Waves SoundGrid Rack for VENUE User Guide
Introduction
Thank you for choosing Waves! This user guide will help you get the most out of your SoundGrid for VENUE product. For additional support, visit Waves Support for an extensive answer base, system and host requirements, and troubleshooting guides.
About SoundGrid for VENUE
Waves SoundGrid Rack for VENUE is a software and hardware integration for Avid VENUE | S6L systems, providing real-time audio processing for front-of-house, monitor, and broadcast applications. It moves plugin processing from the VENUE engine to a SoundGrid server, allowing up to eight plugins per VENUE insert for increased processing power with minimal system latency.
This integration includes:
- SoundGrid Inventory application
- SoundGrid Rack plug-in
- Avid WSG-HD Waves SoundGrid Option card
- One or two SoundGrid servers
- Plugins
The system offers Show file compatibility with legacy D-Show/Profile Show files, mapped encoders, multi-touch control, and per-plugin/per-insert automatic delay compensation. Redundant servers provide automatic switching for enhanced security. SoundGrid Rack plugins map directly to the VENUE control surface, and rack presets can be shared with other Waves rack systems like StudioRack and MultiRack. SoundGrid Rack and SoundGrid Inventory are compatible with all S6L and E6L models.
What You Need to Get Started
Before beginning, ensure you have the following items:
- Avid WSG-HD Waves SoundGrid Option card
- Qualified SoundGrid server
- Secondary SoundGrid server for redundancy (optional) - Important: For best performance, the redundant server must be the same model and revision as the main server.
- Cat 5e, Cat 6, or Cat 7 cables
- Waves license for SoundGrid Rack for VENUE
- Licenses for plugins
- USB flash drive
- Computer with internet access (Mac or Windows) for activating licenses and downloading offline installers
Waves servers and licenses can be purchased at www.waves.com or from your Waves dealer. Contact your Avid dealer for the Avid WSG-HD Waves SoundGrid Option card.
Quick Start
If you are familiar with Waves software installation and VENUE, you can download, install, and activate SoundGrid for VENUE by following these steps:
- Connect your server(s) to the Avid WSG-HD SoundGrid Option card.
- On another computer, download the Waves Central application from the Waves website (www.waves.com/support).
- Download the dedicated offline installer for SoundGrid Rack for VENUE. Unzip and place the Waves folder on your USB flash drive.
- Move your licenses from your Waves License Cloud to the Console or a USB flash drive.
- Run Waves Central on the Console using the downloaded offline installer.
- Navigate to "Option / Plug-ins: Install WaveShell SoundGrid Rack.”
- Go to "Option / Devices / Engine / WSG HD.”
- Click "Show SoundGrid Inventory" to bring the application to the foreground.
- In SoundGrid Inventory, select the Intel Network Port connected to your VENUE Engine (port name ends in "LM").
- Assign the Avid WSG-HD Waves SoundGrid Option Card.
- Assign your connected server(s).
- Click "Hide Inventory."
Installation
Hardware Installation
SoundGrid for VENUE requires an Avid WSG-HD card, which occupies one PCI slot in the Avid VENUE engine. Hardware installation involves connecting the WSG-HD card to the servers. Refer to the WSG-HD Card Installation document on the Avid website for detailed instructions.
Connecting Servers
Use Cat 5e, Cat 6, or Cat 7 cables to connect the Avid WSG HD external Ethernet port 1 (and port 2 if using two servers) directly to the SoundGrid servers. No Ethernet switch or additional hardware is needed.
A server can be connected to either port; the physical connection does not determine its active or redundant status.
Two or more VENUE S6L systems can be networked, each with its own SoundGrid Inventory. All SoundGrid assignments should be made before connecting the two systems.
Software Installation
This section covers the registration, installation, and activation of Waves licenses and software. You can skip steps you have already completed.
Register SoundGrid Rack for VENUE
Your Waves SoundGrid Rack for VENUE software and all Waves plugins must be registered to your Waves account. If purchased directly from Waves, this is already done. If purchased elsewhere, register the product yourself. Create an account at www.waves.com/create-account if you don't have one, then register products at https://www.waves.com/support/register-new-products. Licenses are deposited directly into your Waves Central license cloud.
All Waves VENUE software installations are performed on the Console; no installation on the VENUE Engine is required.
Waves Central
Waves Central is an application used for downloading, installing, and managing Waves software and licenses on VENUE consoles. Download Waves Central from www.waves.com/downloads/central. Once installed, it can be launched via Options / Devices / Waves SG / Settings.
Note: Waves software is not installed like other plugins; Waves Central must be used.
Installing the Software
Software installation requires an internet-connected computer to download an offline installer for Waves Central, all software, and licenses for the VENUE console.
Fresh Install
A fresh install means no Waves software is currently installed on VENUE. To install SoundGrid Inventory, SoundGrid Rack, and Waves plugins, download an offline installer using an internet-connected computer (not the VENUE computer).
On the internet-connected computer:
- Download the Waves Central application: https://www.waves.com/downloads/central.
- Launch Waves Central.
- Go to "Licenses/Manage Licenses." Select the "SoundGrid Rack for VENUE" license and any other desired plugin licenses, then send them to your USB flash drive.
- Go to the Waves VENUE downloads page (https://www.waves.com/downloads/venue) and download the dedicated offline installer for VENUE S6L.
- Unzip and copy the Waves folder to the root of the USB flash drive.
In the VENUE console:
- Plug the USB flash drive into the S6L.
- Navigate to "Option/System."
- Enter CONFIG mode and press "Update.”
- Select "Install Waves Central.” This copies and installs Waves Central from the offline installer. You can proceed directly to Waves Central or launch it from the Settings panel if you cancelled Auto Launch.
- Once installed, go to "Option/Devices/Network Cards/Waves WSG-HD/Settings.”
- In Waves Central, select "Offline Installer.”
- Navigate to the Waves folder on your USB flash drive and select "Folder.”
- From the product list, choose "SoundGrid Rack for VENUE" and any other desired plugins/bundles to install.
Note: If the console is connected to the internet, you can choose to move licenses to the console. If you perform a Restore, these licenses will be deleted and require reactivation.
Once installation is complete, restart the console.
- In VENUE, go to Options/Plugins, select “WaveShell SoundGrid Rack,” and choose “Install.”
Note: VENUE displays "WaveShellSoundGridRack-AAX" instead of individual Waves plugins.
Installing Updates and New Software
After installing SoundGrid software and Waves Central, you can download and install updates, new plugins, and licenses directly to an online VENUE. This allows for quick installation of plugins, demos, or new licenses.
When Waves Central is launched on an online VENUE, it scans for updates. Keeping software updated ensures a stable processing environment. It is recommended to perform a full update when Waves Central indicates new versions are ready. You can also select specific products for download without updating the entire plugin collection.
Installing and updating directly to an online VENUE
- Ensure your VENUE system is connected to the internet (use the ECx port on the S6L control surface).
- Go to Option/Devices/Network Cards/Waves WSG-HD/Settings.
- In Waves Central, choose "Install." Select the software and click "Install." The software will be installed to the VENUE.
Note: It is strongly recommended to create a new offline installer after installing software directly from Waves Central to the VENUE console. This serves as a backup for reinstalling software and licenses when working without internet access.
Installing additional software and updating existing software using an offline installer
If the VENUE console is not connected to the internet, use another computer to create an offline installer for installing new plugins or updating Waves software. Creating a complete offline installer provides an up-to-date backup of all your software.
Creating an offline installer is detailed in the "Fresh Install" section.
Waves Central Updates
Waves Central application software requires periodic updates for efficiency and robustness. You may receive a prompt to update when launching Waves Central. Follow the link: https://www.waves.com/downloads/central. Download, install, and relaunch Waves Central. If your console is not connected to the internet, you must update the application on your next online visit.
SoundGrid Inventory Application
The SoundGrid Inventory page is used to assign and manage I/Os and servers, playing a crucial role in connecting the SoundGrid Rack and servers. The SoundGrid Inventory application must be running and configured at all times.
From the VENUE Options/Devices tab, select “Waves WSG-HD” as the expansion card.
Click the "Show Inventory” button to open the SoundGrid Inventory page. Here, the Avid WSG-HD Waves Sound Grid card and one or two SoundGrid servers are assigned to the system.
The SoundGrid application loads automatically upon booting the console. Once configured, it typically only needs to be accessed for troubleshooting or firmware updates. In case of temporary system failure or SoundGrid network disruption, VENUE is notified and automatically bypasses all SoundGrid Rack instances. The SoundGrid Inventory page also monitors the SoundGrid network.
SoundGrid Inventory Controls
SoundGrid Status Section
This panel monitors the SoundGrid network and is visible in both the SoundGrid Inventory and Rack views.
WSG LED
The WSG LED reports the status of the SoundGrid network. Green indicates normal operation. Red indicates an error, such as a lost network connection or a server error. Check network connections and device conditions, and confirm the Avid WSG-HD Waves SoundGrid Option card is properly seated and operating correctly.
Voices
This box displays the maximum number of channels routed to the SoundGrid Server and back in a single SoundGrid Rack instance. SoundGrid for VENUE provides a total of 128 voices. A voice is equivalent to one plugin input: a mono plugin uses one voice, a stereo plugin uses two, and a sidechain uses three. The Voices meter shows the number of allocated voices out of 128. This display is mirrored in all SoundGrid Rack instances.
Voices used per channel
| Mono | 1 Voice |
| Stereo | 2 Voices |
| Mono to Stereo | 2 Voices (max channel count on output = 2) |
| Mono Sidechain | 2 Voices |
| Stereo Sidechain | 3 Voices (max channel count on input = 2+1) |
| Mono to Stereo Sidechain | 2 Voices (special case where plugin acts like stereo with a sidechain) |
DSP Meter
The DSP meter shows system usage of the primary SoundGrid Server. The solid bar area displays average DSP use across all cores. The yellow line indicates peak use. Certain plugins may have a high average/peak DSP ratio, potentially causing overloads or audio drops. If peak and average indicators drift apart significantly, consider disabling or removing certain plugins.
| Color | DSP Peak Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 1% to 84% | System is stable. You can add more plugins. |
| Yellow | 1% to 84% | Network is approaching limits. Monitor status and consider removing plugins or increasing the network buffer size. |
| Yellow | 85% to 99% | Network load is excessive. Monitor status; remove plugins or increase the network buffer size. |
| Red | Beyond limit | DSP load is beyond the limit. Remove heavy-load plugins immediately. |
SoundGrid Network Section
Network Port
Shows detected network ports on the S6L engine. Select the LAN port ending with "LM" from the dropdown menu.
Link
Reports the Ethernet connection status to the console running SoundGrid Inventory software. Options: UP / DOWN / INVALID.
Speed
Reports the SoundGrid network speed. Should read "1 GB/sec." Options: 100 Mb/sec, 1 GB/sec, N/A.
Sample Rate
Displays the SoundGrid network sample rate, which is set by VENUE and is always 96 kHz.
Information and Diagnostics Section
User Guide
Opens this user guide.
SoundGrid Inventory and SoundGrid Protocol
These report the software versions currently running.
Enable Verbose Logging
Creates a report for Waves technical support. De-select Verbose Logging for normal operation.
Hide Inventory
Moves the Inventory application to the background. It can be brought back by pressing the “SG Inventory" button/indicator on the SoundGrid Rack or by clicking "Show Inventory” in VENUE: Options/Devices/WSG HD/Settings.
IO Rack
The I/O section assigns the Avid WSG-HD card and SoundGrid servers to the VENUE console and engine. For multi-console systems, it is recommended to assign SoundGrid devices to each console first, then network the consoles.
Adding and Removing Devices
Devices and servers are assigned similarly. Click the arrow at the top of the slot to open the Device menu.
Select a device
Choose an Avid WSG-HD card from the Device list. Only Avid WSG-HD cards are assignable by the SoundGrid Inventory application. Other SoundGrid-compatible devices will not appear in the list. Assign one or more servers similarly.
If a device in the menu appears red, its firmware is outdated. Assigning the device initiates firmware updating. A server assigned to another host (e.g., another VENUE console) will be unavailable and grayed out.
Redundant Server
Assign a second SoundGrid server for redundancy. The redundant server is identified as RSGS. Switchover to the second server is automatic and takes a few seconds, during which sound is muted. For seamless functionality during failure, both servers should be of the same type and generation.
Remove
Releases the device from the local host.
Menu Items Unique to the Servers Menu
Server Network Buffer
This setting determines the time for audio to stream from the I/O to the server and back, influencing real-time processing speed. Lower settings reduce latency and increase responsiveness, while higher settings improve stability but increase latency. If pops or errors occur, increase the buffer setting. The buffer size is set in samples and displayed in milliseconds. Range: 80 to 192 samples. Default: 80 samples (0.8 ms).
Device Status
The device name is shown at the top of the slot. Status indicators and buttons are below the icon. The text color indicates device status: blue for active, red for unavailable.
Indicators on the icon:
- On: Device is active and operational.
- N/A: Device is unavailable. Possible causes include: device assigned to another system, incompatible device or firmware, previously assigned but not connected, or device is off.
Clock Source / Sample Rate
Indicates the clock source the Avid WSG-HD card is locked to. The system sample rate is displayed on the icon. Sample rate is set by the VENUE system.
M: The Avid WSG-HD card is the master device of the SoundGrid network (normal state).
RSGS (server only)
Indicates the server is present and acting as a redundant server. Main/redundant server assignment is determined by SoundGrid Inventory and is not user adjustable.
ID (server only)
Click to activate server front panel lights for identification. (Not compatible with all servers.)
FW
Indicates installed firmware status and initiates manual firmware updates.
- Gray: Firmware is compatible with the installed software.
- Blue: Firmware is compatible, but a newer version exists and should be updated.
- Red: Firmware is not compatible or is out of date. Click the FW button to re-flash device hardware.
When the process is finished, re-boot the engine; servers will restart automatically.
SoundGrid Inventory Information and Alerts
System status is shown in display boxes within the VENUE Settings section. The following are rare situations requiring immediate attention:
- SoundGrid Inventory application is not responsive or quits: If the application freezes or quits unexpectedly, audio processing continues. VENUE will prompt to relaunch the Inventory. Relaunching re-syncs I/O and servers, causing a brief audio drop. Wait for a suitable pause in the program for this interruption.
- Primary server fails: If the main server or I/O goes offline, SoundGrid Inventory automatically switches to the redundant server (if available). This changeover takes a few seconds, during which audio is muted. You will be notified.
- All servers fail: This indicates all servers have been lost, occurring if a single-server system's server fails, or if both servers in a redundant system fail. The rack is bypassed until the server problem is resolved.
- Restart the Racks: Once a rack or server issue is resolved, a prompt will appear. When the rack and Inventory resync, a short mute will occur. Wait for a performance gap before clicking "Use Racks.”
SoundGrid Rack
The SoundGrid Rack plugin is central to the SoundGrid implementation for VENUE, bridging the VENUE console and SoundGrid-compatible plugins. Each SoundGrid Rack instance can chain up to eight plugins.
Key elements of the SoundGrid Rack interface include:
- Voices display: Shows allocated voices (e.g., 106/128).
- Rack faders: Input/output level controls.
- Peak level and hold indicators: Display channel peak level and clipping. Click the meter to reset.
- Meters: Visual indicators for audio levels.
- SG INVENTORY: Access to the SoundGrid Inventory panel.
- SC: Indicates if the SoundGrid Rack sidechain component is loaded.
- DSP meter: Shows system DSP usage.
- Plugin name: Displays the name of the inserted plugin.
- Plugin icon: A thumbnail of the plugin's interface.
- Plugin menu access: An arrow to open the plugin menu for inserting and managing plugins.
- IN button: Bypasses plugin processing. When lit, the plugin is active and included in delay compensation.
- Disabled plugin: Indicates a plugin is not processing, either due to not being installed, lacking a license, or being manually disabled. The text "DISABLED" replaces the icon.
- Empty rack slot: Displays "Add Plugin" in the plugin name cell.
- SoundGrid Rack Status Indicators: At the top, showing SoundGrid Inventory status, percentage of DSP used, number of voices used, and if the sidechain component is enabled.
SoundGrid Rack Controls and Indicators
Rack Input and Output
- Peak level and hold indicators (input and output): Displays channel peak level and clipping. Click the meter to reset the value box.
- Input / Output Faders: Set SoundGrid Rack I/O levels (mono or stereo). Range: -144 dB to +10 dB.
- Input / Output Meter: Stereo or mono peak meter. Range: -INF to +10 dBFS infinite-hold peak indicator. Click anywhere on the meter to clear.
Plugin Rack Section
The Rack section chains up to eight plugins per VENUE insert.
- Plugin name: Name of the plugin in the rack slot.
- Plugin icon: Thumbnail image of the plugin's interface.
- Plugin menu access: Arrow to access the plugin menu for inserting and managing plugins.
- IN button: Bypasses plugin processing. The plugin remains active, uses CPU, and is included in delay compensation calculations. Bypassing does not cause clicks or interruptions. When bypassed, the IN button is not lit.
Disabled plugin indicator
A disabled plugin remains in the rack but is removed from server processing and delay compensation calculations. The text "DISABLED" replaces the icon. Reasons for disabling include:
- Plugin not installed.
- No license.
- Plugin disabled by user.
When re-enabled, a disabled plugin's settings are restored. Removed plugins lose settings unless saved as a preset.
Empty rack slot
"Add Plugin" appears in the plugin name cell.
SoundGrid Rack Status Indicators
The panel at the top reports SoundGrid Rack status, including SoundGrid Inventory status, DSP usage percentage, number of voices used, and sidechain enablement.
SoundGrid Inventory Status
The SG Inventory panel indicates the status of the SoundGrid network. It has two conditions:
- Green: SoundGrid inventory is operating properly.
- Flashing red: SoundGrid Inventory is not configured properly.
Click the button to bring SoundGrid Inventory to the front.
DSP meter
This meter displays current DSP load. The solid area shows average DSP use across all cores. The yellow line shows peak DSP level. The meter can display Green, Yellow, or Red.
- Green: DSP peak value: 1% to 84%. System is stable; more plugins can be added.
- Yellow: DSP peak value: 1% to 84%. Network is approaching limits; monitor status and consider removing plugins or increasing the network buffer size.
- Yellow: DSP peak value: 85% to 99%. Network load is excessive; monitor status and remove plugins or increase the network buffer size.
- Red: DSP load is beyond the limit; remove heavy-load plugins immediately.
Voices
The voices meter displays allocated voices. This indicator is mirrored in all SoundGrid Racks, SG Inventory, and SoundGrid Rack instances.
SC
An orange SC indicates a mono or stereo SoundGrid Rack sidechain component is loaded. It does not indicate the presence of a sidechain signal; one sidechain signal is sent to all plugins in the rack.
SoundGrid Rack Components, Voices, and Latency
Components
SoundGrid Rack instantiates like other Waves plugins, with six components to suit channel format and sidechain usage:
- Mono
- Mono Sidechain
- Stereo
- Stereo Sidechain
- Mono to Stereo
- Mono to Stereo Sidechain
Voices
Voices are channels routed to the SoundGrid Server and back in a single SoundGrid Rack instance. SoundGrid for VENUE provides a total of 128 voices. You can open multiple SoundGrid Rack instances within your setup's voice limitations.
Voices used per channel
| Mono | 1 Voice |
| Stereo | 2 Voices |
| Mono-to-Stereo | 2 Voices (max channel count on output is 2) |
| Mono Sidechain | 2 Voices |
| Stereo Sidechain | 3 Voices (max channel count on input is 2+1) |
| Mono-to-stereo Sidechain | 2 Voices (special case where plugin acts like stereo with sidechain) |
The Voices meter displays allocated voices, mirrored across all SoundGrid Rack instances. The maximum of 128 voices cannot be changed.
Latency
Latency is determined by the Server Network Buffer setting and plugin latency.
Server Network Buffer
Configured in SoundGrid Inventory, this sets the audio stream time between the I/O and the server. An additional 80 samples are added by the audio path between Avid and SoundGrid, affecting real-time processing speed. Lower settings reduce latency and increase responsiveness; higher settings improve stability but increase latency. If pops or errors occur, increase the buffer setting. Buffer size is in samples, displayed in milliseconds. Range: 80 to 192 samples. Default: 80 samples (0.8 ms).
Plugin Latency
Some plugins introduce latency due to calculations or features like look-ahead processing. SoundGrid performs real-time processing with very small latency but cannot reduce plugin latency. Plugins introducing "x" latency in a Native platform will have the same latency on a SoundGrid system. For a list of Waves plugin latencies, visit www.waves.com/support/tech-specs/plugin-latency.
Adding and Managing Plugins
Adding a plugin to a SoundGrid Rack
Click the arrow on an empty rack slot to open the Plugins Menu, which lists available plugins by category.
If inserting into an empty slot, only "Plugin list" and "Paste [plugin name]" are available.
Bypass
Bypasses plugin processing without removing it from the chain. The plugin remains active, uses CPU, and is included in delay compensation calculations. Bypassing or un-bypassing does not cause clicks or interruptions. The IN button is not lit when bypassed.
Disable Plugin
Removes the plugin from the processing chain without deleting it from the rack. Disabling unused plugins may reduce rack latency. The plugin name remains visible, with "DISABLED" replacing the icon. Disabled plugins can be re-enabled with their settings intact.
Remove Plugin
Deletes the plugin from the slot. All parameter settings are lost.
Copy
Copies the plugin and its parameters, enabling pasting to another rack slot with current settings.
Paste
Pastes the copied plugin and parameters to an empty slot or replaces the existing plugin.
Paste Preset
Pastes presets from a copied plugin to another plugin in the same family (e.g., Q10 to Q6). This only transfers presets, not the entire plugin. If source and target plugins are not in the same family, Paste Preset is unavailable. Choose between "Paste [plugin name]" or "Cancel."
Enable/Disable Sidechain
Toggles the plugin's sidechain on or off. The IN button turns orange when the sidechain is active. The sidechain signal is sent to all plugins in the rack.
Latency
Indicates the delay introduced by the plugin.
Rack Latency
Indicates the total latency of all plugins and inserts in the rack. If no latency is declared by any plugin, both Latency and Rack Latency will be grayed out.
Moving and Copying Plugins
Important: Adding, removing, disabling, or moving plugins changes the rack structure and may cause a brief mute. Perform these actions during a pause in performance. These actions are blocked in VENUE Show mode. Bypassing or changing parameters can be done anytime.
Signal flow is top to bottom. Re-arrange plugins to alter the processing sequence.
- Ctrl + click: Disables the plugin and removes it from the DSP processor. Can be re-enabled with settings intact.
- Drag an icon off the left side of the screen: Removes the plugin (cannot be undone).
- Click + drag icon: Moves a plugin and its presets to another rack slot.
- Alt + click + drag icon: Copies a plugin from one rack slot to another.
Copy/Paste between Stereo and Mono
Copy a mono plugin module to a stereo channel: The plugin becomes stereo. Mono plugin parameters apply to both sides, unless the stereo plugin supports split/linked processing, in which case mono parameters set the left channel.
Mono-to-Stereo Plugins
A stereo plugin cannot be inserted into a mono rack. However, a mono-to-stereo plugin can be added to a mono rack. Subsequent signal flow will be stereo, allowing only stereo plugins. Mono plugins can still be inserted before the mono-to-stereo plugin.
Plugin Pane
The Plugin Pane displays a plugin's entire user interface. Open it by clicking a plugin icon.
Plugin functionality and controls are consistent with VENUE and other hosts, though some visual details may be adjusted for window fit.
SoundGrid Rack Sidechain Components
When a sidechain component is loaded, a small SC appears at the top of the rack, allowing SC-enabled plugins to accept a sidechain signal. All plugins in a rack share the same sidechain.
Assign a sidechain source using VENUE's sidechain menu. The Sidechain button on the Waves plugin pane turns the sidechain input on or off. A sidechain listen button is also available for compatible plugins.
Presets
SoundGrid Rack manages plugin and rack presets via the WaveSystem Toolbar. The toolbar allows A/B comparison between plugins and cycling through presets. Each selected plugin and rack has its own toolbar. SoundGrid Rack has two WaveSystem Toolbars.
The Rack Toolbar copies individual presets between racks or sessions, managing rack structure, parameter settings, and I/O levels. Plugin presets can be moved between hosts independently of the loaded session.
SoundGrid Rack has the same number of slots as other SoundGrid applications (MultiRack, eMotion LV1, StudioRack). Presets can be transferred between these applications, saved as external files, and loaded.
Note: Loading a Rack Preset may change previously loaded plugins. Loading a rack preset is blocked in SHOW mode.
SoundGrid Rack/VENUE Integration
CONFIG/SHOW Modes
SoundGrid Inventory and SoundGrid Rack sync with VENUE's CONFIG and SHOW modes. In SHOW mode, a lock function prevents unintended structural changes (adding/removing plugins, hardware assignments, firmware updates, quitting the application). Locking controls does not affect parameter settings, internal routing, or bypass.
Functions Locked in SHOW Mode
| SG Inventory | SoundGrid Rack |
|---|---|
| Select LAN Port | Insert Plugin |
| Assign I/O | Remove Plugin |
| Remove I/O | Enable Plugin |
| Firmware Update I/O (FW) | Disable Plugin |
| Assign Server | Move Plugin |
| Remove Server | Paste Plugin |
| Firmware Update Server (FW) | Load Preset Menu (Rack ONLY) |
| Enable Verbose Logging |
Control Surface Mapping
All Waves SoundGrid plugins are mapped to VENUE encoders. When SoundGrid Rack is focused, encoders control the selected plugin. If no plugin is selected, encoders control the rack itself (input/output faders).
Mappings reflect plugin graphic layouts. Plugins may have different numbers of controls and layouts, sometimes spanning multiple pages. A plugin control mapped to a VENUE encoder is outlined in red.
The VENUE encoder display shows only controls mapped to rotary knobs, not discrete controls. Discrete controls may be mapped to both rotary controls and SEL or IN buttons.
Snapshots
SoundGrid Rack, like other plugins, can be included in or excluded from VENUE Scope of Snapshots. A snapshot accounts for the entire rack, including inserted plugins, but does not address individual plugins. Changing a snapshot does not alter SoundGrid Rack contents.
Important: Rack contents are locked in VENUE SHOW mode. In CONFIG mode, plugins can be added, removed, or moved.
Adding or enabling a plugin in a Rack within a snapshot's scope propagates the change to all Snapshots. Removing or disabling a plugin in a Rack within a snapshot's scope is destructive and removes the plugin from all snapshots.
A prompt appears when attempting to add, remove, disable, or enable a plugin if SoundGrid Rack is within the scope of snapshots, as these actions affect snapshots. It is recommended to add all intended plugins before creating snapshots.
Refer to the VENUE S6L System Guide for details on managing plugins and snapshots, including "Edit Mode" and "Update Mode" for cross-snapshot changes.
D-Show/Profile Session compatibility
SoundGrid for VENUE is compatible with older D-Show/Profile sessions. When opening such a session on a VENUE system, all required Waves plugins load with their settings and snapshot information. Each plugin loads as an individual rack. The total SoundGrid Rack instances are limited to 128 voices; plugins beyond this limit will load disabled.
Each rack introduces a minimum roundtrip latency of 0.8 ms. Latency accumulates with multiple plugins in the same signal path. To minimize latency accumulation, consolidate racks manually, which may result in loss of snapshot information. Use the “Copy/Paste” feature in the Plugins menu to consolidate plugins.
