maxxbass-on-equalizer-apo

What is this

Although you can use Equalizer APO to run some VST plugins like LoudMax, BL Infra,
due to the unique programming style of waves,
they will hang the Equalizer APO audiodg service when you try to load them.

How to use

Support version

Tested only on Windows 11 23H2 22631.3880 Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22700.1020.0.

This script only support first x64 build of Waves version 9.6 by default.
If you need other version, you need to manually open script in code editor and change variables.

Waves 9.6 doesn't provide VST2 interface,
you need Blue Cat's PatchWork 2.68 to wrap VST3 on Equalizer APO 1.3.

Dependencies

• Get superUser x64 exe and place into script folder aside install.ps1.
  https://github.com/mspaintmsi/superUser/releases/tag/v5.6.1

Steps

• Install Blue Cat's PatchWork 2.68 x64 VST version to load VST3 on Equalizer APO.
• Install Waves 9.6, or copy paste Waves C:\ProgramData\Waves Audio.
• Install or unzip your Plug-Ins V9, WaveShells V9 to a location can be access by LOCAL SERVICE.
  I find that create a new folder C:\Program Files\EqualizerAPO\config\VST
  and put plugins in to VST folder did the trick.
• Open Equalizer APO, load PatchWork plugin, and load WaveShells 9.6 inside PatchWork.
• Load WaveShells 9.6, not 9.7.
• Choose Plug-Ins V9 when waves shell ask for it.
• Do rest VST configuration.
• You'll find your system audio is hang, don't worry, run start_install.bat.
• Choose Plug-Ins V9 and OK.
• Script will restart audiodg in the end, waves plugin should work now.

Troubleshooting (FAQ)

Preset warning

Save or use preset in a folder that can't be read by LOCAL SERVICE
for either PatchWork or Waves may cause problems.
Although you can do this in Equalizer APO editor without crash something, because...
Check "Behind" section in README for more information and possible solution.

Put preset under C:\Program Files\EqualizerAPO\config\VST should be fine,
or Equalizer APO save your VST configuration in config.txt ChunkData section,
it look like VSTPlugin: Library "BC PatchWork VST.dll" ChunkData "PD94bWwgyou....
You can have multiple line of PatchWork and use them as alternative of preset.
If you use preset and cause plugins bugged, remove lines in Equalize APO config.txt,
reboot, start_install.bat, add blank PatchWork (do not paste with ChunkData), redo VST configuration.

PatchWork crashed even if not load any VST3

You may use a mismatch PatchWork version,
suggest PatchWork 2.68 and for Equalizer APO 1.3

Wave shell 9.6 is not a valid VST3...

LOL, install latest vc_redist 2012 x86 or x64 from Microsoft.

When first time load wave shell in PatchWork, it ask Plug-Ins V9 folder again and again

• Remove PatchWork from Equalizer APO editor.
• End audiodg.exe process, it will restart anyway, just ensure wave shell is not running.
• Go to %AppData%, delete Waves Audio folder or if you want a precise, carefully operation,
  delete V9PluginFolder_ScanView.txt.
• Add PatchWork and add Wave shell to check if this time you get pass.
• If still, open %AppData%\Waves Audio\Preferences\V9PluginFolder_ScanView.txt, edit path manually.
• If still, check if that folder contains valid waves plugins.
  You may also need all the WavesLib_9.6... dll out there.

I didn't see MaxxBass or my plugin in Wave shell

Check you're loading WaveShell-VST3 9.6_x64.vst3,
instead of version 9.7.

Switch between Audio, MaxxBass, Original Bass not work

Open PatchWork panel, Check Apply automatically.

Uninstall

Run start_uninstall.bat to delete created waves folder in local service folder.

I moved Plug-Ins V9 folder

Waves will save plugin search location to
%AppData%\Waves Audio\Preferences\V9PluginFolder_ScanView.txt,
delete this file if you moved Plug-Ins V9 folder to trigger folder open dialog in Equalizer APO.
After VST configuration, run start_install.bat again.

Debug shell

• Get psexec, if you want to use test script.
  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/psexec
• Open start_test.bat, you have a cmd window with LOCAL SERVICE permission,
  run test_notepad.bat to open installed config file with notepad.exe to view content.

Waves 9.6?

MaxxBass didn't change since 1998.
Unless you do love to have Waves 2024 electron (EdgeWebView2) frontend for nothing.

Behind

Equalizer APO audio service process run as LOCAL SERVICE,
but the config.exe editor itself run as normal user while doing VST configuration.
During the VST configuration, VST plugins also run as normal user.
However, LOCAL SERVICE doesn't have permissions to access normal user files
even a service sounds like have higher permission.
In this case, only use ChunkData to communicate with audio service,
don't let them to access file if unnecessary.

Waves plugins is exception, Wave shell use dialog to ask Plug-Ins V9 location
if it didn't found saved path in %AppData% which redirected to
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\Waves Audio\Preferences\V9PluginFolder_ScanView.txt
for LOCAL SERVICE account instead of normal user's %AppData%.
The dialog will block execution of the process so your audio service hangs.

This handy script help you to choose your Plug-Ins V9
and generate a config file under LocalService\AppData to prevent the dialog.