Install Guide - Standalone Plugins

Step 1 - Install Pulse Downloader

Install Pulse Downloader if you haven't already done so.

https://pulsedownloader.com

If you don't already have an account set up (you're given an option to do this at checkout), you will need to do so (keep in mind that your Pulse account is separate to your Impact Soundworks account).

Step 2 - Redeem the plugin in Pulse Downloader

In Pulse, use the serial key for your plugin to redeem your plugin.

Once you've clicked on "Redeem," you will see the following window, where you can select a download location (by clicking on the folder icon):

Click on "Download and Install" and the download process will start.

If, during this process, you get an error, there are a few possible causes:

• Your plugin has already been redeemed in Pulse. This might be because you are attempting to redeem the plugin to another account, or because something went wrong on our end; first double-check if you might have redeemed the plugin to a different Pulse account, and if you're unable to find it, let us know.

  
  

• Pulse does not accept your install location. This often happens when you're attempting to install to what Pulse considers a "not safe" location or places it doesn't have access to through system permissions. If this happens, select a different location and try again.

  
  
• Something might be blocking Pulse from downloading. Check your firewall settings and make sure that it allows Pulse to download. If you're unable to do this, contact us and we will help you out.

Step 3 - Install the plugin

Once the plugin code is redeemed, you should see the following window:

Additionally, if you've selected the Install Now checkbox on the previous screen, Pulse will attempt to open the most up-to-date installer. In that case, follow the on-screen instructions to install the plugin. Otherwise, clicking on "Show installer file" will begin the plugin installation. Note that there is no need to click this button if you had previously selected the Install Now checkbox; once the plugin has been installed, you can safely click the "Cancel" button.

NOTE: The only exception to this is SNESverb which is provided as a standalone .dll file which can be deposited into your plug-ins folder manually. Additionally, Tokyo Scoring Strings has a companion plug-in (Delay Compensation) which works the same way.

In order to see your new plug-in show up in your DAW, you'll need to be aware of the plug-in folder that your DAW checks in order to load your plugin correctly. There are a few common defaults that most DAWs use:

Windows:

• C:\Program Files\Common Files (this location should have both a VST2 and VST3 option)
• C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VstPlugins
• C:\Program Files\VstPlugins

Mac:

• Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST
• (Rarely used) Users/your username/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST
• Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST3
• (Rarely used) Users/your username/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST3

NOTE: For ProTools users, the only compatible plug-in format is .AAX, in a separate folder location. If you are unfamiliar with ProTools folder locations, please check out Avid's guide here.

Step 4 - Activate the plugin

For SNESverb and Delay Compensation (the companion plug-in to Tokyo Scoring Strings), the process is done as soon as you deposit the plug-in into the correct folder. You should be able to see them in your DAW by either performing a plug-in rescan, or restarting your DAW.

For Tape Sculptor, Shreddage Amp XTC, and Bass Sculptor, there is one more step - activation. You should see the following window when you open these plug-ins for the first time:

To activate your plug-in, you'll need to make sure that the email and serial number that you input matches your order information exactly. Please be careful when copy pasting to ensure there are no extra spaces.

Once you do this, you should be all set and ready to use your plugins!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to make a new account / re-register each time I switch computers?

A: No. In fact, once you create a login, that is the login you should use for any system you install your products onto. Pulse will keep track of all your registered products for you so that you can immediately download.

• WARNING: Product codes can only be redeemed in Pulse once, so if you lose your login credentials, creating a new account will not fix the problem. If you cannot find your login credentials, you can contact ISW support - if you provide an order #, we should be able to find your account.

Q: My plugin isn't activating! What do I do?

A: Start by double checking all your credentials and make sure there are no typos. If this works the first time but does not stay activated, you need to uninstall the plug-in, open Pulse, and manually check which installer you are using. You should make sure to always be on the most recent version.

You can check to see what version is the most recent by going into the product info page on Pulse. More info can be found below!

Q: I downloaded the plugin but now I don't know where it is! What do I do?

A: Go to the Library tab and click on the product icon to view more info. Pulse keeps track of what version you're on, the location your folder is downloaded to, and even lets you open this location.

If you still run into issues, let us know and we can look into it further.

You can contact our support team here, or by clicking Get Help in the Orders page of your ISW account.