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User Guide
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Quick Start ................................................................................................................................................ 6
Getting Around StudioRack ........................................................................................................................ 8
Selecting a View .............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Floating Plugin Panels ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
StudioRack Windows ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
Using StudioRack .................................................................................................................................... 14
Components and Racks ................................................................................................................................................. 14
Plugins ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Inserting, Moving, and Copying Plugins .................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Moving Plugins ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Copying Plugins and Plugin Presets ........................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Chain Presets ................................................................................................................................................................ 17
Preset Browser ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19
StudioVerse ................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Using VST3 Plugins in StudioRack ................................................................................................................................ 21
Split Insert ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Parallel Split Signal Flow ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Multiband Split ............................................................................................................................................................... 25
Multiband Split Rack Signal Flow ............................................................................................................................................................................ 26
Internal Sidechain .......................................................................................................................................................... 27
Input, Output, and Imaging Controls .............................................................................................................................. 28
Main Chainer ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Gain Lock ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 28
Parallel and Multiband Split Racks Input ................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Panning, Rotation, and Rack Output Level ............................................................................................................................................................. 29
Track Name ................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Latency .......................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Using Macros ................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Editing Macros ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 35
Assigning a VST3 Plugin Control to a Macro........................................................................................................................................................... 37
About Automation ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
• Using Parallel Split, you can split a rack at any point in the signal flow and send the signal to up to eight
supplemental racks for parallel processing. This lets you quickly create processing chains that are
independent of each other and of the rest of the main chainer. Very specific effects can be created a nd then
inserted back into the signal flow at the same insert point. And since everything can be controlled by Macros,
you can use different parallel racks for different sections of a song or scene.
• In the Multiband Split mode, you can split the signal from the main rack and isolate the processing based on
frequency. Up to five frequency bands can be processed with different racks of plugins, so you can treat the
highs, lows, and midrange of an instrument in entirely different ways.
• Stereo Parallel Split input can be set to L/R stereo, M/S, M, or S. This allows for targeted processing of
specific parts of the stereo image. This, combined with Multiband Split processing, provides detailed control of
what you are processing.
• Parallel Split rack and Multiband Split rack processing do not tie up extra DAW channels or plugin instances.
• A Macros section lets you group the controls of any of the plugins in the racks of the StudioRack instance.
You can adjust complex groupings of controls—all from one Macro. Since Macros can span several plugins,
you can create personal Macros for things you might call “shine,” or “bottom,” or whatever else. Turn one
control and you’ll adjust all the settings together. This leaves you free to create, rather than bother with
controls while you mix.
These features are available in both Native CPU processing and SoundGrid processing modes.
• Plugin processing is offloaded from the host processor (your local DSP) to a high-speed SoundGrid server.
This provides much more CPU power than the local host can, which enables a significantly higher plugin
count.
• When part of a SoundGrid network, StudioRack is integrated with SoundGrid Studio. This enables low-latency
monitoring and recording. This means that when the DAW is in record, monitoring switches from the DAW to
the server, which makes possible very low-latency record monitoring—an option that is not possible within the
host. Switching between DAW to server and back to DAW follows the host’s commands, in most popular
DAWs.
PORTABILITY
Move a StudioRack from one track to another or from one DAW session to another, and rack organization, plugins
and all presets will follow. Move a session from one studio to another, and the StudioRack —with all its properties—
will follow. You will, of course, need the same plugins and licenses installed and activated in both systems, but you
don’t need the same hardware. The same StudioRacks will work when using your local CPU or a SoundGrid server.
STUDIOVERSE
StudioVerse is a cloud-based way to save, load, share, and search for StudioRack presets. Based on a text-based
search, a tagging system, or even an audio ID stamp, StudioVerse locates presets from an entire community of
users. It’s also a social platform with profile pages with bio information, and links to users’ channels on other social
media.
SoundGrid Studio must be installed and configured for StudioRack to work in the SoundGrid processing mode.
Using StudioRack with SoundGrid Studio is described later in this user guide.
RACKS
There is one main plugin chainer rack that accepts up to eight plugins. From here you
can also insert Parallel Split racks and Multiband Split racks.
MACROS
Macros let you link controls of one or more plugins.
Right-click on any control to open the Macro
assignment drop-down menu and assign the
control to one of eight Macros.
MACROS EDITOR
The Macros Edit Window is where the range, start and stop
points, and direction are set for Macro-assigned controls.
WaveSystem Toolbar
Presets
Section
Input Phase Reverse
Input Section Input Gain and Indicators
Plugin Bypass
Output Fader
Each processing rack has gain and phase reverse controls, and stereo racks can be panned and rotated individually.
Parallel Split
Insert Point
Macro Controls
Crossover Frequencies
Multiband Split
Insert Point
• The new plugin will open as a floating widow that you can position anywhere on your
displays. Refer to Floating Plugins for details. Show or hide a plugin by clicking on its
name in the rack slot.
Disable Plugin removes the plugin from the processing chain without deleting it from the rack. Disabling a plugin
removes its latency from the rack. It also frees up processing power. You can re-enable a disabled plugin without
losing its settings, controls, or automation assignments.
Copy copies the plugin and its parameters. Please refer to the next page for details.
Latency (bottom of the menu) shows the delay introduced by the plugin, in samples and
time (dependent on sample rate.
Moving Plugins
You can change the order of the plugins in the rack by dragging them up and
down. This changes the plugin’s place in the signal flow, which affects the
plugins lower in the rack. Changing a plugin’s position in the rack can alter the
gain structure of the rack, so you may need to rebalance some plugin levels.
You may choose to keep the first slot in a Parallel Split rack or a Multiband Split
rack empty. This enables you to later propagate a plugin at the top of each
rack’s signal flow without repositioning the other plugins in the rack.
Copy Plugin
To copy a plugin, with its preset (settings), select the plugin and choose “Copy” from
the Plugins menu. In this example, Renaissance 6 EQ (REQ6) and its current preset
are copied to the clipboard
You can also paste only a plugin’s preset. Select Paste [plugin name] Preset. This requires that
the copied plugin is of the same plugin family as the target. You can, for example, paste a preset
from a REQ6 to a REQ4. You cannot, however, paste a preset from a REQ6 to a Q6.
When you cannot paste presets only, then your only option is Paste [plugin
name], which replaces the plugin and its preset.
Plugins and plugin presets can be copied to and from the Main chainer rack,
Parallel Splits, and Multiband Split Rack. In the Parallel Split or Multiband
Split Rack views, you can move plugins between racks. To copy a plugin to
another rack, Opt/Alt + drag the plugin.
Chain Presets
StudioRack chain presets are snapshots of all the settings of a single StudioRack. They consist of (at minimum)
these elements:
• plugins used in the Rack
• plugin settings
• StudioRack structure, including Multiband Split and Parallel Split
• settings for all plugins included in the preset
• macro configuration and settings
StudioRack chain presets can be saved locally on your host computer or with StudioVerse, a powerful web -based
tool for managing presets, posting, and sharing your presets. Searching with StudioVerse is described later in this
section.
To learn about StudioVerse and how it makes your productions more efficient and more creative click here.
Refer to the WaveSystem User Guide to learn more about presets and
Waves conventions.
You can also search by scanning a portion of a track. This is done with StudioVerse, which is discussed in the next
section of this user guide.
StudioVerse
StudioVerse is the Waves online community for sharing chain presets. It’s a mix between a sophisticated online
library of StudioRack chains, a platform for sharing user chains, and a source of ready-to-use chains from top artists.
Through your personal page, others can follow you, collect your setups, and follow links to other social media
platforms.
SAVING AND LOADING CHAINS WITH STUDIOVERSE
Use the StudioVerse bar to search for chains. There are two ways to search using StudioVerse: a traditional text
search and search by audio.
Search by Audio: Click here while playing audio to analyze sound and use StudioVerse to find relevant chain
presets. It uses AI to determine the instrument and provide relevant chains that can complement the track. You
can filter the find results using tags.
Search StudioVerse by Text for chain presets. You can hone this search using tags.
Hide/Unhide the StudioVerse chains suggestions list.
Open the full StudioVerse DAW browser. This takes you to the expanded view of the find window. From there
you have complete access to StudioVerse.
You can also enter StudioVerse directly from the StudioRack Presets Menu.
Click the down arrow to open the menu.
Waves Plugins
Third-party
VST3 Plugins Note
StudioRack supports most VST3 plugins, but it does
not support VST plugins.
To manage VST3 plugins, click the Toolbar Menu button (left, circled red). Go to the VST3
submenu and choose from the options.
Scan Plugins scans the host computer for all VST3 plugins. Once this scan is complete, there is
no need to rescan later, even in new sessions or on another DAW. Use this, too, to update your
list of VST3 plugins. Only the added plugins will be scanned, so this procedure is quick.
To process several racks in parallel, choose a plugin slot and select “Parallel Split” from
the top of the plugin menu. A Parallel Split’s position in the rack determines the place of all
its hosted racks in the signal flow.
Add and mange plugins in the same manner as in the Main Chainer. The processed signals from each parallel rack
are delay compensated and returned to the same Parallel Split slot in the Main Chainer.
Parallel Rack input and output controls are described later in this user guide.
Plugin Input Signal from Parallel Split insert in Main Chainer Rack
Signal flow
in racks
The band limits are dynamic, so their ranges are limited by the crossover points of the adjacent bands. If, for
example, Band 1 crossover is set to 200 Hz and Band 3 is set is set to 1000 Hz, then the crossover of Band 2
cannot be lower than 200 Hz or higher than 1000 Hz. If only two bands are in use, the crossover can be adjusted
over the entire range of 20 Hz to 20,000.
Plugin Input Signal from Multiband Split insert in Main Chainer Rack
Crossover frequencies
determine processing
rack Input
Signal flow
in racks
External Sidechain signal is from the internal patch of the host DAW.
StudioRack Input Sidechain is from plugin input, before input gain control, before main rack processing.
Parallel or
The Split insert in the main rack is the sidechain source.
Multiband Split Input
Rack # Output A specified Multiband Split or Parallel Split rack is used to create the sidechain for a
plugin in a later split rack. Before rack gain control, before mute control, after panner.
Main Chainer
The main input and output sections are visible in all views.
The rack input level is adjustable from -24 dB to +24 dB. A small, full-scale meter with a clip
indicator shows post-fader input gain. Click on the meter to reset the clip light. There is also a
phase invert switch.
The main output section consists of a rack output fader (range: -infinity to +10 dB) and a full-scale
meter. Fader position is shown beneath the fader. Meter peak level (L/R) is shown beneath the
meter. Click on the peak light to reset the peak level and clip indicators.
The host DAW track name is displayed at the bottom of the output section.
Gain Lock
Click the small lock button to prevent the StudioRack input and output gains from
being modified when a preset is loaded. When Gain Lock is engaged, the input
and output faders are outlined.
Track Name
The name of the DAW track on which this StudioRack is instantiated is displayed in the box
below the meters. If you change the track name in the DAW, this name will change
accordingly. Some DAWs do not support track naming, in which case you can fill in the Track
Name manually.
StudioRack measures the total latency of all of the plugins in the main rack,
which includes the latency of any Multiband Split racks and Parallel Splits and
their plugins. Once calculated, this latency is reported to the DAW’s latency
compensation engine.
The latency of a specific plugin as well as the total latency of the StudioRack are
shown at the bottom of the plugin menu. There are two latency indicators:
In native StudioRack, buss latency and the maximum number of plugins in the DAW session is determined by the speed and
power of the host computer. The faster its CPU, the more plugins it can process simultaneously.
When a StudioRack is connected to a SoundGrid network with a SoundGrid server, all plugin processing is offloaded to the
server. This greatly increases the number of plugin instances, and can reduce system latency.
StudioRack lets you do this easily. Each instance of StudioRack has eight
Macro control knobs that let you link controls on any of its hosted plugins in
the Main chainer rack, the Multiband Split racks or the Parallel Split racks.
You can assign controls to a Macro knob, then adjust the range, scope, and
direction of each control.
1. Right-click on an unused Macro knob. You will see a list of all the inserted plugins
in the main plugin slot, including Parallel Split and Multiband Split racks. In
Parallel Split and Multiband Split racks, the letter “S” followed by a number
identifies the rack slot number.
2. Click on a plugin name to open a drop-down menu of the controls that can be
assigned to the Macro.
3. Select a control to assign. Repeat for as many controls as needed. The plugin input gain and output gain can also be
assigned.
4. Double-click on the Macro name box to give it a descriptive name.
Assigning Macros to Parallel Split and Multiband Split Racks from the Macro Knob
Control Range Limits how much a control can be changed by a Macro. Also sets the direction of the control (i.e.,
high-to-low or low-to-high).
Macro Scale Sets which part of a Macro knob’s rotation will affect the control.
Control Range sets the minimum and maximum values of the plugin or rack control that is assigned to a Macro.
At its default setting, the assigned control will move through its complete range, directly
linked to the Macro knob.
When the range is reduced, the control will be limited to a narrower range, even when the
Macro knob turns entirely. In this example, the control will move only between 50% and
70% of its range. Drag up or down over a value box to change its setting.
The arrows in the middle reverse the direction of the control.
Macro Range sets the points in the movement of the Macro at which the control will begin and end its movement.
At its default setting, the assigned control will begin and end its movement with the full
range of the Macro.
Limiting the Range means that the assigned control will begin and end its movement only
when the Macro is within your defined limited range.
About Automation
If you are automating a very large number of plugins in the Main rack and Parallel Split and Multiband Split racks, we suggest
that rather than assigning controls with the DAW’s plugin automation panel, you assign directly from the controls themselves.
This prevents running out of automation lanes and thus not seeing the control when automating. Select a control and then
Ctrl+Opt+Cmd+Click (Mac), Ctrl+Alt+Win+Click (PC) Pro Tools only.
This is an overview of using StudioRack with SoundGrid Studio. For information about setting up, configuring and using
SoundGrid Studio, please refer to the SoundGrid Studio user guide.
To use StudioRack in the SoundGrid mode, the host computer must be running SoundGrid Studio and the
SoundGrid network must include a server and at least one I/O device. A non-SoundGrid I/O device can be integrated
into the network using SG Connect, but offload processing will not occur in real time. To enable real time offload
processing, a SoundGrid I/O must be used (this is described later).
When you first set up SoundGrid Studio, you will be prompted about how you want to configure your I/O devices and
server, as well as your monitor I/O channel. Once SoundGrid Studio is installed and configured, SoundGrid
processing will be available to all instances of StudioRack in the DAW session.
A small SoundGrid Studio icon on the Menu Bar (Mac OS) or Task Bar (PC) shows that SoundGrid
Studio is running.
Use the drop-down menu to move directly to a window or to quit the application. SoundGrid Studio will
launch automatically the next time you start the computer or if you choose to launch it manually.
4 Host network port select I/O racks (hardware + software I/Os) Mixer config settings
Adding a Server
Configuring the server is just a matter of connecting it to the Ethernet switch and powering it up. SoundGrid Studio
will detect the server, ask if you want to assign it, and then add it to your inventory. If the server requires a firmware
update, the “FW” button on the server icon will be lit. Click on the button and the firmware will be brought up to date.
An assigned ASIO/Core Audio device (e.g., RME, MOTU) appears in the Local Devices assignment submenu.
Once assigned, the device will appear in the assignment menus and the
Patch just like any other device.
There’s nothing else to set. All DAW channels with a StudioRack in the SoundGrid processing mode will offload
processing to the server.
The SoundGrid Connect feature is designed primarily for the studio, to help you offload CPU from your computer
to a SoundGrid server. It is not recommended for live sound or low-latency monitoring while recording.
Indicates SoundGrid server status. When green, the server is working properly. Red indicates an
error in the configuration. Clicking the WSG button will display the error and show the SoundGrid
SoundGrid Status
Setup window so that you can address the problem. All StudioRacks will mute when the server is
(WSG)
missing. The shaded indicator bar and the numeric displays show average CPU of all cores. Click
on the WSG button to access the SoundGrid Studio Setup window.
DSP Percent Shows the peak DSP load of the core with the highest CPU.
Displays the number of SoundGrid Studio channels being used between the StudioRack and the
Voices eMotion mixer. This is independent of the voices used in the DAW. A mono StudioRack takes one
voice, a stereo StudioRack requires two, and a side chain requires one more.
Switches between SoundGrid and Native modes. This must be set to SG to link the StudioRack
SoundGrid/Native
with the mixer.
Monitor Source Sets the I/O that will serve as input to the server when the StudioRack is in Input. The StudioRack
Selector will not appear in the mixer if an I/O channel is not selected.
Controls the monitor status of the StudioRack. When set to PB, audio is played from the DAW.
PB/Input/Auto When set to Input, such as during recording, the signal is “hijacked” and sent to the server for
faster processing. Auto switches between Input and Output, following commands from the DAW.
Assigns several StudioRacks to a group for switching between Input, Playback, and Auto modes.
Group When Group is selected in a StudioRack, it is a member of the switching group. Change the mode
of any StudioRack and the others will follow.
Mixer Access Click to open the StudioRack layer of the SoundGrid Studio mixer.
The StudioRack layer includes the Input, Route, Aux, and Monitor 1–16.
When part of a SoundGrid network that includes a SoundGrid server and at least one SoundGrid
I/O, a StudioRack plugin is integrated with the eMotion ST mixer. This enables low-latency
monitoring and recording, and it lets you control up to 16 StudioRacks at once.
If the StudioRack layer button is active but some StudioRacks do not appear in the mixer, it
probably means that those StudioRacks are not assigned to I/Os.
Switch between Playback, Input or Auto in the mixer or on the StudioRack plugin. When a
StudioRack is in Playback mode, it and all members of the group are muted, since StudioRack is not
active and does not stream audio in the mixer during playback
You can assign a StudioRack to the switching group either on the StudioRack plugin instance or on
the mixer. Switch any member of the group to Playback, Input or Auto, and all other members of the
group will switch.
You can load the SoundGrid Studio session that is associated with the current
StudioRack. Go to the Load menu at the top of the plugin and select “Load SG Studio
Session.”
To enable monitor syncing with the DAW, select “Enable INP/PB Sync to DAW,” in the
SoundGrid Studio Setup window.
At the end of the punch-in, the DAW and the StudioRack return
to playback.
The following are examples of how to set up a Mackie HUI in the most popular DAWs. If you cannot find the
information you’re looking for, refer to the user manual or website for your DAW.
3. Choose “Mackie Designs. Then select “HUI” and then click on “Scan.”
5. In the HUI Device window, set “Output Port” and “Input Port” to
“StudioRack.”
1. Go to Setup.
2. Choose Peripherals.
3. Click on the MIDI Controllers tab and set one of the slots to “HUI.”
2. On the top left corner of the window, click on the “+” icon
to add a device.
2. In the small window that opens, click on “+” to add a device and choose
“HUI” from the list.
Select “Control/OSC/web”
at the bottom of the list.
In “MIDI Input” and “MIDI Output” select “Waves Audio Ltd. – Waves
SoundGrid – StudioRack.”
Click “OK.”