What the hell, Waves???

So, you finally plunked down the dough to get your favorite plugins from Waves...Welcome to plug-in authorization hell! Now have a seat.

You know, it's probably easier to launch a missile from NORAD than it is to get your plug-ins working from Waves.  The reason for this is because Waves does not use iLok.com to transfer licenses.  It uses it's own authorizers to do this.  This is very important to remember because it's the very first mistake people make. Everybody assumes that the license is transferred thru iLok and rightfully so since it's the most fricking logical thing to do! Okay, so now we know we don't use iLok to authorize Waves, we just use the iLok Key to hold the Waves license(s). 

If you haven't already, go to Waves.com and create an account. Now, after creating your account, register the software with the WAVES serial number.  Also make sure you enter your iLok serial number correctly or the license will be sent to nowhere; or worse yet someone else's iLok! I'm assuming you have an iLok acct created and you know the name of the acct and stuff too. If not, then go to iLok.com and register your iLok and come back. 

So now that you've registered your Waves product to your iLok, under the Authorizations Tab, click Authorize iLok.  Continue to Authorization page, click on the checkbox next to the product you just registered and Submit Authorization.  MAKE SURE YOU ENTER THE CORRECT ILOK SERIAL NUMBER HERE OR YOU'RE SCREWED. Actually it's a real pain to get it back so just make sure to type it correctly. You should see it's status now as "iLok Auth Pending."

Here's the fun part.  Don't go running off to iLok.com.   If you haven't already, install the appropriate version of Waves.  You can get it from the DVD you got, or download it from the site.  Make sure it's the correct version. 

Plug in your iLok and go to Applications/Waves/Authorizers/  Open "Waves iLok Authorizer" and follow the wizard. Uncheck "use license card" continue and select "internet activation".  It should tell you that it's contacting servers and cross your fingers.  When safari comes up with a "response" then jump for joy! You're half-way there. If it's saying there's no licenses for the iLok; don't give up! Just go back and retrace your steps. 

Copy those random string of words that Waves gives you and Paste them under the "Response" box within the iLok Authorizer.  This should authorize your ilok and you can now start using Waves....Sortof. 

If youre on a PPC (NON-INTEL) Mac, then you're done. If not, then read on...

So, to use Waves on an Intel based Mac, you'll need to get the Intel Authorizer Authorized.   Yea, it's an authorizer for an authorizer. Department of Redundancy Department? You bet. 

Go back Waves.com and click Support.  Now click "Start-Here" on top and click "Authorization."  Now...click on "Version 5.9/5.9.1 Authorization." Enter your login info and it should tell you "Congratulations, blah blah" This means that you'll be getting another license to download to your iLok.  Go to your account page and check to see that you get "Waves 5.9 Enabler for Intel-based Mac" and "ilok Auth Pending" under status.  

Now, go back to Applications/Waves/Authorizers and open "Waves 5.9Enabler iLok Authorizer" and repeat the steps you did the first time. 

Hopefully by now you're still a sane human-being.  If you're running OS 10.4.xx (Tiger) then you're done!! If not...read on..

To authorize for Leopard, you'll need to repeat the process for the Intel enabler, but instead of going to the "Support" page, go to your main account page and click the banner that says "Click Here to Register 5.9.7 enabler"...duh...funny how you didn't notice that till now. 

Go thru the same process with the intel enabler by using the authorizers provided in the Waves folder.  Copy and paste the response, and now get some sleep. 

Until next time, 

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