Waves V14 is Finally Here! Hooray!

[imrae]

Are waves updating GUIs only when jumping from one major version to another (v13 >v14)?

If I remember rightly Q10, AudioTrack and L1 got a GUI overhaul as part of a free point release (25th Anniversary)

That was a few years ago before they started bumping up the major version number so frequently...

[LoveEnigma18]

They added resizable GUIs to all plugins in V12. Since then they are doing this strategy of implementing HiDPI GUIs for select, popular plugins with every major version each year to lure people into upgrading their bundles or getting their plugins covered by WUP to take advantage of these new GUIs or features.

Not totally bad, because if you know how to get around their sales and upgrades, you generally end up getting great deals. At some point, WUP is the last cheapest resort, which is the situation I see myself in now after all these years of upgrading and getting to latest versions of free for most of my Waves collection.

[aMUSEd]

They added resizable GUIs to all plugins in V12. Since then they are doing this strategy of implementing HiDPI GUIs for select, popular plugins with every major version each year to lure people into upgrading their bundles or getting their plugins covered by WUP to take advantage of these new GUIs or features.

Not totally bad, because if you know how to get around their sales and upgrades, you generally end up getting great deals. At some point, WUP is the last cheapest resort, which is the situation I see myself in now after all these years of upgrading and getting to latest versions of free for most of my Waves collection.

The resizable GUIs for the ones I have just result in making them even more blurry and pixelated on a HD screen (eg H Reverb) - they really should have implemented HD graphics at the same time otherwise just being able to resize the plugin windows is not helpful - I still have to keep H Reverb at 100% (tbh even Cosmos which is new is hardly HD graphics)

[LoveEnigma18]

They added resizable GUIs to all plugins in V12. Since then they are doing this strategy of implementing HiDPI GUIs for select, popular plugins with every major version each year to lure people into upgrading their bundles or getting their plugins covered by WUP to take advantage of these new GUIs or features.

Not totally bad, because if you know how to get around their sales and upgrades, you generally end up getting great deals. At some point, WUP is the last cheapest resort, which is the situation I see myself in now after all these years of upgrading and getting to latest versions of free for most of my Waves collection.

The resizable GUIs for the ones I have just result in making them even more blurry and pixelated on a HD screen (eg H Reverb) - they really should have implemented HD graphics at the same time otherwise just being able to resize the plugin windows is not helpful - I still have to keep H Reverb at 100% (tbh even Cosmos which is new is hardly HD graphics)

I know, but that's what is their strategy. They gave everyone (low-resolution) resizable GUIs, so it was kinda something better than nothing for V12. Of course you still needed to have an active WUP. Now, they are using this model that requires us to pay (upgrade/WUP) if we want the high resolution GUIs, which they are intentionally doing it in batches and releasing a new major version ever year to include few plugins with high resolution support.

It was difficult to digest this when V12 was released, but on a 2K screen I am fine with 125% scaling even thought it does look a bit blurry. At least I can see the things a bit better.

EDIT: I think H-Reverb should be included in the next batch of hires GUIs and I am looking forward to it as well. Thinking of it, I got H-Reverb for free during one of the sales some time ago. One of the best ever freebies!

[Igro]

They added resizable GUIs to all plugins in V12. Since then they are doing this strategy of implementing HiDPI GUIs for select, popular plugins with every major version each year to lure people into upgrading their bundles or getting their plugins covered by WUP to take advantage of these new GUIs or features.

Not totally bad, because if you know how to get around their sales and upgrades, you generally end up getting great deals. At some point, WUP is the last cheapest resort, which is the situation I see myself in now after all these years of upgrading and getting to latest versions of free for most of my Waves collection.

The resizable GUIs for the ones I have just result in making them even more blurry and pixelated on a HD screen (eg H Reverb)

Heh, exactly a high res GUI for the H-Reverb I'm waiting the most. As this is the most used and abused plugin for me (not only among waves plugins)

[DNnX]

New: Faster load times Improved loading times for plugins, presets, and sessions in your DAW

How much is it improved?

I haven't got a chance to use with the new updated plugins yet, but I did open a few V14 plugins after installing them and I see the opening/loading is noticeably snappier on my system (Windows 11, i7-7700).

That's sweet, thank you!
It looks like I should check Waves plugin.
Didn't think I become potential waves customer in 2022

[AdvancedFollower]

I really don't understand why Waves get so much flak because of WUP while Bitwig is adored despite their annual paid for update plan.
And there are other examples of developers who are cashing in money regularly without groundbraking development but are loved by the community.
Is it the Too-big-to be-loved sentiment?

The changelog posted at the beginning of this thread is extremely short. It reads more like something you'd expect from a free .1 update from any other company. Most people probably don't mind paying for updates, but those updates should bring somewhat noticeable new features and improvements to the table.

I only posted the major changes/updates. There's a longer more detailed release notes if you click the link in the first post. But it's mostly bug fixes and house keeping tasks.

It would be easier for Waves to have more substantial updates if they had fewer plugins. Waves Mercury alone is 180 plugins.

True but the biggest and most noticeable changes are in the major changes part (that aren't very major to begin with). The other changes/fixes are even more minor and less noticeable. Those kind of minor fixes/housekeeping are still what you expect in a free update from most other developers. Paid updates would be reserved for major changes.

[noiseboyuk]

Is it safe to update? Any gotchas? I'm covered as I upgraded the bundle not long ago, just wondering if it's worth the bother. Thanks.

EDIT - I still use some v9 versions on a 32 bit old Adobe Audition, I don't want Waves Central to touch those. When I did the bundle upgrade it all worked like a charm, a lovely surprise after years fighting with it.

[LoveEnigma18]

Is it safe to update? Any gotchas? I'm covered as I upgraded the bundle not long ago, just wondering if it's worth the bother. Thanks.

EDIT - I still use some v9 versions on a 32 bit old Adobe Audition, I don't want Waves Central to touch those. When I did the bundle upgrade it all worked like a charm, a lovely surprise after years fighting with it.

Go for it. I updated all my WUP-covered V13 plugins to V14 without any issues.

[noiseboyuk]

Go for it. I updated all my WUP-covered V13 plugins to V14 without any issues.

Great, thanks - just done and everything worked perfectly, including leaving the v9 stuff alone.

Noticeably fast loading now across the board. Together with the usually low CPU, these are great workhorses.

BTW, I only recently discovered SoundShifter that was bundled with Horizon. 17 years old and it sounds AMAZING. It even works as a TC/E algorithm in Pro Tools, and sounds better and processes faster than X-Form. A real forgotten gem.

[LoveEnigma18]

Go for it. I updated all my WUP-covered V13 plugins to V14 without any issues.

Great, thanks - just done and everything worked perfectly, including leaving the v9 stuff alone.

Noticeably fast loading now across the board. Together with the usually low CPU, these are great workhorses.

BTW, I only recently discovered SoundShifter that was bundled with Horizon. 17 years old and it sounds AMAZING. It even works as a TC/E algorithm in Pro Tools, and sounds better and processes faster than X-Form. A real forgotten gem.

Yes, loading times are indeed much faster.

Oh yes, I was thinking about getting SoundShifter individually at one point, but glad it was included with the Horizon upgrade. Excellent quality plugin indeed.

[Googly Smythe]

To those who managed to install v14:
How?
Some context:
I've been using Waves since they moved away from iLok, since v9. Last product I bought was the Abbey Road compressor, last year, so I've got v9 and v12 installed.
Today I wupped my GTR plugin (because it has the best wahwah pedal bar none). It and the TG12345 are the only Waves plugins I use now, all the rest I've replaced. So I wupped.
I went to the Latest Version page - it's version 13. I didn't notice at first. Anyway, downloaded, installed, run the thing. I see it's v13, and it tells me updates are available, with a link to "Get v14". I click the link, it takes me to a "What's New" page, I click the download link, it takes me to the Latest Version" page: v13. &tc &tc.
So, how did you guys manage to install it?

[noiseboyuk]

To those who managed to install v14:
How?
Some context:
I've been using Waves since they moved away from iLok, since v9. Last product I bought was the Abbey Road compressor, last year, so I've got v9 and v12 installed.
Today I wupped my GTR plugin (because it has the best wahwah pedal bar none). It and the TG12345 are the only Waves plugins I use now, all the rest I've replaced. So I wupped.
I went to the Latest Version page - it's version 13. I didn't notice at first. Anyway, downloaded, installed, run the thing. I see it's v13, and it tells me updates are available, with a link to "Get v14". I click the link, it takes me to a "What's New" page, I click the download link, it takes me to the Latest Version" page: v13. &tc &tc.
So, how did you guys manage to install it?

I’d contact support. My products had options to upgrade to Latest Version, and it all went quite smoothly.

[Googly Smythe]

...
I’d contact support. My products had options to upgrade to Latest Version, and it all went quite smoothly.

Yeah, it'll probably come to that.

[Googly Smythe]

Even using my phone gives me the same runaround.