Waves Audio Responds To User Feedback, Brings Back ‘Perpetural Plugin’ Licenses

Responding to user criticism of their announcement that they would only be offering their plugins via a subscription model, Waves Audio has announced the return of the “perpetual license” option for their plugins:

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

In making their initial announcement, Waves did not effectively communicate their stated driver for the change: the “StudioVerse“.

The idea of the StudioVerse is that it allows users to use professionally-created plugin chains, tailored to specific tasks. An AI-powered system suggests plugin chains, designed for specific genre styles, based on your track.

Here’s their introduction to StudioVerse:

The StudioVerse system holds the promise of massively streamlining the process of creating effect chains for professional quality results. But it’s dependent on users having actually having current versions of all Waves plugins, which creates the need for a subscription model option.

Now that Waves is offering both options, what would they need to do for you to be interested in the StudioVerse and their subscription option? Share your thoughts in the comments!

15 thoughts on “Waves Audio Responds To User Feedback, Brings Back ‘Perpetural Plugin’ Licenses

  1. Waves plugins are so behind the curve. I can’t see the need for them unless you’re a live audio digital console person or if you have to share projects between studio partners and have had waves plugins forever. I personally won’t be using them anymore.

  2. Thanks for listening ?. This type of instant response to a hastily implemented policy is what makes a good company. I spend money every year at Waves and will continue to because of this acknowledgement of your customers needs and desires. Good Job ?

  3. Makes you wonder if this was a publicity stunt all along. Still going to hotfoot it off the platform, no longer trust them.

  4. After Waves has been bashed for days with often more than childish arguments, the lack of positive feedback is astonishing. The furious crowd makes mistakes every day and is happy when their apologies are accepted – but they are so entitled and self-centered with all their rage and hate that they won´t allow anybody else to make mistakes, even with an honest and sincere apology afterwards.
    I really understand why many of these narcissistic “I-am-so-important-producers” will never have any success given their poor interpersonal skills.

    1. If you don’t think this was planned from the start, I have a bridge to sell you. Now people are praising them for offering a subscription service alongside their perpetual licenses. I wouldn’t be surprised if perpetual licenses become more expensive by 5 or 10 percent over the next year or so and are eventually phased out, quietly, once again.

    2. Don’t agree and I don’t think they should be getting praise now. Terrible mistake by them that might still cost them the company or to downsize from the fallout. That’s not a horse I want to back. Users want predictability, not railroaded into costly subscriptions for life, which in my case would’ve worked out 3-5x as much (don’t want all their plugins and WUP every 5 years). Taking a sub meant the perpetual license was surrendered with what they proposed.

  5. Waves unknowingly manged to take the most effective ( and risky ) customer survey ever. nice that they listened and pivoted, that’s really good news for their users. i’m really loving all the smaller plug-in makers like Klevgrand, Goodhertz, Sinevibes, Tritik, Denise, Audiority, AudioThing etc so i haven’t had the need for any Waves plug-ins.

    1. It is not good news at all; they just returned to the shady business model they had before. The same yearly upgrade payments, terrible registration and licensing process, and sub-standard plugins. Nothing to celebrate here.

  6. Well they were not making any money because of their stupid sales like what were they expecting? Recoup it all in the off chance all their customers just went subscription model? Do they even acknowledge the fierce competition in the plugin space which will only get worse due to ai tools? Their management just failed miserably and has put a large chunk of the company in jeopardy because of customer distrust. And what will they do now? Sure put both models side-by-side but return to their endless sales to get no profit even less now because of lost customers and push subscriptions no one wanted. This ordeal reminds me of the Native Instruments meltdown that had their 2 head honchos quit the company. I wont be using Waves stuff anymore because of distrust in the company and amount of perfectly viable alternatives from companies that have a sound management.

  7. Not sure why people with Macs bother with Waves or many other third party plugs….the stock plugins that come with Logic Pro X are excellent and are updated along with macOS.

  8. I’ve already removed the only two I was using from my template. They’ve been replaced with the SSL version (Bus comp and Channel Strip). The rest (about 8 or so) are being removed from my system this weekend as I never, ever use them. There is no way on earth I’d pay for a subscription for plugins. Other than a few standard compresors, eq’s, revebs, delays and modulation effects, I don’t see the need to have access to hundreds of plugins I neither want, or would ever use.

    If all the DAW manufacturers, plugin manufacturers and sample library developers went down this road – thats potentially hundreds of Dollars/Pounds/Euros a month if you want access to several different manufacturers/developers. How many people can justify that every month? The pros may not have an issue but the hobbiests and youngsters – I expect for many, that’s not a viable option.

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