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MOTU and macOS Catalina

Apple has released macOS® Catalina (version 10.15). As of March 22, 2020, currently supported MOTU products are compatible with macOS Catalina.

If you have any questions about this information, please contact MOTU customer service or technical support.

Last updated March 22, 2020

Digital Performer and Performer Lite

Digital Performer 10.11 is compatible with macOS Catalina. Please note that you may see an alert when you first launch DP, which you can ignore and click OK to dismiss. For further information, please read this Apple tech note.

Earlier versions of DP are not officially qualified for macOS Catalina, although DP 10.01 appears to run fine under macOS Catalina.

Some third-party audio plug-ins may not be compatible with Digital Performer when running on macOS Catalina. If you are experiencing issues, try removing the plug-in from your system, or try disabling all third-party plug-ins (safe mode).

Performer Lite

Performer Lite 10.12 is compatible with macOS Catalina.

Some third-party audio plug-ins may not be compatible with Performer Lite when running on macOS Catalina. If you are experiencing issues, try removing the plug-in from your system, or try disabling all third-party plug-ins (safe mode).

MOTU virtual instruments (MachFive, etc.)

MachFive, Ethno Instrument, BPM, Electric Keys and Symphonic Instrument appear to be compatible with macOS Catalina, in the same fashion they have been compatible with other recent macOS versions. Be sure to download and install the latest License Manager from iLok.com. Final compatibility testing is still on-going.

M2 and M4

The new M2 and M4 bus-powered USB audio interfaces are compatible with macOS Catalina. They are USB audio class compliant for plug-and-play operation with no driver installation needed. However, a driver is available that provides lower latency performance and loopback channels under macOS Catalina.

MOTU Pro Audio interfaces

The Pro Audio models listed below are compatible with macOS Catalina. Be sure to download and install the very latest shipping drivers for 10.15. You must install these latest drivers before you can use your MOTU product listed below with macOS Catalina.

PLEASE NOTE: if you are installing MOTU hardware drivers on your macOS Catalina system for the first time, please read this tech note for important information about enabling the driver in your system's security settings. This procedure is not necessary if the driver has already been installed in your macOS Catalina system and you are merely updating it. 

  • 1248
  • 8M
  • 16A
  • 24Ai
  • 24Ao
  • Monitor 8
  • 112D
  • Stage-B16
  • 624
  • 8A
  • M64
  • 8D
  • LP32
  • UltraLite-mk4
  • UltraLite AVB
  • 828es
  • 8pre-es

MIDI interfaces

The MIDI interface models listed below are compatible with macOS Catalina. Be sure to download and install the very latest shipping drivers for 10.15. You must install these latest drivers before you can use your MOTU product listed below with macOS Catalina.

If you are installing MOTU hardware drivers on your macOS Catalina system for the first time, please read this tech note for important information about enabling the driver in your system's security settings. This procedure is not necessary if the driver has already been installed in your macOS Catalina system and you are merely updating it.

  • MIDI Express XT
  • MIDI Express 128
  • micro express
  • micro lite
  • FastLane

USB and "Hybrid" audio interfaces

The USB and "Hybrid" interface models listed below are compatible with macOS Catalina. Be sure to download and install the very latest shipping drivers for 10.15. You must install these latest drivers before you can use your MOTU product listed below with macOS Catalina.

If you are installing MOTU hardware drivers on your macOS Catalina system for the first time, please read this tech note for important information about enabling the driver in your system's security settings. This procedure is not necessary if the driver has already been installed in your macOS Catalina system and you are merely updating it.

  • 828x
  • Track 16
  • MicroBook II
  • MicroBook IIc
  • 8pre USB
  • 4pre
  • Audio Express
  • UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid
  • 896mk3 Hybrid
  • 828mk3 Hybrid

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