> Step by step

1. Install and activate

1 Waveform Free is a feature restricted version of its bigger sibling, Waveform Pro and can be freely accessed from Tracktion’s website. To get started head to www.tracktion.com/products/waveformfree and click on the Free Download tab.

2 This will take you to a registration page. If you’re new to Tracktion, create a new account. If you already have login credentials then use these so that the Waveform Free license gets allocated to your existing account.

3 Now log in to your account and head to the My Downloads page. Here you should see the Waveform 11 universal installer with four platform options – Windows, OS X, Linux and Raspberry Pi. Select and download the required option and then run the installer.

4 Now launch the Waveform 11 application. When you do this for the first time, the installer may ask you which engine to use. Choose Try New Engine. You will also have to agree to the user license agreement. Finally, use your login credentials and click the Register tab to assign the application to your account. You should now get a Registration Complete dialogue.

5 You may also get an option to provide anonymous crash reporting and the option to scan for plugins. Cancel this last option and you should find yourself in Waveform 11’s welcome screen. Here you’ll see various setup options down the left hand side including Audio and MIDI device. Work through these as required.

6 To install the additional content you need to grab the ‘FREE SOFTWARE Tracktion Waveform CM300 offer instructions’ which you can find at www.filesilo.co.uk/computermusic. This will lead you to the required codes, which you can then register at www.tracktion.com/ activate. Enter each code and your login details to allocate the packages to your Tracktion account.

7 To help install the extra content, Waveform has a Downloads Manager app. To get started, select the Settings tab from the Welcome screen then click on the Downloads tab. Login with your account details. You should now see a list of your registered products. Use the tab at the top to install the Downloads Manager.

8 When the install finishes it should open the Download Manager and here you can view, install or reinstall your various Tracktion Waveform 11 components. There should be entries for the Collective instrument, the Collective Content and the add-on Beta Maxed Sound Pack for Collective that you’ve registered. Select Install for each.