Waves SuperRack SoundGrid User manual

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Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................. 7
Part 1: Getting Started............................................................................................. 8
Software Installation ...................................................................................................................................8
Hardware Configurations ..........................................................................................................................10
Connecting the Hardware ...................................................................................................................................................13
SuperRack SoundGrid I/O Device Assignment.....................................................................................................................14
Routing I/O Channels to Racks ..................................................................................................................16
Inserting Plugins ........................................................................................................................................18
Floating Panels ..........................................................................................................................................19
Detaching a Panel.............................................................................................................................................................................19
Detached Plugin Panes.....................................................................................................................................................................20
Hot Plugins Panel..............................................................................................................................................................................20
Tear-Off Windows ............................................................................................................................................................................21
System Requirements ...............................................................................................................................21
Part 2: Top Bar ....................................................................................................... 22
Left Panel: Rack Controls...........................................................................................................................23
Rack Name ..........................................................................................................................................................................23
Racks Menu .........................................................................................................................................................................23
Rack Select........................................................................................................................................................................................24
Racks Menu: Import and Export Presets..........................................................................................................................................24
Racks Menu: Save and Copy Presets................................................................................................................................................25
Racks Menu: Copy/Paste Presets.....................................................................................................................................................25
Racks Menu: Rack Recall And Auto Route .......................................................................................................................................26
Current Preset......................................................................................................................................................................26
Link Group Assignment........................................................................................................................................................27
Latency Group Assignment..................................................................................................................................................28
Center Section: Window Selection Tabs ...................................................................................................29
Overview 1 and Overview 2 Windows .............................................................................................................................................29
Rack Window....................................................................................................................................................................................29
Show Window ..................................................................................................................................................................................30
Patch Window ..................................................................................................................................................................................30
Setup Window..................................................................................................................................................................................31

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Tearing Off Windows for Multiple Displays ........................................................................................................................31
Right Panel: Snapshots and Utilities..........................................................................................................32
Snapshots Menu..................................................................................................................................................................32
Session Menu.......................................................................................................................................................................33
Status Panel.........................................................................................................................................................................33
Indicator ...........................................................................................................................................................................................33
Color .................................................................................................................................................................................................33
Status................................................................................................................................................................................................33
Indicator ...........................................................................................................................................................................................34
Color .................................................................................................................................................................................................34
Status................................................................................................................................................................................................34
Utilities ................................................................................................................................................................................35
Clock .................................................................................................................................................................................................35
MIDI Activity LED ..............................................................................................................................................................................35
Global Tempo Section ......................................................................................................................................................................35
Full Screen Mode..............................................................................................................................................................................35
On-Screen Keyboard ........................................................................................................................................................................36
Lock Button ......................................................................................................................................................................................36
Floating Panels List ...........................................................................................................................................................................36
Part 3: Setup Window............................................................................................ 37
Assigning Devices: Inventory Page ............................................................................................................38
Network Control Section (Top) ............................................................................................................................................38
Assignment Slots .................................................................................................................................................................40
Device Rack Elements.......................................................................................................................................................................41
Assigning I/O Devices .......................................................................................................................................................................42
I/O Device Icon Indicators ................................................................................................................................................................43
I/O Devices Menu Items...................................................................................................................................................................46
Setting Clock Master ........................................................................................................................................................................47
Certain device menu items apply only to drivers.............................................................................................................................48
Working with Multiple Systems ..........................................................................................................................................49
Servers.......................................................................................................................................................54
Assigning Servers.................................................................................................................................................................54
Redundant Servers ...........................................................................................................................................................................55
Selecting a Server Group for a Rack .................................................................................................................................................55
Server Assignment Menu: Other Functions .....................................................................................................................................56
Server Status........................................................................................................................................................................57

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Routing View Panel .............................................................................................................................................................59
Detaching the Routing View Panel......................................................................................................................................60
Assigning Controllers...........................................................................................................................................................61
Settings Page.............................................................................................................................................62
Part 4: Patch Window ............................................................................................ 68
Patch Views ...............................................................................................................................................68
Patching Frameworks................................................................................................................................69
Patch Grid..................................................................................................................................................72
Managing Latency in SuperRack................................................................................................................73
Latency Compensation ........................................................................................................................................................74
Latency Groups....................................................................................................................................................................75
Latency Group Alignment....................................................................................................................................................76
Part 5: Rack Window.............................................................................................. 77
Selecting a Rack.........................................................................................................................................78
Rack Input Section.....................................................................................................................................78
Rack Output Section..................................................................................................................................80
Routing Racks Automatically.....................................................................................................................82
Selecting a Server Group .....................................................................................................................................................83
Inserting a Plugin.......................................................................................................................................84
Plugins Chainer....................................................................................................................................................................85
Plugins Can Change the Rack Size .......................................................................................................................................86
Plugin Pane..........................................................................................................................................................................87
Managing Plugins ......................................................................................................................................88
The Plugin Menu..................................................................................................................................................................88
Basic Plugin Menu ............................................................................................................................................................................88
Expanded Plugin Menu ....................................................................................................................................................................89
External Inserts....................................................................................................................................................................93
Recall-Safe Plugin................................................................................................................................................................94
Plugin Position in the Rack ..................................................................................................................................................94
Touch and Slide Control.......................................................................................................................................................95
Rack Presets ..............................................................................................................................................96
Hot Plugins Panel..............................................................................................................................................................................96

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Part 6: Overview Windows .................................................................................... 97
Layers ......................................................................................................................................................100
Factory Layers ...................................................................................................................................................................100
Custom Layers ...................................................................................................................................................................100
Wide View Layer................................................................................................................................................................102
Modes .....................................................................................................................................................103
Racks .......................................................................................................................................................104
Selecting Rack Input ..........................................................................................................................................................105
Selecting a Server Group ...................................................................................................................................................107
Plugin Chainer ...................................................................................................................................................................109
Inserting a Plugin...............................................................................................................................................................109
Other Plugin Menu Items ..................................................................................................................................................110
Managing Plugin Icons in the Overview Window .............................................................................................................111
Output Section...................................................................................................................................................................112
Dugan Automixer: ...................................................................................................................................113
Part 7: Show Window .......................................................................................... 115
Sessions Page ..........................................................................................................................................116
Sessions List.......................................................................................................................................................................118
Saving a Session ................................................................................................................................................................118
Loading a Session ..............................................................................................................................................................119
Resolving Load Errors ........................................................................................................................................................120
Templates..........................................................................................................................................................................122
Auto-Save Sessions (History) .............................................................................................................................................122
Snapshots Page .......................................................................................................................................124
Snapshots List....................................................................................................................................................................126
Storing Snapshots in the Snapshots List.........................................................................................................................................126
Recalling Snapshots from the Snapshots List.................................................................................................................................127
Changing the Order of the Snapshots List......................................................................................................................................127
Storing a Snapshot with the Top Bar Snapshot Menu ...................................................................................................................127
Hot Snapshots ...................................................................................................................................................................128
Assigning Remote IDs to Snapshots ..................................................................................................................................129
Scope Page ..............................................................................................................................................130
Scope Parameters..............................................................................................................................................................131
Recall Safe Page ................................................................................................................................................................132

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Recall Safe for Specific Plugins .......................................................................................................................................................133
Rack Recall Safe..............................................................................................................................................................................133
Supplementary Material...................................................................................... 134
Controlling SuperRack Remotely.............................................................................................................134
Assigning Controls.............................................................................................................................................................135
MIDI Controller...............................................................................................................................................................................136
Plugin MIDI Mapping ....................................................................................................................................................................138
Console Remote Control ................................................................................................................................................................140
Touch and Turn ..............................................................................................................................................................................141
Console Mirroring:.............................................................................................................................................................142
Keyboard Shortcuts and Modifiers..........................................................................................................144

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Introduction
SuperRack SoundGrid is a software host that lets live sound engineers run multiple, simultaneous instances of the
same award-winning Waves plugins used in recording studios and mixing rooms the world over. It provides a
software equivalent of outboard hardware processing racks. SuperRack can be configured with up to 64 racks, and
each rack can host up to eight plugins. You can view and control one plugin, or one rack, or up to 64 racks at a time.
SuperRack SoundGrid operates in a SoundGrid network, and each host can assign up to eight servers. This moves
plugin processing from the host computer to the server and significantly increases plugin count, minimizes latency,
and enables the host and I/O devices to be far removed from each other.
The first chapter of this user guide is about getting started: installation, configuration, the basics of using SuperRack.
Read it; it may be all you need. The rest of this guide provides detailed descriptions and about every section of the
product. You’ll also find explanations of some of the concepts that you need in order to effectively run a networked
system (e.g., clock, I/O sharing, chaining, latency). There’s a comprehensive table of contents that will quickly take
you to the topic you need, and throughout the guide there are internal links that jump to relevant information.
USEFUL WAVES CONTACTS
www.waves.com
https://www.waves.com/downloads/central Download the Waves Central application, which is used to
install Waves software products and activate licenses.
https://www.waves.com/support/tag/troubleshooting FAQs and troubleshooting
https://www.waves.com/contact-us How to reach us
https://www.waves.com/hardware
Learn about compatible SoundGrid hardware: servers, I/Os,
and switches.

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Part 1: Getting Started
Follow these steps to get up and running:
•Download and install all software and licenses
•Connect hardware
•Assign devices
•Configure racks
•Insert plugins
This chapter is more of a checklist than a detailed recipe—refer to the chapters that follow for more information.
Software Installation
1. Use the Waves Central application to download and install all Waves software and manage licenses. If you
don’t have Waves Central, you can download it here: https://www.waves.com/downloads. You’ll need a free
Waves User Account to log on to Waves Central. If you don’t already have a Waves account, click the Sign-Up
button on the Waves home page.
2. Launch Waves Central. On the left side of the interface, select Install Products and then go to My Products.
This shows a list of all your Waves purchased products. If you don’t see SuperRack or your plugins in this list,
go to your Waves account and register the products. You can also select the All Products tab, which shows
you a list of the entire Waves catalogue. This is an easy way to choose plugins for purchase or demo.
3. Select the SuperRack application and the plugins that you want to install. Products selected for installation
and/or license activation are shown in a list on the right side. Click the “Install” button, or “Install & Activate” if
you are activating licenses. The SuperRack application and your plugins will be installed on your computer. By
default, licenses are activated to your computer.
4. You can install SuperRack and your plugins on more than one computer (e.g., your studio computer, along
with a few live venue setups). Follow the instructions above to install SuperRack and your plugins on as many
computers as you like, and then activate your licenses to a USB flash drive rather than to your computer.

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When you move from one computer to another, insert the flash drive, scan for plugins, and you’re ready to go.
You cannot use one license simultaneously on more than one system.
Please refer to the Waves Central User Guide for details.
SuperRack runs on Windows and Mac.
If your production computer is not connected to the internet, you can use Waves Central to create an offline
installer. An offline installer must be created on a computer that’s connected to the internet. It includes the
SuperRack application and your plugins. Save this installer on a USB flash drive and use it to install
SuperRack on your production computer (that is not connected to the internet). Activate your licenses
separately on a USB flash drive.

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Hardware Configurations
SuperRack SoundGrid is part of a high-speed SoundGrid network. This network consists of at least these four
hardware components, all of which are connected with an Ethernet cable.
Host computer Runs the SuperRack that controls the SoundGrid network. The SuperRack application, plugins,
and preset files are located here. However, audio is not processed on the host computer. The SuperRack
application runs on both Mac and Windows and can support multiple displays.
SoundGrid server The “number cruncher”—all plugin processing is done here. The speed of the server has a
direct impact on the number of SoundGrid channels and plugin instances available to you.
SoundGrid 1Gb Ethernet switch Links the I/O devices, server, and host computer. Note the model and version
of the switch you purchase: some versions work well, others don’t. To ensure compatibility, we suggest that you
obtain your Ethernet switches from Waves.
Console/sound card/IO devices You can assign SoundGrid I/O devices that are located on the SoundGrid
network. These range from 2-channel preamps to 128-channel MADI interfaces. You can also use the
ASIO/Core Audio sound card as the I/O or add a console expansion card.
Every SuperRack SoundGrid setup, no
matter how large or complex, is based on this
configuration.
Larger systems may have more I/Os—
hardware and drivers—an extra server, more
switches, a second computer for a dedicated
DAW, or more controllers.

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SuperRack SG with Console Expansion Card and Additional Servers
In this setup, a MADI I/O provides up to 128
SoundGrid channels. Connect additional I/O
devices to the switch to expand the system.
Here, two SG servers are used for plugin
processing and two for redundancy in the
event of a problem with a primary server.
Adding primary servers significantly increases
plugin processing power.
Several SuperRacks can be members of a
larger SoundGrid network connected via an
Ethernet switch. This enables assignment and
sharing of I/O devices from different
SuperRack hosts.
Up to two primary servers and two redundant
servers can be assigned to a SuperRack. Any
available server can be assigned to a
SuperRack, regardless of its location in the
local area network.

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SuperRack SG with I/Os for Stage and FOH
This is a classic SuperRack SoundGrid FOH/Stage configuration. It provides on-stage I/Os for mics and monitors
and an I/O for FOH and PA. The second server provides redundancy. The SG ASIO/Core Audio driver patches the
SuperRack host to a DAW for recording and for virtual sound checks. In this example, the DAW is in a separate,
dedicated computer.
This setup is built on the basic SuperRack configuration— it’s simply larger and stronger. You can add more I/Os
anywhere on the SoundGrid network. You can also assign driver channels from the host computer.

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Connecting the Hardware
1. Connect the console interface card or other sound card and all other I/O devices to the 1Gb Ethernet switch.
The sequence of the connectors on the switch is unimportant. Use Cat 5e or better cable. Do not use Cat 5
cable, and, if possible, don’t “daisy chain” devices.
2. Take care to protect connectors and cables from crushing and shearing.
3. Connect the host computer and server(s) to the switch.
4. Power up all devices.
5. Launch SuperRack.
Cable specifications are available in the SuperRack product pages.
For descriptions and specifications of SoundGrid-compatible I/Os,
servers, and Ethernet switches, visit the Hardware Pages on the Waves
website.

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SuperRack SoundGrid I/O Device Assignment
Your SoundGrid network assets are referred to as the “Inventory.” These devices are assigned in the
Setup Window >Inventory Page, shown here.
This is an overview of device assignment in SuperRack SoundGrid. To learn more, refer to the
Assign I/O Devices: SuperRack SoundGrid section of this user guide (begins on page 38).

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Automatic Device Configuration
You can configure your I/O devices and servers automatically. Launch SuperRack SoundGrid and go to the Setup
window. Click Auto-Configure. This scans the SoundGrid network and locates the correct LAN port, and then assigns
I/O devices and servers to slots in the inventory. It also routes devices to racks sequentially.
If you later change your inventory, you can reconfigure the devices by clicking the Auto-Configuration button.
Manual Device Configuration
I/O Devices
1. Use the PORT drop-down menu to select the host computer’s LAN port that’s connected to the SoundGrid
network. When the correct port is selected, the LINK and SPEED indicators will display valid data.
2. Assign devices to slots in the Inventory. Click the “+” sign in an empty slot in the I/O section to open the
Device menu. Assign a device from the Network Devices list. Repeat this for as many devices as you need—
you can do this in any slot.
3. By default, the first I/O device assigned will be the clock master device of the SoundGrid network. The clock
master icon is blue, all slaves are green.
To assign another device as the master, open the Device menu and select “Set Master.” Confirm that all devices
show the correct sample rate and sync status. If a device will not sync to the clock master device, try these actions:
•Remove the device and reassign it.
•Power cycle the hardware device and check cables.
•If possible, reassign the clock master to another device.
Servers
Servers are assigned in the same manner as I/O devices. If you assign two servers to a server group, the second
server is marked as redundant (RSGS).
To learn more about assigning devices, please refer to Part 3: Setup Window (begins on page 37).
When the configuration has finished, there will be a brief audio dropout, the length of which depends on the
size of the session. Don’t reconfigure when you can’t tolerate a drop. Wait for a short pause in the program.

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Routing I/O Channels to Racks
A rack must be routed to an input and output I/O, whether channels from an ASIO/Core Audio driver, the console’s
expansion card, or an additional hardware device. Rack input and output routing is done in the Rack or Overview
windows.
Routing Racks Manually
Select a rack and open its Input drop-down
menu using the arrow at the top.
Choose the format of the input signal (e.g.,
mono, stereo, 5.1).
Select a device.
Select I/O channels.
Choose a stem format. Some multitrack
formats offer different streaming sequences
to meet varied delivery requirements.
In this example, Rack 1 input is five channels wide (5.0). Its patching is:
Input A, STG 1608-1, Analog mic/line channels 2-6, stream format L-R-C-Ls-Rs (ITU).
Rack outputs are routed in the same manner.
A rack’s input and output do not necessarily need to have the same number of tracks. A stereo rack input can, for
example, coexist with a 5.1 output. The rack’s L/R signal will output only from the L and R channels of the 5.1 I/O
stream. The position of the L and R channels in the 5.1 output will vary depending on the 5.1 format. If rack output is
unassigned when the input is routed, SuperRack will attempt to patch the same input and output I/O channels.
An I/O can be patched to several rack inputs. Only one rack can patch to an output I/O.

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Routing Asymmetrical Racks
If the channel formats for the rack’s input and output are the same
(e.g., mono-to-mono, stereo-to-stereo, 5.1-to-5.1, etc.), the I/O
channel numbers for a rack’s in and out will increment together.
Here, inputs and outputs are mono:
Rack 1: input D1, output D1
Rack 2: input D2, output D2
Rack 3: input D3, output D3, etc.
If, on the other hand, the rack input has fewer channels than
output channels (or vice versa), certain channels will go
unused so that each rack begins with the same input and
output channel number. In this example, rack input is mono,
and output is 5.0. The resulting patching looks like this:
Rack 1: input D1, output D1–D5
Rack 2: input D6, output D6–10
Rack 3: input D11, output D11–15, etc.
Routing Racks Automatically
SuperRack can automatically route input and output I/O channels to each rack in a session. Routing
is applied to a pre-configured session with no existing I/O patches. Patching continues until all racks
are routed or all I/O channels have been assigned.

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Inserting Plugins
Each Rack has a plugin chainer with eight slots for inserting plugins. Plugin signal flow is from top to bottom.
1. To insert a plugin in a slot, click on the down arrow (Rack
window) or plus symbol (Overview window). This opens the
drop-down Plugin menu.
2. Choose a plugin from the list. The input/output structure of the
plugins rack determines if a plugin can be inserted. If a plugin
cannot provide a component that is compatible with the rack
input/output structure, it will not appear in the menu (e.g., a 5.1
rack will not let you insert a stereo component). Also, certain
plugins (e.g., mono-to-stereo) change the channel structure of
the plugins rack.
3. You can insert a plugin into any slot. The plugin’s icon will
appear in the slot. Click a plugin icon to open the plugin’s
interface in the plugin pane.
A plugin’s position in the chainer determines its place in the
signal flow. You can change a plugin’s position by dragging an
icon up and down in the rack.
In this example, Abbey Road Chambers slides upward (blue
path) to displace Doubler (red path).
Changing plugin order may result in a short audio drop. Wait for
a convenient time to rearrange the rack.
To learn more about routing and adding plugins to a rack, refer
to Part 5: Rack Window (begins on page 77).

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Floating Panels
Certain panels can be detached from their docked locations and floated anywhere on the displays. This provides
quick access to critical plugins and the controls you want to access regularly.
The following panels can be detached and floated:
•User Keys
•Hot Plugins
•Plugin control panes
•Snapshots notes
•Window tear-offs (Setup, Patch, Show, Rack, Overview 1 and 2)
DETACHING A PANEL
Each detachable panel has a Float symbol at the top of its frame. Click this button to detach
the panel from its dock. It can now be positioned anywhere on the SuperRack interface. When
a panel has been detached from its original position, the Float symbol is blue.
Click anywhere else on the display and the floated panel will move backward and disappear. To keep a panel in the
foreground, click the Pin button. Click the Float symbol again to return the panel to its dock.
The Floating Panels drop-down menu on the right side of the Top Bar is a list of all detached
panels. Select a panel or window and it will move to the front.
The name of the current session is shown at the top of the list.

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DETACHED PLUGIN PANES
To float a plugin’s control interface, click on the Detach symbol at the upper-right corner of the plugin pane.
At the top of a floating plugin is a control bar. There are three control buttons:
Deselect the IN button to bypass the plugin.
Click the Pin button to keep the detached plugin visible when other plugins are detached. A pinned plugin
remains visible in all SuperRack views.
Close the window and the floating plugin panel will return to the plugin pane. You can also close a window by
clicking on the Detach symbol.
HOT PLUGINS PANEL
The Hot Plugins panel provides instant access to selected plugin control
panels. Up to twelve plugins can be assigned to the Hot Plugins panel.
•Any plugin in any rack can be assigned to the Hot Plugins panel.
•Hot Plugins can be within the scope of a snapshot, so you can have a different panel for each snapshot.
Scope and Recall Safe are set in the Show window.
•Right-click on a hot plugin to remove it from the current snapshot or from all snapshots.
•The Hot Plugins panel can show plugins as either icons or meters. To change between view modes, click the
blue meter icon on the right side of the panel.
•A detached Hot Plugin panel can be displayed in a horizontal or vertical orientation. Click the ladder icon on
the left side of the panel to toggle between these views.
•The plugin’s name and rack number are shown above the icon.
•Hot plugin assignments are made in the plugin’s drop-down menu in the plugin chainer of the Rack menu.