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Installing Softube Flow® Guitar Essentials

Updated

Note

This guide is made for people installing and using the plugins from Focusrite's Hitmaker Expansion– a set of plugins included with your Focusrite interface.

To find out more, click here: focusrite.com/software/hitmaker-expansion

This section teaches you how to install the Softube Flow® Guitar Essentials step-by-step. You can find instructions to get all the Hitmaker Expansion plugins from your Focusrite account, but it's often best to install them one by one.

To install any plugin from the Hitmaker Expansion, you must have already registered your Focusrite device. For more information, and steps on how to register your Focusrite interface, go to: getstarted.focusrite.com.

I've never installed a Softube plugin before

To install the Softube Flow® Guitar Essentials:

  1. Go to: id.focusritegroup.com/my-software.

    1. If you're prompted, log in with your account.

      Hitmaker_Expansion_Login_id_focusritegroup.png

  2. Click on My Software at the top of the page.

    Focusrite_Group_Account_My_software.png

  3. Scroll down until you see Softube Flow® Guitar Essentials.

    Softube_Flow_Guitar_Essentials_Account_Page.png

  4. Click View details.

    Focusrite_Group_Account_View_details.png

  5. Click Show me my code to reveal your unique activation code.

    Focusrite_Group_Account_Show_me_my_code.png

  6. The code itself is a link, click the code to go to the Softube website.

  7. Fill in your details in the Create an account section on the right of the Softube website. You'll need to:

    • Enter your email

    • Enter a password

    • Select your country

    • Tick the Softube Privacy Policy box.

    Softube_Sign_Up_page.png

  8. Click SIGN UP.

    Softube_Sign_Up_button.png

    Softube automatically adds the code to your Softube account.

  9. Click Register License:

    Softube_Flow_Guitar_Essentials_Register_License.png

  10. Click ADD YOUR ILOK NOW.

    Softube use a piece of software called iLok to license their plugins. You may already have an iLok account if you've installed plugins in the past, or you may not. The best way to check is if you have “iLok Licence Manager” installed on your computer.

    Softube_Marshall_Silver_Jubilee_2555_Add_iLok.png

  11. Enter your iLok User ID (you can find this in iLok Licence Manager) or tick the box “Need an iLok account?” box to create an iLok account.

    Softube_iLok_Sign_Up.png

  12. Click My Products on the right-hand side.

    Softube_iLok_account_linked.png

  13. Click MAC or WINDOWS, depending on your operating system, to download the Softube Central installer to your computer.

    Softube_My_products_page.png

  14. Go to your downloads folder and run the Softube installer

  15. Find Softube Central in your computer's applications folder and open it.

    When you open Softube Central, it may prompt another installation, follow the instructions to complete this.

  16. Sign in, to Softube Central using the Softube account details you created earlier.

    Softube_Central_Sign_in.png

  17. Go to the Not Installed tab and find Flow Mixing Suite.

    Softube_Flow_Guitar_Essentials_Softube_Central.png

  18. Click Install.

Now the installation has finished, and you've activated the plugin, you can close Softube and start to use the Softube Flow® Guitar Essentials in your DAW. To learn more, move onto the next section.

I have installed a Softube plugin before

To install the Softube Flow® Guitar Essentials:

  1. Go to: id.focusritegroup.com/my-software.

    1. If you're prompted, log in with your account.

      Hitmaker_Expansion_Login_id_focusritegroup.png

  2. Click on My Software at the top of the page.

    Focusrite_Group_Account_My_software.png

  3. Scroll down until you see Softube Flow® Guitar Essentials.

    Softube_Flow_Guitar_Essentials_Account_Page.png

  4. Click View details.

    Focusrite_Group_Account_View_details.png

  5. Click Show me my code to reveal your unique activation code.

    Focusrite_Group_Account_Show_me_my_code.png

  6. The code itself is a link, click the code to go to the Softube website.

  7. Sign in on the Softube website.

    Softube_Sign_Up_page.png

  8. Click Register License:

    Softube_Flow_Guitar_Essentials_Register_License.png

  9. Click My Products on the right-hand side.

    Softube_iLok_account_linked.png

  10. Click MAC or WINDOWS, depending on your operating system, to download the Softube Central installer to your computer.

    Softube_My_products_page.png

  11. Go to your downloads folder and run the Softube installer

  12. Find Softube Central in your computer's applications folder and open it.

    When you open Softube Central, it may prompt another installation, follow the instructions to complete this.

  13. Go to the Not Installed tab and find Flow Mixing Suite.

    Softube_Flow_Guitar_Essentials_Softube_Central.png

  14. Click Install.

Now that you’ve got the Softube Flow® Guitar Essentials installed and ready to go, let’s walk through how to load it up in your DAW and start shaping your first tones. Whether you’re going for clean sparkle or gritty crunch, Softube Flow® Guitar Essentials is a great place to begin.

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