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SG Connect: How to Offload Plugins to a Server Without a SoundGrid Audio Interface

Jun 24, 2024

Important Note:

The last version of StudioRack is V14. It is also the last version to support integration with SoundGrid Studio and offloading processing to a SoundGrid server.
If you use StudioVerse Audio Effects and wish to install StudioRack V14 - Refer to the How to Roll Back StudioVerse to StudioRack V14 for SoundGrid Offloading Article.

The last version of Waves plugins supported in StudioRack is V14.

Learn how to offload plugin processing to a dedicated SoundGrid server, using a non-SoundGrid audio interface, the ‘SG Connect’ feature in the SoundGrid Studio application, and the StudioRack plugin.

Please note: : This setup adds latency and is intended for mixing purposes only. It is not intended for real-time monitoring and recording through plugins.

What you need:

Let’s start with a list of all hardware, software and peripherals you will need to set this up:

  1. A computer running Windows or Mac (see system requirements), with the SoundGrid Studio and the StudioRack plugin chainer, installed and licensed on the computer (or on a USB flash drive).
  2. SoundGrid-compatible plugins, installed and licensed on the computer (or on a USB flash drive). (See Installation and license activation instructions.)
  3. If the computer does not have an Ethernet port, an approved Ethernet adapter.
  4. A non-SoundGrid audio interface (your on-board sound card is also a valid option; on Windows, an ASIO4ALL driver must be installed).

    Your audio interface must have an ASIO (Windows) or Core Audio (Mac) driver supporting multi-client operation and 44.1–96 kHz sample rate. Verify this with the audio interface’s user manual/manufacturer.

    Please note: ASIO / Core Audio Driver buffer sizes larger than 2048 are not supported. Non-standard buffer size intervals are not supported either.
  5. A SoundGrid Sever to process plugins.
  6. One supported Ethernet cable

Setup Instructions

  1. Connect Your SoundGrid Server - using a supported Ethernet cable, connect the SoundGrid server to your computer’s Ethernet port (or adapter).
  2. Configure the SoundGrid Studio Software
    1. Go to the Setup page.
    2. Under the I/O device slot labeled ‘SG Connect’, assign your non-SoundGrid interface from the ‘local Devices’ menu.
    3. Under the I/O device slot labled ‘SG Driver’, assign the local SoundGrid Driver.
      Note: Do not manually set the SoundGrid Driver’s ‘Network Driver Buffer’ to 104, as this will result in clicks and pops. Other values are fine.
    4. Under the Server slot, assign your SoundGrid Server.
  3. Configure Your DAW
    1. Launch your DAW and access its Settings dialog.
    2. Select the same audio interface driver (or ASIO4ALL) as the above ASIO (Windows) or Core Audio (Mac) driver, for input and output where applicable.
  4. Configure StudioRack to Offload Your Plugin Processing
    1. Load the StudioRack plugin.
    2. If SoundGrid Studio has been configured properly – StudioRack should display that it is in ‘SG’ Mode (vs. ‘Native’), and the ‘SG’ icon will be green. If the ‘SG’ icon is red, something is not configured properly – click it and the application will indicate what to address.
    3. Load a plugin or chain of plugins in StudioRack.
    4. Play back your audio. The plugin processing you hear is being handled by the Soundgrid server.

Need more assistance? Contact Waves Technical Support.