Use the included installer to install plugins to your Components, VST, and VST3 folders.

is a legacy software bundle containing professional audio plugins used for mixing, mastering, and sound design. Released originally in 2012, this version marked a major technological shift for Waves by dropping USB hardware activation in favor of software-based authorization.

Waves uses a "Waves Central" application for modern management, but V9 often relied on older license cloud or USB methods. Current Status

Before installing the software, you need the "permission" to run it. Open (Applications > Waves Central). Go to the Licenses page on the left sidebar. Select Not Activated at the top. Check the boxes for your V9 plugins.

When released, v9 was designed for:

: Running older, unpatched operating systems to keep V9r2 functional exposes your machine to security vulnerabilities if connected to the internet.

: Originally introduced to provide native 64-bit support, allowing for faster scanning, loading, and processing within modern DAWs. Waves Central Integration : Managed through the Waves Central

Waves V9r2 code is compiled strictly for Intel-based processors x86_64 architecture. It will not run natively on Apple Silicon. While Apple's Rosetta 2 translation layer can sometimes bridge older software, V9r2 graphic frameworks and authorization daemons often fail on macOS Big Sur, Monterey, Sonoma, or newer. For modern Macs, updating to current Waves V14 or V15 bundles is highly recommended. Installation Framework and Architecture

You generally cannot run V9 and V10+ side-by-side easily unless you specifically use the V9.92 installer. Earlier versions like V9.6 will be uninstalled if you try to add newer plugins.

If you are running an older "vintage" studio setup, you can often find legacy installers through the Waves Download Page Licensing: