Channel

 

[swervinbob]

I have a few that I used to use. I haven’t used any of them in a while. Every one of them are in the more expensive subscription.

At least UA lets you have the native versions of the DSP plugins that you already own without having to subscribe to Spark. And you can also buy them individually. You just have to have UA Connect and an ilok account.

 

[bottlenecker]

The best alternative to all this is back to good old fashioned hardware devices!

Already doing it. I have a subscription proof rig. Not for everyone, but I don't have to make money with it.

 

[Ben Harmless]

or I'll just really learn to get the most out of my Reaper JS plugins - and smaller company offerings

I've been moving a session back and forth between my home rig and a studio recently. Reaper in both places, but I use a few plugins at home that aren't at the studio. Yes, there are a few ways to get around this, but for simplicity's sake, I'm only using Rea/JS stuff while we're still tracking. I've been shocked at how little I feel like I'm missing anything.

Already doing it. I have a subscription proof rig. Not for everyone, but I don't have to make money with it.

Yes. I've also recently been actually making a little money with it, and somehow don't feel a sense of dread by not subscribing to plugins.

 

[backporchmusic]

Funny, now the huge WAVE of emails that I received over the last 5-6 weeks from Waves makes sense. They were trying to sell me rotting vegetables before changing their service.

So that's another reason to let them fade into obscurity, the aggressive cash grab at the last minute.

 

[loudboy]

Analog Obsession
Variety of Sound
Valhalla
Klanghelm
Spitfire Audio

All fantastic VST and VSTi, free.

I used Waves De-breath extensively in my VO business, bought it in maybe 2013. Can't get it authorized on my computer out here, Waves was no help at all, finally telling me I was out of luck.

 

[Masmus]

I have a visceral hatred for subscription services.

 

[ChicknPickn]

Years ago I had a problem with their "dongle" activation code and lost access to the software.

Very unhelpful service and never found the love again. Buh bye.

Nothing worse than a deactivated dongle. I've heard.

 

[klasaine]

There's a few Waves plugs that I like and will still work for me until I update my OS.
I am on the lookout for replacements.
Brauer 'Motion'
DBX 160
Retro-Fi
Abbey Road 'ADT'

The rest ... ehhh.