Juce AXX Problem (Avid SDK) Help Please

Hello everyone, I have downloaded the latest version of JUCE and installed it on my computer. I also downloaded the Avid AAX SDK v2.9.0 from the Avid website and linked it to my JUCE project. As far as I know, selecting the SDK in the Projucer should be enough, but I am not aware of any additional required steps.
After building my project, VST3 and AU work perfectly in all DAWs I tested.
However, the AAX version does not open in Pro Tools. It shows an error during the plugin loading stage.

I have an Avid Developer account, which is also linked to my iLok account. I am using Pro Tools Ultimate.

I did not use Pace Eden | WrapTools, because as I understand, this is required only when selling a commercial AAX plugin. Since I am currently testing and planning to give my plugin away for free, I thought that having a Developer account + linked iLok would be enough.
But despite having a developer account, I cannot run the AAX build.

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: My Questions:

  1. After downloading the AAX SDK, are there any required steps inside the SDK project itself?
  2. Are my JUCE AAX settings correct, or is there anything specific I must configure?
  3. If everything is set correctly, why does the AAX plugin still fail to load in Pro Tools?
  4. Could someone please explain, step-by-step, the full process of building a working AAX plugin from scratch using JUCE + Avid SDK? If someone is able to explain this with images or a step-by-step video, I would really appreciate it.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

  1. The AAX SDK is now bundled with the latest version of JUCE, there is no need to download and use your own version unless you have a strong reason to.

  2. If you are using ProTools developer version you should be able to load your plugin, If however you are trying to load your plugin using the commercial release of ProTools you will need to use the PACE wrap tools to sign your plugin.

  3. I suspect you are using the commercial version of ProTools not the developer version?

  4. To be honest it sounds like you are already close. I think most likely the issue you are seeing is the use of the commercial version of ProTools. In the developer version you will see a warning that your plugin is not signed. To sign the plugin refer to the PACE docs or reach out to their support.

+1 for what Anthony says. Also, check the Pro Tools logs and search for your plugin’s name. It will probably tell you why it didn’t load.

does it happen now when we select and compile axx without having to download the pro tools sdk? is juce embedded in it? has it been standardized, is it enough to choose axx without any connection, such as vst3 ? i have also activated the pro tools ultimate license from my ilok account, I have activated the pro tools developer. I don’t know

If you are using the Projucer selecting the AAX format should be all you need to do in order to build an unsigned AAX plugin, no need to download anything else.

The AAX SDK is included in JUCE, if that’s what you mean?

I’m not 100% sure what you are asking but as above just select the AAX format and everything (except signing) should be handled.

You will also need to download and install the Pro Tools Developer version from AVID. It’s a separate application used for testing purposes only.

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