Waves End Plugin Sales, Moves To Subscription-only ‘Creative Access’

Waves has introduced Waves Creative Access, which is now the exclusive way to get Waves plugins.

Going forward, Waves Creative Access will be the only way to get Waves plugins. Waves has this to say about the change in business model:

“We wish to provide you a seamless way to use our massive plugin catalog, with instant updates, new plugins added as they’re released, and new AI-powered tools to enhance your creative process. To enable this, Waves Creative Access will be the way to get Waves plugins going forward.”

If you have purchased Waves plugins, you continue to own them, at the latest version you bought or to which you updated. But new development will focus on Waves Creative Access.

Here’s what’s included in the subscription:

  • Two levels to choose from: Waves Ultimate (all 220+ plugins) and Waves Essential (over 110 plugins)
  • All plugin updates, always included
  • New plugins added regularly
  • Includes the StudioVerse AI-powered community: Thousands of mixing chains with AI search
  • Monthly & annual subscriptions available
  • Limited-time bonus: 2 months free of Splice Sounds+
  • Start with a free 7-day trial; cancel anytime.
  • Start Waves Creative Access free

Waves say that the shift is driven in part by their plans for StudioVerse, an AI-powered system for managing mixing chains.

StudioVerse Features:

  • Thousands of mixing chains for every track
  • Created by hundreds of producers & mixers
  • AI recommends chains based on your sound
  • All chains powered by easy-to-use macros
  • Open system: Everyone can add more chains

Details are available at the Waves site.

Update: Waves has reversed direction and brought back ‘Perpetural Plugin’ Licenses.

46 thoughts on “Waves End Plugin Sales, Moves To Subscription-only ‘Creative Access’”

  1. A subscription makes sense if it ends up costing you less in the long run. That said, $150/year will buy me some interesting plugins from other companies that don’t suddenly disappear when I stop paying.

      1. Another person who is confused about the difference between criticism of the Israeli state and anti semitism.
        It matters to some people in the same way they wont buy Chinese goods, or indeed from any other country or regime, due to personal politics.

        1. as an anti-zionist jew, let me say that an alternate reading of that reply could easily be “of course they screwed us over for money; they’re jewish.” this is one of those cases where it helps to explicitly say what you mean. if the point is “we should boycott them because they’re based in israel”, then say that or expect to be asked to clarify.

            1. Your perspective is racist and long disproven. All members of a particular religious group do not share the same abilities or interests; you might as well proclaim that all Catholics are brilliant skydivers or all Buddhists are good at making cheese.

                    3. Please write the list of USA companies who are “greed”! If you need several computer’s screens, say so, I’ll give you some help.

            2. thank you for clarifying. as to your question: yes, you are an anti-semite. furthermore, you’re an unimaginative one— why is it always “they like money and are good at business” and never “i have to say, those jews are really good at volleyball” or “these crafty people are known for their skills at parallel parking”? it’s just so boring at this point, to be honest. i encourage you to give this some thought and come up with new material.

            3. Yo where are the mods? some of these comments are completely deranged, problematic, and out of line – and patently antisemitic as dylan, frodo, kitusai, and james are pointing out here. synthhead, yoink this maccio guy outta here! this is wack.

              1. Ban-hammer invoked.

                Readers should understand that the only comments that are pre-screened prior to appearing are those from new commenters. This means that occasionally established commenters may post hate speech and personal attacks. We will delete personal attacks and hate speech when we see it.

                Readers can help by using the feedback link, which is listed at the top of every page of the site, to report comments that are hate speech, racist, etc.

                Thanks!

  4. I remember buying a new computer, transferring my waves plugins to it, needing to swap the computer so I moved them back to the original machine, then tried to put them back onto the new machine when I got it and ut oh. Need to wait a year to transfer licenses cause I did it too many times. Then after a year, ut oh, upgrade to use it on my new mac. Uninstall waves central. The end.
    With all these subscription models, I think it only helps the little guys who dont have an infrastructure to set something like this up. All those smaller developers with great plugins will start getting some shine. BUT, everyone will be doing it at some point.

  8. Hahaha!
    I love how slow synthtopia is at posting news!
    This happen 3 days ago. Today it’s been posted that Waves have gone back and and re-introduced perpetual licenses and update plan.
    Seriously, your so slow at posting news.
    I only come here now for the salty comments on Behringer and to see grumpy comments to n everything. I find it hilarious ?

  9. Dear Waves community,

    My name is Meir Shashoua, and I’m the CTO and Co-Founder of Waves Audio.

    Over the past few days, many of you have expressed concerns about our decision to discontinue perpetual plugin licenses and our move to an exclusive plugin subscription model. I would like to start by apologizing for the frustration we have caused many of you, our loyal customers. We understand that our move was sudden and disruptive, and did not sufficiently take into consideration your needs, wishes, and preferences. We are genuinely sorry for the distress it has caused.

    After respectfully listening to your concerns, I want to share with you that we are bringing back the perpetual plugin license model, side-by-side with the new subscriptions. You will again be able to get plugins as perpetual licenses, just as before.

    In addition, those of you who already own perpetual licenses will once again be able to update your plugins and receive a second license via the Waves Update Plan—again, just as before. This option, too, will be available alongside and independently of the subscription program.

    We are currently putting all our efforts into making perpetual licenses available to you again, as quickly as possible. In the meantime, you can keep up-to-date on this news page, where we will post the latest updates on perpetual license availability.

    I would like you to know that we are committed to you, our users. We listened to your feedback, and we will continue to listen to you. Waves is a company filled with users and creators, just like you, and we are all as passionate about the products as you are. With this in mind, we will strive to find the way to make things right by you, and hopefully regain your trust.

    Thank you for your feedback and continued support—I wish you all the best,

    Meir Shashoua
    CTO and Co-Founder, Waves Audio

  10. Waves just announced that they’re doing a U-turn. They’re bringing back perpetual licenses. It’s on the webpage. It’s the right decision I think.

    @synthtopia, maybe worth adding this to the main story.

  12. @synthtopia/@synthhead/@elisabeth, please can you delete the racist messages from Maccio above.
    “the love of money makes them cross the line” etc is just cliched racism and has no place on synthtopia. It is presumably illegal in some countries. I don’t want to read a site with this kind of stuff on it. Thanks.

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