Troubleshooting
The plugin isn’t listed in my DAW
Section titled “The plugin isn’t listed in my DAW”Confirm you are using an Apple Silicon Mac on macOS 13 or later and have installed the format your host uses. Hella! Pads belongs in the instrument list, not an audio-effects slot.
The macOS installer lets you choose AU, VST3, and standalone independently. If you skipped the format your DAW needs, run the installer again and select it.
In Logic Pro, open Plug-in Manager, find Hella! Pads, and scan it again. Load it through AU Instruments → Eastechs → Hella! Pads → Stereo. For a VST3 host, refresh the plugin list using that host’s scan controls. Restart the DAW if it was open during installation.
My DAW loads an older version
Section titled “My DAW loads an older version”The release installer puts plugins in the system /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/ folders. An older development build in your user Library can take precedence over that installation.
With your DAW closed, check ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/ for an older Hella! Pads.component, or ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/ for an older Hella! Pads.vst3. Move only those older Hella! Pads bundles to another folder, then reopen your DAW and rescan. Keep your presets and other files in ~/Library/Application Support/Hella Pads/ in place.
A pad makes no sound
Section titled “A pad makes no sound”- Check that the pad has a saved sample. An empty pad is silent, and generating a preview does not assign it until you save.
- Click the pad directly. If that works, check MIDI routing using the next section.
- Check the master volume and output meters. Reduce the level if the meters are red.
- If the plugin meters move, check your DAW track’s mute state, output routing, and audio device. In standalone, check the selected output device.
Pad clicks work but my controller doesn’t
Section titled “Pad clicks work but my controller doesn’t”Enable the controller in your DAW and route its MIDI to the Hella! Pads instrument track. Enable track monitoring or recording as required by the host.
Open MIDI Settings, click Learn for the desired pad, and play a controller note. Each pad needs a distinct note. Default assignments are MIDI notes 36–43; octave names can differ across applications. Reassigning notes does not change the sample’s pitch.
Generation fails
Section titled “Generation fails”Read the message before retrying. The next action depends on whether the request was rejected, accepted, or could not be confirmed.
| Message or situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Invalid or revoked API key | Check your key on the Stability developer platform, then reconnect in Settings. |
| Account needs more credits | Add credits to your Stability account and refresh the credit display. |
| Could not reach Stability | Check internet access. If Resume is offered, use it to retrieve the accepted job. |
| Stability is busy | Wait before trying again. |
| Request declined | Check your account’s access or revise the prompt. |
| Generation settings rejected | Check the prompt, sample type, and duration; shorten an oversized prompt. |
| Generation unavailable or expired | Connect with the API key used for the original request. An expired result cannot be retrieved. |
| Submission could not be confirmed | The request may still be charged. Hella! Pads has not automatically submitted it again. |
If you need to reconnect, see Stability account. Never include your API key in a shared screenshot or troubleshooting report.
The credit balance is wrong or unavailable
Section titled “The credit balance is wrong or unavailable”Click the orange credit display or the refresh control in Settings. The displayed value is the last retrieved balance, so a recent top-up may not be reflected yet. … CR means loading; -- CR means unavailable. Hover over the display for the reason.
A generated sound disappeared
Section titled “A generated sound disappeared”Closing a pad drawer or the plugin window discards an unsaved preview. A kit preset or DAW project only preserves completed samples after they have been saved to pads.
If Keep unused generations was enabled when you discarded it, check the Outtakes folder from the Samples footer. Also check any WAV you exported from the preview. See settings and storage.
WAV drag-and-drop doesn’t work
Section titled “WAV drag-and-drop doesn’t work”Drag from the export icon, then keep the mouse held while the file prepares. A click alone does not export. Drop onto an audio track or another target that accepts WAV files.
If the source preset has changed, refresh the Samples browser and try again. Check available disk space and that the Exports folder is writable if file preparation reports an error.
The exported sound differs from what I heard
Section titled “The exported sound differs from what I heard”Library exports use the sample and trim saved in the preset. To export an unsaved edit or preview, drag from its waveform player instead.
WAVs do not include the plugin’s master gain or effects on the DAW track. Bounce or record the track in your DAW if you need that processing included.
My DAW reports missing audio after clearing exports
Section titled “My DAW reports missing audio after clearing exports”The DAW may have referenced WAVs in Hella! Pads’ Exports folder. Restore those files from a backup, or export the saved samples again and use your DAW’s relink controls. Future exports should be copied into the project before clearing the folder. See Samples and exports.